Sheet Metal Fabrication

In sheet metal manufacturing, calculating the bending factor (K-factor) must be based on evidence, not hearsay or empirical formulas. So what is this evidence? A sample. Everyone knows how to calculate bending deductions, right? We fabricate a simple bending sample, accurately measure its dimensions, and determine the bending deduction value. Using this deduction value, we calculate the K-factor and bending factor for the material. Further, we create a bending deduction table and a bending factor table. When the material remains constant, we simply insert any one of the three parameters into the SW (Screen Layout) to obtain the ideal unfolded dimensions. Only one table or one K-factor is needed for each material, because the K-factor is applicable to all situations—large radius (R), any sheet thickness, and any thickness.