Bending Sheet Metal Into A Box

Box bending can be rather tricky with sheet metal because of the geometry of a press brake.

Bending sheet metal into a box.

Most frequently expensive sheet metal bending tools called brakes are used to bend sheet metal but you can also complete this task without one. Insert the first edge into a bending brake. This will create a lip. I have a graph paper drawing in the pics below but its not for this box 2 trace your template on to your piece of sheet metal as pictured i suggest 20 22 gauge steel 3 cut your piece into the same shape as template.

Also known as press braking flanging die bending folding and edging this method is used to deform a material to an angular shape. Commonly used equipment include box and pan brakes brake presses and other specialized machine presses typical products that are made like this are boxes such as electrical enclosures and rectangular ductwork. Bending sheet metal by hand is a manageable task if the piece of sheet metal is small and thin enough to handle. Bending is a manufacturing process that produces a v shape u shape or channel shape along a straight axis in ductile materials most commonly sheet metal.

1 first you want to make an expanded template for your box out of cardboard paper etc. Metal shops have brakes mounted at different angles with automated braking arms however it is possible to bend sheet metal at home without the use of a brake. Bend the edge 90. How to bend sheet metal without a brake.

Bending is one of the most common sheet metal fabrication operations. When bending with large returns there are a few tricks outside of just tooling selection. You ll be bending over the edges of these flaps to make smooth edges for the top of the box. Make sure that it is lined up with the line you measured earlier.

Bend the top edges over. Once all of the squares are cut out you ll be left with the four flaps. This is done through the application of force on a workpiece. Use the corner notcher to cut out any right angles.

A flat version of your box. A brake is a device that allows you to bend a piece of sheet metal at a particular angle. The force must exceed the material s yield strength to achieve a plastic deformation.