KEVOS® MAKEOS · Fabrication
Sheet and Plate Bend Feasibility (Radius Limits, Springback, Press Force)
Can this material be bent to my inside radius without cracking or springing back flat, what angle must I bend to, and is the press brake big enough?
Feasibility check of a press-brake bend: the smallest inside radius the material takes without cracking from its tensile reduction of area, and the largest radius beyond which the bend stays elastic (as the bend radius limits tool), the radius and angle after springback and the angle to bend to (as the bending springback tool), and the air-bending force for the bend length and V-die against the press capacity (as the press brake force tool).
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How this tool works
Inputs, units and where to find them
| Input | Unit | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Material thickness | mm | Thickness of the sheet or plate. |
| Planned inside bend radius | mm | Inside radius you want after bending. |
| Final bend angle | ° | Angle the finished bend must have. |
| Reduction of area in a tensile test | % | Reduction of area from the material’s tensile test (a measure of ductility). |
| Yield strength | MPa | Yield strength. |
| Tensile strength | MPa | Tensile strength. |
| Elastic modulus | GPa | Elastic modulus. |
| Press brake | ||
| Bend length | mm | Length of the bend line. |
| V-die opening | mm | Opening of the V-die. |
| Die factor | Die factor for air bending. | |
| Press brake capacity | kN | Rated force of the press brake. |
Method and formulas
- Smallest radius = t (50 ÷ r − 1) with r the reduction of area %; largest = t E ÷ 2S_y (as the bend radius limits tool).
- Springback from R S_y ÷ (E t); final radius and bend-to angle (as the bending springback tool).
- Force = k L t² UTS ÷ V (as the press brake force tool).
- Example: radii from 0.75 to 1,200 mm are workable; bend to 90.329° for 90°, needing 224.44 kN.
Limitations
- Bend across the rolling direction; bends along the grain need a larger radius.
- Air bending; bottoming and coining need more force.
- Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.
Typical uses
- Check a tight bend in plate before trying it
- Choose a radius for a high-strength steel
- Set the press brake for a new material
Who it is for
- Press brake operators
- Fabrication engineers
- Sheet-metal designers
What you get
- Smallest and largest workable radius
- Radius after springback and angle to bend to
- Bending force and press use
Interpreting the result
- High-strength steels need both a larger minimum radius and much more overbend for springback.
References
- Machinery’s Handbook, 29th edition (Industrial Press, 2012), printed pp. 1346–1353. Topic reference; no source tables or recommended settings are reproduced.
WORKOS tools are screening and decision-support utilities. Verify important financial, engineering, safety, legal or operational decisions using appropriate professional standards and your organisation’s approved data.
Open the Sheet and Plate Bend Feasibility (Radius Limits, Springback, Press Force) calculator
