If in doubt try bending a scrap panel over the tightest radius section of the arch to see if it will work.
Putting a bend on a curve sheet steel.
Clamp the box section on top of the shims feed the metal through and pull up then feed the metal through a few mm at a time gentle tweaks using the long side when you reach the middle turn it round and repeat.
Using protective gloves hold the free end of the metal sheet with one hand and with the other hand use a mallet or hammer to begin bending the sheet down and around the curved radius of the wood form.
Otherwise the sheet metal is almost certain to shift as you bend it resulting in a bad bend.
A cutout or the edge of your flange to your bend.
The last step bending will actually deform the first bend and make that bend less then 90 degrees so for that to look good.
Finally curved applications typically require additional fasteners to resist the forces induced by curving the panels.
This is putting a simple hem on a curved piece of zinc with a 7ft radius.
Now that you know your bend allowance take your protractor and draw a clear line with your marker across the point at which you will bend your sheet metal.
To clamp efficiently lay your sheet metal on the top surface of your straightedge with the drawn line perfectly aligned with the outside edge of the sheet metal.
The sheet metal is bent to follow the pipe s contours using mallets.
Homemade sheet metal curve bending tool functions by clamping the sheet metal on top of a pvc pipe.
Determine your minimum bend by measuring the distance from your closest feature i e.
I have bent 3mm sheet up to 300mm wide like this.
Then use your bend allowance to draw your second bend line the intervening distance between your bend lines bend radius.
Choose a bend radius that matches your minimum bend.
Clamping your sheet metal to the straightedge is a must.
Make sure the first bend mark lines up exactly with the curve in the form so that the bending will begin in the right spot.
If you have any questions or want to discuss your design contact us.
Note watch out for overbending the workpiece.
I am trying to put a curve on a bent tab in a sheet metal part and i can t figure out how to make it work.
For 3mm i use a big piece of angle iron.
