Springback

Springback occurs immediately after the bending force is released, as the material's elastic properties cause the bend angle to "spring" partially open from the intended angle. The magnitude of springback depends on the material type (high-strength steels spring back more than mild steel), thickness, bend radius, and bending method, air bending produces the most springback, while coining virtually eliminates it.

Experienced press brake operators compensate for springback by overbending, programming the ram to bend past the target angle by the expected springback amount, so the part relaxes to the correct final angle. CNC press brakes can store springback compensation values for each material and thickness combination, automating what was once a skill-intensive manual adjustment.

Inconsistent springback is one of the most common sources of angle variation in production bending, which is why material consistency and proper setup verification are critical to maintaining quality.