Glossary Terms for

Press Braking

Press braking is a sheet metal forming process that uses a punch and die set to create precise bends along a programmed bend line. The terms below cover tooling, bending methods, material behavior, and the CNC control features that enable accurate, repeatable sheet metal forming.

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Air Bending
The most common press brake bending method, in which the punch forces the metal partway into a V-die without bottoming out.
Axis (X, Y, Z, R, V)
The programmable motion axes on a CNC press brake.
Back Gauge
A programmable stop behind the press brake die that positions the workpiece for accurate, repeatable bends.
Bend Allowance
The arc-length of material consumed in forming a bend, accounting for the metal's stretching in the bend zone.
Bend Deduction
The difference between the sum of the outside mold line lengths and the developed flat pattern length.
Bend Line
The line on the flat blank along which the material is bent.
Bend Radius
The inside radius of a formed bend, measured from the inner material surface.
Bottom Bending (Set Bending)
A bending method where the punch fully closes onto the material against the die, producing more accurate, springback-free angles than air bending.
Box Forming
A press brake operation that forms four-sided enclosures or box shapes by making sequential bends.
CNC Press Brake
A computer numerically controlled press brake that automates ram stroke, back gauge position, and bend speed for precise, repeatable results.
Coining
A high-tonnage bending method that plastically deforms the material under extreme pressure, eliminating springback entirely.
Crowning
A compensation technique that adjusts the deflection of the press brake's ram and bed along their length to achieve a uniform bend angle across the full part width.
Die Opening (V-Width)
The width of the V-die groove.
Flange Length (Leg Length)
The distance from the bend line to the edge of the material on either side of a bend.
Forming Sequence
The planned order of bends on a multi-bend part, designed to ensure each successive bend can be made without interference from previously formed flanges, back gauge fingers, or the machine frame.
Gooseneck Punch
A press brake punch with a curved or offset body that allows bending of deep-flanged parts without the formed material interfering with the machine ram or frame.
Hem
A fold created by bending metal 180 degrees back onto itself, producing a smooth, stiffened, finished edge.
K-Factor
A dimensionless constant representing the location of the neutral axis relative to the material thickness during bending.
Minimum Flange
The shortest flange dimension that can be supported by the die during bending without the material slipping.
Neutral Axis
The theoretical plane within the material cross-section that neither compresses nor elongates during bending.
Offset Bend (Z-Bend)
A bending operation that creates a stepped or Z-shaped profile by making two closely spaced bends in opposite directions.
Press Brake
A machine tool that uses a punch and die set to form precise bends in sheet metal and plate.
Punch
The upper tooling component of a press brake that contacts the workpiece and forces it into the die.
Ram
The vertically moving upper beam of the press brake that drives the punch into the workpiece.
Setback
The horizontal distance from the bend tangent point to the bend line on the flat material.
Sheet Metal Gauge
A numeric designation for sheet metal thickness, where larger numbers represent thinner material.
Springback
The elastic recovery of the workpiece after the bending force is released, causing the actual bend angle to be slightly more open than the formed angle.
Tonnage (Bending Force)
The pressing force applied by the press brake ram, measured in tons.
Tooling (Press Brake)
The matched punch and die set installed in the press brake to form bends.
V-Die
The lower tooling component of a press brake featuring a V-shaped groove into which material is bent.

Glossary Term Categories

Laser Cutting
Press Braking
Welding
CNC Shearing
Metal Finishing
CNC Machining
NEMA Enclosures
Weldments, Bollards & Guards

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