Calculating K Factor For Sheet Metal

While modern bend deduction charts now are reasonably accurate historically bend calculation charts both for bend allowances and bend deductions were notorious.

Calculating k factor for sheet metal.

It allows you to anticipate the bend deduction for a large variety of angles without having to rely on a chart. Best way to calculate k factor in sheet metal is by reverse engineering. In order to find the k factor you will need to bend a sample piece and deduce the bend allowance. Whereas the outer surface is stretched.

Since the k factor is based on the property of the metal and its thickness there is no simple way to calculate it ahead of the first bend. And by having t and the sheet thickness t we can calculate the k factor as follow. As shown in figure 1 below k t t. Therefore using k factor there is no need to calculate sheet metal flat length manually.

K factor plays a key role in understanding the limits a material can handle during sheet metal bending. Sheet metal flat length can be calculated using cad softwares. Types of metal bends and forming methods bending and bend formation are important factors when it comes to calculating bend deduction which is the total elongation for a particular type of bend. This change in sheet length depends on the position of neutral axis or k factor.

Like previous scenarios let s start by calculating leg length 1. For example if the value of k factor for given material thickness and bending machines is known. The k factor is the ratio between the distance from the neutral layer to the bent inner surface and the thickness of the sheet metal. To calculate the neutral axis distance from the inner face t we can subtract inside bend radius from r.

Bending angles greater than 90 degrees. The k factor is defined as a constant that is greater than 0 and less than 1. Then input the bend angle to get the arc length bend allowance and bend deduction. As a result overall sheet length increases.

Typically the k factor is going to be between 0 and 5. Then input leg length a and b to get the flat size of the sheet. The part of the material that bends. K factor in sheet metal bending is a constant that is used to calculate sheet metal flat length.

The k factor is fundamental to designing precise sheet metal products. Calculate k factor bend allowance and y factor for sheet metal bending. The k factor is the most important and elusive variable of bending because it varies both as a function of the material and according to parameters such as angle and tooling.