Calculating K Factor For Sheet Metal

K factor in sheet metal bending is a constant that is used to calculate sheet metal flat length.

Calculating k factor for sheet metal.

In order to find the k factor you will need to bend a sample piece and deduce the bend allowance. For example if the value of k factor for given material thickness and bending machines is known. As a result overall sheet length increases. K factor plays a key role in understanding the limits a material can handle during sheet metal bending.

The k factor is defined as a constant that is greater than 0 and less than 1. Input material thickness and and inner radius to get the data of k factor y factor neutral layer. To calculate the neutral axis distance from the inner face t we can subtract inside bend radius from r. The part of the material that bends.

Typically the k factor is going to be between 0 and 5. 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. Calculate k factor bend allowance and y factor for sheet metal bending. Then input leg length a and b to get the flat size of the sheet.

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. The k factor is fundamental to designing precise sheet metal products. 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.

Then input the bend angle to get the arc length bend allowance and bend deduction. Sheet metal flat length can be calculated using cad softwares. Bending angles greater than 90 degrees. Like previous scenarios let s start by calculating leg length 1.

Therefore using k factor there is no need to calculate sheet metal flat length manually. The k factor is defined as the ratio between the material thickness t and the neutral fibre axis t i e. It allows you to anticipate the bend deduction for a large variety of angles without having to rely on a chart. 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.

When sheet metal is bend the inside bending surface is compressed. 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. Best way to calculate k factor in sheet metal is by reverse engineering.