Sheet Metal Forming Services: what it costs and who makes it

How sheet metal forming is quoted

1. Every bend is a setup. A press brake makes one bend at a time, and each different bend angle or position may mean re-tooling. Parts with many different bends cost more per part than the bend count alone suggests.
2. Bend radius is a design decision. Too tight a radius cracks the material, and the minimum depends on the alloy and the thickness. Getting it wrong is one of the most common reasons a sheet metal design comes back with questions.
3. Flanges need room. A flange shorter than the tooling can hold cannot be bent. Minimum flange length is a real constraint, not a guideline, and it is set by the brake rather than by the drawing.

What changes the price, and what does not

What moves the number: bend count, distinct setups, material and thickness, tolerance between bent features, and finishing. What moves it less: the flat pattern's outline, which the laser handles cheaply.

Common questions

Capacity data by state