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.

Sheet metal flat length can be calculated using cad softwares. 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. When sheet metal is bend the inside bending surface is compressed.

It allows you to anticipate the bend deduction for a large variety of angles without having to rely on a chart. Typically the k factor is going to be between 0 and 5. Input material thickness and and inner radius to get the data of k factor y factor neutral layer. 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.

For example if the value of k factor for given material thickness and bending machines is known. And by having t and the sheet thickness t we can calculate the k factor as follow. The k factor is defined as the ratio between the material thickness t and the neutral fibre axis t i e. The k factor is fundamental to designing precise sheet metal products.

Then input the bend angle to get the arc length bend allowance and bend deduction. Bending angles greater than 90 degrees. 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. Like previous scenarios let s start by calculating leg length 1.

Best way to calculate k factor in sheet metal is by reverse engineering. 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. 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. As shown in figure 1 below k t t.

While modern bend deduction charts now are reasonably accurate historically bend calculation charts both for bend allowances and bend deductions were notorious. Then input leg length a and b to get the flat size of the sheet. K factor plays a key role in understanding the limits a material can handle during sheet metal bending. This change in sheet length depends on the position of neutral axis or k factor.

The k factor is defined as a constant that is greater than 0 and less than 1. As a result overall sheet length increases. Calculate k factor bend allowance and y factor for sheet metal bending.