What are the benefits of CNC bending technology?

CNC bending is an economical method of producing 3D parts from metal sheets. Bent sheet metal parts are commonly made using a pneumatic or hydraulic press brake, where a metal sheet is pressed between a punch and die to bend it to the desired angle or shape.

Prior to the introduction of CNC bending technology, producing sheet metal components with several bends was a manual and laborious task. The back stop, which predetermines the height and length of a bend, was operated by a technician. He would manually fix it into the correct position, but this meant that he could only produce single bends at any one time. Once the first bend was complete, the operator would move the back stop into a new position for the next bend, and so on and so on. This meant it was necessary to handle the same component several times until all the bends were completed. It’s not difficult to imagine how long this process would take from start to finish.

With technology advancements creating automation that once could only be dreamed of, a CNC bending machine can now create multiple bends quickly and accurately. Programmable back stops can traverse in seconds meaning intricate components with multiple bends can be produced in minutes, speeding up production times and reducing costs.

GPT Precision regularly bends ductile metals such as Aluminum 5052 up to 0.25” thick. Common applications include brackets and enclosures.