Press Brake Bending Tonnage & Setup Cost Estimator
Calculate required bending tonnage force (tons/ft), V-die opening width, material yield strength, and setup time for CNC hydraulic press brake sheet metal forming.
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Access certified material datasheets, CNC tolerances, and industrial 3D printing design guidelines.
Export itemized quote spreadsheets or generate printable PDF invoices directly from your calculation parameters.
Comprehensive Guide: Press Brake Bending Tonnage & Setup Cost Estimator
Press brake air bending requires calculating total forming force (tonnage) based on material tensile strength, bend length, thickness, and V-die opening. Exceeding tonnage capacity risks permanent die fracturing.
Mathematical Formula Breakdown
Bending Force (Tons) = [1.33 × Tensile Strength (PSI) × (Thickness)² × Length (in)] / [V-Die Width (in) × 2000].
Industry Pricing Benchmarks
Standard air bending rule of thumb: V-die opening should equal 8x material thickness. CNC press brake shop rates average $75–$110/hr.
Optimization Strategies
- Use segmented precision-ground Wila or Promecam tooling to change setup dimensions in seconds.
- Implement laser angle measurement sensors to correct springback automatically during the stroke.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you calculate V-die opening for sheet metal bending?
Multiply material thickness by 8 for standard 60,000 PSI mild steel (e.g. 0.125" steel requires 1.0" V-die).