Bending Dies

• Bending in sheet-metal work is defined as the straining of the

sheet around a straight axis.
• During the bending operation, the outer surface of the sheet is in
tension (outer surface is stretched) while the inner surface is in
compression.
• It is a very common forming process for changing the sheet and
plate into channels, drums, tanks, etc.
• The metal is plastically deformed so that the bend takes a
permanent set upon removal of the stresses that caused it.
• Bending produces little or no change in the thickness of the sheet
metal.
• The two common bending methods and associated tooling are V-
bending, performed with a V-die; and edge bending, performed
with a wiping die.
Contd…
 V-Bending and Edge Bending
• In V-bending, the sheet metal is bent between a V-
shaped punch and die.
• V-bending is generally used for low-production
operations.
• Edge bending involves cantilever loading of the sheet
metal.
• A pressure pad is used to apply a force to hold the base
of the part against the die, while the punch forces the
part to yield and bend over the edge of the die.
• Because of the pressure pad, wiping dies are more
complicated and costly than V-dies and are generally
used for high-production work.
Drawing Dies
 Drawing operation
• Operation of forming a flat sheet or workpiece into a hollow shape by
means of a punch which forces the blank to flow plastically in the die
cavity.
• As the punch forces blank into the die cavity, the diameter of the blank
reduces and causes the blank to become thicker at its outer portions.
• This is because the material in the outer portion is subjected to
circumferential compressive stresses.
• If this stresses becomes excessive, the outer portions of the blank will
have tendency to buckle.
• To avoid this, a blank holder or pressure pad is provided.
• The portion of the blank between the die wall and the punch surface is
subjected to tensile stress and tends to stretch and becomes thinner.
• The portion of the blank around the punch radius is under tension
along with bending. This is thinnest portion of the cup which is drawn.
 Ironing

• As the punch forces blank into the die cavity, the diameter of the
blank reduces and causes the blank to become thicker at its
outer portions.
• If the thickness of this portion is greater than the clearance
between the punch and die, it will be squeezed to the size of the
clearance, a process known as ironing.
• Ironing makes the cylindrical cup more uniform in wall thickness.
 Forming dies
• In forming dies, the blank is bent or formed along a curved axis.
• Not enough plastic flow of metal.
• Excessive thinning or tearing of the metal does not takes place.