Sheet Metal & Press Brakes
Press brake tonnage calculation, bend allowance, V-die selection, hydraulic vs electric machine comparisons, and forming guides for fabricators.
Free Press Brake Tonnage Calculator
Enter material, thickness, bend length, and V-die opening to get required tonnage instantly.
Press Brake Fundamentals
Air bending — the dominant mode on modern CNC press brakes — forms sheet metal by driving a punch into a V-die without bottoming out. The bend angle is controlled by punch depth, and the springback angle (typically 2–8° for mild steel) is corrected by over-bending. The required tonnage follows the formula:
T (tons/m) = (t² × Rm) / (8 × V)
Where t is material thickness (mm), Rm is tensile strength (MPa), and V is the V-die opening (mm). Multiply by bend length in metres for total tonnage. Add 20% safety margin.
The V-die opening is typically 8× material thickness for air bending. Narrowing V increases bending force and reduces minimum bend radius; widening V decreases tonnage but risks marking soft materials.
Sheet Metal Guides
Reference
Press Brake Tonnage Calculation: Complete Guide
Full walkthrough with tonnage chart for mild steel 0.5–12 mm, tensile strength values, V-die sizing rules, and safety margin guidance.
Read guideMachine Selection
Hydraulic vs Electric Press Brake: Which to Buy?
Servo-electric vs hydraulic drive — speed, accuracy, energy consumption, and total cost of ownership over 10 years.
Read guideForming
Bend Allowance & K-Factor Explained
How to calculate the flat pattern correctly using bend allowance, bend deduction, and K-factor for different materials and die radii.
Read guideFeatured Press Brakes
Representative machines across press brake types and capacities. Specifications are indicative; verify with manufacturers before purchasing.
HFE-M2 80-25
Hydraulic Press Brake
- Capacity: 80 ton × 2,500 mm
- Stroke: 200 mm
- Throat depth: 400 mm
- Control: AMNC 3i (angle sensing)
TruBend 5085
Servo-Electric Press Brake
- Capacity: 85 ton × 2,550 mm
- Angle accuracy: ±0.1°
- Energy saving: up to 50% vs hydraulic
- ACB (automatic crowning/bending)
Easy-Form 80T × 2500
Hydraulic Press Brake
- Capacity: 80 ton × 2,500 mm
- Easy-Form Laser angle sensing
- Control: CADMAN-B Touch
- Optional EasyLoad automation
AD-S 2560
CNC Hydraulic Press Brake
- Capacity: 60 ton × 2,500 mm
- Back gauge: X, R axes standard
- Control: Delem DA-66T
- Good value mid-range option
CI 90T × 10
Hydraulic Press Brake
- Capacity: 90 ton × 3,050 mm
- Ram repeatability: ±0.003 mm
- E-Stop: hydraulic safety circuit
- Manufactured in USA
eP-1030
Servo-Electric Press Brake
- Capacity: 100 ton × 3,050 mm
- Drive: servo-electric direct drive
- Angle accuracy: ±0.1°
- No hydraulics — minimal maintenance