Sheet Metal K Factor Chart

The k factor is defined mathematically as t mt where t is the neutral axis location and mt is the material thickness.

Sheet metal k factor chart.

So if the thickness of the sheet was a distance of t 1 mm and the location of the neutral axis was a distance of t 0 5 mm measured from the inside bend then you would have a k factor of t t 0 5 1 0 5. The k factor is fundamental to designing precise sheet metal products. K factor a constant determined by dividing the thickness of the sheet by the location of the neutral axis which is the part of sheet metal that does not change length. Best way to calculate k factor in sheet metal is by reverse engineering.

The part of the material that bends. The k factor is usually somewhere between 0 3 and 0 5. For example if the value of k factor for given material thickness and bending machines is known. 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.

This change in sheet length depends on the position of neutral axis or k factor. A k factor will typically range between 0 and 5 for standard materials and thicknesses though smaller and larger k factors are possible. As a result overall sheet length increases. To help you begin i ve included a k factor chart below which contains common k factor starting points good for general fabrication for steel aluminum and stainless steel.

It allows you to anticipate the bend deduction for a large variety of angles without having to rely on a chart. Calculate k factor bend allowance and y factor for sheet metal bending. Cad tools use k factor to calculate sheet metal blank. The k factor is defined as the ratio between the material thickness t and the neutral fibre axis t i e.

While modern bend deduction charts now are reasonably accurate historically bend calculation charts both for bend allowances and bend deductions were notorious for their inaccuracies. To help you begin i ve included a k factor chart below which contains common k factor starting points good for general fabrication for steel aluminum and stainless steel. K factor chart a k factor will typically range between 0 and 5 for standard materials and thicknesses though smaller and larger k factors are possible. Sheet metal flat length can be calculated using cad softwares.

Because of the specific properties of any given metal there is no easy way to calculate that value perfectly hence the chart in figure 2.