Sheet Metal Folding

Sheet metal folding bends sheet material along a linear fold line using a punch and die.

Sheet Metal Folding uses a folding machine (also called a brake press or panel bender) to bend sheet metal along defined bend lines. Unlike Die Bending — which uses shaped tool sets in a press brake — Sheet Metal Folding bends the material by clamping it against a die and folding it over a beam.

Sheet Metal Folding is an automatic workstep — it runs automatically after Sheet Cutting completes. WSi creates the Sheet Bending node as part of the import or creation workflow.

When to use this process

Sheet Metal Folding is available automatically after Sheet Cutting when:

• You are using a folding machine rather than a traditional press brake
• The bend geometry is compatible with the folding machine's die set
• You need a different bend sequence or approach than what Die Bending produces

See also: Die Bending.

Editing Sheet Metal Folding Parameters

Edit die choice

Open by right-clicking a Sheet Bending node in the Graph View and selecting Edit Bending Tools.

Edit bend correction

Right-click and select Edit Bend Correction to manually adjust the bend deduction values. Override the calculated value when the actual bend angle deviates from the target.

Result

After Sheet Metal Folding runs:

• A Sheet Bending node appears in the Graph View, connected from the Sheet Cutting node
• The Tree View shows bend results: angles, radii, and any warnings
• The bent geometry becomes available as output for joining or further processing

WARNING

Sheet Metal Folding is available as an alternative bending method. If the bending module is not licensed, this workflow is blocked. Contact your sales representative at WSoptics.

Parameters

The parameters for this process are configured in the database — see the Sheet Bending page.

Technical Background

A folding machine (also called a panel bender or brake press) differs from a press brake in how it bends the material. Instead of pushing the sheet into a die cavity, the sheet is clamped along its leading edge by an upper clamping beam — this clamp line serves as the pivot for the bend.

A bending beam rises from below, pushing the material over a tool (a leaf or finger) against the clamping beam. The bend is made by rotating the sheet around the clamp line rather than forcing it into a shaped die. The material bends freely over the tool edge, which means springback compensation works differently than in press brake bending.

Folding machines are fast for simple bends such as roof panels and enclosures, and they have a lower capital cost than press brakes for medium-duty work. The achievable bend angle per pass depends on the die geometry (die width, leaf angle) and the machine's maximum opening height.

Unlike die bending, there is no female die cavity to constrain the material's shape. Long panels can be bent in sequence by sliding the part along the clamping beam, allowing the folding machine to handle workpieces that exceed the machine's tool length.

Folding produces slightly different inside radii than press brake bending for the same material thickness, because the material slides over the tool edge rather than being pressed against a fixed punch radius.