Neutral Factor Sheet Metal

The k factor is the ratio of the neutral axis location t to the material thickness mt.

Neutral factor sheet metal.

The neutral axis does not suffer any change of length during a bending operation. When metal is bent the top section is going to undergo compression and the bottom section will be stretched. K factor in sheet metal bending is a constant used to calculate sheet metal flat length or flat pattern. In this article we will discuss sheetmetal bend deduction bend allowance k factor y factor and sheet metal flat pattern calculations.

I had a question on k factors for our 3 d modeling software. The k factor in sheet metal working is the ratio of the neutral axis to the material thickness. The k factor is a constant determined by dividing the material thickness of the sheet by the location of the neutral axis. Flat blank dimensions are calculated by determining the path length along the neutral axis.

The line where the transition from compression to stretching occurs is called the neutral axis. 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. When you bend sheet metal the neutral axis shifts toward the inside surface of the bend. This is defined as the length of the neutral fibre from the beginning to the end of the arc generated by the bend.

Mathematically k factor value is equal to the ratio of position of neutral axis and sheet thickness. To calculate the bend allowance the k factor and the derived coefficient called the y factor insert the thickness and initial length of the sheet into the cells on the left. Bending angle is 90. Our design engineers typically use a factor of 0 4 for our air formed press brake parts.

It is the fraction of material thickness from the inside of the bend to the neutral axis. The area within the sheet defined as the neutral axis does not get compressed on the inside of the neutral axis or expanded on the outside. After bending the sheet insert the inner radius and flanges a and b. For example the following part that has a 90 o bend.

In sheet metal design the k factor is used to calculate how much sheet metal one needs to leave for the bend in order to achieve particular final dimensions especially for between the straight sides next the bend. The location of the neutral axis is specified with the k factor.