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Design Data for Sheet Metal Bending

We have provided some of the data required for sheet metal design on this page for your reference. For detailed design and design optimization, please contact our engineers, who are available 24/7 to assist you.

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Presale Question

Sheet Metal Gauges

Sheet metal gauges measure the thickness of metal, not its composition. Unlike grades, which refer to the material’s composition, gauges indicate the thickness and weight of the sheet. As gauge numbers increase, the metal becomes thinner.

  • Higher gauge numbers = Thinner metal
  • Lower gauge numbers = Thicker metal

Different metals use different gauge systems:

  • Aluminum and non-ferrous metals: Brown and Sharpe (American Wire Gauge)
  • Carbon steel, galvanized steel, and stainless steel: Manufacturer’s standard gauge scale
Gauge Thickness Inches Thickness MM
11
0.1250
3.18
12
0.109
2.78
14
0.078
1.98
16
0.063
1.59
18
0.050
1.27
20
0.038
0.95
22
0.031
0.79
24
0.025
0.64
Gauge Thickness Inches Thickness MM
8
0.168
4.27
10
0.138
3.51
12
0.108
2.75
14
0.078
1.99
16
0.063
1.61
18
0.051
1.31
20
0.039
1.01
22
0.033
0.85
Gauge Thickness Inches Thickness MM
6
0.162
4.1
8
0.128
3.26
10
0.101
2.59
12
0.081
2.05
14
0.064
1.63
16
0.051
1.29
18
0.040
1.02
20
0.032
0.81
Gauge Thickness Inches Thickness MM
10
0.125
3.17
12
0.108
2.74
13
0.093
2.36
14
0.086
2.19
16
0.064
1.64
18
0.048
1.23
22
0.027
0.68
24
0.027
0.68
Gauge Thickness Inches Thickness MM
11
0.090
2.28
12
0.081
2.05
14
0.063
1.60
16
0.050
1.27
18
0.040
1.01
20
0.032
0.81
22
0.025
0.63
24
0.020
0.50

Here’s a simplified view of common metals and their corresponding gauge numbers and thicknesses in inches and millimeters.

Sheet Metal Thickness

Choosing the Right Sheet Metal Thickness

When selecting sheet metal thickness, it’s important to align the choice with both the application and the properties of the metal. For example, if you need a material with greater rigidity for an application that would otherwise require flexibility, a thicker sheet can provide the necessary strength while maintaining the metal’s key characteristics.

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minimum flange

Minimum Flange Lengths

Minimum flange lengths are required to hold a workpiece between the top and bottom dies in the press brake. The flange length required for forming depends on the material type, material thickness and bend radius. Refer to the table below for length guidelines for tooling requirements.

Gauge, Min Bend & Min Flange

Stainless Steel
Gauge | Thickness bend radii Minimum Bend Min Flange Min Hole
11 | 0.125″
0.08″
0.5″
0.5″
0.5″
12 | 0.109″
0.06″
0.5″
0.5″
0.36″
14 | 0.078″
0.055″
0.3″
0.3″
0.22″
16 | 0.063″
0.05″
0.22″
0.22″
0.17″
18 | 0.2″
0.05″
0.2″
0.2″
0.16″
20 | 0.038″
0.05″
0.2″
0.2″
0.15″
22 | 0.031″
0.04″
0.2″
0.2″
0.15″
24 | 0.025″
0.1″
0.5″
0.5″
0.15″
Gauge | Thickness Bend radii Minimum Bend Min Flange Min Hole
10 | 0.102″
0.04″
0.5″
0.5″
0.5″
11 | 0.091″
0.05″
0.375″
0.375″
0.28″
12 | 0.081″
0.04″
0.375″
0.375″
0.3″
14 | 0.064″
0.04″
0.22″
0.22″
0.18″
16 | 0.051″
0.04″
0.15″
0.15″
0.14″
18 | 0.04″
0.04″
0.265″
0.265″
0.17″
20 | 0.032″
0.04″
0.2″
0.2″
0.14″
Thickness Bend radii Minimum Bend Min Flange Min Hole
0.25″
0.07″
0.75″
0.75″
0.75″
0.188″
0.04″
0.5″
0.5″
0.5″
0.125″
0.08″
0.5″
0.5″
0.35″
0.093″
0.04″
0.375″
0.375″
0.24″
0.08″
0.04″
0.3″
0.3″
0.3″
0.064″
0.035″
0.22″
0.22″
0.16″
Gauge | Thickness bend radii Minimum Bend Min Flange Min Hole
14 | 0.079″
0.062″
0.275″
0.275″
0.275″
16 | 0.064″
0.035″
0.2″
0.2″
0.2″
18 | 0.052″
0.05″
0.2″
0.2″
0.15″
20 | 0.04″
0.04″
0.22″
0.2″
0.2″

If you’re not sure whether the shape of the part you need can be processed in our bending mold, you can Contact our engineer.

Minimum Bend Dimension

Normally, the minimum flange needs to be about 3 times the plate thickness, so for example, it may be difficult to bend a thin product such as a partial bend or an electronic component.

min bend dimension

H:Minimum flange length

t:Material thickness

R:Inner Radius

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Hardness (Brinell)Density (g/cm^3)Tensile Strength(MPa)Fatigue Strength (MPa)
Aluminum 6061602.68193117
Aluminum 6063732.721468.9
Aluminum 70501472.83490160
Aluminum 7075(Aerospace Grade)1502.81503159
Aluminum MIC-6652.7105N/A
Aluminum 5052602.68193117
Hardness (Brinell)Density (g/cm^3)Tensile Strength(MPa)Fatigue Strength (MPa)
Copper 10165 - 908.89 - 8.9469 - 36576 - 90
Copper C11065 - 908.8969 - 36576 - 90
Copper C17280 - 858.25515 - 585275
Copper C26060 - 828.53103 - 44190
Copper C36063-1308.49124-310138
Brass CZ12190 - 1608.47360 - 500220 - 360
Brass CZ13170 - 1408.5340 - 480200 - 350
Hardness (Brinell)Density (g/cm^3)Tensile Strength(MPa)Modulus of Elasticity (GPa)Elongation at Break(%)
Stainless Steel 17-73887.812752046
Stainless Steel 3012178.0320521240
Stainless Steel 3031608.0324020050
Stainless Steel 3161878.0320519340
Stainless Steel 3322008.0329419644
Stainless Steel 4163607.89622009.5
Stainless Steel 4205067.8104020011.5
Stainless Steel 440C495 - 6537.8450 - 1900204 - 2152.0 - 14
Hardness(Shore D)Density (g/cm^3)Modulus of Elasticity (GPa)Tensile Strength(MPa)Elongation at Break(%)
HDPE50 - 760.92 - 0.990.565 - 1.511 - 433 - 80
UHMW-PE54 - 1200.8 - 1.80.3 - 1.111.6 - 403.5 - 800
PVC801.16 - 1.651.82 - 7.033.45 - 73.12 - 330
ABS/Nylon Blend641.04 - 1.210.9 - 5.327 - 1003.1 - 230
Acrylic600.7 - 1.30.95 - 3.7925 - 851 - 85
Nylon 6676 - 881.02 - 2.70.6 - 2510 - 981 - 300
PTFE11 - 700.7 - 3.350.392 - 0.750.86 - 41.470 - 650
PEEK62 - 941.26 - 1.722.14 - 2411 - 1251.7 - 100
POM-H811.423.27530
POM-C791.412.86740
Hardness (Brinell)Density (g/cm^3)Tensile Strength(MPa)Modulus of Elasticity (GPa)Elongation at Break(%)
Titanium(Grade 1)1204.5170 - 31010324
Titanium(Grade 2)2004.51276 - 44810320
Titanium(Grade 4)2654.51480 - 65510515
Ti-6Al-4V(Grade 5)3794.43110011410
Bronze11.6 - 4205.6 - 1469 - 80072.4 - 1380 - 70
Zinc Alloy (Zamak 5)916.720870 - 1007
Steel Alloy AISI 43403887.8597220012.1
Nickel Alloy175 - 2408.44414 - 75820716