Compared with traditional cutting processes, why is sheet metal bending more suitable for the manufacture of complex structural parts?
Publish Time: 2025-06-09
In modern manufacturing, sheet metal processing technology is becoming more and more important. Especially when manufacturing complex structural parts, sheet metal bending technology shows significant advantages over traditional cutting technology. This trend is not only reflected in efficiency and precision, but also in its multi-dimensional performance such as flexibility, economy and sustainability.1. Higher design freedom and forming abilitySheet metal bending is a processing method that applies pressure to metal sheets through molds or CNC equipment to cause plastic deformation to form the desired shape. Compared with traditional cutting (such as laser cutting, water jet cutting, plasma cutting, etc.), sheet metal bending can not only achieve straight-line bending, but also complete multi-angle and multi-segment continuous bending, and even process complex three-dimensional structures.For example, when manufacturing parts such as electrical housings, automotive parts, and medical device housings that require multiple bending surfaces, sheet metal bending can be formed in one step, while traditional cutting can only achieve contour cutting and cannot directly form structural features. Therefore, for products that require high integration and complex geometric shapes, sheet metal bending is obviously more advantageous.2. Higher material utilization and cost controlTraditional cutting processes usually produce a lot of scraps, especially when processing special-shaped parts. Sheet metal bending is based on the overall utilization of the plate, and only needs to cut according to the unfolded size, with almost no material waste. This not only reduces the cost of raw materials, but also reduces the workload of subsequent recycling and processing.In addition, since sheet metal bending can complete processing at multiple angles on one device, there is no need to frequently change tools or switch processes, which greatly improves production efficiency, shortens delivery cycles, and helps companies better control overall manufacturing costs.3. Higher processing accuracy and consistencyWith the development of CNC technology, modern sheet metal bending machines have a very high level of automation and processing accuracy. Through programming control, the angle, depth and sequence of each bend can be accurately set to ensure the high consistency of each batch of products.In contrast, although traditional cutting can also achieve high contour accuracy, it often relies on manual splicing or welding when forming a three-dimensional structure, which is prone to error accumulation and product differences. In the sheet metal bending process, the integrated molding of parts avoids the uncertainty caused by these human factors, and is particularly suitable for industrial applications with large quantities and high precision requirements.Fourth, stronger structural strength and lightweight advantagesSheet metal bending is to achieve structural forming through plastic deformation of materials. It will not destroy the organizational structure of the material itself, but can enhance local strength. Especially when manufacturing frame and shell structures, the edges and ribs formed by bending can effectively improve the rigidity and load-bearing capacity of parts.At the same time, sheet metal bending allows the use of thinner metal plates to achieve high-strength structures, which makes it possible to lightweight products. This feature is particularly important in aerospace, new energy vehicles, electronic equipment and other fields. It can reduce overall weight and improve energy efficiency while ensuring performance.Five, strong adaptability, support for rapid iteration and flexible manufacturingSheet metal bending equipment, especially CNC bending machines, has good flexible production capabilities. By modifying program parameters, the processing plan can be quickly adjusted to meet the needs of parts of different models and specifications. This flexibility makes sheet metal bending very suitable for small batch customization, prototype development and frequent product iterations.In contrast, in traditional cutting processes, if you want to change the structure of parts, you often need to redesign the cutting path or replace the fixture, which takes a long time to adjust and is costly, and it is difficult to meet the requirements of modern manufacturing for "agile production".6. Environmental protection and energy saving, in line with the concept of green manufacturingThe sheet metal bending process does not require the use of auxiliary materials such as coolant and lubricant, nor does it produce harmful gases or dust, and is a clean production process. At the same time, due to the high material utilization rate and low energy consumption, the entire manufacturing process is more energy-saving and environmentally friendly. This is particularly important in the context of the global advocacy of carbon neutrality and the promotion of green manufacturing.In summary, the reason why sheet metal bending is more suitable for the manufacture of complex structural parts than traditional cutting is mainly due to its comprehensive advantages in design freedom, material utilization rate, processing accuracy, structural strength, flexible production and environmental protection performance. With the continuous advancement of intelligent manufacturing technology, sheet metal bending will play a key role in more high-end manufacturing fields and become an important development direction for metal processing in the future.
