APSM Engineering
Sheet Metal Bending Services
We take on sheet metal bending work for design engineers, procurement teams and fabricators running over capacity. Everything happens under one roof, so a drawing goes in, and a finished component comes out.
APSM Engineering
Bending capacities
APSM Engineering operates a Bystronic 150-tonne Xpert Pro press brake with a 3-metre working length. This provides the capacity and flexibility required for a wide range of sheet metal bending and folding applications.
The Xpert Pro is specified by APSM for:
- Accurate sheet metal bending.
- Repeatable results across production runs.
- Efficient processing and faster turnaround.
- Complex bending work and precision-engineered components.
- Consistent finished components.
The press brake forms part of APSM Engineering’s wider in-house fabrication capability. Where required, your bent components can be combined with laser cutting and other sheet metal fabrication processes.
One Workshop
Most bending work is not really a bending job. It is a cut, then a fold, then a weld, then a coat of paint. Split that across three suppliers, and you own the schedule, the chasing and the blame.
We do the lot here. A drawing comes in, and a finished component goes out.
A typical route looks like this:
- Fibre laser cuts the blank
- Press brake folds it
- Coded welders join the assembly
- PEM studs, tapped holes and countersinks go in
- Powder coating or zinc plating finishes it
- We assemble, pack and send
Any of those steps can be your start or end point. Plenty of customers send us their own blanks for folding only.
FAQs
Can you fold parts that were cut somewhere else?
Yes. Send the blanks with a flat pattern or a drawing, and we will fold them. Most customers use us for the whole job, but bending sheet metal on its own is normal work for us.
What is the smallest bend radius I can design in?
It depends on the material and how thick it is. A safe starting point in mild steel is an inside radius about equal to the thickness of the sheet. Aluminium usually needs more, because it cracks before steel does. Send the drawing, and we will tell you if the radius works before you commit to anything.
How close can a hole sit to a bend line?
If a hole sits too near the fold, the metal pulls it out of round. The usual guide is to keep it clear of the bend by about two and a half times the material thickness, plus the bend radius. If your design cannot allow that, say so early. There are usually ways around it.
Do I need to work out the flat pattern myself?
No. Send the folded part as a 3D model, and we will develop the flat ourselves. We allow for the material stretching at each bend, which is where most flat patterns sent in by customers go wrong. If you only have a sketch or a paper drawing, our CAD team can work it up.
Why does my part come back a degree or two out?
That is springback. Metal wants to return to its original shape after the tool lifts. How much it moves depends on the material, the thickness and the grain direction. We allow for it during setup rather than trying to correct parts afterwards, which is why the 150-tonne Bystronic matters. It repeats the same fold across a batch.
Does grain direction actually matter?
On aluminium and some stainless grades, yes. A fold running along the grain is more likely to crack than one running across it. On thin mild steel it rarely causes trouble. If your part has tight radii in aluminium, we will look at how it is nested before cutting.
Can I use your metal bending service and get the part finished too?
Yes, and most people do. The same workshop cuts the blank on the fibre laser, folds it, welds it with coded welders, adds PEM studs or tapped holes, then powder coats or zinc plates it. Your part does not leave the building between processes.
Do you handle small quantities?
Yes. Setup on the Xpert Pro is quick, which is what usually decides whether a short run is worth doing. A ten-off job does not sit behind a thousand-off job.
More Questions ?
We are more than happy to advise you on the options available. Please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions
