Air Bending vs. Coining Sheet Metal: A Brief Explainer
Ameritex accurately bends materials like aluminum, stainless steel, carbon steel, copper, and even plastic from thin gauges up to 0.5” thick for a wide range of applications. While there are many precision sheet metal forming techniques, we’ve found air bending and coining to be the most practical for our customers’ needs.
Air bending involves pressing sheet metal against a die to achieve a desired angle. However, the sheet metal never makes complete contact with the die.
Air bending is Ameritex’s go-to method for precision sheet metal forming. It’s ideal for creating 90-degree bends commonly found in applications such as enclosures and brackets. Ameritex’s expert engineers and operators have the expertise and tools needed to account for springback and ensure that final parts meet all specifications.
Whereas in air bending, the sheet metal never makes complete contact with the die, coining sheet metal involves pressing the sheet metal firmly against the die with significantly more tonnage and pressure.
Ameritex typically leverages coining for high-precision, tight-tolerance parts, such as those used in automotive and aerospace applications.
Ameritex’s highly skilled team can satisfy virtually any bending requirements. However, we may offer recommendations based on material type and size. For instance, hard aluminum is prone to cracking, so we may suggest using a soft aluminum like 5051 instead.
Depending on the size of your sheet metal part, we may need to get creative when bending is required. If our machinery can’t accommodate the size of your part, we can, for example, cut the part in half and weld the two pieces together after bending.
Need precision sheet metal forming for your next part or product? Request a quote today.