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Product Focus: Metal-Fabricating Equipment

06 May.,2024

Product Focus: Metal-Fabricating Equipment

Gutter Machines • GutterSupply.com

GutterSupply.com distributes the largest variety of gutter machines from top-of-the-line, free-floating drive-train machines to the reliable and durable steel-rolled machines. Products include 5-, 6- and 7-inch K-style machines; 5- and 6-inch combination K-style machines; 6-inch half-round machines; and 5.5-inch fascia-style machines. Customers can customize machines to fit their needs or buy complete packages and save. Machine-mounted cradles, special gutter profiles, run-out stands and transfer coil bars are just some of the options available. The company also sells roof-panel machines. For more information, visit www.guttersupply.com.

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Roof-Panel Machines • New Tech Machinery

New Tech Machinery manufactures portable standing seam roof-panel machines and K-style gutter machines. The company offers award-winning roof-panel machines including the SSQ, the SSH and the SSR. All machines are covered by the best warranty and customer support in the industry. The roof-panel machines offer multiple profiles, various options and innovative accessories to customize machines. Visit New Tech Machinery at METALCON in Booth 709 for live machine demonstrations and a tailgating event. For more information, visit www.newtechmachinery.com.

Metal-Fabricating Products • RAS Systems

RAS Systems provides innovative metal-fabricating equipment to companies that manufacture roofing profiles. Products include the TURBObend, the TURBObend Plus, the XL-Center whichs bends up and down automatically, and the SMARTcut Squaring Shear. The company also offers Bendex 3-D Software to complement users’ equipment and businesses. The software allows users to draw the profile, cost and quote it, download the program to the machine, track the manufacturing process and invoice. For more information, visit www.ras-systems.com.

Cutting Machine • Metform

How efficient is your blank-cutting process? If buying blank metal sheets is taking away from profits, it may be time for a MetKut. Metform offers a versatile, compact and efficient cut-to-length machine to produce sheets to feed your folders and press brakes. Specifications include: 16 to 22 gauge; up to 60-inch-wide coils; 120 fpm; seven-roll flattener; flying shear with servo-motor; air-float stacker for non-scratch with side pack discharge; high accuracy; and no pit required. For those who produce metal building trim and flashing, the MetKut will serve all internal blanking needs to improve efficiency and turn better profits. For more information, visit www.metformintl.com.

Long Folding System • Roper Whitney

Roper Whitney now manufactures an American-made long folding line: the AutoMax Series. With two classes of machines, it offers more free space, lengths up to 40 feet and up to 9 gauge capacity. The line is ideal for those who create complex profiles and need the flexibility and throughput of a long folding system. The ECS 904 control can auto-sequence the part, show the part in 3-D, and download and read DXF files. Other features include energy-saving hydraulics, back gauges up to 60 inches, and safety features including laser finger detection and an optional auto radius function. For more information, visit www.roperwhitney.com.

Gang Slitter • Spar-Marathon

The Super Slitter is a heavy-duty pull-through type slitter that’s designed for use by roofers and sheet-metal contractors. The product features a rugged frame for years of solid, accurate slitting; a gear and chain drive with safety guard; precision-ground, high-carbon, high-chrome tool steel knives as standard equipment; a heavy-gauge steel table for supporting sheets; precision-ground shafts mounted between flanged bearings; and a sheet guide on both sides for safe and accurate slitting. The slitter is easily adjustable for light or heavy gauge, has a sheet capacity of 48 inches wide, and cuts 16 to 30 gauge. For more information, visit www.sparmarathon.ca.

Sheet-Metal Slitter • Van Mark Products

The Trim-A-Slitter™ Perforator Combo is designed to offer both cutting/slitting and perforating for the most common steel roofing materials. Users can cut material to width and perforate to create vents and soffits. This unique coil and sheet-metal slitter comes with a high-torque electric motor, two sets of hardened steel knives, perforating dies and a UniStand EZ-Go™ for easy jobsite transportation. For more information, visit www.van-mark.com.

Hydraulic Bending Equipment • Formtek

Roto-Die’s unique hydraulic benders are an industry standard in sheet-metal shops throughout the United States. Each sheet-metal brake is a versatile, economical, productive tool. By shifting the selection lever, a single operator can perform all basic sheet-metal forming operations; no dies to change. Roto-Die hydraulic sheet-metal bending equipment is typically used for perimeter-edge materials such as fascia and coping, as well as flashing. For more information, visit www.roto-die.com.

For more metal roof sheet bending machineinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

Portable Rollforming System • MetalForming

The engineers at Schlebach initially designed a top-quality, single-profile rollformer, but the folks at MetalForming Inc. knew that to meet the requirements of American metal-roofing contractors, they needed a machine that could produce different roof-panel profiles quickly and efficiently, in a factory or out on a jobsite. The result was Quadro Plus, the only machine of its kind with instant changeover from one profile to another by simply rotating tooling cassettes. For more information, visit www.metalforming-usa.com.

How to choose the Best Sheet Metal Folding Machine

Sheet metal folding is just one of the processes that takes place during the metal fabrication process for thinner gage materials (See: What is Metal Fabricating). In earlier days, most of the bending and folding of sheet metal was done using simple tools that required only manual support. However, due to advancement in technology as well as thicker and harder metals, today you’ll find a plethora of cutting-edge sheet metal fabrication tools, some of which are automatic and require very little human input.

For any workshop that deals with sheet metals,, a folding machine is an indispensable tool. However, considering the broad categories and types of sheet metal fabrication tools in the market, sometimes it can be challenging to know the kind of machine to choose for a given project (Also see: Folders or Press Brakes? How to Choose). This article will provide an insightful guide on how to select the best metal bender, but before that, let’s understand what metal folding entails.

What is a Sheet Metal Folding?

Sheet metal folding is a stage in metal fabrication that involves folding, bending and pressing sheet metal into the desired geometry. It is the process that is used in the creation of products such as boxes, panels, gutters, enclosures, and much more. A metal folding machine is used to fold the metal into an intended shape accurately. This process is typically carried out using manually operated press brake or folding machines. But, changes in technology have led to the introduction of more advanced pieces of equipment that allow for automation through computer-aided programs and CAD (Computer Aided Designs).

Types of Sheet Metal Folders

Generally, sheet metal benders fall into two categories: Box Forming machines and Pan Brakes.

Box Forming: Box forming machinery has a set of tooling which allows the operator to select a set length of that tooling in order to reach down into a “box” frame (part with formed side flanges). By mixing and matching the appropriate tools the upper beams can be configured in such a way to allos for the best clamoning and foirng needs.
Pan Brake: A pan brake sometimes called a “leaf brake” is a simple folding system that bends the whole length of material. Used for roof flashing, gutters and similar long, formed parts without side flanges.

However, they are further categorized based on how they are operated.

Manual Folding Sheet Metal Machines

These are the smallest metal folders and are very popular since they are easy to transport. They are ideal for thin sheets of metals (18 Gauge and thinner) based on the material used. They are setup and operated manually and often can be transported right to the job site.

Hydraulic Metal Folders

Some machines in this category are operated manually, but the presence of the hydraulics provides them with the extra power to bend thicker materials. They are often found in fabrication shops, and they can fold materials of up to ¼ inches in thickness and beyond (although 1/4” (6MM) is about the theoretical limit).

Computer Controlled Sheet Folding Machines

CNC sheet metal folding is a newer technology where folding is automatically done with the help of a computer program. This kind of metal folding delivers excellent accuracy, efficiency and precision as well as adding in complex bending routines. They can achieve multiple bends and fold metal in unique angles.

Choosing The Right Metal Folding Machine

Selecting the right folding machine boils down to the unique requirements of different fabrication shops. For those who are manufacturing items using thin materials that are long, wide, and with short flanges, folding machines are the best fit. This is because they allow the material to rest on the folder bed for easier handling. Folding machines also are inherently more accurate as they “fold” any sheet dimensional errors into the first bend providing more accuracy in overall part sizes.

On the other hand, press brake machines can be more versatile with both ‘up’ and ‘down’ bends as well as parts with side flanges. They are ideal for bending items of any thickness and material. They also come at a lower initial cost.

When it comes to operation, the type will depend on the size and thickness of the material being worked on. It also depends on whether you are producing in bulk or not, or whether you have the skills required to operate the metal folders. Manual folders are ideal for small shops that deal with simple tasks. For mass production, hydraulic and CNC are the best options.

At Southern Fabricating Machinery Sales, Inc we are metal bending and folding experts and can help you select the right type of machine for your application and budget. We have great resources at our disposal like the Folding Machine Inspection Checklist linked below available to you. Visit us at www.southernfabsales.com or call us at 1-813-444-4555 to discuss your metal folding needs now.

Want more information on stainless steel panel bender? Feel free to contact us.

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