Sheet Metal Processing Machines

Types of sheet metal processing machine at a glance

Sheet metal processing machines cut and form sheet, and the working step decides which type fits. At KNUTH each of the five common types is a category of its own with full technical data on every model.

• Press Brakes bend sheet in a die, between an upper tool and a bottom die. They apply the highest bending forces and work with a programmable back gauge. Die bending machine and bending press are the usual alternative names.
• Folding Machines clamp the sheet and swing a folding beam upwards. That suits long edges, boxes and profiles in thin gauge material.
• Guillotine Shears part sheet across the full working length, either as a hand operated treadle shear or in a motorised version. For straight cuts the guillotine is the standard answer.
• Plate Rolling Machines roll sheet over three or four rolls into cylinders, cones and shells.
• Edge Beveling Machines chamfer a plate edge and prepare it for welding.

Cutting, folding and bending: which machine for which step

Most sheet metal work follows the same route: part first, form second, finish the edge last. A guillotine shear is the most economical answer for straight cuts in flat sheet, while contours, cut outs and holes are the job of laser cutting machines and plasma cutting machines. In forming, geometry decides: tight edges and complex profiles on the press brake, long edges and thin gauge work on the folding machine, round shapes on the plate roll. Tube and section work runs through tubes and profile processing, straightening and forming through presses.

Manual, NC or CNC: three levels of control

Manual machines have no control system and suit one off parts, repair work and training. NC machines position the back gauge and the tool semi automatically. A CNC sheet metal processing machine stores the whole bending sequence as a programme, controls crowning along with it and repeats a batch at a constant bend angle, so setting and re measuring drop away. Existing machines can be linked to shop floor data collection with retrofit sensor kits and IoT gateways.

Materials and sheet thickness

Mild steel, stainless steel, aluminium, copper and brass all run on these machines. What matters for sizing is not thickness on its own but the tensile strength of the material. Stainless needs far more force than mild steel at the same thickness, aluminium far less. Working length, thickness and material have to be read together, and the permitted values are listed in the technical data of each machine.

Tooling and accessories for sheet metal work

On a press brake the upper tool and the die set the bend radius, and a segmented top beam allows box folds. Folding machines work with a segmented folding bar, guillotine shears with blade sets that can be reground. Tooling and blade sets can be quoted with the machine.

Applications and industries

Sheet metal processing machines are at work in metal fabrication shops and structural steel, in ventilation and roofing trades, in vehicle and trailer building, in control cabinet production and in maintenance workshops. Technical colleges and training centres teach cutting and bending on robust manual machines. In batch production, subcontractors for mechanical engineering, packaging machinery and aerospace run CNC equipment.

Why KNUTH

KNUTH is a supplier of machine tools with its own quality control in Germany. The European warehouse in Wasbek holds around 1,000 machines permanently in stock, so part of the sheet metal range is available at short notice. Every machine is inspected with documented results and delivered CE compliant, and the declaration of conformity is included in the delivery.

Service, spare parts and availability

Service runs through our own service network, with engineers in Germany and partner organisations in the export markets. Common spare parts come from the central warehouse, special parts directly from the manufacturers of the components. A ten year spare parts supply commitment applies across the company. Installation, commissioning and operator instruction are available on request, with the scope stated in the quotation. Contact us by email or phone if you need help sizing a machine, choosing tooling or checking availability.

Further Machine Categories at a Glance

Here is an overview of our machine range. Select a category to learn more about individual machines and their technical data.