Press brake: A press brake is a machine that bends sheet metal by pressing it between a punch and a die, forming flanges, angles and channels along straight lines.
An operator, or a robot, places the flat blank against a back gauge, and the ram drives a punch into a V-shaped die, bending the sheet to a programmed angle. A CNC press brake moves the back gauge and sets the depth automatically for each bend in the sequence. The tooling chosen sets the inside bend radius and the shortest flange that can be formed.
What it means for the price
Bending cost comes from setup (changing tools and checking the first part) and from handling time per bend. A part with eight bends takes far longer than one with two, and large or heavy parts may need two people. Bends that need special tooling, or a sequence where formed flanges risk hitting the machine, add time and risk. The flat pattern is cut first, so a quote combines cutting and bending.
Example: at €60 per hour and 10 seconds of handling per bend, a six-bend part takes 1 minute of brake time, or €1 per part after setup. The figures are an example.
Common confusions
A press brake bends; the blank is cut beforehand on a laser or punch. Quotometry does not price sheet metal fabrication yet: bends and press-brake work are not built. Read what drives sheet metal fabrication cost or see the sheet metal process page.
Go deeper: Sheet metal fabrication cost: cut, bend, insert, finish