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Bending Glossary

A-1 Roll Company > Bending Glossary

Angle bending – A metal forming process used to form angle iron to a specific degree or angle.
Generally angle iron bending differs from angle iron rolling in that it is more concerned with forming the angle iron to a specific angle or degree, rather than a curve or radius.
Angle iron bending can sometimes be used as another word for angle iron rolling. Both refer to the metal forming processes in which angle irons are formed to a specific degree, radius or curve.

Angle rolling – A metal forming process used to form angle iron into curves and or radiuses.

Angle rolling leg-in – A metal forming process used to form angle iron into curves and or radiuses.

Angle rolling legs-out – A metal forming process used to form angle iron into curves and or radiuses.

Arc – The curved portion of the rolling or bending of materials such as pipe, tube, beam and channel.

Arc length – The length of the curved portion of the rolling or bending of materials such as angle, beam, square and rectangular tube

Architecturally exposed – Refers to when the processed material is going to visible or exposed in the structure. Sometimes architecturally exposed can mean that it will be painted, coated or plated, but still visible.

Architecturally non-exposed – Refers to when the processed material is not going to be visible or exposed in the structure.
Sometimes architecturally non-exposed can mean that it will be used as a support or brace that is covered or not visible

Beam bending – A metal forming process used to form metal beam to a specific degree or angle.
Generally beam bending differs from beam rolling in that it is more concerned with forming the beam to a specific angle or degree, rather than a curve or radius.
Beam bending can sometimes be used as another word for beam rolling. Both refer to the metal forming processes in which beams are formed to a specific degree, radius or curve

Beam rolling – A metal forming process used to form metal beam into curves and or radiuses.

Beam rolling easy-way – A metal forming process used to form metal beam into curves and or radiuses.

Beam rolling hard-way – A metal forming process used to form metal beam into curves and or radiuses.

Bending – A metal forming process used to form metal sheets and plates, as well as metal structural shapes, to a specific degree or angle.

Bend radius – The radius of the arc normally taken from the centerline of the rolled or bent material such as plate, flat bar, round bar, channel, beam and tube.

Bevel – A type of end preparation done to rolled or bent pipe and tube

Centerline radius – the distance, in inches, from the center of the pipe rolling or tube rolling bend to the center of the radius.

Channel bending – A metal forming process used to form metal channel to a specific degree or angle.
Generally channel bending differs from channel rolling in that it is more concerned with forming the channel to a specific angle or degree, rather than a curve or radius.
Channel bending can sometimes be used as another word for channel rolling. Both refer to the metal forming processes in which channels are formed to a specific degree, radius or curve.

Channel rolling – A metal forming process used to form metal channel into curves and or radiuses.

Channel rolling hard-way – A metal forming process used to form metal channel into curves and or radiuses.

Channel rolling legs-in – A metal forming process used to form metal channel into curves and or radiuses.

Degree – Then angle in degrees to which the material such as tube rolling, pipe rolling, channel rolling or beam rolling is bent.

I.D. – Abbreviation for “Inside Dimension”, used in reference to the inside measurement of a specific fabricated part such as a structural shape or bent part. When rolling a tube or other structural shape to a complete ring, or circle, this measurement is taken from one inside edge of the material to the opposite inside edge. When forming a bent custom formed channel on the press brake, the measurement on the inside from one formed leg to the inside edge of the opposite formed leg is referenced as the I.D.

Minimum Tangent – The minimum amount of straight section required for pipe rolling, tube rolling, beam rolling and channel rolling.

O.D. – Abbreviation for “Outside Dimension”, used in reference to the outside measurement of a specific fabricated part such as a structural shape or bent part. When rolling a tube or other structural shape to a complete ring, or circle, this measurement is taken from one outside edge of the material to the opposite outside edge. When forming a bent custom formed channel on the press brake, the measurement on the outside from one formed leg to the outside edge of the opposite formed leg is referenced as the O.D.

Ovality – The controllable amount of distortion in pipe from its original shape during the rolling and bending process.

Pipe bending – A metal forming process used to form pipes to a specific degree or angle.
Generally pipe bending differs from pipe rolling in that it is more concerned with forming the square or rectangular tube to a specific angle or degree, rather than a curve or radius.

Pipe rolling – Forming of pipes into arcs and curves at specific radiuses using a metal rolling process. Pipe rolling generally differs from Pipe bending in that the curves are more gradual and form larger arcs and or rings. Pipe bending is more commonly used to form a smaller tighter radius that causes a more defined turn like that in an elbow.

Plate bending – A metal forming process used to form metal plates to a specific degree or angle.
Generally plate bending differs from plate rolling in that it is more concerned with forming the metal plate to a specific angle or degree, rather than a curve or radius.

Plate rolling – A metal forming process that takes metal plates and forms them to a specific curve or radius.
Rolling of metal plates can be used to form cylinders, shells, tanks, and cones.
Plate rolling generally differs from plate bending in that the curves are more gradual and are more concerned with a curve or radius, rather than an angle or degree.

Press brake bending – A metal forming process using a press brake to form metal sheets and or plates to a specific degree or angle. Bending of metal sheets and plates can be used to form custom shapes such as formed channels, angles, and or Z-sections. Press brake bending allows you to form custom shapes that might not be available as a standard shape and or size.

Rolling – A metal forming process used to form metal sheets and plates, as well as metal structural shapes, into curves or radiuses. Rolling of metal sheets and plates can be used to form cylinders, shells, tanks, and cones. Rolling may be used to form or bend structural shapes into curves at specific radiuses to form arcs and or rings. Angle rolling, channel rolling, beam rolling, tube rolling, pipe rolling, are all examples of structural shape rolling.

Roll past – A small amount of arc bent beyond the specified degree made during the rolling and bending process.

Rough cut – A rough end cut that is not intended to have any specified shape.

Square cut – A cut end that is specified as being square to the arc after the rolling and bending process

Tangent – The straight section of the rolled material on either side of the tube rolling, pipe rolling, and channel rolling or beam rolling.

Tangent point – The beginning or ending point of the bent section in angle rolling, tube rolling, pipe rolling, flat bar rolling or round bar rolling

Tube bending – A metal forming process used to form square or rectangular tubes to a specific degree or angle.
Generally tube bending differs from tube rolling in that it is more concerned with forming the square or rectangular tube to a specific angle or degree, rather than a curve or radius.

Tube rolling – Forming of square and rectangular tubes into arcs and curves at specific radiuses using a metal rolling process.
Tube rolling generally differs from Tube bending in that the curves are more gradual and form larger arcs and or rings.
Tube bending is more commonly used to form a smaller, tighter radius that causes a more defined turn like that in an elbow.

Wall thickness – The thickness, in inches, of the walls of the material such as pipe rolling and pipe bending or tube rolling and tube bending.