Stainless steel bending guide
Plan the grade, finished appearance and bend geometry together. A stainless part needs more than a thickness and a machine ton rating.
Start with the grade and finish
Give the material grade, measured thickness and required surface finish with your drawing. Use the actual tensile strength when estimating force. The stainless preset in a calculator is a starting estimate, not a specification for every grade.
Protect the visible face
Identify which faces remain visible after assembly. Clean tooling and suitable surface protection can reduce marking, but the result depends on the tools, material and process. Include any protective film in the trial; do not promise a mark-free result without checking a sample.
Check radius and springback
The V opening influences the formed radius, force and minimum support. Confirm the required inside radius and measure the unloaded angle on a test part. A change of tooling can also change the developed blank length. Record the approved material and tooling combination for repeat work.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the mild-steel machine capacity for stainless?
Do not assume the same thickness capacity. Ask Carter to check the actual grade, strength, bend length, tooling and process against the selected machine.
Discuss your next bending job
Send the material, thickness, working length and a drawing with your enquiry.