Prepare sheet/plate metal(material)
Before rolling plate to a metal circle, we must prepare a metal sheet of the appropriate length for the bending job.
Remember, the plate bending machine capacity must match your material, and most plate roll manufacturers can provide detailed capacity-versus-yield tables to assist you.
The thickness, length, and material of the steel plate must be smaller than the bending capacity of the plate bending machine, otherwise, it will cause unknown damage to the machine.
Read More: What is the bending capacity of the plate bending machine?
Length of material
To make the correct size cylinder or circle needed, Use the formula “C= π x ID”(C is Circumference; π is 3.1416; ID is Internal Diameter).
Example: ID=600mm, the operator will need to prepare a material length of Approximate 1884.96mm.
Determine the correct length
In order to determine the correct length of sheet metal stock, we have to go through several tests, so several pieces of material need to be cut into measured lengths for testing. Based on the test results, correct the material length: the material may need to be lengthened or shortened.
Make a radius template
Make a radius template of the desired diameter to use as a guide, to verify the bend diameter using a template at a known diameter to ensure the desired bend angle has been achieved and spring-back.
Feed the sheet/plate metal
The roll operator inserts the sheet metal/plate metal between the upper and lower rolls, ensuring that the upper and lower rolls are clamped under the proper pressure, and the orientation of the sheet must be level with the orientation of the rolls.
Pre-bending
If your steel plate bending machine has a pre-bending function, pre-bend the end side of the front and the rear of the sheet/plate metal, and pre-bend to the desired diameter.
Read more: What is pre-bending on a plate rolling machine?
Rolling
After the pre-bending, use the upper and lower rollers to roll the material into the desired circle.
Notes
If the finished sample is not long enough or if the formed part is not the proper diameter, additional samples will have to be made. Thousands of identical parts can be precisely duplicated when proper adjustments to the roller have been made.