We’ve been running HVAC ductwork components in 16-gauge 304 stainless for a commercial kitchen equipment company for the past couple of years. Their parts are a mix of simple U-channels, Z-sections, and some multi-bend enclosures — good repeat work that keeps our Amada press brake busy on Thursdays.
Stainless has more springback than mild steel, so the bend angles in the program have to be compensated — usually an extra 2 to 3 degrees of overbend depending on the geometry. We worked out the compensation values in the first few runs and now the brake’s angle database has it dialed in. The 90-degree bends come out at exactly 90 every time.
We’re running about 150 parts per week for this customer, with three different part numbers. Setup changes between parts take about 15 minutes with our quick-change tooling. The tight tolerances on the duct flanges are critical because these parts bolt up to other assemblies, so the hole pattern and flange flatness have to be right. We haven’t had a quality issue in over six months, and that’s the kind of track record that keeps the purchase orders coming.