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Free engineering reference — the charts and guides our own floor works from.

These are the same bend radii, k-factor, spacing rules and machine limits our programmers and the instant quote work from in Fontana. Model to them before you send a file and the part prices and builds as drawn.

Solidworks

Learn Tube CAD with Solidworks

A 12-video course on modeling tube in SolidWorks so the file you send cuts and bends as drawn.

Learn Sheet Metal with Solidworks

A 6-video course on sheet metal in SolidWorks: bends, flat patterns and the k-factor and radius values our press brakes run.

Charts & More

Tube Radius Chart (CLR)

Standard and non-standard centerline radii for every tube OD we tool, 0.50 to 2.00 in. Model to one of these and the part bends as drawn.

K-Factor Radius Chart

Inside bend radius by material thickness (0.0775, 0.155 and 0.250 in) and the 0.4 k-factor for steel, stainless and aluminum flat patterns.

Tube Bending Rules

The spacing rules the bender needs: 4 in between bends, 3 in of straight before and after a bend and from any cope, nothing within 0.75 in of a bend.

Machine Capacity Dimensions

Maximum sizes by process: tube to 8.5 in OD and 24 ft, plate laser to 0.75 in steel, press brake to 10 ft and 188 tons, mill and lathe envelopes.

Plate Stock & Steel Grades

Which mild steel grade we cut at each thickness (A1008, A1011 P&O, A36), sheet sizes to 96 × 240 in, and how flat parts are quoted.

How Quotes Are Priced

What the instant quote counts: sticks and sheets, bends and setups, per-piece machining, and why quantity lowers the price per part.