Bending, punching and stamping

Stainless steel cutting, bending, punching, stamping and rolling

Turning a flat stainless sheet into an electrical cabinet, a tray, a gutter, a bracket or a perforated panel takes cutting, bending, punching, stamping and rolling. Inox TINTA handles each operation separately or the whole job to your drawing, in 201, 304 and 316 stainless steel and mild steel, from prototypes to large orders.

When is each operation used?

Design tips for bent stainless parts

• Inside bend radius is usually close to the sheet thickness; a smaller radius can crack the outer surface on thick sheet.
• Minimum flange length must be long enough to sit on the die; very short flanges need another approach (corner relief, or bend before cutting).
• Stainless springs back more than mild steel, so the angle is over-bent; we bend a first-off part before the batch.
• Holes near a bend deform; keep them about 2–3 times the thickness away from the bend line, or punch after bending.
• Cosmetic finishes (hairline, mirror): keep the protective film on and mark the visible face on the drawing.

Choosing a perforated stainless sheet

Perforated sheet is defined by hole shape (round, square, slot, hexagon), hole size and pitch (centre distance), which together give the open area. Small, close holes give a stiffer, more closed sheet; large, wide-spaced holes let more air and water through but weaken the sheet. Tell us the purpose (filtering, guarding, decoration, ventilation) and we will suggest a pattern.

Blanks are usually fiber laser cut before bending; finished parts can be welded, polished or PVD gold coated. Dished tank heads are covered on our metal spinning and dished heads page.

Frequently asked questions