Welding & Fabrication worked example

Press Brake Tonnage with material thickness squared of 0.16 in^2: a worked example

This scenario runs the press brake tonnage calculation on the strong side: material thickness squared of 0.16 in^2, with every other input held at its documented default. Use it before scheduling a press brake job to confirm tonnage is within machine and tooling rating and the V-die opening is appropriate.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Material thickness squared: 0.16 in^2 (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 0.06)
  • Bend length: 4 ft (unchanged)
  • Steel tensile-strength factor: 1 x (unchanged)
  • Die-opening factor (1/V): 0.5 1/in (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Combined load factor = material thickness squared × bend length × material tensile factor) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 0.32 tons for press brake tonnage estimate, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 0.64 value for base product.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 0.5 x for multiplier.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 0.64 value for factor a x b.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where material thickness squared sits at 0.06 in^2 and the headline result is 0.13 tons, this scenario comes in 156% above the baseline at 0.32 tons.
  • Use it before setting up an air bend to confirm the press and tooling can produce the angle, and when comparing die openings to reduce required force. Treat this as a target state: the delta against the baseline quantifies what the improvement is worth before you commit to chasing it.

Results at a glance

  • Press brake tonnage estimate: 0.32 tons (headline result)
  • Base product: 0.64 value
  • Multiplier: 0.5 x
  • Factor A x B: 0.64 value

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Press Brake Tonnage calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.