A sheet metal brake is used to shape metal and is commonly used in industries such as manufacturing, heating and ventilation, and body shops. There are different types of brakes, including large electronic ones for manufacturing and portable hand-operated ones for installers. Renting a brake may be useful for homeowners, but for specific pieces, it’s best to ask a metal fabrication shop.
A sheet metal brake is a piece of equipment used to bend or shape metal. There are many instances where a sheet metal brake is used on a regular basis, but they all involve shaping the metal. Examples of industries where a sheet metal brake is often used are commercial window and siding installation, heating and ventilation, manufacturing, and body shops. Gutter and downspout installers also use a sheet metal brake in their job.
In manufacturing, sheet metal brakes are large, often electronic pieces of equipment that trained workers operate to constantly churn out parts to manufacturing specifications. In the aforementioned examples of siding, windows, gutters, and downspouts, installers most often use a hand-operated portable sheet metal brake. There are many different designs and uses for sheet metal brakes, ranging from industrial fabrication to garage workshops.
Sheet metal fabricators using advanced equipment weighing thousands of pounds are trained not only to operate the equipment, but also to understand manufacturing specifications and follow diagrams. The smaller, lighter versions that trim and window installers carry on trucks aren’t as advanced, but they still do the same basic job of shaping metal. Sheet metal bending is a necessary task in all fields. Part of what a sheet metal brake is designed to do is hold a piece of metal in place while another part applies a broad, even pressure to create a bend in the metal.
For in-house projects, most large tool rental companies can provide rental access to a sheet metal brake. A homeowner looking to replace a piece of aluminum siding, downspout, gutter or window may find this useful. However, if you are planning some sort of craft project involving metal and you need a specific piece or two, it is best to ask a metal fabrication shop to create the piece you need. Most likely, the job will be done better and cost no more than the sheet metal brake rental might cost.
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