acdii Report post Posted May 22, 2013 Still fuzzy math when you haven't used it for 20 years. I used to be able to calculate the blank dimensions needed based on a blue print using simple calculations, but that was 30 years ago and I have forgotten all that except that it uses the thickness of the material in the calculations. We did a comparison one day, my manager who taught me the method, vs this stuck up college prick who thought he knew everything. He did a complicated calculus calculation to come up with the blank dimensions, I used the method taught me. I was done in a few minutes while he was still working on one side. Numbers matched. I think the rule was something like, for each 90* bend subtract one material thickness from the overall dimension, for a fold over, twice the thickness, for a 45* 1/2 the thickness, or was it add it. Whichever one it was, for each bend you would take each measurement, like say a simple pan, with 1" bends, and its 12" across after the forming, made from .032" steel. 1" +12" + 1" + (.032*2) would give the blank dimensions. Like I said been 30 years, so I dont remember the full thing, but it was SO easy to do. I used to be able to do the same for gearing, but that required writing it all out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites