First of all, steel metal rollforming is to gradually bend metal sheets into the desired shape through continuous rollers.
This process is usually used for long products, such as rails, metal frames, etc. Its characteristics may be high efficiency, suitable for mass production, and can handle longer workpieces. However, there may be restrictions on complex shapes, and multiple rolls may be required.
Conventional sheet metal processes include stamping, bending, shearing, welding, etc. Stamping may be a one-time forming, suitable for complex shapes but requires molds, high cost, and suitable for large quantities. Bending is gradually formed by a bending machine, which is highly flexible and suitable for small batches or diversified products, but the efficiency may not be as good as roll forming. Therefore, sheet metal includes roll forming, and the roll forming process has corresponding usage scenarios. Not all metal parts are suitable for roll forming. See the figure below for details:
Comparison diagram of rolling and conventional sheet metal processesThe difference in the equipment used between them is also quite obvious. The roll forming process uses a roll press, while the conventional sheet metal process uses a bending machine, a punching machine, a cutting machine and more.
Sheet metal roll forming: suitable for long strips with consistent cross-sections (such as guide rails, metal door and window frames, pipes), suitable for simple to medium-complexity continuous cross-sections (such as U-shaped, C-shaped, wavy). Typical applications are building keels, automobile slide rails, and cable trays.
Conventional sheet metal: suitable for complex geometry or multi-feature parts (such as chassis, brackets, special-shaped housings), can process highly complex cross-sections (such as multiple bends, punching, convex hull combinations), and are typically used in electronic equipment housings, cabinets, ventilation ducts, and brackets.
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