My calculations, however, give me a shorter blank length (4.018 in.). When we add the dimensions and the hem, then subtract the bend allowance (2 + 1.5 + 0.75 - 0.117), we get 4.132 in. Our brake operator has determined the bend allowance to be 0.117 in. 304 stainless steel with outside dimensions of 2 in. Our brake operator tells me not to take a bend allowance for hems, so I set the CAD software to the absolute minimum (0.008 in.) for the allowance-yet my blank still comes up short.įor instance, I have a piece of 16-ga. I am working on creating a blank length for hems, but the software always seems to take an extra bend allowance. I have been battling out a kink in our CAD software and cannot seem to find a solution. Question: I first would like to say you write amazing articles. On that note, let’s get started with questions related to layout. For this month’s column, I have compiled a few emails that I believe my regular readers will find useful. But alas, there is not enough time in the day to get it all done. I receive many emails every month, and I wish I had the time to answer all of them. Press brake guru Steve Benson catches up on reader emails to answer questions about hemming and bend calculations.