SHEET MATERIAL BEND LINE DISPLACEMENT TOOLING AND METHOD

摘要

A method of preparing a sheet of material (421) for bending along a bend line includes the step of forming at least one displacement in the thickness direction of the sheet of material, the displacement including a flat zone (428) substantially parallel to the sheet of material with a portion of the periphery of the flat zone extending along and adjacent to the bend line, and including an angled transition zone (432) interconnecting the flat zone with a remainder of the sheet of material. The forming step is preferably accomplished using one of a stamping process, a punching process (443), a roll forming process and an embossing process. A sheet of material suitable for bending using the process also is disclosed, as are the use of coatings, shin guards and displacing the area of the sheet between bending inducing slits.