If the surface has scratches along the bend line, these should be positioned facing upward to ensure direct contact with the punch. However, even when bent in this way, it is not guaranteed that cracks will not develop over time.
Edge quality is also critical during bending. Small defects along the edges can act as initiation points for cracks. This sensitivity increases with the tensile strength of the material.
To reduce the risk of cracking during bending, the edges should be ground.
Thermally cut components—and especially sheared edges—should be deburred and rounded using a grinder.
If grinding is not possible, the burred side should be positioned on the inner surface of the bend.
If you are working with a high-tensile steel such as Toolox® 44, it is sufficient to grind the edge only along the bending line.

Grinding the edges in the press brake area reduces the risk pof cracking.
The information in this report is only applicable to SSAB’s products and should not be applied to any other products than original SSAB products.
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