Sheet-metal shop-limit check

Measure from the same reference

Check how the fabricator defines hole-to-bend clearance, flange length, and relief width before entering values. A distance measured to a hole center cannot be compared directly with a requirement measured to its edge. Drawing dimensions and shop rules must refer to the same geometry.

A passing comparison is only one check

A feature can meet a dimensional limit and still be inaccessible to the available tooling. Confirm bend order, part support, tooling clearance, and the required tolerances with the shop. Use the worksheet to catch straightforward mismatches before releasing a drawing, not to certify manufacturability.

Using limits supplied by the fabricator

A minimum flange length can depend on the die opening and how the sheet is supported during bending. Hole-to-bend clearance can depend on how deformation affects a nearby feature. The worksheet deliberately asks for the comparison limits instead of pretending that one fixed multiple of thickness works for every shop and process.

Record the basis of each entered limit alongside the drawing revision used for the check. Compare dimensions in the same direction and from the same reference features. If a limit is expressed as a minimum edge clearance, calculate the edge clearance from a center dimension before entering it. A passing result means only that the entered value meets the entered threshold. It does not evaluate tool access, bending sequence, springback, grain direction, or dimensional variation. If several features share a nominal dimension but have different tolerance limits, check the least favorable allowed geometry. Use the output as a compact review of selected constraints, then confirm the complete part with the fabricator.

Formula

Each dimension is compared with its explicit fabrication limit. Hole clearance is measured from the hole edge, not its center.