Steel bending is a discipline, and a wise teacher once said that any given discipline has three aspects to it: the subject matter itself, an aesthetic, and a spirit.
For example, mathematics is a discipline about numbers, computation, formulas, etc. But some mathematical solutions are said to be more “elegant” than others, the beauty of which might stem from its being simpler. Beyond an appreciation of why one solution is more attractive than another, there is a spirit to a given discipline that can generate enthusiasm in its students and those who apply the mathematical solutions.
For example, an enthusiasm for automobile design is manifest at car shows; the beauty of some of the designs is undeniable; and, the significant knowledge base in car design and manufacturing is extensive. I have often marveled at how the mathematical solutions to how to design race cars almost always result in beautiful vehicles that start my heart racing—like a Ferrari.
These three components—subject matter, beauty and enthusiasm–can also be identified in the process of bending steel. The discipline of bending steel involves having the right machine, material, bending method and operator—the key inputs into a “fish diagram” often used to troubleshoot manufacturing problems. The subject matter of bending steel is comprised of a vast amount of know-how that has been developed over centuries, actually. So a body of knowledge has been accumulated about the best ways to bend, say, rectangular tubing against the strong axis (x-x) or the “hard way” that results in a smooth, true, arc of the right radius and length.
Those who are specialists in bending steel are perhaps the most appreciative of the beauty of both the process and the result of bending steel. First of all, in many cases, the material to be bent was initially designed not to bend in certain directions. A wide-flange roof beam is designed to remain straight and not sag. The web of the beam is designed to resist bending. The fabricator who not only bends the beam but who does it with no web buckling, no distortion, and no other cosmetic imperfections recognizes and appreciates this special achievement.
