Press Brake Forming & Sheet Metal Bending Services
Precision bending made to your print
D&J Metalcraft Co. forms sheet metal parts on press brakes in Chicago, with 6–10 ft beds and up to 130 tons. We bend mostly stainless steel, mild steel and aluminum, made to your print since 1975. We take on work from small prototype batches all the way up to full production runs. Most of our work is short and mid-size runs, and we have the capacity for larger production volumes when you need them.
Email your drawing (PDF, DXF, STEP or SolidWorks .SLDPRT), material, thickness and quantity to info@djmetalcraft.com.
We are a contract, made-to-print shop at 4451 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, shipping formed parts to companies nationwide.
Our press brakes
We run multiple press brakes with 6 ft to 10 ft beds.
- Minimum flange: as little as 0.170" depending on material
- Bend tolerance: typically ±0.005" and ±0.5 degrees
- Shear: 10 ft shear for blanks
Parts we form
Brackets, enclosures, panels and channels, including formed chassis, enclosures, brackets and racks for computer server and data center work.
Cut and bend under one roof
Blanks are cut in-house on:
- Trumpf fiber lasers
- Strippit turret punch
They then go directly to forming. After bending, we offer MIG, TIG and spot welding, hardware insertion (PEM nuts, studs and standoffs) and assembly. See Laser Cutting, CNC Turret Punching and Welding & Assembly, or our Contract Metal Fabrication page.
Repeatable bends from prototype to production
Prove out a design with a small prototype batch, then move to full production runs with the same shop.
Domestic forming vs overseas
- Shorter domestic lead times, as little as 1 week depending on job size
- Same time zone and direct communication with the shop
- Quality you can verify with first-article inspection reports
- No ocean freight or customs delays
- Small runs without large minimum order quantities
First-article inspection
First-article inspection reports are available. Each report lists every print dimension, its tolerance and the measured value.
Need tapped holes, countersinks or PEM hardware? We handle secondary operations in-house.
Related services: Laser Cutting, CNC Turret Punching, Welding & Assembly, Contract Metal Fabrication
Press brake forming FAQ
What is press brake forming and when should I use it?
Press brake forming bends flat sheet metal into angles, channels and enclosures using a punch and die. Use it whenever a flat cut or punched blank needs to become a three-dimensional part such as a bracket, panel or chassis.
How long a part can you bend?
We can bend parts up to 10 ft long on our 130-ton press brake. We run multiple press brakes with 6–10 ft beds, so shorter parts run on our smaller machines.
What bend angle and dimensional tolerance can a press brake hold?
Bends are typically held to ±0.005" and ±0.5 degrees. Laser-cut features are held to ±0.003" and punched features to ±0.001".
What is the minimum flange length you can bend?
As little as 0.170" depending on material. Send your print and we will confirm for your part.
Can you bend stainless steel and aluminum without cracking?
Yes. We bend stainless steel and aluminum regularly. We review each print before forming so the material and bend design work together.
Can you laser cut and bend my part in the same shop?
Yes. We cut blanks in-house on our Trumpf fiber lasers or Strippit turret punch and form them on our press brakes, so one shop handles the whole job.
Is there a minimum order quantity for bent sheet metal parts?
We take small runs without large minimum order quantities, from small prototype batches all the way up to full production runs.
Why use a US fabricator instead of ordering formed parts from China?
You get shorter lead times, direct same-time-zone communication with the shop, first-article reports to verify quality, and no ocean freight or customs delays.
Can you form server rack brackets and data center enclosures?
Yes. We are highly capable with computer server and data center sheet metal, including chassis, enclosures, brackets and racks.
Can you deliver finished, painted or plated parts?
Yes. Finishing is managed through our trusted partners (powder coating, wet paint, zinc plating, galvanizing, black oxide, anodizing, chrome plating, electroless plating and passivation), and machined components come from machining in-house and through our trusted partners, so you get finished parts on one PO.
Request a quote
Email your drawing, material, thickness and quantity to info@djmetalcraft.com for a forming quote.