There are a variety of factors that influence sheet metal working processes. Sheet metal forming is just one part type of the metal working processes the other type of metal working process is the bulk metal forming process. Both metal working processes have their advantages and disadvantages and more to that they basically take completely different structures. Some of the bulk flowing processes include wire drawing and forging.
Sheet Metal Working
However, some processes are quite similar in both metal working processes. This includes processes like rolling.
Blank and punch
Blank and punch process is one of the most important processes in the sheet metal working process. Needless to say, the blank and punch process can be used in a variety of processes. The blank and punch process basically helps to show the final design of the metal structure. So basically your blank and punch structure should take the shape of the desired metal structure.
Temperature
Basically you can decide to form your metal sheet at normal working temperature and on the other hand, you can decide to form your metal sheet at high temperatures. In cold/ normal temperature the main advantage is that electricity fuel costs are highly reduced. Basically, even metals built at low temperatures are solid strong and hardened. However, the main disadvantage with working in normal temperatures is that basically high compressional forces will be required. On the other hand, using relatively higher temperatures has also its advantages since lesser forces are used in the molding process. The main disadvantage of using higher temperatures is that the products are usually softer and more so there are basically high costs involved due to high electricity bills.
Metal sheet drawings
Basically, there are a variety of metals sheet drawing techniques. Needless to say, later drawings are usually influenced by the first bend. However, sometimes bad occurrences occur when to stretch drawings without looking at factors like the ductile strengths. These include having series and cracks on the final product that you have.
Bending
This is one of the crucial sheet forming metal process. There are basically a variety of variables you are supposed to look at before you take the metal for bending. One of the crucial factors you are supposed to look at is the density of the sheet metal and more to that the durability and the level of stress of the metal. Other factors one is supposed to look at is the bending angle and if your material metal is able to bend to that level.
Springing
If you fail to do proper calculations especially in the variations, your metal structures are bound to spring back to their original shape for metal structures with high memory and on the other hand, can form irregular and unpleasant shapes. Powerful strengths above the axis are known to destruct appearances of what is formed. Springing back can be reduced by slightly adding more force to the sheet metals. On the other hand, when bending the sheet metal, you should add a higher angle than the expected angle so that when the metal springs back they will go to their original lengths.
*The picture in this article is from: http://www.mcadare.ie/sheet-metal/