Capability 01 · Our speciality
CNC
V-Grooving
Before bending, MCS mills a V-shaped groove along the bend line. The sheet then folds to a much sharper corner than a press brake can make on its own. No other single step changes the look of a folded profile as much.
On the machine
The 4 m V-groover
at work
On film
The groove,
on film
A few seconds each: grooved strips and the sharp sections they fold into.
Filmed in our workshop in Narela, Delhi. The clips are silent and play while on screen; tap one to pause it.
The difference
It all comes down to the corner.
The drawings
What happens
at the corner
Conventional press-brake bending is fast, economical and right for a great many parts. The sheet is pressed into a die by a punch and wraps around the punch tip, so every bend has an inside radius (Ri) and an outside radius (Ro), which together with the sheet thickness (T) and the bend angle (θ) define the corner.
From flat sheet to a sharper corner
Diagrams, not to scale. They show the principle; your section is drawn and checked by our design team.
Try it
Normal bend ↔ V-grooved bend
The same section, the same fold. Only the outside corner changes, from the radius a press brake gives on its own to the sharp edge a V-groove makes possible.
The proof
Where the groove does the work
In each of these parts the groove was cut first and the fold came after. That is why the outside corners are this sharp.
How it works
Three steps, in this order
Grooved, then folded
From flat sheet to a sharp corner
The same steps in pictures: groove first, fold second, sharp corner at the end. It works in stainless steel, brass, copper, aluminium and mild steel, for one piece or a full production run.
Why specify it
What changes in the finished detail
V-grooving is worth it where the corner is seen from close by. Where a profile is hidden or far above eye level, ordinary bending is the sensible choice, and MCS will tell you so.
Sharper outside corners
The edge looks machined, not folded. That is the difference between an architectural profile and an ordinary fabricated one.
Smaller bend radius
Tighter bends than the tooling alone allows, so sections can be shallower and legs shorter.
Tighter joints
Mitres and returns close better, so there is less to fill, grind and hide before finishing.
Flatter faces
The visible face is not pulled over a tool. This matters on mirror and hairline finishes, where every distortion shows.
The same every time
The groove is cut by a CNC programme, so the hundredth length matches the sample.
A better base for coating
A crisp, undistorted corner takes PVD and powder coating more evenly than a stretched one.
Where MCS uses it
Products that depend on it
The proof
V-grooved corners
from our job work
Close-ups cut from our own photographs, with light and sharpness adjusted. The bends are not changed.
Enhanced close-up of our photograph: cropped, light and sharpness adjusted. The bend is not changed.
Scope
What we can groove
| Process | CNC V-grooving on long sheets |
|---|---|
| Materials | Stainless steel, mild steel, aluminium, brass, copper |
| Sheet thickness | 0.25 – 4 mm |
| Processing length | Long lengths, for architectural profiles |
Groove angle, minimum leg length, maximum length and web thickness are confirmed for each enquiry. They depend on the metal, its thickness and the angle wanted, so MCS checks them against your section instead of publishing a figure that may not apply.
Questions and answers
V-grooving:
questions
When do I need V-grooving?
When the outside corner must be sharp: architectural profiles, trims, lift and column cladding, signage and furniture edges. Where a small round corner is fine, normal bending is enough.
How long can a V-grooved part be?
Sheets up to 4 m long are V-grooved in one piece; the press brake then bends up to 3 m long. Send the length and we plan the part.
Which thickness can be V-grooved?
0.25 to 4 mm, in stainless steel, mild steel, aluminium, brass and copper. The groove depth is set for the metal and the thickness.
Is a V-grooved corner weaker?
The groove leaves a thin web of metal at the corner, so the corner is less strong than a normal bend. For a part that carries load, tell us and we design the section for it.
Can every corner of my section be V-grooved?
Most can. Very short legs and some closed shapes need a different bend order or tool. We check every section on your drawing before it is grooved.
Start a project
Have a section that needs a sharp corner?
Send the drawing. MCS will confirm the groove positions and the minimum leg length, and tell you whether it folds as drawn.