Whether you are estimating on the spot or checking a result somebody else gave you, the k factor calculator is the quickest way to get from bend allowance (ba), bend angle, inside radius (rᵢ) and material thickness (t) to location of neutral axis (t) and k-factor (k).
What Is the K Factor Calculator?
The k factor calculator turns bend allowance (ba), bend angle, inside radius (rᵢ) and material thickness (t) into location of neutral axis (t) and k-factor (k), so you can order the right amount of material the first time.
Material estimates are where projects go over budget. Getting the quantities right before the delivery arrives is worth more than any discount on the order.
How to Measure for the K Factor
Measure everything in the same unit and take the largest dimension you can reasonably use rather than the average. Formwork, ground conditions and cutting waste all push the real figure above the theoretical one.
Where a plan calls for a specific thickness, check it against local building regulations before you order. The calculator reflects the relationship, not the code.
Allowing for Waste and Errors
Order a little more than the calculation suggests. The gap between the theoretical quantity and what actually arrives on site is normally waste, spillage, over-excavation and uneven grading, and all of it comes out of the same budget.
Write the figures down and compare them with what you actually used on site. That is how you build an estimate you can trust for the next job.
A Worked Example
Working through an example, with bend allowance (ba) set to 10, bend angle set to 5, inside radius (rᵢ) set to 2, the calculator returns k-factor (k) of 1.1259, and location of neutral axis (t) of 112.5916. Substitute your own figures and the same steps produce the same kind of answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to work out location of neutral axis (t)?
Enter bend allowance (ba), bend angle, inside radius (rᵢ) and material thickness (t). The calculator then works through the relationship and reports location of neutral axis (t) and k-factor (k).
What does the k factor actually calculate?
It takes bend allowance (ba), bend angle, inside radius (rᵢ) and material thickness (t) and converts them into location of neutral axis (t) and k-factor (k) using the standard relationship for this problem. Each step is applied in turn, so every output is traceable back to the numbers you typed in.
How should I enter bend allowance (ba)?
Use the value you actually have, in the unit shown next to the field. Enter every value in the same unit system. The calculator assumes the figures you supply are consistent, so it cannot correct a mistake that happens before the calculation starts.
Is the answer exact?
It is as exact as the formula and the inputs allow. The method itself is the standard one for this problem, so the only sources of error are the figures you enter and the precision you ask for.
Why does a small change in one value move the answer so much?
That happens when an output depends on a ratio, because dividing by a small number magnifies any change in it. Check the units first, then check whether the value you entered is in the range the relationship was designed for.