Kerf Bending Calculator

Inputs

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Finished inside radius of the bend.
in
Included bend angle through the curved section.
°
Actual thickness of the board, plywood, MDF or panel.
in
Width removed by one saw cut.
in
Uncut material left at the outside face after the kerf cut.
in
Maximum preferred center-to-center distance between kerf cuts along the bend layout.
in
Uncut margin before the first kerf and after the last kerf within the bend zone.
in

Results

Default result
Edit inputs
Kerf cuts(N)
21kerfs
Pass

Count is driven by the target spacing.

Also computed

Center spacing(s)Pass0.4752in

Measured center to center along the bend layout line.

Bend layout length(L_layout)0.8754ft

Measure along the uncut web/outer-side hinge line.

Cut depth(d_cut)Pass0.625in

Stock thickness minus remaining web.

Remaining web(w)0.125in

Thin webs bend easier but split easier.

Closure per kerf(c)0.05142in

Required inside shortening divided by kerf count.

Inside gap after bend(g)0.07358in

Slots are not expected to close fully at the inside face.

Kerf layout and bend preview Shows 21 of 21 kerfs when the count is dense; dashed line is remaining web. 21 kerfs spacing 12.1 mm cut depth 15.9 mm gap after bend 1.9 mm
Method notes 3 notes
  • The layout length is measured along an approximate hinge line in the remaining web: L = theta x (inside radius + stock thickness - web/2).
  • The required inside shortening is the difference between that hinge-line arc and the inside radius arc; each kerf can close by roughly the saw kerf width.
  • This is a shop-layout screen only. Kerf bending success depends on material, grain direction, veneer orientation, moisture, glue, cut quality, springback and scrap testing.

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