Abstract:
A method of bending a contoured metal sheet about a selected fold line. The contoured metal sheet has a longitudinal axis extending along the length of the sheet, and a contoured profile that extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sheet. The method comprises: engaging a first sheet section of the contoured metal sheet with a forming member which comprises a forming surface having a contour shaped with a substantially symmetrical mirror profile to the contoured profile of the first sheet section. The engagement of the forming member with the first sheet section bends the first sheet section of the metal sheet about a fold line relative to a second sheet section of the metal sheet to position the first sheet section at a selected angle relative to the second sheet section about the fold line, and also transforms the contoured profile of the first sheet section into a new contoured profile comprising a symmetrical mirror of the contoured profile of the second sheet section about the fold line.