What is the term commonly used to refer to a rollforming machine?

• A. Sheet metal shear
• B. A press brake
• C. A rollformer
• D. A lathe

Answer: (C)

Roll forming reshapes metal by passing a sheet through a sequence of rollers, gradually forming it into a desired, continuous profile as it moves through the machine. The equipment designed for this task is called a rollformer because the metal is formed by rolling actions of the rollers, producing long lengths of constant cross-section. This differs from a sheet metal shear, which cuts metal; a press brake, which bends using a punch and die; and a lathe, which machines by rotating the workpiece. So the proper term for a rollforming machine is rollformer.