A sheet metal bending machine comprises main bending tool means (2; 6) that extends along a longitudinal direction (A) and is movable so as to bend a workpiece (50), guide means (3) associated and parallel to the main bending tool means (2; 6), extending through a working zone (W) of the bending machine (1) and sideways protruding from the latter at least with a first end portion (4), and shuttle means (21, 22, 23) slidably mounted on said guide means (3) and supporting at least one auxiliary tool (41, 42) to be associated with the main bending tool means (2; 6) in order to execute partial bends on the workpiece (50); the shuttle means (21, 22, 23) are movable along the longitudinal direction (A) between a first active position (P1), in which the shuttle means (21, 22, 23) is inside the working zone (W) and the auxiliary tool (41, 42) is mounted on the main bending tool means (2; 6), and a first inactive position (R1), in which the shuttle means (21, 22, 23) is outside the working zone (W) and positioned at the first end portion (4) of guide means (3); the shuttle means comprises a first set (11) of shuttles (21, 22, 23), each shuttle (21, 22, 23) carrying a respective auxiliary tool (41, 42), said shuttles (21, 22, 23) being mutually connectable to form a first shuttle convoy (13) having a selectable number of shuttles (21, 22, 23); the first shuttle convoy (13) is movable between said first inactive position (R1) and said first active position (P1) in order to mount a defined composition of auxiliary tools (41, 42) on the main bending tool means (2; 6).