Press brakes are a vital fabrication machine used for bending and forming sheet metal required in almost every shop. They can help by reducing your job setup time and increasing your work efficiency and product more accurate parts.
A press brake is used for bending sheet and plate material. It forms predetermined bends by clamping the workpiece between a matching punch and die and through force gaged in tonnage bends the metals. A CNC Press Brake is more specialized than a Manual Press Brake. CNC brakes (short for Computer Numerically Controlled) can bend sheet metal work from just a few inches across to sections many feet long on the largest industrial machines. They have a fixed bottom bed with the V block tooling clamped in place and a top ram that travels under force with the V blade tool forcing the material to yield between the punch and die. Set up time is much faster because the controller calculates all the positions of the ram and backgauge. It can check for errors, calculate the correct bend sequence, and repeat the motion multiple times.
With a manually operated press brake, the operator must reset the machine for each bend produced.
Press Brakes – Myths vs. Facts
CNC Press Brakes are too expensive.
- The addition of CNC controls adds a slight increase in cost but that is quickly made up with increased productivity.
CNC controls are only for production
- CNC controls are not only not just for production. Today's graphical CNC controls are much easier to use for prototypes and small runs. They automatically calculate bend deductions, blank lengths, ram approach position, bend depth, bend sequence and so much more. They do all this with minimal input from the operator making the setup and operation of a CNC controlled machine much easier, faster, and in the end, cheaper to use.
CNC Press Brakes are difficult to learn.
- CNC Controls work in a very simplistic form by taking basic graphics input by the operator they interrupt them through a host of internal calculations to provide and perform the complex functions of the press brake. They do all this and keep the interface simple, easy to use, easy to navigate and rich with features to make the setup and operation easy and quick. These controls today usually take just a few hours of instructions before operators are proficient in their use.
A CNC Press Brake Can Improve Your Business
Save Money
- CNC Press Brakes can work much faster than other machines. Set up is much faster, they produce less waste, make right parts the first time and can make more products, faster.
Flexibility
- CNC Press Brakes can be programmed to complete more than one task. You can set it up to do several jobs, pick the material needed, choose the pressure required and you can do it all in the language of your choice. From forming to punching, hemming and louvers to a CNC Press brake can do much more than just bend.
Manufacturing Solutions has wide range of affordable New Press Brakes and Quality Used Press Brakes. Check out our inventory to see which machine is best suited for your needs. If you still have questions, give us call. We’re here to help!