Learn how to choose the correct press brake for your machine, to ensure top notch safety.
Choosing a new press brake to buy from all of the options out there can be tough. This is mostly because you have to go through several different types of press brakes before you find the one that is right for you. There is no such thing as a &#;one size fits all&#; when it comes to these machines, so if you&#;re looking for a little help in choosing the best one for you then you&#;ve come to the right place.
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The Different Types of Press Brakes
First you need to understand how many main kinds of press brakes there are. Once you&#;ve settled on one, you can then move on to the more specific aspects.
Perhaps the most popular kind is the manual press brake. These need to be operated manually as the name suggests. These press brakes are great for mass producing specific angles and bent sizes.
Next up is the hydraulic press brake. These kinds offer more control thanks to their hydraulic cylinders. Some hydraulic press brakes are up acting. These are a bit more complex to operate but they come with a smaller risk of injury. Other hydraulic presses are down acting, which are easier and more accurate to use but can be susceptible to more mechanical repairs. Last is the CNC type press brake which stands for Computer Numerically Controlled. These are the most precise of all press brakes thanks to their integrated computer technology, but as you might expect, they are also by far the most expensive kinds. If you can afford them, they are worth every dollar thanks to their ability to adjust for thickness, width and bending angles at incredible levels of accuracy.
Air Vs Bottom Bending
Once you&#;ve settled on a main type of press brake, you&#;ll have to decide which of the two bending methods you&#;ll prefer: air or bottom bending.
Air bending has a weaker force impact and requires the bending angle of the sheet metal to take the spring back into consideration. This is done by determining the thickness of the punching blade as well as the sheet metal itself. An air bending press brake is a great choice for people working with thinner materials such as sheet metal as they do not need too much power to be shaped.
Bottom bending shapes the metal with much more force and it also seriously reduces the spring back that occurs with air bending. Depending on the press brake you have, it may get rid of it altogether. This method is preferred by people who use metal sheets thicker than 2mm or those who need a lot of angular precision.
Tandem vs Robotic Configuration
Your press brake can come either as a tandem press brake or a robotic press brake. Understanding these differences is essential for getting the best machine for the job.
A tandem press brake uses two press brakes that operate together. It is a great option for working with parts that are longer and thicker than average. 10 meters in length is a good size for tandem press brakes, but you can even opt for a tridem press brake for parts that are 15 meters long.
The robotic press brake uses an automated system for bending its parts. It requires minimal supervision and is able to select the correct angle or bend on a case-by-case basis depending on what is fed into the machine. While more expensive than tandem press brakes, these machines are often associated with massive improvements in overall productivity.
Extra Tips on Getting the Best Press Brake
If you really want to go the extra mile when selecting one you need to keep as many things as possible in mind. Many different components go into a press brake and they should all be considered carefully.
When it comes to miscellaneous tools, you might want to look into hydraulic clamps for shorter change times. Looking at the clamping length will also have an impact on your overall accuracy.
The press brake&#;s back gauge is useful to adjust by centering the bending line where you want it to be. You ideally will want a press brake that comes with an accurate back gauge.
The angle control is another important part of any press brake. It helps make up for any potential inaccuracies. You&#;ll want one that can be used with as many different sizes as possible, as some only work with smaller parts.
If you need any more help or have any further questions about getting the right press brake, contact us at Metal Tech Controls Corp any time.
Choosing between press braking and roll forming is a big decision with many factors to consider. The fabrication method you select usually comes down what method will provide you with a quality result for the lowest possible cost.
We'll provide you with some details about press braking and roll forming and review some aspects you should consider before you decide on a sheet metal fabrication method.
What Is Press Braking?
Press braking, or brake forming, is a metal deformation process that aligns a piece of sheet or plate metal along an axis. This is achieved by using a machine pressing tool (press brake) to clamp the metal piece between a punch and a die set for prearranged bending.
Press braking ensures a highly precise metal bend for several types of parts. The press braking process makes a variety of shapes, some of the most common shapes being a 90° rib form, V bottom, channel, closing, double form, hat channel, offset, open hat channel, and others.
Some press brake types include:
Mechanical press brake: Designed to convert circular motion into linear motion.
Pneumatic press brake: Uses air pressure to move the ram.
Hydraulic press brake: Uses hydraulic oil and a hydraulic pump as a power source.
Servo-electric press brake: Uses a servo-motor that forces the ram to move vertically.
For more information, please visit Hydraulic Forming Brake.
Marlin Steel uses the Trumpf TruBend Hydraulic Press Brake to produce more precise bends in sheet metal faster.
What Is Roll Forming?
Roll forming is a type of metal bending that involves continuous rolling of long strips of sheet metal to bend it into a desired cross section. The strip of sheet metal passes through a set of rolls typically mounted on two stands.
Each set of rolls performs an incremental part of the bend until the ideal profile is achieved.
Roll forming is a simple process that can produce complex shapes. It is often a cost-effective and responsive alternative for press braking and stamping.
Types of roll forming machines include:
- Single duty roll forming machines: Uses strategically positioned rolls to work on a specific cross-section of the profile connected to each spindle.
- Standardized rolling machines: Uses outbound supports that are easily accessible to operators. The spindle can easily be removed.
- Side-by-side machines: They accommodate multiple profiles that contain various rolling tools.
- Double headed machines: Contains two separate sets of rolling shafts and housings.
- Rafted machines: Has housings and spindle shafts with common rolling tools mounted on them.
4 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Fabrication Method
Here are four things to consider before choosing between press braking and roll forming.
1. Length
The length of your parts is essential to the fabrication method you choose.
Longer parts are best used with roll forming over press braking. This is because press braking cannot handle the manufacturing of longer parts.
Press braking material has to be split, sheeted, and cut to length before they can be entered into the press brake. Long parts such as slit coil can be added directly into the roll forming line.
2. Metal Fabrication Design
Consider your fabrication design and the shapes you'll need before you choose a fabrication method. Press braking and roll forming follow different processes, and each process has varying lengths of time depending on the complexity of the shapes you're bending.
For instance, press braking can only handle a certain amount of bends, and each one requires a separate hit. But roll forming can form complex linear shapes in one pass, which reduces production time and costs.
3. Material Selection
Some fabrication processes do better with specific materials. The material you select can make the best of your fabrication process and may even save you money.
Press braking and roll forming can form lighter materials such as flat-rolled steel or high-strength low-alloy steel (HSLA). High-strength material is difficult to press brake and roll form.
4. Tooling Costs
Tooling costs are often the same between press braking and roll forming. The price typically depends on the type of project you are doing.
Generally, the larger the volume you use with roll forming, the tooling costs are less expensive for each piece. If the volume is small, then press brake tooling is likely the most cost-effective option.
How Marlin Steel Fulfills Your Custom Sheet Metal Fabrication Needs
Marlin's engineers help you to achieve the best quality for your custom sheet metal forms by using the TruBend . The TruBend press brake gives them the power to manufacture at quick speeds with the highest precision possible.
Talk to Marlin's engineers to get suggestions for your sheet metal application needs. From design and materials to coatings and more, Marlin has the answer to your custom metal sheet forming inquiries.
Get the best return on your investment by contacting Marlin's expert engineers today!
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Press Brake Hydraulic System. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
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