There are a lot of considerations when it comes to choosing the right press brake, from understanding the part’s characteristics to the different technologies and configurations available. It can be a daunting task, so we created this guide to help! In this blog, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about choosing the right press brake – let’s get started!
What is a Press Brake?
First, we’ll begin with a definition: a press brake is a piece of manufacturing equipment that is used to bend sheet metal. They are typically long and narrow in order to accommodate large sheets of metal. There are many different types of press brakes designed to bend various kinds of metal in different ways. That’s why we’re discussing the considerations that go into choosing the right press brake for your project.
Understand Your Material
The first thing you need to know is what material you are looking to bend. The tensile strength, thickness, and length of your metal will all make a difference when choosing your machine. These characteristics will also help you calculate the tonnage, or press force, needed for your press brake. Ensure you understand the requirements of your material before you make your decision.
Understand Your Part Bend
Next, you need to know how you want to bend your metal. The bending angle and bend complexity may limit the types of press brakes that will work for your project. The need for multiple bends or automation can help narrow down your search and ensure your press brake gets the job done.
Press Brake Technologies
Moving on, the next considerations are the different press brake technologies and configurations to choose from. Each type of press brake works best for different kinds of bends and materials. Once you understand your specific requirements, you can select which one will work best for you. We’ll give a brief description and some pros and cons of the five types of press brake technologies to choose from:
Mechanical Press Brakes – the most basic type of press brake, it is based on a flywheel and clutch mechanism in which electric motors power the flywheel clutch assembly (large tonnage capability, inability to stop midway through a cycle)
Hydraulic Press Brakes – use the dynamics of water pressure to create the force for the bending through multiple hydraulic oil cylinders to provide various bending settings (greater number of options and precision, sensitivity and risk of fluid leaks)
Electric Press Brakes – also known as CNC Press Brakes, use multiple servo brakes to move the bending ram, providing accurate control over the bending angle (less maintenance, severe limitations in tonnage capability and volume production)
Hybrid Press Brakes – combine the operation of hydraulic press brakes and electric press brakes to have automatic start and stop operation (higher bending force, complex maintenance)
Pneumatic Press Brakes – replace oil cylinders with compressed air, which can provide a high bending force necessary for most materials (no risk of fluid leakage, lower bending prowess)
Press Brake Configurations
As for press brake configurations, there are two specialized configurations that can be useful for niche applications. Once again, we will outline these below:
Tandem Press Brakes – involve a setup of multiple individual press brakes interconnected for a synchronized operation (useful for very long metal sheets)
Robotic Press Brakes – are a sheet metal bending solution with high automation, in which the machine is able to choose the right bend according to the parts to be produced and the production volume, without the intervention of an operator (useful for mass production)
5 Key Considerations
Lastly, we will leave you with this list of five key considerations when buying a press brake:
- Tonnage – the amount of force that the press brake can apply to the metal, will depend on the thickness and type of metal you will be working with
- Bed Length – the distance between the inside of the uprights of the press brake, will affect the maximum length of the metal you can bend
- Ram Stroke – the distance that the ram (the part of the press brake that applies the force to the metal) can move, will affect the maximum depth of the bend that can be made
- CNC Control – CNC (computer numerical control) is a type of control system that allows the press brake to be operated by a computer, more expensive but offers several advantages
- Safety Features – Safety is a crucial aspect when working with heavy machinery, and press brakes are no exception; it’s important to choose a press brake that has safety features such as emergency stop buttons, light curtains, and interlocks
Hopefully this guide has helped you understand the necessary considerations when choosing a press brake. For new and used press brake options, be sure to check out our inventory!