When planning to invest in machinery for bending parts in your shop, choosing between a press brake and a sheet metal folder has significant implications for your team’s capabilities and productivity. While both types of machines have the same general functionality, each has benefits and capacities particular to different types of jobs. In this blog, we’ll dive into the scenarios where you should buy a press brake vs a sheet metal folder to help you make the best decision for your shop.
Press Brakes
Press brakes are instrumental in the manufacturing industry, commonly used to form precise bends in sheet and plate material. They offer unparalleled accuracy and repeatability, enabling the creation of complex shapes and intricate designs with ease. These versatile machines, ranging from mechanical to hydraulic models, are essential to industries such as automobile manufacturing, aircraft production, housing, and construction.
Press brakes excel at thick materials, deep V-bends, and are more versatile for custom parts. If your shop typically works with heavy materials and complex jobs that require a skilled operator, a press brake will best suit your needs. The most important difference to consider between a brake and a folder is that a brake can form pretty much all profiles as long as you have the right tooling and don’t mind tricky material handling. Ferric offers a wide range of models to more specifically meet your requirements for your shop’s jobs. For more information, speak with one of our highly trained advisors.
Sheet Metal Folders
Sheet metal folders are designed to fold and bend sheet metal into various forms and angles and are utilized in industries such as HVAC, roofing, aircraft, automotive, sign making, and many more. They significantly enhance production efficiency and precision, ensuring the seamless functioning of your operations.
A folding machine is better than a press brake for large wide sheets, sensitive or coated materials, easy handling, uniform bends, and repetitive profiles. Sheet metal folders offer the speed and capacity for simple, high-volume jobs and are better suited for larger or more delicate materials. A key benefit to these machines is there is rarely a cost for additional tooling. CNC folders come in all sorts of different capacities but rarely, unless for custom jobs, do you need to buy different shaped tooling. If this sounds more like your shop, then one of our top-quality folders might be the solution you. For more information, speak with one of our highly trained advisors.
Press brakes and sheet metal folders are valuable additions to your shop’s floor, and these tips will ensure you invest in the best machine for your needs. Contact us today to learn more about our inventory or to speak with one of our advisors.