Press brake is bending equipment for sheet metal. With the pressure, it forms the metal plate into different shapes. The press brakes is widely used in various fields, such as decoration, automobile and ship manufacturing, kitchen and catering, aerospace industry and so on.
What is the definition of a press brake?
A press brake is a piece of manufacturing equipment. The press brake is used to bend sheet metal. Generally, a press brake is long and narrow which allows pieces of sheet metal to fit in the machine to be bent. A punch is lowered onto the sheet metal that has been properly positioned on top of a die then bends the sheet metal. The metal can be bent multiple times to achieve the desired result.
In most press brakes, two C-frames form the sides. These C-frames are connected to a table on the bottom and a movable beam on the top. The top tool is mounted on the upper beam and the bottom is mounted to the table.
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a press brake is defined as “a press used to bend metal bars or sheets.”
A press brake is a machine pressing tool. The press brake is used to bend sheet and plate material, usually sheet metal. The machine clamps the workpiece between a matching die and punch and performs the prearranged bend.
How does a press brake work?
The process of forming a material after deformation is called bending. In industrial work, this process is achieved with machines called press brakes. Parallel and rectilinear folds are implemented on pieces of material that are medium to large in dimension.
Bending is never more than 7-8 times the thickness of the sheet being bent. The thickness and type of material that can be bent is determined by the minimum radius. The bending operation must be carried out at right angles to the rolling direction to avoid cracks on the curvature.
Mechanical systems operate press brakes through a crank connecting rod system or a hydraulic system—using hydraulic pistons. These methods can be controlled manually or by a computerized system.
Bending stress that exceeds the limit of the elasticity of the material allows the sheet metal to be bent. A press brake is also equipped with a punch—sometimes referred to as a knife—on a movable section of the bending machine, a die, and a holder piston.
Do you know when the first press brake appeared? How will it develop? In fact, the brake machine has existed as early as 1882, and has been developing so far.
History – In the early 1920s, the first press brake was invented. The earliest press brake is a very simple manual tool for crushing and pounding. It can do some very simple and rough work.
Development – From mechanical to hydraulic and electric, from manual to numerical control to fully automatic. There are three main changes: Automation, Coordinated Flow, and Drive Systems.
Very interested? Want to know more about the first press brake, click here Press brake history and development
Nowadays, there are many types of press brakes on the market. The three most popular types are torsion shaft synchronous, electro-hydraulic synchronous and servo hybrid.
How to classify?
Press brakes can be classified into two schools of thought, principle, and operation. Different press brakes are suitable for different tasks. Only in this way can we achieve higher precision and quality processing.
Most popular types
Torsion bar press brake – This is an old bending device. Because the price is affordable and can meet the basic processing needs, it is still widely used now.
CNC electro-hydraulic press brake – This is the most popular type. The operation is more convenient and the precision is higher.
Hybrid press brake – This is a servo pump controlled bending equipment. The advantages are energy saving and mute to meet the needs of high-end users.
Want to know more about most popular types, click here Press brake types and classification.
What is the structure of press brake? A press brake machine consists of a C- frame on both sides, a workbench connecting the left and right sides and a movable upper.
The plate bending processing mainly depends on the punch and die. The upper die is fixed on the upper beam, and the lower die is fixed on the workbench.
Important parts of a press brake:
There are many parts with specific functions on the press brake. The components are different, mainly including frame, ram, back gauge, upper and lower dies, hydraulic system, electrical system, etc.
The press brake is a kind of equipment used to manufacture curved metal plates. By bending at different angles, the sheet metal can become the desired shape. It has been used in many industries and has been circulating in manufacturing for decades.
Different press brakes are suitable for different industries.
11 most common press brake applications: decoration, electrical and power industry, automobile and ship industry, aerospace, kitchen and catering industry, lamp pole and power pole manufacturing……
Safety is a crucial issue in work. As a heavy duty equipment, the safe operation of press brake is more important.
What should we pay attention to in operation?
We summarize the following points: inspection, listening, cleaning, maintenance and training.
What are the safety protection devices?
All qualified press brake machines are equipped with complete protective devices and can be customized according to the needs of users.
Common safety devices are: protective guard, light curtain, laser protection, open the door and power off, safety signs and so on.
Want to know the detailed function of the safety device and useful tips, click here Press brake safety guidelines
Before production, we should do some training on operation and maintenance for workers about the new press brake. For safety and efficiency, only operators who are familiar with the equipment and have received professional training can use the machine.
Operation Training – The operation instruction manual attached to the machine equipment. Tell users how to use the press brake correctly.
Maintenance Training – There would be wear and tear in our daily use. So we need regular maintenance. Its maintenance work includes inspection, tightening, cleaning, lubrication and so on.
In the evaluation of press brake manufacturers, we can start from quality, price and service. Choosing a professional and reliable press brake manufacturer not only has good product quality, but also can obtain perfect maintenance and service.
Do you want to know the latest ranking of press brake manufacturers? Click here Top 15 Plate Bending Machine Manufacturers in the World