Traditional press brake setup was found to be with hydraulic principle and the usage can be traced back to ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. Later as years went on Greeks introduced some changes into the provisions considering suitability and ease of working. However, inception of electronic or motorized tool was also introduced during traditional times in which electric servo motors were used in addition to pulleys and belts. Scott Ottens, Manager of Amada America Inc, observes about this bending tool that “In Hydraulic system there will be acceleration. It takes a little bit of time to get up to speed where in an electrical system it is almost instantaneous”
Why setup of equipment is mandatory?
Traditional press brake setup was found to be with hydraulic principle and the usage can be traced back to ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. Later as years went on Greeks introduced some changes into the provisions considering suitability and ease of working. However, inception of electronic or motorized tool was also introduced during traditional times in which electric servo motors were used in addition to pulleys and belts. Scott Ottens, Manager of Amada America Inc, observes about this bending tool that “In Hydraulic press brake system there will be acceleration. It takes a little bit of time to get up to speed where in an electrical system it is almost instantaneous”
Why setup of equipment is mandatory?
Setup or tooling alignment is a mandatory aspect if you are looking for precise work for long term. There are certain kinds of mistakes which can be identified as general issues in metal working apparatus like press brake. However, these things depend a lot in setting up the arrangement of device parts.
Mechanism and Machining alignment in conventional Press Devices
Revisions Required
1. Tool Selection for Process
Selecting of tooling options is one of the mistakes that need to be reduced when it comes to obtaining precision in tooling work. It will also have impact on the working bed, hence the tooling components has to be consistent without bends or flanges as frequent operations may worn the components and may lead to cause bends or damages on the working beds. This could be one of the mistakes that lead to imperfect press mechanisms.
2. Creation of set up procedures
Set up procedure depends a lot on overall specifications. Every aspect of assembling has to go in tune with one another to reach maximum compatibility. For example,
The Ram gibs should be maintained in parallel position to avoid twisting movement. This will lead to cause imperfect machining and would become tough to reach perfection.
The return pressure should be maintained without increasing ram stroke.
Strictly following the recommended clearance for gibs is yet another way of achieving successful set of connections.
3. Failure in Lubrication
Lubrication is one of the major issues found both in earlier times as well as today. Successful working of equipment depends on how the operator follows instruction for lubricating all the moving parts of the apparatus. The manufacturers have a big role to play in this because a good manufacturer should provide all the instructions concerning lubrication and other maintenance features.
4. Layout strategy
Layout strategy deals a lot with incorporating equipment set up, maintenance of equipments and following the recommendations in the same way as provided by the manufacturer.
5. Ram Set Up
Ram provision is one of the most commonly made mistakes when it comes to imperfections in brake technology. It has to be compatible with the work material load as overload can lead to deflection of ram. If overloading ends up in machining deflection it can be set right only through re-machining the work material placing platform or bend and the ram. However, this can become a hectic process and disturb production.
Conclusion
Press Brakes are important equipment which had been in existence since earlier times. However, successful production can be reached by avoiding the above mentioned list of common errors.
Industries that depend on machineries remain hindrance to environment in terms of the noise emitted from the industrial premises and the wastes removed. These factors certainly pollute the atmosphere in some way or other.
Common Hindrance Occurred by Machining Industries
Workers who spend majority time in machining operations are prone to noise pollution and air pollution hazards. Some of the commonly identity health issues are working with noisy equipments are subjected to health hazards like hearing problem, allergy, etc.
Noise Emission in Metal Shaping Equipments
Noise emission stays the prominent factor that affects the environment. Workshop devices like lathe, milling, shearing, and many equipments are employed to handle hard and moderate work materials. Hence, machining activities creates noisy atmosphere.
Press Brake in Conventional Model
Press brakes had been in existence since several years. It was preferred to bend thin and moderate metal sheets. With the influence of computerized designing software several changes have been made in profile making devices.
Environmental Friendly Factors in New Type of Press Brakes
New models have been introduced by manufacturers as they receive more customization requests from consumers. In recent days, machine supplier focus on environment friendly designs and press brake is one among them.
Eco-Friendly Features in Hydraulic Press Brake
Hydraulic model remains the most preferred of all. It is economic in energy consumption and provides noise and vibration less machining operations.
How Mechanical Press Brakes are designed over Environment Safety?
Mechanical profile equipment had been a source of disturbance in earlier days. However, with the help of designing technology, engineers are able to provide latest model which requires very less maintenance. Mechanical brakes made of high quality materials support for environment safety as wastage is reduced.
Managing Energy Consumption Specifications in Press
A machine that consumes more fuel or energy source is a threat to environment. However, designers focus to add innovative features to reduce energy consumption. We offers metal Profile making that consumes less energy.
Noiseless and vibration Free Equipment help to prevent noise pollution
We offer Hydraulic and mechanical press tools. It perform noiseless and vibration free operations. Hydraulic variety remains the most preferred than mechanical for its capacity to use very less energy. Hence, considering the fuel saving aspect hydraulic machine stays the first choice for moderate investment and production.
Machine quality and Environment Safety
Our profile workshop equipments are made of high quality materials that are known for excellent tensile strength. Consumers can expect higher productivity for long term. Since, it require less maintenance, industries can experience safe machining atmosphere.
Conclusion
Industries that depend on machining activities employ lot of tools however; noise and waste emission stay environment threatening factors. The inception of designs with favorable mechanism without noise or vibration and less maintenance aspects, have received excellent reception form worldwide industries. We are one among the leading designers and supplier that provides atmosphere friendly workshop tools.
Machining Equipment manufactured by us are known for excellent construction and best performance.
In addition, buying machinery from this manufacture offers advantages like low maintenance and less labour cost.
Conclusion
Press brakes are depended on in engineering industries for sheet bending requirements. It shows higher performance and speed production for large engineering requirements. However, buying a press from a reputed manufacturer is more important than just investing for the sort of bending requisites and Bhavya Machine Tools is one among the best options.
They offer a range of hydraulic operated workshop machinery starting from press brakes to shearing.
Reasons to buy Hydraulic Workshop Components from Bhavya
We offers equipment made of good quality materials
They are cost effective, durable, and reliable and can be relied upon for large production activity.
Conclusion
For industries which are looking for economic labour option and energy saving workshop devices they can choose hydraulic concept machinery from us at reasonable price.
A press brake is workshop equipment that is mainly used for bending metals and metal sheets. Wherein, it can be done either in V shape or U shape in accordance with the industrial requirement. It consists of two C frames fixed in the sides of the machine, which is then fixed over a movable upper beam. The speed of the upper beam increases when the process of bending is tuned to work fast if there are more requirements for production. The whole unit is mounted on a table hence, this equipments like a press brake is a space saving option too. In addition, press equipment is mostly preferred to obtain precision in the process. The precision is expected in terms of angle finalization, finishing, accuracy in measurement, etc. It is possible to obtain it for a range of metals such as aluminum, brass, and cold rolled carbon steel, hot steel, stainless steel, wood, etc.
Applications of Press Brake in Workshops and industries
Press brakes for metal sheet are used mostly in machining industries. The applications also vary according to the production demands. The shape variations can be adjusted with the help of selecting the type of die. Hence, these are found to be most suitable equipment. Selecting the right die design will get your requirement done with precision. There are different types of die designs available which can be applied in accordance with the predetermined angle bend.
The process of metal bending and sheet bending with press brake
The process of these works with the support of punch angle and punch tip which are called the top and bottom tool respectively. The bottom tool contains a V shape open on which the pressing force works to get the desired shape and angle. The bending on the other hand is done in different types such as
Mechanical Press brake–works with an electric motor. In which only the bending radii contact with each other. It is a universal application.
Pneumatic press brake– Works with air pressure
Hydraulic press brake-Works with hydraulic cylinders
Servo-electrical press brake-Works with servo-electrical motor
Different types of sheet metal bending with Press Brake
There are different types of process that can be achieved through it. This can be done by selecting the type of die to be installed in the sheet bending machine. The die on the other hand is usually installed in the bottom part of the brake and some of the popular die designs are
V –dies-
Rotary bending dies
U-bend dies
90 degree dies
Acute angle dies, etc
It is quiet difficult to manage with bottoming. However, for greater precision and more production preferring the right type of die will give better results. Click here to know more about Press Brake.
Conclusion
Different types of sheet metal bending such as radius bend, open hat channel bend, double form bend, offset bend, V Bottom bend, etc can be achieved by selecting suitable dies. This will help for better productivity also.
Press brake or break press is a equipments used for bending sheets of metals, or other materials. Prior to using a metal plate or a sheet it has to be shaped or formed. To do this a machine or a press brake is required.
There are many kinds of devices like mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic and servo-electric. These are available in different sizes and specifications and are used in repairing workshops, auto service stations, industries etc.
Mechanical press brake
In this an electric motor supplies energy to a flywheel which powers a crank mechanism to move the ram vertically. These devices are fast and accurate. This is the conventional version of it.
Hydraulic press brakes
This is operated with the help of two hydraulic cylinders. It has a C-frame which moves the upper beam. It is a very agile punching machine as it can punch as well as foam in both upward and downward direction. This is a mechanized version.
Ways in which Press brakes are employed for sheet metal bending:
They are very adaptable kind of machines. It is the perfect press for forming metal as the force is applied in a longitudinal region. Some of the materials that are used for forming on a press brakes are alloy steel, stainless steel, low carbon steel, aluminum alloys, copper alloys etc.
It is extensively employed for multiple purposes in the industries. The metal is subjected to immense stress and shaped using dies. The metal to be shaped is clamped between a punch and a die and pressure is applied. The metal takes the shape of the die every time the force is applied with the punch. The inside angle of the bend is formed with the punch and the outside angle with the die.
Repeated operations using suitable dies help to cast the metal into the desired shape. Different methods are used to cast the metal like U –die bends, V-bending, bottoming, double die bending etc. A strong firm table forms the base of the machine and the beam on top moves up and down to punch the metal.
Metal can be cut to required shape and size using press breaks. Mechanical press breaks are a good choice for small scale manufacturing units as the job done is very accurate and facilitates easy cutting work. If bulk production in short period of time is needed then hydraulic press brakes is a better alternative. Since it works by hydraulic power system, the machine can be set according to the production requirement. These multi-purpose press brakes can be modified for varied operations.
Select a press brake according to your requirement, type of work, frequency of work and the size of metal sheets to be formed. Mechanical and hydraulic are generally used to form the metal. In order to perform metal bending jobs efficiently, it is important to select the right.
It is a kind of bending machine used for bending sheet metal into a predetermined shape. The bending depends upon the shape of the punch and the die. These are being widely used in metallurgy, aircraft and ship building, production of container and many other metal products.
Working principle of Press Brake
The metal sheet to be bended is placed between the punch and the die. The punch and die are placed in such a way that they are aligned in the same vertical axis and the shape of the punch matches that of the die. The metal sheet is clamped at both ends to prevent it from slipping during the bending process. After fixing the metal sheet, pressure is exerted on the punch which bends the metal sheet or plate against the die. The force applied is measured in tons and the capacity of a machine is measured in terms of tonnage. Depending on the means of application of pressure, they are classified as
Mechanical press brake
Hydraulic press brake
Pneumatic press brake
Press Brake set up
It set up refers to the work carried out by the operator to change the settings of the device according to the job. Every part will not be of the same size and shape. When a new part is to be pressed, some changes must be made in the device to get the shape of the metal sheet or plate as per the design. This set up procedure must be done very carefully because it directly affects the quality of the product. The operator must not take much time in setting up the machine as this may affect the production.
Key to set up Mechanical Press Brake
The key points in setting up it are listed below
· The operator must go through the drawing completely and know the type of material, the dimensions, blank size and the angle required.
· The type of tool should be selected depending upon the dimensions (internal radius in particular). For example, if the inside radius is less than the thickness of the material, bottom tooling can be used.
· The pressure or force required for the particular job must be determined.
· The position of the tool on the bed is selected based upon the tonnage. If maximum tonnage of the machine is to be used, then the tool must be positioned at the centre. If it is less, then the position of the tool can be offset.
·The selected tool must be installed at the determined position. The tool installation is the most time consuming procedure.
·While installing the tool, a safety tag must be used while placing the punch over the die.
·The die and punch must be aligned correctly and the distance between them must be set to get the exact slide length.
·The pressure or force to be exerted must be set by trial and error method to get the exact pressure required for the job.
·A test bend must be made on waste material to check the settings. If the settings are correct, the production can be started immediately.
Key to set up Hydraulic Press Brake
It is similar to that of the mechanical regarding the selection and position of tooling. Some additional points to be taken into consideration while setting up it are listed below
· The hydraulic oil must be clean and the level of the reservoir in the oil must be checked.
·The tool which is selected must be installed as per the manufacturer’s instruction.
·The distance piece must be set to compensate for the difference in penetration between punch and die.
·The slide length of the punch should be set using the controls.
·A test bend is carried out and if not satisfactory necessary changes must be made in the device.
·Most of the hydraulic devices are electronic controlled and so the operator must be familiar with the controls used for the set up of the machine.
Note: Even if the set up is perfect, the production won’t be efficient if the tool is worn out. Worn out tool must be sent to the manufacturer for re-conditioning.
Conclusion
Industrial Press brake are used in many industries and they come in various sizes and types for specific jobs. With the development of automation engineering, CNC Brake press have been developed which are computer controlled and the set up of the equipment can be done in a short period of time. The accuracy of the bend depends upon the set up of the equipment; so much care must be taken while setting up the device. Even if it takes a little longer to set up the equipment, the production should not be started until the operator is confident about the set up of the machine. Click Here to get more information on Press Brakes.
It is important equipment for the industries having jobs related to the metal shaping or bending. Two types are popular among metal fabricators – the manually operated press brakes and the press brakes which operate on the hydraulic power. The sheet metal bending whose action is sourced from hydraulic power is commonly referred as a hydraulic press brake.
It uses the power of the hydraulic motor to apply force on to the metal so that it is compressed onto the die forming the shape of the die. It is shape of the die that determines the shape acquired with the metal bending process. These can carry out an automated bending process and hence are the choice of many manufacturers looking for faster and efficient bending devices for cost effective bending processes. The precision of bending acquired with it is also excellent. Moreover as they are available in user-friendly formats, it is really easy to form metals into the required shapes using these hydraulic machines.
The main advantage of using it for metal bending operation is the flexibility it offers for the bending operations. With this, one can cast customized shapes out of different kinds of metals. Therefore employing it for bending operation will give much efficiency in work than an ordinary bending machine which can only bend or curve the metal but cannot cast out the required shape out of it.
The bending mechanism of it is a stamping process where the metal sheet is stamped into the mould or dies for casting it into the required shape. Initially as an input, sheet metal is fed into the device which gets aligned on to the die. Then as the force is applied on to this metal with lowered press or boom the metal is stamped into the mold. Hence this casts the sheet metal as per the shape of die. Therefore it is no wrong to say that die is a crucial component of a hydraulic brake because it’s the shape of die that will determine the shape of the object formed with the sheet metal. With continuous, repetitive sheet metal pressing using the properly selected dies one can cast customized shapes easily using today’s hydraulic machines. It is possible to cast almost any shape out of sheet metal using the latest devices that come with several desired features that provide for easy and customized shaping.
For accuracy in shaping process, these are designed for vibration free operation. It can save lot of production costs for the manufacturers as they do not require manual force for operation which is usually the requirement for manual bending equipments.
A press brake is primarily used for accurately bending various types of metal sheets and plates. Some frequently asked questions are as follows:
Q. What is camber?
A. Camber is actually a small piece of cap which is placed on the ram or bed to permit deflection. This is due to the fact that, any material which is bent on a it will encounter resistance. As a result this resistance will deflect the bed as well as the ram.
Q. Is it necessary to fasten the machine to the floor?
A. Definitely, the press brake must be first leveled and then properly fastened to the floor. Otherwise 25 percent of the energy of your press brake will be wasted, due to loss of torque.
Q. How much tonnage is required for a specific task?
A. Please refer the chart on the press brake which displays the amount of tonnage needed for a specific kind of metal. For example, you can press a 0.25 inch steel plate at 15.4 tons per foot. Further, in case you are using a 0.125 inch sheet, it can be pressed at 7.7 tons per foot.
Q. Explain tensile strength and yield strength for a press brake?
A. The term tensile strength is used when you are referring to pressing a metal piece. This includes applying lots of force at a particular place on the metal piece to accomplish the task. Whereas yield strength refers to applying relatively less force in order to roll a metal piece. Hence in order to press stainless steel or any other metal, you will require a larger press brake as the tensile strength is more than 80000. On the other hand, for rolling stainless steel, you may use a smaller capacity press brake. For example, a 304 stainless steel work piece actually has a tensile strength of 95000; while the yield strength is just 35000.
Q. Why is it essential to designate the various materials?
A. Material designation is important as well as mandatory, since it provides us the detailed information of a particular metal; including the tensile strength and yield strength. Moreover, it is also necessary to ensure that you have the complete designation of a metal. For instance, A516 is incomplete and not sufficient. You must also include the grade. Hence A516-55 means that the tensile strength is 55-75000 and the minimum yield strength is 30,000. And A516-70 refers to tensile strength of 70-90,000; and minimum yield strength of 38000.
Q. What is the maximum capacity of a press brake?
A. The maximum capacity is basically, the rated tonnage of the tools. Hence you should find out the relevant tonnage per foot, and then just multiply the tonnage by the number of feet you require. However, while using short pieces of metal, it is always advisable to slightly move the work piece in order to prevent the bed from getting damaged.
Hence these FAQs on press brake will help potential and existing users to solve their queries.
The various sheet metal machineries for shearing, bending and cutting are described below:
Press Brake
The mechanical press brake has a sturdy frame built from high grade steel. It also consists of steel plates with appropriate thickness and machined guide ways. This strain-free equipment supports ram and bed from unnecessary deflection under tolerable loads. The power is transmitted via two individual gear drives to uniformly distribute load throughout its length. While the hydraulic press brake comprises of superior quality hydraulic components. It has two cylinders mounted at back side and connected through mechanical links. They are also synchronized for parallel motion between ram and table. The heavy duty steel frame can absorb heavy shocks caused by overloading. All edges are accurately machined and welded for durability. The power unit is fixed appropriately on the wall; hence the operator can easily reach the push button and foot switch.
Shearing Machine
The hydraulic shearing has a squaring arm on left and right side with hardened lines for even load distribution. The front gauging has stops and scales on squaring arm. The recessed table includes hardened rods to feed sheets easily. The sheet is supported by long plates; and the ramp on back side slides to allow cutting sheets outside shear area. It also has a finger safety guard that provides clear view of cutting area. The movable foot switch provides easy and convenient operation. It also has an efficient, compact power pack with least piping. The neat electrical wiring enables easy trouble shooting. Whereas the under crank shearing device is precise and robustly constructed for uninterrupted production, repeatability. It has a foot pedal, fly wheel, gear guard, self lubricating system, motor pulley, and a pair of four edged shear blades. The front and back gauge is manually operated and the finger guard in the front protects the operator. Further, the over crank shearing is accurate and works constantly and repeatedly. It consists of four edged, single segment knives for longer durability. They can be easily assembled and minimizes downtime. The scale on back gauge enables instant reading of distance between shear and back gauge.
Bending Machine
The plate bending machine can handle heavy stresses and loads. It is highly safe, requires minimum power and reduces running cost. It is designed to deliver top quality products, increase unit durability; prevent breakdown and revenue loss. Further the section bending tool includes motorized drive for bottom rolls; foot switch control switch and reverse forward starter for easy, quick changeover of rolls; a scale for adjusting rolls; and hardened, grinded shafts.
Applications
The various applications of mechanical, hydraulic press brake; hydraulic, under crank, over crank shearing; plate, section bending includes electric panels, roofing, bus bodies, kitchen equipments, generator enclosures, steel tanks, stainless steel equipments, coil cutting industries, air condition ducts, container manufacturing, flour making, industrial structures, rail coaches, tipper trucks, wind mill manufacturing, turbine enclosures, etc. Hence these sheet metal machineries for shearing, bending and cutting are used in several industries.
A number of machines are used in the process of fabrication of sheet metal parts. Fabrication is the process of collective operations which are used to give a shape to the metal sheet. This involves a number of equipments like metal shears, laser cutting, press brakes, rollers, welding machines etc.
Press brake, also called break press, is a machine that is used to bend the metal sheets and plates. A considerable amount of force is applied using mechanical or hydraulic processes or both. In order to get perfect bends free from any defect, care must be taken to use proper methods. The commonly used metals for fabrication are carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminum.
Types of Press Breaks
Press brakes are available in two categories:
Mechanical press brakes – A mechanical press is faster and more accurate as compared to other.
Hydraulic press brakes – These help to create goods of superior quality which use less power and are dependable. These are safe to use but are more expensive. For accurate bending of sheet metal and metal plates it is widely used in many industries.
Metal forming
The process of applying force on the metal to change its shape without cutting it is called metal forming. The sheets are bent or stretched into an array of complex shapes.
In the process of sheet metal fabrication, first the basic flat shape of the metal sheet is attained, the metal is then sent to machines to make the bends. The metal sheet is placed between a punch and a die. This process is called forming. According to the specifications on the prints, dies in a range of shapes and radius are used to make one or a number of bends to form the metal.
Applications of Press Breaks
In order to increase the inflexibility of a metal, and to shape the pieces of metal in shapes of one’s choice and design the metal is bent using it. Bending is a flexible process in precision sheet metal fabrication and it permits the formation of different shapes by using hammering and press brakes.To find the correct bend allowance for the compressionand stretching of the material, intricate mathematical formulas are required.
Press brake forming method is used for different functions like metal framing, metal housing for a definite part, brackets for tools and machines etc. It is also used for punching, bending, piercing etc. of the metal sheet.
Metal fabrication is done for a large array of industries and applications. Car parts, aircraft components, boat propellers, holding tanks, shark cages, weapons, etc. are fabricated from metal. Different tools are used for different purpose during fabrication of metal, so a technician can shape the metal according to his desire.
So, without the press brake machinery the work of a fabricator would be very difficult. To give shape to the metal sheet before it is cut, It play a very significant role. These are used in every metal industry and for almost every metal fabrication be it a piece of art or a part of a car.
Press Brake, Slotting Machine – It used for Bending and Cutting Metals
Cutting and bending are the two primary functions performed on metals for casting the desired shape or dimensions. Therefore when it comes to metal working, the two most popular categories used in workshops are metal cutting and metal bending machines. Much of the metal processing tasks in workshops are usually carried using these equipment.
Press Brake
The popular form of metal bending machines used in workshop is a press brake. A press brake is a popular workshop tool installed with punches and dies to form bends on the metals. Combining a series of repetitive bending operations metals can be bent to desired shape. A press brake is usually classified on basis of factors like force and working length. There are four popular forms of press brakes widely employed in workshops and industries called mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and servo-electric brakes. A functioning of a mechanical variant of this metal bending unit is dependent on flywheel, the pneumatic model utilizes the air pressure, the hydraulic press brake from http://www.bhavyamachinetools.com/pressbrake/hydraulic.html functions by means of a pair of hydraulic cylinders where as a servo-electric brake works on servo-motor to drive a ball screw or belt drive to exert tonnage on the ram for bending metals to desired shape or dimensions as required. The shape casted using a brake is dependent on the type of die used in the device. Various kinds of dies can be installed in press brakes like v-dies, U-bend dies, goose neck dies, acute angle dies, offset dies, hemming dies seaming dies and much more to achieve desired shape from a metal work piece. With an appropriate die installed in your unit, you can cast almost any shape out of a metal work piece with varied repetitive operations.
Slotting Machine
A slotting machine, as the name indicates is the tool used in workshop for cutting or shaping of metals. Whether it is to make slots on heads of screws, bolts, automobile components and other parts, all can be performed using this device. A modern metal slotting available today in the market comes with easy to use and convenient handling features which can be easily handled by even beginners for performing cutting, slotting and shaping operations on metal parts. A slotting instruments comes in various specifications and configurations. Therefore depending on the type of industry whether automotive, furniture, electrical, construction or heavy industries where the equipment is to be used proper machinery selection is important if you want to get the best performance from your slotting machine for metal work.
We are a leading equipment supplier in India offering various kinds of machine for use in industries and workshops. The supplier offers both standard as well as heavy duty slotting to meet the metal cutting and shaping applications in various industries either small scale or large scale. The mechanical and hydraulic press brakes offered by the supplier are international standard designed for long lasting, vibration and noise free and easy effortless operation.
The press brake is primarily a machine tool that is utilized for bending a metal sheet or plate, into a shape which is determined by its die set. It forms preset bends by tightly holding the workpiece between the punch and die set. Usually it has two C shaped frames on both the sides. It is firmly connected to a table at the bottom and has a moveable beam at the top. The top tool is mounted on the upper beam, whereas the bottom tool is mounted on the table. It is actually a multi purpose fabricating machine, and therefore suitable for several types of metal forming operations.
It has the capability to deliver force in a limited vertical space in order to punch or bend the metal sheet. A variety are now available in the market. However, they are mainly categorized as mechanical or hydraulic, depending on the means of applying force. In the early days, mechanical brakes were mostly used. And later on with the advancement in technology, the hydraulic press brakes were introduced in the market.
Choosing a specific type mainly depends on the material to be used, the type of operation, as well as the rate of output. This versatile press brake is utilized for various types of forming operations using different kinds of dies. The numerous applications of different kinds of press brakes are described further. Actually these are regarded as an essential part of several manufacturing industries. Hence they are commonly used in a wide range of industrial segments such as wood, metal, automobile, rubber, plastic, etc. It can be used to produce the metal plates of front, back and side panels of a computer. It is also utilized for manufacturing metal brackets, frames and cabinets.
Mechanical Press Brake
It has a flywheel that is powered by an electric motor. It also has a clutch that engages the flywheel to initiate the crank mechanism, for moving the ram in the vertical direction. This machine exerts pressure in order to form, shape, or cut a material; extract liquids, or compress solids. A mechanically driven has a fixed tonnage, and exerts more force at the bottom of its stroke as compared to the halfway point. The two major benefits of mechanical press brake are speed and accuracy.
Hydraulic Press Brake
It functions through two synchronized hydraulic cylinders on the C frames, in order to move the upper beam. This machine exerts a great force on the larger piston in a pair of hydraulically coupled cylinders; whereas a relatively smaller force is applied to the smaller piston. They use hydraulic oil or fluid pressure as a source of energy. These are easy to use and maintain. They are basically high speed, compact machines that are more precise and use less power. Moreover, this machine is highly reliable and hence much safer than the mechanical press brakes.
The objective of this article is to educate readers about different types of press brakes and their industrial applications.
A press brake is also referred to as a brake press. It is basically a powerful machine tool that is commonly used for bending sheets and plates; particularly for bending sheet metal. It forms preset bends by holding the work piece in between the suitable punch and matching die. These are normally classified as per the means of applying force. The different types available in the market include the mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and servo-electric press brake.
There may be many reasons for buying and using it. Hence selecting the right one for your workshop is very important. Thus, first of all it is necessary to determine the type of work that needs to be done. Nowadays, several manufacturers provide a wide range of press brakes in different dimensions and specifications. You can select a particular model, of the required size and quality, as per your specific needs and budget.
Moreover, before selecting, it is recommended to take the advice of an expert, or a reliable supplier and reputed manufacturer; since they have in-depth knowledge and vast experience about the various types and models available in the market. There may be various reasons for purchasing a press brake such as; for starting a new workshop, for expanding your manufacturing capacity, for fulfilling a specific requirement, or just for replacing an existing press brake.
Further, it also depends whether you a need it for a short term and on a temporary basis; or for a long term and on a permanent basis. Another significant factor is your financial plan. This refers to your budget limit, and whether you are ready to purchase a costly machine. In case, you have a limited budget and temporary requirement, you can also select used or second hand one. On the other hand, if you can afford a new, it will be more effective and also last for many years. Besides, a new and good quality machine will assure better accuracy, higher efficiency, and total safety.
Moreover, another important factor is finding a renowned and trustworthy supplier. This is relatively confusing, because today there a numerous local and international companies that supply new as well as old machinery. You also need to confirm that the required model is of high quality, and is also available at the appropriate price.
Hence, you should contact a reliable supplier who has sufficient knowledge about the various types and models. And this supplier must be capable to properly guide and suggest the buyers, to select a particular type of machine that suits their specific purpose, meets their individual needs, and is within their budget limits. Moreover, it is better to select a supplier that also provides all the related spare parts and even offers services for repairing and maintaining various press brakes.
These days, various types of press brakes are available in the market, including mechanical and hydraulic. The main differences between a mechanical and a hydraulic is as follows.
Hydraulic press brakes are simple to use and versatile for punching and forming sheet metal components. Even the tooling is easy for a hydraulic press and the material handling cost is also less. Stamping can also be done using economical tools on the same hydraulic press.
Mechanical presses use expensive dies and costly components, hence hydraulic presses are better. One more advantage of using a it is that they can be set up quickly, because they do not involve many other forming functions. It also reduces secondary forming operations such as moving the components to another machine. Hence, the hydraulic press is preferred since the tooling and set up time is less as compared to the mechanical press. Moreover, a hydraulic is a highly flexible punching, forming and stamping equipment. It can even punch and form in upwards as well as downwards directions. They also help to save manufacturing time of sheet metal parts.
The hydroforming operation is not possible on a mechanical press brake, because it does not have the speed control and cannot remain on the bottom for carrying out the high pressure forming operations. The slow speed of the hydraulic helps in the hydroforming process, in comparison with the mechanical. A hydraulic press brake provides dwelling and ram speed control which is not possible in mechanical. The hydraulic presses can be programmed to control the ram speed and ram position, whereas this facility is unavailable in mechanical presses.
Further, hydraulic press have exceptional speed, stroke and force; and have therefore increased the forming capacity of sheet metal industry. They can offer full force at any stroke position and also provide flexibility in the dies. The ram stroke can be easily adjusted from minimum to maximum position. Hence, a hydraulic press can have longer strokes to include different types of dies; and can be easily set for various operations. The major benefits of these hydraulic presses include the following.
They are multi-purpose machines, and are adaptable for diverse operations; deliver better force at any point of stroke; and are capable to function at various strokes on the same machine. The ram stroke can be simply adjusted throughout the length. Also the required speeds can be set and also easily reset at any position. It is possible to program and have total control over the ram stroke and position. A variety of operations can be performed at different pressures just by adjusting the command, pressure switch settings, or pressure control valve of the machine.
Ultimately, hydraulic press brakes deliver precise and high quality products. Hence, compared to mechanical press brakes, the hydraulic are much better. Therefore a wide range of operations are now done using hydraulic presses in various industries throughout the world.
Metal can be cut to required shape and size using press breaks. Mechanical press breaks are a good choice for small scale manufacturing units as the job done is very accurate and facilitates easy cutting work. If bulk production in short period of time is needed then hydraulic press brakes is a better alternative. Since it works by hydraulic power system, the machine can be set according to the production requirement. These multi-purpose press brakes can be modified for varied operations.
