Why does the right tooling matter for an old press brake?

Are you struggling with an old press brake? If so, you’re not alone.

But there is a way to make your life easier and boost productivity. You can use tooling to make your press brake perform like one that’s 20 or 30 years newer. It is possible to bump up the performance of your press brake by using the right tooling. Here are several things you can do:

Get a shorter die opening. It will improve the clearance between the punch and die. The greater the clearance, the more tonnage you’ll need for a given bend. So, get as much clearance as you can when replacing worn punches and dies.

Use a die with a smaller radius. A smaller radius will produce a tighter part (i.e., less spring back), increasing force efficiency (i.e., requiring less tonnage). However, remember that if you have very small pieces to bend, this may not be practical because of small-radius limitations on the tooling itself.

Use large-diameter punch holders. Large-diameter holders provide more clamping surface on the punch than standard holders, so they resist deflection better than small-diameter holders, allowing tighter parts with less tonnage.

Many people are surprised to find out that their old machines can have modern controls added and upgraded with new servo motors, increasing speed, accuracy, and quality.

But even if you have an older machine with a modern control, you can still do one more thing to bring it up to date. That’s by upgrading the tooling to precision ground tooling.

You might not think about it much, but tooling plays a massive role in your brake press’s performance. The right tooling can give you faster cycle times and better part quality, especially when working with high-strength materials or specialty alloys.

While the most significant influence on your product quality is the careful setup of your press brake, the right tooling can make the difference between a flawless part and one that requires rework.

Among other benefits, proper tooling can:

· Minimise the force required to bend the material

· Eliminate waviness in the bend

· Reduce or eliminate cracking in the material

· Make bends without wrinkles or other anomalies

· Reduce deformation of workpiece edges after bending

A common problem that can occur is when the lower tooling section of the punch hits the workpiece instead of the upper tool. This is usually caused by worn or improperly installed tooling. The solution is to obtain new tooling and have it installed professionally. A qualified press brake technician should be able to install the tooling in a way that will prevent it from hitting the workpiece. In some cases, an angle in the punch and die may need to be adjusted to get the proper clearance.

Another common problem with older press brakes is an inability to hold a consistent angle throughout a bend. The problem is most likely caused by worn pins in the clamp assembly and/or worn bushings between the clamp assembly and ram. When this happens, it’s best to replace both parts at once, so you’re not left with a mismatched set.

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