5 Questions to Ask Yourself to Choose the Right Press Brake
Planning on outfitting your operation with new press brakes? Here are five important considerations to take before purchasing.
What Type of Tooling Do You Have?
It is very likely that you already have the tooling you intend to use with your press brake and are looking to introduce the new machine to that tooling. If that is the case, you will need to ensure that the machine you choose will be compatible with what you already have — or that you can get the right tooling to go with your preferred press brake.
What Type of Material are You Bending?
The type of material you are working with is a major influencing factor in what type of press brake you will need. It determines a variety of things, including:
● The force you need for bending.
● The level of deflection you may experience.
● The ultimate outcome or finished product of the bending process, and more.
This is why choosing a machine based on what type of material you primarily work with is a great starting point.
What Kind of Tonnage are You Handling?
How much bending force — or tonnage — you need or are typically using should be taken into consideration when buying a new machine. The amount of tonnage you need will depend on the type of metal or other material being bent.
Always overestimate this calculation by 25%-30% when purchasing, though, as this margin of error allows for variation and can prevent damage to your machines.
What Level of Deflectionare You Expecting?
The level of deflection that is likely to occur in a machine during use should also be a consideration when purchasing. Deflection is the natural amount of deformation seen by the press brake ram and the bed under a typical load. As an example, longer machines with wider beds see more deflection than shorter machines. An added benefit of shorter machines is that less shimming is required to obtain decent-quality parts.
Understanding acceptable industry standards for stress is also important in dealing with deflection. That standard for materials is 8.5 kg — or just under 18.75 pounds — per mm2 of stress. Most companies that produce press brakeswill insist on much lower amounts of stress on materials, yielding great performance with minimal deflection or damage. While deflection cannot be avoided entirely, it can be minimalized to increase accuracy and overall strength and productivity of finished products.
What is the Inside Bend Radius of What You are Bending?
The bend radius is defined as the amount that a pipe or tube can be bent or curved without kinking or damaging it. This number is important — and dependent on the way the bending is performed — as it helps you understand how to effectively create your finished products.
If you need assistance with making any of these decisions, turn to an expert. Most retailers of press brakes and other machinery can help you make these determinations and pick the right pieces for your operation. Don’t waste your money; invest with a retailer that offers you the help you need and get the right machine, every time.