Brad KuvinPress Brakes Loaded with Bottleneck-Buster Technology
December 1, 2016Comments
If your shop hasn’t acquired a new press brake in the last few years, odds are that the sheet and plate forming area of the shop is on its way to becoming a bottleneck. With the pace of material movement through shops quickening each and every day, thanks in large part to the unreal productivity from new laser- and plasma-cutting machines, shops cannot afford to face throughput hurdles thrown up by old, slow and inaccurate press brakes.
Have no fear—there is no shortage of new press-brake offerings equipped to handle the rapidly increasing pace of material flow. Operators can view setup sheets on the CNC screen, rather than mess with clumsy and perhaps out-of-date part drawings. And many manufacturers have devised clever onboard aids also designed to quicken setups. Tooling can be staged right on the press brake, and can be changed automatically.
In-process bend-angle measurement and adjustment can eliminate extra hits and minimize scrap.
Here’s a sample of what’s become available to metalformers in the last year or two.
Salvagnini: www.salvagnini.com/en/product/press-brakes/b3
Lean manufacturing comes to press-brake operations with the introduction of Salvagnini’s B3.ATA press brake, which automatically adjusts tool length, V-die opening and backgauges to accommodate the next operation or the next part in a kit-production sequence. Automatic tool adjustment, via the proprietary SiX controller, frees operators from decisions about which tooling and which tool station to use.
Bending accuracy is ±2 microns, due to the built-in angle-measurement system that performs real- time checks on parts during bending—without increasing cycle time. Measurements are communicated to the controller which, using previously recorded springback values for the workpiece material, signals the necessary adjustments.
Other key machine features:
- Upper tooling that automatically resets, in 8 sec., for the next piece;
- A CNC-controlled lower V-die that opens and closes depending on the material type and thickness; and
- First-bend accuracy to within ±0.5 deg.
JMT: www.jmtusa.com/press-brakes/electric-press-brakes
JMT’s new Eco Bend electric press brakes, called ideal for cramped shops where floor space is at a premium, have a compact footprint, run quietly and draw relatively little power while idle. The unique frame design keeps the bending beam precisely parallel to the die.
This new Goform 40-ton electric press brake from Cincinnati Inc. is touted as perfect for small parts to 0.25-in. thick and weighing less than 50 lb. It provides a 10-in. stroke and 17-in. open height for jobs requiring tall tools and adapters, and boasts a six-axis backgauge to take on complex part shapes. The brake’s heavy-duty stress-relieved frame is designed to handle full-tonnage forming with minimal deflection, and its drive system uses satellite roller-screw actuators that minimize heat and wear for a long life of heavy use.
Amada: 
On average, machines in the latest Prima Power eP-series servo-electric press brakes consume 50 percent less power than hydraulic press brakes, say company officials. The brakes also require less maintenance, (Prima Power calls this Green Means). The press brakes employ a pulley-belt system designed to distribute the applied bending force over the entire bending length, while a rigid and stable O-frame ensures optimum tool alignment. Ram-position accuracy and repeatability are bolstered by bed-referenced linear encoders that measure the relative positions of the upper and lower beams. 
High axis speeds and acceleration rates, combined with innovative operating aids, lead to unparalleled productivity with Trumpf’s new TruBend Series 5000 press brakes, in four models from 500- to 1700-kN bending force and 1275- to 3230-mm bending length. Each features a new on-demand servo drive with four-cylinder drive technology. 
LVD Strippit introduces a range of press brakes to its bending-product line, the PPED series of hydraulic brakes that feature a CNC crowning system and a 15-in. version of its Touch-B CNC controller. With minimal input, an operator can create designs in 2D and simulate in 3D. The machines come in three models, with bend force from 50 to 320 metric tons and bend lengths from 78 to 157 in. The largest model, the PPED-7, is equipped with a standard crowning system—sheet thickness, bend length, punch radius, die opening and material data are entered into the control to determine the amount of crowning required.
Described as easy to set up and program, the Bystronic Xact Smart press brake combines high bend accuracy with advanced features, including the ByVision bending control system that includes a 22-in. high-definition touchscreen to display realistic 3D part animations. Operators gain 3D visualization of part processing, simulation of bending cycles and collision monitoring. A software-driven menu guides operators through a step-by-step bending process, and automatically specifies bend sequences to make programming simple and intuitive.
