Page 34 - MetalForming June 2015

Faster, Yet Safer Press Brakes
secure to the operator’s wrists and adjust to prevent physi- cal reach into the danger zone, but also didn’t offer the total solution.
“These guarantee hand protection, but make operation cumbersome at best,” says Bailey.
Point-of-Contact Guarding Brings Advantages
The subsequent advent of point-of-contact guarding, as it’s referred to in the ANSI B11.03 2012 Safety Requirements for Power Press Brakes, has improved safety while minimiz- ing disruption of production.
Point-of-contact guarding devices use a laser beam or array of beams, or a camera system to look at the area just in front of the punch as the ram travels up and down. These devices, working just ahead of the punch, guard a zone an inch or two ahead of the punch toward the operator, and then a distance below.
“Operators can walk up with a small part and bend with their hands within less than an inch of the die and still be pro- tected,” says Ottens.
For example, notes Steve Lazinsky, president of Comeq, Inc., White Marsh, MD, laser-light security systems offer finger protection via a laser mounted on the top beam of a pTress brake, with a single laser beam located just below the top tool.
“This cost-effective system offers a comfortable working
Bending aids, specially designed lifts that attach to the front of the press brake to lift and lower the part during forming, reduce working strain on operators. Photo courtesy of Trumpf Inc.
condition, with no limitation in holding the sheetmetal dur- ing bending,” Lazinsky says.
Point-of-contact guarding systems that include lasers and possibly cameras combine with foot-pedal and other switches and buttons via safety PLCs, which monitor all security-equipment connections. Dual-channel systems help ensure safety even if a single piece of multipronged safe- ty equipment or a single signal fails.
This state-of-the-art safety technology takes advantage of
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