WHAT ARE PRESS BRAKES AND WHAT ARE THEY USED FOR IN THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR?
At Jordi Universal we have press brakes, the Flex series, which are used in different sectors such as, for example, boilermaking, construction of metal structures and the manufacture of other types of industrial machinery.
The so-called sheet bending or folding is a forming process without material removal and with plastic deformation. During bending, the sheet metal is bent to a certain angle using a press brake, where the sheet metal to be formed is placed on the die and deformed by the impact produced by the punch, which is driven by the moving part of the press brake. All sheet metal operations are carried out cold.
During the process, the sheet metal is gradually bent, thanks to the pressure exerted on it. In this way, it is the force of the pressure that defines the bending of the final shape of the sheet. Thanks to this process, it is possible to create elements that form part of furniture, soundproofing, facade applications, ceilings, etc., always depending on the material used.
The versatility of these bending machines or presses varies widely depending on the size of the sheet metal to be processed, but some can process materials up to 20 mm thick. In addition, some industrial press brakes can be up to 18-20 meters long, which allows a large number of dies to be accommodated to perform different bending operations consecutively.
On what metals can we use press brakes or press brakes?
When it comes to the sheet metal bending process, various formed metals are used, among which the following stand out:
Mild steel.
Austenitic stainless steels.
Aluminum or low alloy copper.
Brass.
During the whole process of sheet metal bending, the industrial machinery itself is in charge of carrying out the work of bending, folding and cutting the sheets.
What parts does an industrial bending machine generally consist of?
Frame: it has all the necessary supports for the location of the different elements that make up the bending machine.
Support system: this is the place where the sheet is supported before it is bent.
Punch: this is the moving part of the tool, i.e. the part that pushes the sheet against the die.
Numerical control: in charge of controlling the machine axes (movement of the punch, of the sheet support system, of the stops, etc.).
Drive devices: all the controls for the machine drive are located here.
Die: fixed part of the bending tool. The part, on the outside, will take the shape of the die.