5 Things You Should Know About Press Brake Tools (RTL) Press Brake Tools are essential for the precision bending of sheet metal, with the choice of materials being crucial to ensure high-quality results. The precision and material of the tools directly impact the product, affecting aspects such as sheet metal bending angle, rebound angle, workpiece deformation, and tool lifespan. To guarantee optimal performance of these tools, it's crucial to select the right tooling that matches the production processes. We are Alruqee Tools Co. (UniTools), established in 1990 we stand out for our exceptional pre and post-sales technical support, ensuring the correct selection of tooling. Our expertise in the implementation of tool technology guarantees shorter production time with high quality and accuracy. With our support, businesses can achieve efficient and precise sheet metal bending, enhancing overall productivity and product quality. What is Press Brake Tooling? Press brake tools, also known as press brake tooling, are made up of two main parts: a punch and a die. The punch applies force to the metal, while the die shapes it into the desired form. Press brakes are metal forming machines that bend and fold sheet and plate metal by pressing it between the punch and die. Here are some features of press brake tools: Sectionalized tooling: This type of tooling is more versatile and can be matched to specific program requirements. It's also easier to operate, install, and maintain than longer tools. If parts of the tooling are damaged or worn, they can be replaced instead of the entire tool. Pressure systems: Press brakes are equipped with various pressure systems, including hydraulic, mechanical, electric, and pneumatic.The power device applies pressure to the ram, which moves the upper die down and presses the metal plate into the lower die, completing the bending process. Safety features: Press brakes can be equipped with guards to protect hands and objects from entering the work zone. Side guards protect objects and hands, while rear guards prevent access to the back gauge and the rear contact area. Repeatability: Press brakes can consistently achieve the same bending results when performing repetitive operations. Retract speed: This is the speed at which the ram or upper beam returns to its original position after bending. Things You Should Know About Press Brake Tools Trend Direction & Development of Bending Machine Tools Intelligent Automation: Bending machines are incorporating more advanced control systems with features like automated operation, production management, and reduced human error. High-speed, High-precision Bending: Machines are being developed to bend metal faster and more precisely, leading to increased efficiency and lower costs. Focus on New Materials: As new materials are used in manufacturing, bending machines will need to adapt with new processes and tooling to handle these materials effectively. 6-Axis Bending Technology: This technology uses intelligent programming to achieve complex bends and shapes. It offers advantages in precision and efficiency for intricate metalwork. Rise of Multilateral Bending Machines: These machines can bend sheet metal from multiple directions simultaneously. This reduces reliance on molds and manual labor, improving efficiency and production speed. Influence of Low Precision on Products Inaccurate Bend Angles:Low precision machines may struggle to achieve the desired bend angle consistently. This can lead to parts that are out of spec, requiring rework or rejection. Uneven Bends: Bends may not be uniform along the entire length, with some areas tighter or looser than others. This can cause cosmetic imperfections and potential structural weaknesses. Material Deformation: The bending force may not be applied evenly due to machine limitations, leading to excessive marking or even denting of the sheet metal. Tooling Issues: Low precision machines may not properly align or clamp tooling, causing inconsistencies and potential damage to the tools themselves. Repeatability Issues: It becomes difficult to achieve consistent results between bends, even on the same piece or across different production runs. Suitable Materials for Making Tools High Strength and Wear Resistance:Tool steels like high carbon-high chromium steels (e.g., Cr12MoV) offer good hardness and wear resistance for long tool life. Dimensional Stability: The material should maintain its shape during bending operations to ensure precise bends. Low-alloy tool steels (e.g., CrWMn) minimize warping and cracking during heat treatment, leading to dimensionally stable tools. Machinability: The material should be workable for creating the desired tool shapes. Carbon tool steels (e.g., T8A) are generally easier to machine compared to some high-performance options. Cost: While high-performance tool steels offer superior wear resistance, lower-cost options like carbon tool steels can be suitable for lower volume bending or less demanding applications. Bend Material: Consider the material being bent. For tougher materials like stainless steel, tool steels with superior wear resistance like cemented carbide inserts might be necessary. 6 Parameters of Press Brake Dies Die Depth: Sets clearance for bend angle, avoid punch hitting bottom. V-Opening: Slightly wider than material thickness for proper bending. Die Radius: Controls minimum bend radius, larger for sharper bends (but more springback). Punch Nose Radius: Like die radius, affects bend and springback (larger = larger bend radius, less springback). Overall Length: Needs to be long enough for the entire bend in your workpiece. Material: Strong steel to handle bending forces (type depends on material being bent and press brake tonnage). How to Choose the Right Tools for Bending Machine Choosing the right tools for your bending machine is just as important as choosing the machine itself. Here are some factors to consider: Material type and thickness: The type of material you're bending (sheet metal, tube, etc.) and its thickness will determine the type of tooling you need. For example, thinner materials may use a sharp punch, while thicker materials may require a punch with a larger radius to avoid cracking. Desired bend radius and angle: The bend radius is the inner curvature of the bend, and the angle is the desired angle of the bend. The tooling you choose should be able to achieve the specific radius and angle you need for your project. Machine capacity: Your bending machine will have a tonnage rating, which is the amount of force it can exert to create a bend. The tooling you choose needs to be compatible with the tonnage of your machine. Production volume:Are you doing one-off projects or high-volume production? If you're doing a lot of bends, you may want to invest in higher-quality tooling that will last longer. Overall Length: Needs to be long enough for the entire bend in your workpiece. Material: Strong steel to handle bending forces (type depends on material being bent and press brake tonnage). Get the Latest Bending Solutions at Machine Tools Company L.L.C (RMT) Our Range of Bending Machines Manual Bending TruBend Series 3000 TruBend Series 5000 TruBend Series 7000 TruBend Series 8000 Semi-automatic Bending: TruBend Center Series 5000 Technical Specifications: Bending length - 3123 mm Max. material thickness Mild steel - 3 mm Stainless steel - 2,2 mm Max. nesting height - 220 mm Machine dimensions Length 6500 mm Width 3100 mm Height 3500 mm Fully Automatic Bending TruBend Center Series 5000 TruBend Cell 5000 with BendMaster (60) TruBend Cell 5000 with BendMaster (150) TruBend Cell 7000 with BendMaster (15) Get in Touch For all your sheet metal processing and metal cutting needs, contact us at Alruqee Group. Our division, Alruqee Tools Co. (UniTools),offers high-quality tooling and technical support to maximize productivity. Additionally, Company L.L.C (RMT) provides the latest bending solutions. Contact us today for innovative and cost-effective solutions.