A press brake is a piece of equipment that is used to bend sheet metal. Whilst EMSEA have a number of press brakes ranging in sizes, they are typically narrow and long so that large pieces of sheet metal can be bent by lowering a punch that has been positioned on top of a die. The sheet metal in between can be bent several times by a press brake until the desired form has been achieved.
What kind of press brakes are there?
Bending metal into shape requires a huge degree of force. In order to create this, the punch is lowered onto the sheet metal using a number of different methods – such as pneumatic, electric etc. Different press brakes can also vary the amount of force they apply – known as tonnage. As a rule of thumb, hydraulic presses deliver very high levels of force. Different brakes also have varying speeds and accuracy. Servo electric press brakes are usually more accurate and faster than mechanical press brakes.
Considerations when using a press brake?
It’s vital to consider the metal type being bent, and calculating the bending force required – the metal type is important as different metals have different properties. For example, a high strength steel will be far harder to bend by a press brake than many aluminium alloys. If you are unsure about the press brake process or have any questions regarding a requirement or upcoming sheet metal forming project, feel free to get in touch with one of the specialist EMSE Customer Service team who will be happy to provide you with advice or a quotation.
