Page 28 - MetalForming December 2017

When Maintaining Your Press Brake,
Be Proactive–
Here’s How
Today’s hydraulic press brakes—
with their programmable tooling and user-interface technologies— are more advanced than ever,
but regular care remains a requirement for long life.
BY JOE JANCSURAK, ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Having and following a plan is a sound practice when it comes to taking care of your press brake’s mechanical and electrical systems, hydraulic circuit, and tooling. Here, then, are some simple steps to follow.
Make Copies of Your Manual
This first one is the simplest, and one of the more important steps for maintaining your press brake. While your equipment manual likely is found on a CD-ROM computer disc, keep a hard copy with your machine where your operators can use it, perhaps near the electrical panel. Also, keep a hard copy, along with the disc, in a safe stor- age area away from the machine.
Some information for this article was adapted with permission from an online series by JMT; jmtusa.com/maintaining- press-brakes.
Follow Lubrication Recommendations
Your manual should
include a diagram showing
required lubrication for
parts and a schedule to fol-
low. The schedule is based
on an 8-hr. work day, so if
you’re running three shifts, you’ll need to lubricate three times sooner. The manual also will include charts and timetables for the hydraulic oil, filters, etc.
Check Hydraulic Circuit
Clean oil and a filled reservoir are critical. A simple visual oil-level check can be performed daily. The same is true of the oil used for hydraulic tool- clamping systems for punch-and-die clamping. Guard against dirt in the oil. Make sure that tank cover seals and air breathers stay in good condition. And, for every 2000 hr. of operation,
obtain an oil sample and have your oil supplier check its quality and viscosity, and perform the following:
• Clean or replace filters.
• Check the air filter on the oil-tank cover.
• Check pump and pressure-relieve valves for maximum pressure.
• Clean the tank and suction filters thoroughly.
Evaluate Mechanical Equipment
While a press brake’s mechanical components—piston bolts, chain
26 MetalForming/December 2017
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