Page 18 - MetalForming August 2010

Better Press Brakes
Yield Precision for Profit
New technology developed by press-brake manufacturers helps fabricators overcome these and other sheetmetal-fabrication challenges: grain-direction variability, inconsistent material thickness and mechanical properties, and increased part complexity.
BY BRAD F. KUVIN, EDITOR
16
METALFORMING / AUGUST 2010
www.metalformingmagazine.com
Operating a press brake is perhaps the most difficult task in a metal-fabricating shop, requiring hundreds of hours, if not more, of training and experience to tackle the ever-increas- ing amount of precision required. Fabricators can be expected to invest mightily in press-brake operator training, only after care- fully selecting candidates who have proven track records of reli- ability. And, quoting from ehow.com:
“Sheetmetal formed by press-brake operators is generally ‘value-added,’ meaning it has been prefabricated. Mistakes are costly and usually lead to the metal being scrapped.”
Now more than ever fabricators must get from print to part as quickly as possible—with that first part being a good part —with- out being held hostage by that one expert operator who may not be available, or perhaps has even retired. Quick and documented setups with precise tool alignment, minimized changeover time and mistake-proof production hold the keys to success, and press- brake manufacturers continue to do their part to ensure fabri- cators have access to those keys.
New technology developed by manufacturers helps fabrica- tors overcome these and other challenges: grain-direction vari- ability, inconsistent material-thickness and mechanical proper- ties, and increased part complexity.
To learn more, MetalForming interviewed Shane Simpson, product manager at Trumpf Inc., Farmington, CT, who described a number of technology enhancements manufacturers have made with their most recent product introductions.
Virtual Bending
“With the market focus on quick setup and quick changeover,