Adjustable dies for press brakes provide efficiency and safety

Usually in press brake operations, as the thickness of the workpiece increases, the complexity of bending decreases. Where thin parts may require many bends and incorporate complex geometries, as the material thickness is 1⁄4 ” and larger, simpler corner bends tend to become the norm. For manufacturers using these thicker materials on a variety of jobs, the concept of adjustable V-dies requires exploration, as constantly evolving technology offers dramatically reduced changeover times while preventing operators from potentially moving heavy tools and bulky. Benefits include greater availability of press brakes and healthier, more productive workers on the shop floor.

To dig deeper into adjustable V-dies, Metal forming discussed the technology with Steve Brown, head of press brake tooling and additive manufacturing for Wilson Tool Intl.

“Thicker material can have a lot of 90 degree bends and a few surplices, but in general the part setup is simplified, as is the tooling,” he says. “You can watch a lot of parts made from it. thicker material and probably do the bending sequence in your head. “

And, as the material of the parts thickens, the tools get bigger.

“Unless manufacturers want to use forklifts or multiple operators to start moving these tools, with a higher risk of injury, they’ll want to find a better option,” says Brown.

Read the full article in Metal Forming Magazine to learn how technology facilitates fit, how a quick return on investment is possible and using inserts to add to the economic gains.