A Press Brake is a special type of machine press that bends any metal into a shape, one of the examples of the press is the back plate of the busbar machine. Other examples are brackets, frame pieces, electronic enclosures etc. Some of the equipments have CNC controls and can form parts with perfect accuracy to the fraction of a millimeter. The Machine presses at times can be hazardous; hence safety measures are to be taken. Bi manual controls prevent accidents.
With the fast advancement in the technology, the press machines have also undergone considerable changes. CNC are more prevalent but the recent machines are having PC based controllers which has revolutionized the machinery. The changes are market driven. The method of Lean manufacturing has reduced the quantities in thousands to hundreds. This ideally means that the machinery has become more flexible, easier to set up and quick to program.
Major types of Press Brake machines are manual, mechanical, pneumatic, servo electric and hydraulic ram mechanisms. The Press machine is of high accuracy. The operators of the press machinery can take the advantage of air bending, multi axis back gauge systems so that making of type of shape is possible; hydraulic clamping units for changing the tools quickly; to avoid shimming automatic crowning systems are available.
The manual press machines are used for very light bending requirements. Mechanical press uses fly wheel to activate the ram. The Servo electric units use ball screws or belt drive to power the press machine. The Pneumatic and hydraulic press use air or hydraulic fluids with hydraulic actuation. The Hydraulic units have become the most popular over the time. Since the hydraulic press uses pressurized liquids the machine is capable of applying significant tonnage for the bending process. The hydraulic unit is powered by two hydraulic cylinders working in unison.