Press Brake Tools and How to Choose One
If you are thinking about installing a hydraulic or manual press brake, there are certain tools that you will need to get the job done including – punches and dies. These are typically used for those that work with sheet metal, allowing them to create a wide variety of shapes, and this occurs when applying force. There are certain tools that come in different styles and varieties from these press tools manufacturers that can work well with any application you are using.
Tooling Chart For Press Brakes
Press Brake Dies
Located at the bottom of the tooling, you are going to find different varieties of press brakes including:
- Two-Way Vee Dies
- Single Vee Dies
- Hemming Dies
- Flattening Dies
- and many others
When you use these, they are actually very simple to use if you have prior experience including the single vee dies because of the groove. You can also choose from different angles and will not have to use any force to crush the tool, yet this is how most dies are commonly used.
Multi-Vee Dies
If you’re going to use different vees, typically on for different sides. If doing any type of phalange bending, there is a lot of versatility when using these different tools to get the results that you want, especially with regard to material thickness.
Self Centering Vee Dies
These are two-way vee dies that have edges close to the grooves that will allow the bending to be much easier. You can adjust them based upon the width or angle of the metal you are using to increase production, plus you won’t have to worry about any type of retooling regardless of the type of bends you are trying to create.
Hemming Dies & Flattening Dies
If you want to flatten any type of metal, this is a great way to do this, using either of these different types of dies.
Press Brake Punches That Many People Use
Consider the top of the line when it comes to tooling press brakes, there are several different ones to choose from including:
- Standard Punch
- Standard Punch
- Swan Neck Punch
- Narrow Punch
- Acute Angle Punch
- Standard Punch
Of all of these, your standard punch will be the one that you will use the most simply because it is the ideal solution for metal fabrication procedures that you will use every day. They tend to be extremely sturdy and are among the most versatile that you can use especially when in mass production or working with extremely thick materials.
Narrow Punch
This is not commonly used in comparison to the others, but for making final bends, it will work very well. There is limited space when using this, mostly because it’s narrow, but making several different bends is easy to do.
Acute Angle Punch
When you are bending anything up to 60°, or perhaps just as little as 25°, this is the one you will want to work with. These tend to be much more pointed than other punches, but if you need to have a lot of force, this is the best solution by comparison to all of the others.
Swan Neck Punch
If you have ever spent any time working with metal and have created U-bend shaped brackets, this is the perfect one to use; however, you do need to realize it’s not as strong or as well-built as the other punches typically are. You will want to avoid using this tool in a way that could cause injuries.
Press Brake Tools – Choosing The Right One
When choosing any type of tool, you need to be very careful, and this certainly applies to anyone that is going to use these particular tools. This will include considering the following:
- The products you are making
- Using a tooling profile that is the strongest
- Always consider your low limit, and in conjunction with this, your centerline.
After reading all of this information, it should allow you to make a more educated decision when choosing between the different types of press brake tools that are available, and then choose one that will be best suited for what you are trying to make.