The total chain is only as strong as its weakest link. This statement obviously applies to everything. All coating systems can be tested among the most extreme conditions, but why do some systems not meet these conditions. For various applications, a particular coating system is recommended. For example, a coating system which is placed in an outdoor installation, on the coast, will be subject to different demands than a coating system which is used in a dry environment.

One-, two- or multi-layer systems are therefore always applicable. The obtained layer thickness and the applied coating are therefore always the protective factors of the underlying metal. With powder coating, it is no problem at all to inject 80 microns. For example, one operation on a flat surface. On these surfaces than normally occurs no corrosion. The biggest problems always arise from the sharp edges and corners. When these sharp edges and corners are not rounded enough or deburred, this will always be the weakest link of the entire coating system.

An sharp edge or corner is subject to insufficient film thickness, and thus this is insufficient protection. This is particularly important for applications such as architectural perforated panels, these panels will have to meet certain conditions. All edges and corners should be rounded with a radius of at least 0.5 mm. The perforation holes should be as large as possible, most preferably not smaller than 10 mm. When the starting material meets these requirements, it will always have a two-layer coating system in order to achieve sufficient edge coverage and therefore protection.

For deburring and edge rounding solutions visit the link below. 

Click here to view the range of Q-Fin solutions.

Q-Fin is a company that has perfect finishing and deburring machines. This Dutch manufacturer develops and builds machines for deburring, grinding and finishing of metal parts. Suitable for stainless steel, aluminium, steel and various plastics their is a solution for every requirement.

There are a number of angle measurement systems on the market, but not all are created equal. Below we will look at the SafanDarley E-Bend L Blue and what separates it, from other systems.

One of SafanDarley’s latest innovations is the E-Bend L laser angle measuring system, which uses two blue laser sensors. The sensors are fully CNC-controlled, extremely accurate and guarantee a finished product with the greatest angular precision.

E-Bend L Blue

The highest level of accuracy from press brakes can only be guaranteed if you take into account the influences of the actual material. The angle may vary from the programmed value because of a variation in sheet thickness and material qualities, such as tensile strength and rolling direction. In practice, this results in a loss of time and material. The E-Bend L-blue enables continuous measurement of the product angle while bending. This involves the use of a camera with a built-in sensor, which continuously provides information about the angle of the product. In this way, variations in sheet thickness, rolling direction, etc., are corrected automatically. This system provides major benefits for both one-off and batch production. The first part is a perfect part with the greatest angular precision.

Blue laser light

E-Bend L Blue uses the latest development in laser light technology. Instead of a red laser, this system uses blue laser light. The wavelength of red laser light is almost identical to that of natural light, which in effect means that the measurement is always susceptible to fluctuations. The new generation of E-Bend L-Blue has blue laser sensors. The blue light spectrum is much easier to distinguish from “natural” light, so reflections and sunlight no longer affect the measurement. At the same time the new sensor, in combination with the new control platform on the E-Control, can carry out many more measurements per second. As a result the system is faster and more accurate.

Working method

The system consists of two laser sensors, one on each side of the table, which are CNC-controlled from the E-Control. The system continuously monitors and corrects the position of the Y axis on the basis of the current product angle, thereby guaranteeing a finished product with the greatest angular precision.

The E-Bend Laser can be used in three ways

• Angle measurement with active measurement of the springback
• Angle measurement with database
• Angle measurement with learned bending

In the case of angle measurement with springback, the E-Bend Laser measures at one or three positions during the bending process, corrects the crowning and alignment (Y1 & Y2), and measures the springback. This data is then stored in the database.

In the case of a database angle measurement, the system uses the database. This database contains a broad spectrum of springback values for a wide variety of materials. This information is used to calculate corrections in advance to obtain a correct angle. The bending process can therefore take place more quickly and with no loss of production time.

Specifications

• blue laser sensors
• ultra high-speed sampling/output
• V opening of V=6 mm to V=100 mm
• measuring range from 160° to 45°
• independent of die
• easy maintenance
• no reference or calibration required
• works in combination with standard tools wh=100 mm
• can be used with the CNC-controlled W-axis in any lower beam position

Safety has always been a priority for many manufacturers. Yet how has this affected machine productivity?

In this article we will look at some of the significant Safety and Ergonomic developments as applied to Press brakes. And how improvements in safety have also resulted in higher levels of productivity.

Safety and Ergonomics are inextricably linked in this respect. The Oxford English Dictionary definition of Ergonomics being:-

“The study of people’s efficiency in their working environment”.

The use of Press brakes is still a predominantly manual operation and global manufacturers are applying their Safety and Ergonomic principles especially in markets where compulsory safety regulations apply.

Light Guards

Some machinery manufacturers are being inventive and have integrated light guard systems into the machines control. This enables the light guard operation to be “programmed” which can result in productivity benefits.

The primary function of a light guard is to inform the machine when an operator is in the danger zone. It is therefore evident that the machine can also know when the operator is out of the danger zone and can use this information intelligently.

An integrated light guard system can actually INCREASE productivity by acting as a switch to ensure the machine is always ahead of the operator whilst maintaining a safe operating environment.

This programmable light curtain allows the upper beam and back gauge to move to the next step without using the foot pedal freeing the operator to concentrate on handling the sheet.

Further the servo driven belt and pulley press brakes fitted with programmable light guards can carry out the bending of simple components without the operator even touching the foot pedal whilst maintaining the highest standards of operator safety.

Using the light guard as a switch means less fatigue of the operators legs making the operator less tired, more productive and less prone to accidents.

These features alone can deliver significant reductions in cycle times and enables the use of light guards to be justified for their productivity advantages with the positive “side effect” of improving operator safety.

Ergonomic machines

Many press brake operations carried out in the Asian markets are on small parts with high volume. These often lend themselves to smaller machines and seated operators. As a result there has been an increase in the number of small machines on the market. It is however important for these machines to be ergonomically sound.

The Higher specification “Ergonomic” machines are ideal for seated operation when manufacturing smaller components however they retain the benefits of the standard press brakes with large beam opening, long stroke and full back gauge capacity.

They can be operated seated or standing ensuring the operator has the most comfortable and most productive position at all times.

These machines have adjustable tables, seats and control panels all contributing to an ergonomically sound system with operator safety and comfort at the centre but with the resultant productivity benefits also.

Side tables can be fully or partially collapsed, enabling the operator to bend components whilst standing. This allows the machine to be used for larger sheet metal work as you would a “regular” machine.

Controls

Ergonomics does not just apply to physical attributes of a machine. The Machine control can also be enhanced. The latest touch screen controls can be customised to suit individual operators. For example operators can have individual password access to the machine control. The system administrator can assign various levels of authority to each operator ensuring they only have access to that for which they are trained and have authorisation.

On logging in for example the control will revert to that operators preferred language, icons will be displayed for left hand OR right hand operation and the control will take up the desired height position.

The most sophisticated systems are so ergonomically designed that only those icons which are relevant are displayed at any one time and even the position of the icons are such that they are in the most practical position.

Some manufacturers offer machines with dual screens on the control. The dual screens are a useful option for companies wanting to have a paperless workshop and give operators access to additional information at the machine. This gives operators the ability to access many types of additional information without having to switch from the control screen.

The additional screen can be used for the following:-

To view files such as DWG, DXF, PDF, JPG, PNG, BMP, WMV format.

Which are coupled to current bending projects. Adobe PDF files etc

To display custom applications like ERP, Time management etc.

To create a paperless environment and prevent loss of information

Which reduces errors by ensuring operators have all the information necessary.

For example it is even possible to view video on the second screen which can show less skilled operators how to best handle complex and awkward products.

Tool Set-up

 Sub contracting companies are being asked to produce smaller batch sizes leading to more set ups per day, therefore anything that can reduce set up times is an advantage. The major area to address here is therefore Tool set up. There is an abundance of “Quick Clamping” systems available but one stands out above others as it not only addresses the time issue but also improves safety and reduces operator fatigue.

The Wila clamping system which can be fitted to most press brake brands can reduce set up times by up to 70%

 The tools are mounted into the machine vertically not from the side and safety clicks in each tool means that the operator can release the tool once it has been located in the top beam leaving them free to lock the clamps.

 In the Hydraulic clamping version all tools are clamped or released by the press of a single button.  In addition the machine will not commence a bend until a safe clamping pressure is reached. This cannot be said for manual clamping systems which can lead to accidents, tool damage and loss of production.

This version of tool clamping can be further enhanced with a system called Smart Tool locator. This system of LED lights linked into the machine control can inform the operators where to place tools during the set up process and then during the bending process it illuminates the position where each bend is to take place.

This tooling system generally uses a tool length of 515mm which not only allows them to be manufactured to a higher accuracy than the old fashioned 835mm system but also means the weight of the tools is much more manageable for the operator.

Right First Time

 Increasing production demands and material costs means that operators are constantly under pressure to get the product “Right First time”.

Often the problems are beyond the operators control such as variations in material thickness and tensile strength.

ALL batches of material vary in thickness and even the best machines can only work with the information provided. Thus if a machine is told the material is 1.0mm and it is actually anywhere between 0.9 – 1.1mm the end result with also vary.

Automatic sheet thickness measurement systems address this issue in a very quick way and can be used on ALL material types. The operator sets the thickness tolerance which is accepetable in the machine control. The sheet is presented to the device which adjacent to the back gauge fingers and it automatically measures the material thickness. If it is within thickness tolerance the control will automatically adjust the programme and pinch point for the “actual” thickness rather than the theoreticall thickness resulting in a more accurate result. If the material is outside the set tolerance the machine will not bend reducing scrap and improving productivity. The whole process takes just a couple of seconds.

Where the tensile strength and spring back is also a problem then a laser angle measurement system could be the solution. These systems automatically measures and corrects angles during the bending process ensuring every component is “Right First Time”.

When handling larger components which require a high level of accuracy then it is beneficial not to have to make corrections to bends that would require additional handling of awkward, large and heavy products which is both a safety issue and causes the operator to tire more quickly.

Two laser sensors are mounted on either side of the machine table and are CNC controlled.

The system continuously monitors and corrects the position of the Y-axis based on the required product angle and thus guarantees an end product of the highest angle precision. The system automatically adjusts the crowning and at the same time takes into account the spring back.

Both of these systems (Sheet Thickness & Laser Angle Measurement) improve quality and dramatically reduce handling and fatigue of the operator.

Material Handling

For many products it is not the actual bending process which is a problem but more the “Handling” of the material pre and post bending.

Handling can pose  significant safety issues and place unnessecary strain on the operators. In addition awkward and/or heavy products if handled poorly can also give quality problems. For this reason manufacturers are offering a range of handling and bending aids some of which are CNC controlled.

Each type of product poses different problems. For example very thin materials can be so flexible that they need greater support than a mere individual operator can provide.

For heavier components the physical weight can make it impossible for manual operation and so a range of weight capacities is available.

“Bending aids” differ from sheet supports in that they follow and support the component during the actual bending process. CNC bending aids can be programmed to follow the component during bending even pausing to allow for de compression of the material where heavy bending force has been applied. The speed of the aids is synchronised with the bending process and is programmable to a speed that matches the operator’s capabilities. Some bending aids can even be detached and shared with other machines.

In summary it is evident that productivity and operator safety can be improved by investing in some of the above mentioned press brake options. The challenge for machinery manufacturers and users is to ensure that Safety and Ergonomics will be at the forefront of all product development.