What could be better than reducing job preparation time and increasing efficiency? Advancing technology and customer demands are driving fabrication shops to do more, work faster and produce more accurate parts the first time and every time. Bending machines are an important piece of manufacturing machinery used to bend and form sheet metal that almost every shop needs. However, today’s technology provides us with CNC control to increase precision and productivity. In this article, we will debunk misconceptions and myths about CNC bending machines and reveal how your business can benefit from CNC bending machines.
CNC bending machines and bending machines
A bending machine is a machine used to bend plates and sheets (most commonly sheet metal). It creates a predetermined bend by clamping the workpiece between a matching punch and die, and bends the metal by a force measured in tons.
CNC bending machines are much more specialized than bending machines. CNC brakes, which stands for Computer Numerically Controlled, can bend sheet metal from a few inches wide to a few feet long on the largest industrial machines. They have a fixed base bed with a V-block tool clamped in place and a top ram that moves under the forcehttps://hycules.com/cnc-pro-press-brake/ of the V-blade tool, forcing the material to yield between the punch and the die.
The setup time is much faster when using a CNC bending machine because the controller calculates all positions of the ram and backstop. It also checks for errors and can calculate the correct bending sequence and repeat the action over and over again for production forming. With a manually operated bending machine, the operator must reset the machine at each bend. With the CNC, it is programmable, so it is much faster to switch to different bends, parts and even materials.
CNC bending machine myths and facts
There may be some misconceptions about CNC controlled bending machines.
CNC bending machines are too expensive:
Adding a CNC control system to a bending machine does add a slight cost (10-15%), but this is quickly made up for by increased productivity. The time you save with a CNC bending machine is money in the bank. You can increase your production and the machine will soon get its maintenance. In addition, you can get used and refurbished machines for less money and they will work just fine. You can even trade in your old machine for a new or used one.
CNC control is only for production:
CNC controls are not just for production. Today’s graphical CNC controls are easier to use for prototypes and small production runs. They automatically calculate bending deductions, blank lengths, indenter approach positions, bending depths, bending sequences, and more. They do all of this with minimal operator input, making CNC controlled machines easier, faster, and ultimately cheaper to set up and operate.
They are too difficult to learn:
Today’s CNC controls work in a very simple form, like etched sketches. Accepting basic graphics from operator input, they interrupt them with a host of internal calculations to provide and perform the complex functions of a bending machine. However, they do all this and keep the interface simple, easy to use, easy to navigate and rich in features that make setup and operation quick and easy. Today, these controls typically require only a few hours of instruction before operators are proficient in their use.
How CNC Bending Machines Can Improve Your Business
CNC bending machines are widely used compared to the manual bending machines found in most shop and production environments. As we said, CNC bending machines are much easier to program and run today.
Deposit
CNC bending machines work much faster than other machines. Setup is much faster, they produce less waste, they make the right part in one pass, and they can make more products faster.
Flexible
CNC bending machines can be programmed to do multiple tasks. You can set it up to do multiple jobs, select the desired material, choose the desired pressure, and then you can do it all in the language of your choice. From forming to punching, crimping and shuttering, CNC bending machines can do more than just bend.
Ask the bending experts
Give us a call or check out our inventory for your next new or used bending machine. We can help you find the product you need, whether you see it listed or not.
Hycules Sales has more than 20 years of extensive working knowledge of manufacturing systems that you can trust.
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