Is Your Press Brake Retrofitted?

Your press brake should be capable of repeating commands without needing to adjust its ram. If that is not happening, a retrofit may be in order.

Retrofitting press brakes is cost-effective and can help your company increase productivity once upgraded. Furthermore, retrofits may save money when compared with purchasing brand new press brakes.

Redundancy

Your operator should regularly wipe down the touch screen of your press brake to remove grit and dirt that can harm delicate components, as well as clean its vents and cooling fan in the electrical cabinet that can become clogged with dust, which could potentially overheat essential circuits and cause irreparable damage.

Whenever your operator detects any unusual noises or vibrations emanating from a press brake, he or she should check all safety switches and connections are securely in place and locked out before continuing use of it. This step is particularly critical after cleaning the machine.

Maintenance professionals recommend having a specialized service technician come out once or twice annually for preventative checks on machines, which is usually cheaper and lower-risk than waiting until there's a problem to call for repairs. Our OSHA/ANSI compliant WPC clutch/brake press controls feature dual microprocessors for reliable control reliability for maximum operator safety.

Cross-checking

Modern computer-controlled press brakes feature various input/output features. Their control panels include an output display 84 driven by their computer 80 to indicate its operating status and setting of tonnage; relays and solid state switching devices act on output signals from their computer 80, providing power to various press brake components; finally control circuits 82 respond to output signals from their computer 80 as well.

Servo valves 90 and 91 are configured to supply fluid to ram cylinders in response to even minute deflection of their control stems, creating a closed-loop system which, via encoder 58 and computer 70, generates VRAM as the ram profile command signal, as well as VAGEAGE for back gauge velocity command signals, thus modulating application of servo fluid through slider to achieve desired velocity profiles for both.

These systems offer greater accuracy and flexibility compared to older hydraulic press brakes. The use of optical imaging sensors enables faster bending speeds, while their new parallelism provides extra room to accommodate complex bend sequences.

Input/Output

A hydraulic press brake microprocessor is a computer that responds to stroke parameters input by the operator and generates a velocity command signal that sets velocity profiles to position the ram within its specified stroke limits. Closed-loop servo systems attached to each cylinder respond by driving them towards their programmed stroke limits.

The servo system also responds to position-indicative output signals from ram position sensors, combining these with the profile command signal and velocity command signal to generate an analog signal that drives each slider (Y1 and Y2) into position corresponding to its respective ram location.

Repeatability in backgauge axis positioning ensures that workpiece is accurately placed for every bending operation, eliminating manual set up time for every part and helping welders and assemblers to complete their jobs more quickly.

Programmability

PC-based press brake control systems feature advanced programming capabilities that can enhance operator productivity. For example, back gauge controls provide the capability of automating depth and angle adjustments for every bend sequence - saving operators both time and hassle when making frequent manual adjustments themselves.

Microprocessors within control systems respond to input data about desired stroke limits and sensor-generated signals indicative of ram position to generate velocity command signals defining velocity profiles for movement of ram cylinders to their predefined stroke limits. They then control closed-loop servo systems associated with them for proper movement of the ram.

As with the press brake controllers mentioned above, an intuitive press brake controller makes managing bending speeds, calculating angles cuts and performing other tasks easy and cost-effective. Upgrading an old machine with one costs effectively; just make sure replacement logic boards are available prior to investing in retrofitting one!