What is a Sheet Metal Bender and how can it help your Business?
In the sheet metal industry, precision and efficiency are paramount. The machines used to shape and bend metal play a crucial role in meeting these demands. Two of the most commonly used sheet metal bender machines are press brakes and panbrake folders. Each of these machines serves a specific purpose in metal forming and fabrication, ensuring accuracy and speed in production.
Choosing the Right Sheet Metal Bender; Press Brake or Panbrake Folder?
The choice between press brakes and panbrake folders depends largely on the type of job and the scale of production. Press brakes are ideal for intricate, high-precision tasks and high-volume production. Whereas panbrake folders excel in straightforward applications and manual control as well as large panel work where material handling may be tricky. Both machines play essential roles in the sheet metal industry, providing businesses with the tools needed to meet a wide range of bending requirements.
Press Brakes – Precision and Flexibility
A press brake is a type of sheet metal bender machine that uses an upper punch and lower vee dies to bend sheet metal or plate into a desired angle or shape. The press brake applies force through the punch forcing the material into the die.The deeper the penetration the sharper the angle. A modern press brake can control the penetration to less than 0.01mm making the bend angle very accurate.Â
Press brakes are highly versatile, capable of handling a range of materials such as steel, aluminum, and stainless steel. Thicknesses range from thin sheets to very thick plates.
Our modern press brakes are equipped with advanced technologies like CNC (Computer Numerical Control), which allows for automated, repeatable bending processes with minimal manual intervention. This technology ensures that every bend is consistent and meets the exact specifications required for the part. CNC press brakes also offer greater flexibility. They allow operators to change settings quickly and adapt to different types of jobs, making them suitable for both small and large-scale production runs.
Panbrake Folders - Simple, Manual Operation
Panbrakes and folders can be sophisticated or quite basic. Many workshops would have a basic manual machine where the operator physically lifts the bending apron to the desired angle or a hydraulic equivalent. These can be quite crude and do not lend themselves to precision bending.Â
However, we stock high precision panbrakes and folders such as the Cidan Range from Sweden. These use precision ground tooling as well as sophisticated graphic controls and backguages to provide a very accurate alternative to press brakes. Â
Depending on the job there can be benefits to this style of machine.
You don’t need to change tools when moving from one thickness to another if you are doing safety edges (hems).
It doesn;t mark the material in the same way your press brake does. You won’t get those bending lines from the Vee.
They are more simple to program and it is easier to be accurate.Â
With the combined use of a backguage table with ball transfers or brushes, large sheets and panels are easier to handle. What is often a two person job on a press brake is a one person job on a CNC folder.Â
It is possible for some models to bend up and then down without taking the sheet metal out of the machine and flipping it. When handling large panels, this can significantly improve productivity and safety.
Need More Information or Help?
If you are still unsure which sheet metal bender is for you and your business, please get in touch for a chat where we can assess which machine would be most appropriate for your specific operation.
Please call us on (02) 8445 8555 or email info@powermachinery.com.au
We look forward to helping you make your business more productive and efficient.