Setting up a press brake to fold properly

98% of CNC press brakes have never been set properly when installed.

Specifically in relation to bend angles. 

"Do you need to put in a large correction to make your bends be the correct angle?" if so then the below directions will resolve this problem.

******************************************************************************

WARNING. YOU WILL NEED ABOUT 3 HOURS THE FIRST TIME

******************************************************************************

Before commencing you need to be able to adjust via the controller the following items.

1. Upper tool length or (punch length)

2. Die height

3. Die opening or (V width)

4. Radius on the edge of the V width.

Lets begin.

Choose a V die (example 16mm V). "Divide you V width by 8 and this gives you the optimum thickness for folding

Material 2mm (16mm V / 8 = 2mm)

Set your controller to bend an angle of 179 degrees "1 degree kink"

Do a bend. Is it correct?

If it folded to much, you need to increase the height of the V die or increase the length of the upper tool.

How much you may ask. ( 0.06mm = 1 degree approx on a 16mm V )

Obviously if it did not kink the metal you need to shorten the upper tool length.

Do a bend, and keep correcting the tool length until you get a 179 degree fold.

Now set your controller to do a bend of 90 degrees.

Do a bend. Is it correct?

If it folded to much, you need to decrease the V die size. use 0.3mm increments until you get a feel for it.

Obviously if it did not fold enough you need to make the V die wider.

Do a bend, and keep correcting the V die width until you get a 90 degree fold.

Now set your controller to do a bend of 135 degrees.

Do a bend. Is it correct? It should be within 1 degree.

To correct this you need to change the radius on the V die edge. A larger radius will bend more. This radius effects the middle range of folding though can change your 90 degree bend angle slightly.

The Ideal thickness for the above 16mm V die is 2mm (2x8=16) though 2.5mm material (2.5x6=15) is also acceptable as well as 1.5mm material (1.5x10=15)

*****************************************************************

So what have you achieved. 

If you grab a piece of 2mm material, you can just set the any angle and bend knowing that you could be out of angle range by 1/2 a degree only whether you bending with the grain or against it. 

With these other thicknesses you will find a constant correction of 2 degrees one way or the other.

Now do another V die. You will do it in about 1/2 an hour, because you now know what does what