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The previous article focused on the parameters to be considered when choosing press brake tooling. Using the tool that best suits our bending requirements results in a high-quality finished product. Without wasting time and resources.
A careful choice is the first step towards excellence, but it is also fundamental to maintain the tools properly.
Double advantage.
Good maintenance practices bring two advantages:
- the finished product is better-looking and has no manufacturing flaws
- the life of the press brake and of the press brake tools is extended.
How to carry out maintenance?
CLEANING THE TOOLS.
Cleaning the tools regularly is on top of the list of good practices for a bending professional. Removing any sheet metal debris from the tooling allows for more efficient operations, avoiding the risk of compromising the quality of the products that will be manufactured next. The smallest grain of dust, or any other kind of foreign material, might cause surface imperfections, such as marks and scratches.
Wiping the tools with a clean cloth helps preventing this from happening.
When working with materials that tend to produce a massive amount of debris (cold galvanized sheet metal or low quality galvanized sheet metal, or untreated sheet metal), it would be advisable to always keep the tooling lubricated with a thin layer of oil. This small trick will prevent particles from adhering and will make it easier to remove them during the cleaning operations (which should be followed by another lubrication cycle).
In addition, it is recommended to always clean all tools before and after setup.
USING DIFFERENT TOOLS FOR DIFFERENT MATERIALS.
It is particularly advisable to use specific tools exclusively for specific materials, in order to avoid "contaminating" the most "noble" (and most expensive) materials, such as stainless steel, with particles from different sheet metal, which might cause rust stains, or compromise the quality of the surface. The same attention should be paid when working with pre-painted sheet metal, as its surface might be easily damaged.
CLEANING THE CLAMPING DEVICES.
Dust and debris also tend to settle on the clamping systems. These must be properly cleaned as well, during any tool change operation.
CONSIDERING TONNAGE.
Our objective is to obtain an accurate and clean bend; therefore, we also need to ensure that the tools are perfectly aligned. This factor is extremely important, as a variation of the axis can affect the final result. How can we avoid misalignment? By following the recommended tonnage.
Safety, training, investment.
The priority in any maintenance operation is to carry it out without risks. When the operator is cleaning or checking the tools, they have to think about safety first. For example, it is important to stop the devices and any electrical equipment which might be causing danger.
Finally, it is necessary to bear in mind that, in order to have efficient tools, we need to invest in two important aspects:
- training, having skilled workers to perform the operations
- tool quality.
The Eurostamp method.
Eurostamp relies on constant training to keep the internal technical staff up-to-date and on investments in technological innovation and research, in order to provide customers with efficiency and accuracy. Eurostamp's expert staff monitors each production step, from choosing the alloys and raw steel, to milling, hardening and tooling adjustment operations. 100% Italian steel ensures the highest degree of accuracy and high-quality mechanical properties. Eurostamp replies promptly to any queries and provides training support in bending.