If you’ve ever seen a big machine bending or forming metal inside a factory, it may have been a . Those machines are super vital and are used across various industries to manufacture a multitude of products. In fact, items that can be manufactured using a brake press range from parts in cars to household appliances, and even furniture! In this guide, we will cover loading brake press machines so they can work and a few other important things you should know about them.
A brake press may seem intimidating and confusing to the untrained eye. But don’t worry! The main premise of how it works is not that complicated. A brake press has a large flat space, sort of like a table, where you rest a sheet of metal. From way above that flat area, a special tool comes to push the metal down into a certain shape. This tool shapes the metal according to the mould using immense pressure.
The brake press machine designs vary in sizes and shapes. Some are large enough to bend big car parts, while others are smaller and can be placed right on a workbench or table. Depending on what you're doing, you may want a brake press with high tonnage (which is a fancy way of saying "how strong the machine is") or one that can do very fine, error-free bends in smaller metal.
The brake press operates based on a very important element called hydraulics to bend thick metals. Visualization of that would be you trying to bend a big piece of metal with just your hands! That would be almost impossible! But with hydraulics, the machine can, need I say, do it with less power. Also, using hydraulics helps ensure that metal is shaped accurately, so you can achieve the needed project shape.
You will also want to consider what size brake press is needed as well. How much room do you have for a large machine versus a smaller one that works better in your workspace? Moreover, some brake presses offer special features including computer programming or automatic tool changes. If these traits matter to you, be sure to search for a machine that has them.
The third thing to consider is the tonnage of the machine. Tonnage is the amount of force that the brake press can apply. More tonnage on a machine might cost more, but on a machine that allows you to work with varying types of metal as well as thicker sheets. For thinner pieces of metal, a lower tonnage machine may do, however.
Also consider and avoid placing hands or body parts under any moving parts of the machine while it is in operation. This avoids accidents from happening. You also want to ensure that the machine is well-maintained, meaning there is routine inspection and servicing as necessary to keep the machine functioning safely and effectively.