Mechatronic press brake is faster than hydraulic

Cycle times 30 per cent faster than conventional press brakes are offered by the E-Brake Mechatronic press brake from Safan. "When a product requires several bends it is common practice to operate the machine at it’s fastest beam speed. Between the bends the component is turned and inserted as required for each fold. Most time is lost between the bends by handling, the change over time between Fast and Slow points of the beam and the back gauge positioning speed. With safety on the one hand and the well-known inertia of hydraulic systems on the other hand being the major limiting factors,” says Teun Slot, R&D manager with Safan. The electrically powered E-Brake eliminates these typical problems with the control of the electric motors used in the machine the basis of this innovative system. The principle of the system is a pulley-block, which pulls the top beam of the press against the effect of laterally arranged return springs into the die and applies the pressing force evenly along the length of the machine. When rolling the belt up, the driving motor pulls the beam downward into the die. The return springs strained during the bending procedure return the beam to its initial position. In 98 per cent of cases no crowning table is required on an E - Brake. The E-Brake is available from 25 to 200 ton pressing force and lengths from 1,250 to 4,100 mm. Depending upon size and power requirements, the number of the pairs of pulleys varies. The belts are made from the same 3 mm thick wire-strengthened material coated with polyurethene that is also used extensively in elevator systems, and Safan offers offers a 5-year warranty on the mechanical drive system. Drive is provided by Lenze electric motors. The framework of the E-Brake forms and “O” which is naturally more rigid than the usual C-frame of Hydraulic machines. The back gauge is also distinctive because it extends across the full width of the machine. Safan’s own electronic control system ensures very short response and delay times resulting in bending speeds of up to 20 mm/sec. The high acceleration and other servo motor characteristics mean not only very fast approach speed but also a seamless change over to bending speed.