First, Bystronic (0844 848 5850) says that the primary attraction of the XPert 40 pressbrake is speed: it claims the servo-electric machine can bend small parts three times faster than larger pressbrakes, thanks to bending speeds of up to 25 mm/sec and forces of up to 40 tonne.
The small machine measures 1.5 by 1.4 m, and has a bending length of 1,030 mm.
Also, a new ByMotion drive control system coordinates the acceleration of the upper beam and backgauges for repeatability. Bystronic says that customers were directly involved in the development of the machine.
A similar scale of servo-electric pressbrake is the Dyna-Press 24t range from Belgian machine builder LVD (01295 676800). Like the Xpert 40, it offers bending speeds up to 25 mm/sec, thanks to its electrical servo-driven ram. Ram and beam are coupled together by two heavy duty ballscrews to distribute force and tonnage evenly across the working length. And if the 24 tonne force is somewhat less than Bystronic’s, it can handle longer bends, up to 1,250 mm, thanks to a longer and thinner footprint (1,760 by 1,140 mm). Still, LVD says that the Dyna-Press 24t can be moved with a standard forklift.
There are two models: the Dyna-Press 24/12 standard model and the Dyna-Press 24/12 Plus, the latter having more axes. Also, the Dyna-Press 24/12 standard model has a 12 inch touch-screen, while the 24/12 Plus model offers TOUCH-B Lite control.
A touch-screen interface is a big selling point in the new Amada HFE3i series (01562 749500) of eight hydraulic pressbrakes that range in capacity from the 5020 (50 tonne bending force; 2 m beam length) to the 2204 (2,200 tonne bending force; 4.28 m beam length). The system, called AMNC3i, is claimed to offer a user-friendly smartphone-like operation on a tall (18.5 in high) but relatively narrow vertical display showing program and bend information. The display replaces a keyboard, although there is a handwheel as standard. The control loads and runs offline programs that, Amada says, reduces set-up time and increases efficiency.
Other technology running on the machine includes the Digipro electronic angle measuring device that transmits the measured angle wirelessly to the control;the program is automatically corrected as required, providing a precise bend angle.
In addition, the Bi-S and Bi-L automatic angle adjustment technology helps ensure accurate bending when material properties vary from part to part, avoiding test bending and adjustment. Finally, a new 5-axis back gauge system sees its fingers indicate tool position.
Like Amada, SafanDarley (0116 200 1777) has launched a touch-screen control, angle sensor and is also soon to launch a new pressbrake model.
First, its 17 inch touch-screen control, the E-Control EC30, features context-sensitive menus, 3D programming with graphical bend simulation and the ability to import DXF-files. Second, the E-Bend L pressbrake angle sensor is claimed to only need to measure an angle once to ‘learn’ the required bend depth, then apply this measurement to other parts. Once the first bend pass has been made, the system will automatically measure spring-back and bend depth to be corrected in the second pass. The system uses two laser cameras that move on their own linear guide: a CNC-controlled W-axis to measure the bend angle from both the front and back of the material for greater accuracy.
As for the new servo-electric pressbrake, called the E-Brake 3, the firm says little about specification. Launched at Germany’s EuroBlech exhibition last year, it does say that the machine will use its pulley drive system, a C-frame, narrower press beam and an adjustable operating panel. Eleven patents covering new technology feature and it is claimed to be faster, use less energy and have more pressing force than previous models, plus it has a new angle measurement compensation system.
This article was originally published in the September issue of Machinery magazine.
