How much do you know about press brake fixtures?

It is well known that the precision of press brake tooling largely depends on the availability of its constituent components: the bending equipment, the bending die core (including the die, die holder, and compensation mechanisms), the bending material, and the bending operator. The press brake die core comprises the bending die, the die-holding core, and the compensation core. The critical importance of the bending die and the compensation core for bending accuracy is beyond question. However, many industry professionals have only a limited understanding of the die-holding core. In this article, we will first discuss the die-holding core for bending dies and explore how it can reduce labor requirements while enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of the bending process.

Before being processed on a press brake, sheet-metal parts typically undergo multiple value-added manufacturing operations, such as stamping, cutting, and deburring. This necessitates that the bending process deliver tight dimensional accuracy and consistent precision to minimize costly scrap and reduce overall production costs. While it is widely recognized that high-quality press-brake equipment must meet these requirements, the importance of a robust tooling core is often overlooked. A well-designed, robust tooling core not only saves time but also ensures superior accuracy and reduces the number of trial bends required. So what exactly constitutes a robust tooling core? In this discussion, we will provide an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of different types of robust tooling cores.

Two types of robust cores: manual locking and automatic locking. Each robust core is available in different versions on the market.

Manual Clamping Core: The manual clamping core is an efficient and cost-effective fixture bending machine that does not require frequent replacement of the casting molds. Manual clamping of the casting molds is a fundamental yet time-consuming method, as the bending operator must manually tighten each clamping plate one by one. When clamping plates are tightened individually, they cannot automatically form a continuous, uniform clamping line, resulting in uneven clamping force across different sections of the casting mold. Moreover, the mold cannot be aligned immediately, necessitating lengthy adjustment procedures and requiring experienced operators. To eliminate reliance on manual operation, minimize adjustment time, and enhance precision, WILA’s manual clamping core features a clamping-pin mechanism that delivers consistent clamping force along the entire working length, thereby eliminating the need for post-clamping adjustments on each section of the casting mold. This clamping-pin mechanism incorporates a manually operated clamping system with automatic setting and calibration functions, ensuring precise alignment and accurate setup of the casting mold.

Automatic Clamping Core: The automatic clamping core is designed for press brakes that require frequent and rapid die changes. Based on the “single-point operation” principle, this core enables die clamping and release with a single button press, eliminating the cumbersome manual clamping process. Power sources for the automatic clamping core include electric, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems. Typically, such a core consists of multiple segmented clamping plates and power cylinders, with the cylinders driven by the aforementioned power sources. Although this type of clamping core eliminates time-consuming manual tightening, because the clamping plates remain individually segmented, the positioning accuracy of the die still suffers. How can we avoid having only a single clamping plate perform the clamping operation? This limitation in precision can be overcome by employing a single actuator—driven by a medium—to clamp the die along its entire length, effectively integrating all segments into a unified whole. WILA’s automatic clamping core is a full-length clamping solution that utilizes either hydraulic or pneumatic power.