Practical insights: Learn in one minute about the standard die usage guidelines for thick-plate bending on press brakes.

What are the specifications for using the lower die in the bending machine’s thick-plate bending standard? Let’s take a brief look at this together below.

1. Connect the press brake to the power supply, turn the key switch, and press the oil pump start button. The press brake’s oil pump will begin to rotate, but the machine has not yet started operating at this point.

2. Stroke adjustment: Before commencing bending operations with the press brake die, a trial run must be performed. When the upper die of the press brake descends to its bottom position, there should be a gap equal to the material thickness; otherwise, the die and the machine may be damaged. Stroke adjustment also includes electric quick adjustment and manual fine adjustment.

3. Selection of die groove width for press brakes: For thick-plate bending, the standard lower die groove width is generally 8 times the plate thickness. For example, when bending a 4 mm-thick plate, a groove width of approximately 32 mm should be selected.

4. Inspect the alignment and clamping of the upper and lower dies; verify that all positioning devices meet the requirements of the workpiece being processed. Regularly check the die alignment and ensure that the pressure gauge readings comply with the specified limits.

5. Press the sheet metal firmly during bending to prevent it from lifting and causing injury to operators.

6. When adjusting the die for sheet material, first disconnect the power supply and proceed only after the machine has come to a complete stop.

7. When adjusting the opening of the adjustable lower die, no material is allowed to come into contact with the lower die.

8. Do not bend excessively thick iron plates, quenched steel plates, alloy steels, square bars, or any sheet material that exceeds the bending machine’s capacity, to avoid damaging the equipment.

9. Before shutting down, place wooden blocks beneath the lower dies on both sides of the hydraulic cylinders to lower the upper slide onto the blocks. First exit the control system program, then disconnect the power supply.

Installation and Adjustment: When installing press brake dies, it is essential to first inspect the condition of the equipment, then proceed with installation and commissioning according to the prescribed procedures. During commissioning of the lower die for thick-plate bending, strict attention must be paid to personal safety.

Machine adjustment: When installing and using press brake dies, it is essential to familiarize yourself with the machine’s performance. Turn on the press brake, carefully adjust and inspect the lower die according to the bending specifications for thick plates, and check for any dust or metal chips left from previous use. This will help prevent unnecessary problems and ensure the machine is in good condition for future operation.

Slider stroke adjustment: First, verify that the die thickness of the press brake and the ratio between the upper and lower dies are within the proper range. In general, the slider should be positioned at the stroke-change point on the stroke curve. This is a critical detail; failure to observe it can prevent the die from functioning correctly, yet many operators still frequently make this mistake.

Stroke module adjustment: After the slider stroke standard has been adjusted, the next step is to set the upper limit point of the module. Generally, when the module reaches its highest position, the corresponding limit switch must be properly configured. This ensures that the module’s travel remains at the external position, and by performing certain operations as described above, production efficiency can be significantly improved. During this process, it is also necessary to slow down the module’s movement. Since the module descends to engage with the next station, its speed must be reduced to protect both the machine and the mold.

Gap Adjustment: To adjust the gap between the press brake dies, first measure the clearance between the upper and lower dies. The appropriate gap should be determined by the operator based on the material being bent.