Sheet metal fabrication involves all activities related to cutting, bending, and forming of a sheet metal component. Usually, bending a complicated part requires an accurate press brake, right tools, and experienced operator. As parts are becoming more complex, it also becomes more difficult to convert from 2D to 3D components. This propelled equipment and tooling manufacturers to rely on Industry 4.0 to make the bending process and tooling selection much easier, and design and delivery faster. This advanced technology helps improve machine tool precision with tightened tolerances. And because finding successors for retiring bending experts is challenging, intuitive software packages are created to address dependence on operator experience.
Moreover, standard tooling is now capable of functioning with a wide variety of materials and bends. However, there are still some projects in which an engineer must know when special tools are needed to perform the job. For instance, to counter collision during bending, the application may require a special working height, cutout area, or tip radius. So, in order to keep pace with the trend of Industry 4.0, manufacturers are innovating advanced software tools that support the engineering processes of fabricators during custom sheet metal fabrication. They help in determining the best tools and design that are needed to complete the job.
Finally, the shift from conventional brake setup to automatic tool change or ATC is highly beneficial to make bending easier and faster. For this technology to work, the automation must be done in a way that it can easily identify and locate the specifications of each tool used either in standard or custom sheet metal fabrication. The system must be able to locate the correct tools in the storage and place them exactly into the brake. In this away, the robot can easily go and pick the right tool and then load it into the machine. Almost all companies have started to embrace this advancement to achieve more efficient and productive runs.
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