Mid-range press brake has auto tool-change

Following the success of Amada’s ATC press brakes, with more than 1000 units installed globally, Amada has expanded its proprietary ATC technology to its mid-range line-up for the first time. Previously only available on high-end press brakes such as the Amada HG-ATC and its predecessor the HD-ATC, the new Amada HRB-ATC mid-range model features a full size ATC, offering exactly the same number of tool storage racks as the company’s HG-ATC.

The new machine comes with a package of Amada tools based on an assessment of the customer’s manufacturing requirements. Importantly, the HRB-ATC is completely compatible with Amada AFH/Promecam standard tool sets. As a result, any existing customer using these tools can load them manually to the new machine if desired.

A CNC press brake with ATC capability brings many advantages to companies that want to increase the amount of time their machine is engaged in actual bending activities. The ATC can reduce set-up times by up to 80% in comparison with an operator loading a tool manually, which is a clear benefit for subcontractors or companies that undertake several tool layout changes a day. Additionally, while the ATC is functioning, the operator can simultaneously complete other tasks, increasing overall efficiency.

The presence of the ATC and its rapid set-up potential makes the new press brake particularly ideal for those processing small batch sizes. Subcontract fabricators serving markets such as refrigeration, kitchen equipment, retail display, furniture and construction, for instance, will certainly benefit, reports Amada.

Customer advantages also arrive from the reverse punch system. Amada says that its ATC is the only solution on the market that can reverse tools automatically.
For further information www.amada.eu

New solutions on show from SafanDarley

SafanDarley presented a wide range of innovative solutions at the Lamiera 2022 exhibition in Italy earlier this year. Besides press brake innovations, such as the E-Brake C 200T with Tool Mate, SafanDarley also focused on the latest developments in offline bending software.

SafanDarley has added the E-Brake C 200T Ultra with Tool Mate to its press brake range. The Tool Mate is an external automatic tool changer and offers time savings when producing small batches. Notably, the servo-electric E-Brake C with 200 tonne pressing force and a bending length of 4300 mm features a C-frame, to enable automatic tool changing. The Tool Mate is very intuitive; the execution of the tool changes is via the SafanDarley E-Control. Correct tool settings can be loaded and used directly on the machine from AutoPOL offline software (or other independent offline bending simulation software).

The high-precision changer ensures the placing of tools in the correct position. Due to the intelligent software, only necessary changes are made and tools from the previous tool set-up are reused, achieving considerably shorter changeover times. The tool storage magazine has a capacity of 32, 52 or 60 m of tools.

SafanDarley also showcased a new Hybrid-series press brake, the H-Brake Hybrid+ 230T Ultra. The Hybrid+ range is an expansion of the company’s existing Hybrid series and offers higher tonnages with additional benefits. At its core, there is an advanced dual hybrid drive with high return speed, high productivity and low energy consumption. One of the most significant benefits of this system is the dramatic reduction in power consumption, says SafanDarley.

The H-Brake 230T+ was equipped with E-Bend L blue angle measurement system, which uses two blue laser sensors one each side of the table.
For further information www.safandarley.com

Press brake productivity features and options

When specifying a press brake there are a number of features and options to consider that make the machine easier to use and more productive. According to Morgan Rushworth, these include: height-adjustable control panel arm; AKAS laser tooling guards; CNC sheet follower support arms; and hydraulic tool clamping.

All press brake operators are not born equal. For those tired of stooping down or standing on a pallet to use the press brake control, the ergonomic height-adjustable control arm from Morgan Rushworth could be the answer. This is available as an option on all press brakes although is also fitted as standard on several models.

The AKAS laser tooling guards offer a vastly improved user experience when compared with traditional light guards. As the AKAS system guards the top tool only, rather than the whole working area, the operator can hold the workpiece during the beam’s rapid descent stage rather than having to wait until reaching the mute position. This capability allows the easy positioning of smaller components against the back gauge, without compromising safety.

When working with light gauge material, larger parts will tend to fold down under their own weight, making handling more difficult. While it is possible to slow the bending and ram return speeds to make this operation easier, another option is to specify a CNC-powered sheet follower support arm. As the name implies the support arm will lift up and down during bending ensuring continual support for the part.

For workshops where a lot of tool changes are required, hydraulic tool clamping can greatly increase efficiency. Available for either top and bottom tools – or both – and with different clamp designs, hydraulic tool clamping will make frequent tool changes a quick and simple task.
For further information www.morganrushworth.com

Another tube bender is premium choice

Platinum Stairlifts of Keighley has taken delivery of a second all-electric 90 mm (maximum tube diameter) Unison Breeze tube bending machine. The purchase corresponds with Platinum’s move to a new multi-million-pound, purpose-built manufacturing facility in the town, and underpins the company’s faith in the quality, reliability and repeatability of Unison’s British-built tube manipulation technologies.

Stairlift company Platinum invested in its first all-electric Breeze tube bender from Unison in 2015, the same year as it launched its flagship ‘Ultimate’ stairlift.

“We fully appreciated that in order to create an industry-leading, single-tube stairlift we would need to invest in advanced, all-electric tube bending machinery,” says Matthew Turton, production engineer at Platinum Stairlift. “At that time, we were using a hydraulic tube bending machine which, although absolutely fine for forming the rails for our twin-tube stairlifts, lacked the capability to bend the highly complex angles required for a premium single-tube model.

“Having considered the tube bending machines and levels of support offered by a number of manufacturers, we went ahead and ordered our first Unison Breeze machine,” he continues. “A 90 mm multi-stack model, the all-electric Breeze quickly demonstrated its ability to bend tube accurately for even the most challenging of designs, such as complex spiral and multi-flight staircases. In fact, through a combination of twist and draw bending, using Unison-supplied precision tubing, I have yet to see a staircase angle that the Breeze machine has been unable to achieve.”

Installed earlier this month, Platinum’s second 90 mm all-electric Unison Breeze machine will further enhance the company’s ability to produce its Ultimate single tube stairlift in greater volumes.
For further information www.unisonltd.com

Lübke relies on three RAS folding machines

Lübke Baumetal GmbH supplies a wide range of metal solutions for roofs and facades; everything from standard profiles to bespoke productions, nothing is too much for this company from Arnsberg in North Rhine-Westphalia. For Lübke, success rests on first-class products that come from a comprehensive consulting service combined with a fast distribution system.

The most complex step in the production of these precision pieces is the efficient bending of the profiles. That is why Lübke relies on not one, but three RAS folding machines: two GIGAbends and one XLTbend with up-down bending technology and a 45° upper beam. All of these machines are available in the UK from Press & Shear.

Lübke’s love affair with RAS began in 2007 when the company purchased the first GIGAbend bending machine with a working length of 3 m. Another machine of the same model arrived in 2012. At the beginning of 2021, a RAS XLTbend with a bending length of 4 m and a sheet steel capacity of 2.5 mm was added to the already robust folding line-up.

Production manager Jan Rengshausen says: “We can absolutely rely on these machines, both in terms of reliability and bending quality.”

The employee responsible for the up-down folding machine is Christian Hellweg. Using the Bendex software, he creates the bending processes for the drawn or imported profiles. The software automatically calculates different bending sequences and suggests the best variant to the machine operator. Whenever possible, Hellweg tries to apply the profiles from the stop-side.

Says Rengshausen: “We made a comparison with kick protection profiles and needed about 10 minutes for the classic bending of 10 parts. The same parts on the XLTbend were finished after 6.5 minutes: a decisive speed advantage of 35%.”
For further information www.pressandshear.com