A comprehensive guide to selecting press brake tooling. Learn about punch types, die openings, tool materials, and how tooling choice affects bend quality and productivity.
Introduction
Press brake tooling determines the quality, accuracy, and efficiency of every bend. At Fulei Metal, we maintain comprehensive tooling inventory for our four CNC press brakes.
Understanding Press Brake Tooling
Punch Types
Standard punch for most bends. Gooseneck for clearance with formed flanges. Acute angle for bends past 90 degrees. Hemming punch for folded edges. Offset punch for Z-bends. Razor punch for very small radii.
Die Types
V-die is most common. U-die for channels. Z-die for offsets. Hemming die for folded edges. Channel die for second-side channel forming.
Die Opening Selection
General rule: V equals 6 to 8 times material thickness. Narrower openings produce tighter radii but require more force. Wider openings require less force but produce larger radii.
For 1 mm material: 6-12 mm V. For 2 mm: 12-20 mm. For 3 mm: 18-32 mm. For 5 mm: 32-50 mm. For 8 mm: 50-80 mm. For 10 mm: 64-100 mm.
Tool Material and Quality
Tool steel grades range from carbon steel for light duty to alloy tool steel for production to high-speed steel for high volume. Precision-ground tooling from quality manufacturers offers tight tolerances, quick-change capability, and longer life.
Tooling Selection Factors
Consider material thickness, material type, bend angle, inside radius, bend length, and part geometry. Harder materials need wider openings and stronger tooling.
Tooling Maintenance
Clean regularly. Inspect for wear, damage, and alignment. Store properly in racks with oil coating. Replace worn tools promptly.
Common Tooling Mistakes
Wrong die opening, damaged tools, mismatched segments, and exceeding tool capacity.
Conclusion
Selecting the right tooling is essential for quality bent parts. At Fulei Metal, our comprehensive inventory and precision-ground tools enable us to produce a wide range of parts with consistent quality.