What are the advantages of a manual sheet metal press brake?

Metallurgy has had a considerable impact on the history of humanity, beginning more than 9,000 years ago in the Near East. From then on, metalworking has evolved over time, improving its technique and introducing new machinery that makes the job easier.

One of these machines is the manual sheet metal press brake, a tool used to make bends in metal sheets through cold deformation. It achieves this thanks to the pressure to which the workpiece is subjected when it is placed between the punch and the die of the press brake. Depending on the force applied to the sheet and its thickness, the bend will have a greater or lesser angle.

The sheet metal press brake consists of several parts:

• Bed: the transverse plate is the worktable on which the metal sheet to be bent rests. It must be very strong, since it has to support both the weight of the press brake itself and that of the plate it holds. This part is made up of two side assemblies.
• Base: the element on which the bed sits. The die rests on it, a metal mould formed by several grooves. Depending on the shape of the die, the metal will take on one look or another.
• Ram: this part of the press brake is a vertical metal plate, generally movable. It is directly responsible for bending the metal by means of the force transmitted by the punch.
• Controls: sometimes manual press brakes come with a control unit whose main function is to configure and handle the entire process that the machine must carry out in order to perform the bending.

What is a manual sheet metal press brake used for?

Depending on the type of press brake, it will have different uses and will handle sheets of greater or lesser thickness. Among all the models, the manual sheet metal press brake is the smallest type of press brake. It is used to make bends in sheets that are not too thick. The materials usually used with manual press brakes are aluminium, iron and stainless steel. They are very common in body shops, but are also used to make housings for household appliances, switch boxes or cabinets.

Advantages of a manual sheet metal press brake

First of all, this type of press brake is very useful because of its upper tool, which is divisible and movable, which allows it to be adjusted to the size of the piece of metal in order to make various types of bend.

In addition, thanks to their small size, manual press brakes are very easy to transport. This is a big point in their favour, since the professional does not have to be limited to the usual workshop or workplace, but can move the machine without too much effort to work elsewhere.

Furthermore, manual sheet metal press brakes offer great energy savings compared with other types such as hydraulic, electric or hydromechanical ones.

Lastly, they are very versatile, as they have many uses, such as making panels, cabinets, boxes, and distribution and circuit-breaker cabinets. All in a machine with a space-saving design, perfect for workshops and workplaces that are not too large.

Other types of press brake

As already mentioned, manual press brakes are just one type of press brake.

Mechanical press brake

Mechanical press brakes have a flywheel, which produces energy. This flywheel drives the ram, the element responsible for producing the bend in the metal plate. When this flywheel is not in operation, the force needed to move the ram in downward movements builds up, ready for when it is put into operation.

They are not recommended for use by inexperienced operators, as they can suffer injuries. It is therefore advisable to use safety equipment while using them.

Hydromechanical press brake

In this case, the element responsible for operating the ram is a hydraulic pump, which converts hydraulic energy into mechanical energy. These have greater capacity than mechanical press brakes and offer better results. They are also infinitely safer, since they do not need to complete the full stroke to reach maximum power. They are widely used in coining work.

Hydraulic press brake

This type of press brake differs from the previous one in the incorporation of hydraulic cylinders, which transform the energy of pressurised hydraulic fluids into mechanical energy. Thanks to its valve system, this type of press brake is more efficient and precise, completing the work in less time. For this reason, they are one of the most in-demand press brakes on the market today.