We manufacture our own products. I have a chunk of sheet metal bending work that I outsource because we can't do it. As part of my year end review, I found that it might make sense to add metal bending, especially since we just put a deposit down on a fiber laser.
Most of the sheet metal work is thin stuff: 1/16" and thinner steel and aluminum. I would like to be able to put a 90 degree bend in 3/16" steel 40 inches long though. The radius on the "thicker" (3/16") would not need to be tight. The radius on the 1/16" and under would need to be pretty tight. Some pieces need only one bend. Some pieces are "boxes" that have a couple bends per side.
In short, I know the shop has an application and that this might make financial sense, but I don't know enough to know what questions I should be asking as I explore the different presses on the market.
It looks a lot to me like something like this would do the job.
CNC Hydraulic Press Brake - BP-3305CNC | Baileigh Industrial
Should I be looking at the above, or something else?
Do they all come with safety features like a light curtain?
What questions should I be asking that I don't know to ask?
Thanks
Most of the sheet metal work is thin stuff: 1/16" and thinner steel and aluminum. I would like to be able to put a 90 degree bend in 3/16" steel 40 inches long though. The radius on the "thicker" (3/16") would not need to be tight. The radius on the 1/16" and under would need to be pretty tight. Some pieces need only one bend. Some pieces are "boxes" that have a couple bends per side.
In short, I know the shop has an application and that this might make financial sense, but I don't know enough to know what questions I should be asking as I explore the different presses on the market.
It looks a lot to me like something like this would do the job.
CNC Hydraulic Press Brake - BP-3305CNC | Baileigh Industrial
Should I be looking at the above, or something else?
Do they all come with safety features like a light curtain?
What questions should I be asking that I don't know to ask?
Thanks