Material Hardness
Press Brake Tools Hardness Higher Than Sheet Metal Material
In order to enable the sheet metal material to be shaped according to the shape of the press brake tools during the bending process, the hardness of the tools must be higher than that of the sheet metal material.
For example, for ordinary low – carbon steel sheets, the press brake tools material usually select alloy steel with higher hardness, such as Cr12MoV, whose hardness can reach HRC58 – 62, while the hardness of low – carbon steel is generally around HRC10 – 20.
In this way, press brake tools can effectively process the sheet metal during the bending process, avoiding damage such as indentation and wear on the dies surface and ensuring the bending accuracy and quality.
Avoiding Excessive Hardness Difference
Although the hardness of the press brake tools should be higher than that of the sheet metal material, the hardness difference between the two should not be too large. If the hardness difference is too large, during the bending process, the pressure of the dies on the sheet metal will be concentrated on a small contact area, which is likely to cause defects such as scratches and cracks on the surface of the sheet metal material.
Material Toughness
Press Brake Tools Toughness Adapted to Sheet Metal Material
Sheet metal materials will undergo plastic deformation during the bending process, which requires the press brake tools to have not only sufficient hardness but also a certain degree of toughness.
For some high – strength and high – toughness sheet metal materials, such as stainless steel and high – strength alloy steel, the dies needs to have higher toughness to withstand the impact force and stress changes during the bending process. The press brake tools can not only have high hardness but also withstand large impact loads to avoid cracks or fractures during the bending process.
Considering the Work – Hardening Characteristics of Sheet Metal Materials
Some sheet metal materials will exhibit work – hardening phenomena during the processing process, such as copper alloys and nickel alloys. As the number of bending times increases, the hardness of the material will gradually increase, which requires the press brake tools to have better toughness to adapt to the change in material hardness. Otherwise, the tools may be damaged due to the counter – force of the work – hardened sheet metal material.
Press Brake Tools Shape and Dimensions
Selecting Press Brake Tools According to the Thickness of Sheet Metal Materials
Sheet metal materials of different thicknesses require press brake tools of different dimensions. Generally, the thicker the sheet metal material, the larger the width of the V – groove of the dies required to provide sufficient space for the material to flow during the bending process and avoid problems such as excessive extrusion and cracking at the bending position.
Considering the Bending Radius of Sheet Metal Materials
The bending radius of sheet metal materials is also an important factor in selecting press brake tools. Different sheet metal materials have different minimum bending radius requirements when bending.
The fillet radius of the dies should match the minimum bending radius of the sheet metal material. If the fillet radius of the dies is too small, it will cause stress concentration at the bending position of the sheet metal material, making it easy to crack; conversely. If the fillet radius is too large, it will affect the accuracy and appearance of the bent part.
Surface Quality Requirements
Avoiding Damage to the Sheet Metal Surface by the Press Brake Tools
The surface quality of the press brake tools directly affects the surface quality of the sheet metal material. For some sheet metal materials with high surface quality requirements, such as stainless – steel decorative panels and aluminum alloy thin sheets, the working surface of the press brake tools needs to be processed and polished with high precision to avoid scratches, indentations, and other defects on the sheet metal surface caused by the roughness or minor flaws of the dies surface during the bending process.
Preventing Sheet Metal Materials from Adhering to the Press Brake Tools Surface
Some sheet metal materials, such as copper alloys and titanium alloys, are prone to adhering to the press brake tools surface during the bending process, affecting the surface quality of the sheet metal and the service life of the tools. To prevent this situation, the press brake tools surface can be treated with special coatings, such as hard chromium plating and nitriding.
These coatings can not only improve the surface hardness and wear resistance of the dies but also reduce the friction coefficient of the dies surface, reducing the adhesion of sheet metal materials to the dies surface and ensuring the smooth progress of the bending process and the surface quality of the sheet metal material.
Conclusion
By systematically understanding various compatibility factors of press brake tools, it is possible to more scientifically select press brake tools that meet the requirements of your own equipment and process, thus achieving better results in terms of improving bending accuracy, extending dies life, and ensuring production safety.
If you have any questions regarding the selection of press brake tools, please feel free to consult us. We will provide you with professional and comprehensive press brake tools solutions!
