Pneumatic Press Brake: Complete Guide, Advantages, Applications & Buying Tips

Introduction

If you are choosing a press brake for sheet metal processing and forming, the most likely terms that come to mind when searching websites are hydraulic press brakes or electric press brakes. It cannot be denied that they do have a strong industry foundation in the bending processing industry. However, at the same time, a more cost-effective equipment is rapidly developing in the press brake market, which is the pneumatic press brake machine.

What is a pneumatic press brake?

Definition of Pneumatic Press Brake machine

It’s simple, a pneumatic press brake machine is a press brake that uses an air driven system. It generates power through compressed air, driving the punch to bend metal materials into shape.

From the drive system of the pneumatic press brake, it can be seen that it does not require oil and relies on air compression, so it can achieve cleanliness and hygiene at the same mechanical speed.

Basic structure of pneumatic press brake

Open the pneumatic brake press and you will see these key components:

how pneumatic press brakes work

basic working principle of pneumatic press brake machine

The working principle of pneumatic press brake machine is to form the pressure of bending metal through compressed air. With this pressure, the punch pushes the metal material into the die to bend the metal into shape.

operation guide for pneumatic press brake

Suppose we are operating the pneumatic press brake for the first time, and then our workflow:

working principle difference from traditional mechanical / hydraulic system

The traditional mechanical system uses mechanical lever / inertia to generate kinetic energy, the hydraulic system uses hydraulic oil to drive, and the pneumatic brake press uses compressed air to provide kinetic energy.

Compared with them, what are the specific advantages and limitations of pneumatic press brakes? We will introduce it in detail in Chapter 4 below.

Advantages and limitations of pneumatic press brake machine

advantages

limitations

Comparison of Pneumatic vs Hydraulic vs Electric Press Brakes

Performance Parameters and Application Differences

Bending force:

Pneumatic press brakes, with their lightweight and fast characteristics, are suitable for processing small and medium-sized metals, which also means that they cannot handle major metal material processing like hydraulic press brakes and electric press brakes.

Bending force ranking: hydraulic > electric > pneumatic

Precision:

The bending process of pneumatic press brakes is of medium precision and suitable for parts with allowable tolerances.

The accuracy of hydraulic press brakes is relatively better, while electric servo press brakes, with their servo control system, have the best accuracy among the three.

Maintenance cost:

Energy consumption:

Applicable plate thickness/material:

Pneumatic press brakes are suitable for thin and light sheets, hydraulic press brakes can process light to thick sheets, and electric press brakes are more inclined towards small and medium-sized sheets that require complex processes.

Comparison of Typical Application Scenarios

Thin and light sheet metal, small batch parts: pneumatic press brake;

Heavy tonnage, mass production: hydraulic press brake;

Medium to large batches of high-precision parts: Electric press brakes are preferred, followed by hydraulic press brakes.

Comparison Table of Advantages and Disadvantages

recommended selection scenarios and suggestions

If your project budget is limited and you process light and thin metal sheets, pneumatic press brakes are preferred.

If your project needs to process large tonnage and heavy-duty plates and has strict requirements for parts, hydraulic press brake and electric press brake are recommended.

Typical applications of pneumatic press brakes

Industry coverage

Household appliance industry: can produce thin metal parts that require efficient bending, such as microwave oven chassis, washing machine shells, refrigerator cabinets, etc.

Automotive manufacturing industry: can produce small car shells and brackets, car interior supports, and other components that require flexible deformation.

Hardware manufacturing: can produce easily replaceable parts such as lighting fixtures and small appliances.

Typical Process Examples

Thin plate bending: The process requirement is to bend a metal plate of 0.8-1.2mm to 90 °, and its technology can achieve a surface without visible indentation. The application feature is to facilitate quick module replacement of pneumatic press brakes and achieve multi model switching on a production line.

Complex contour bending: The process requires multiple bends, which are repeated back and forth using a back gauge system. The application feature is convenient for alternating production of small batches and multiple varieties.

Rapid prototyping: The process requirement is to achieve rapid bending and shaping of metal in a short period of time. The application feature is to facilitate the production of products of different specifications in multiple batches.

Maintenance guide for pneumatic press brake

key points of daily maintenance

Air source treatment: ensure the purity of the gas, regularly check the use of the filter element, and replace it immediately in case of wear.

Lubrication: according to the manual, lubricate the key working parts of the pneumatic brake press, such as the sliding block and slide rail, to prevent the parts from getting stuck and rusting.

Cleaning: clean the workbench and die in time after the bending operation to avoid affecting the subsequent bending.

Regular inspection: check whether the equipment operates well before daily operation, and send the equipment to an authoritative organization for quality inspection every year to ensure the safety and stability of the equipment.

Common Faults and Troubleshooting Suggestions

Unstable bending angle: This is usually caused by air pressure fluctuations, die wear, and back gauge positioning errors. It is recommended to check if the air pressure of the pneumatic bending machine is stable, check for wear on the bending die, and calibrate the back gauge positioning.

Cylinder leakage: check whether the cylinder seal is complete, whether the solenoid valve is blocked, and check where there may be air leakage.

Slow operation: check whether the supply capacity of the compressor matches the volume consumption of the air storage tank, and whether the gas transportation pipeline is blocked. The pipe diameter shall be optimized in time, and the volume of air storage tank can be increased if necessary.

professional suggestions for improving equipment life and performance

Guide for procurement and selection of pneumatic press brakes

requirements to be specified before purchase

key points of model selection: how to select the appropriate pneumatic press brake model according to the actual needs of the enterprise

1. It is better to benchmark the functions of the model according to the most stringent production requirements.

2. Consider the most cost-effective equipment from the perspective of enterprise budget.

3. In terms of policy, try to select equipment with high environmental protection.

introduction to typical brands and mainstream products in the market

Amada —— excels in providing precision and versatility for metalworking.

HACO —— various styles can meet different market demands.

Baileigh industrial —— known for its high quality pneumatic press brakes.

Wilson tool —— specializes in providing pneumatic press brakes with high durability and ease of use.

Conclusion

Now, you probably have a basic and comprehensive understanding of the pneumatic press brake machine.

As an equipment with high cost performance and good at bending and forming light and small metal materials, pneumatic brake press is like a shining star in the metal manufacturing industry.

In the case of limited enterprise and personal budgets, pneumatic press brake is indeed a very good choice. Although the pneumatic press brake also has its own limitations, for example, compared with the hydraulic press brake and electric press brake, the accuracy of the pneumatic brake press still has some room to improve, but its practicality and environmental protection can still meet many market demands.

If you are more curious about the pneumatic brake press, please contact the customer service and telephone at the bottom of the website. We will answer your questions wholeheartedly.

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