The motor within a mechanical press brake works by turning a large flywheel. The motor spins a large flywheel at high speed. The flywheel is controlled by the machine operator through a clutch. This sets the other parts in motion to bend metal. The mechanical press brake is simpler, especially in terms of its electronics. This makes maintenance and operation much easier. The mechanical press brakes can handle tons up to three times their intrinsic rating. Mechanical press brakes have one major drawback: the ram must go through a complete cycle once it is engaged. This cannot be reversed. This poses safety risks if an operator makes a mistake or places limitations on the machine. The possibility that the press brake could become locked if too much ram travel is one potential danger.
Metal can be bent by press brakes in two ways. Bottom bending refers to pressing the metal to the bottom. Bottom bending produces precise bends and requires less work from the press brake machine. However, each tool can only create one type of bend so you will have to purchase a new tool for every angle. When air bending is done, there's an air pocket between your ram and the die. This allows the operator adjust to any spring back that the material may provide. These dies do not need to be altered if the material's thickness exceeds a certain limit. Air bending has one drawback: the accuracy of the angle is affected due to the material's thickness. The ram should be adjusted accordingly.
