[1] It forms predetermined bends by clamping the workpiece between a matching top tool and bottom die.
[2] Typically, two C-frames form the sides of the press brake, connected to a table at the bottom and on a movable beam at the top.
Although the initial outlay might be more than with an NC , a CNC controller can be more effective, keeping cost down in the long run.
Hydraulic brakes produce accurate, high-quality products; are reliable; use little energy; and are safer because, unlike flywheel-driven presses, the motion of the ram can be easily stopped at any time in response to a safety device, e.g. a light curtain or other presence sensing device.
A back gauge is a device that can be used to accurately position a piece of metal so that the brake puts the bend in the correct place.
The animation to the right shows the operation of the back gauge, setting the distance from the edge of the material or previous bend to the center of the die.