Some common sense
Let us be honest here: It doesn’t make sense to invest in something as relatively costly as a sheet metal press brake, if you don’t have a competent operator to match. Even the best tool is useless without a skilled user, and the more advanced the tool is, the more there is for that user to learn and implement. On the other hand, do not think cheap machinery plus skilled personnel equals stellar results. Use common sense when matching (wo)man with machine, and you will achieve the maximum potential of that combination in your daily production schedule.
It starts at the drawing board
Making quality parts on a sheet metal press brake is not possible without a quality drawing. When I say that, I’m talking of a drawing that contains every single important detail concerning the part to be made. A good drawing will also have been made with a specific press brake in mind, working with its strengths and around it’s limitations. The same goes for the tooling (punches and dies) available for the press brake. Of course, a good drawing is worth nothing, if the operator is unable to read it to its fullest, so make sure there can be no misunderstandings as the general concepts of the drawing, the legending, measurements, etc. This also includes certified training of the employee.
Obviously, a good drawing is produced only by someone who understands the brake, the drawn part is to be made on, and as a rule, that person should always consult the operator of the machine before the drawing is finalized and put to use.
The operator
It doesn’t matter how advanced the machine is – ultimately there will be a human being behind it somewhere – operating it, programming it, etc. Even a cnc press brake, fed its parts by a robot, is originally programmed by a human operator. It will also be maintained, calibrated and repaired by a human. In other words, the operator is at least as important as the machine, and should undergo regular training seminars to be kept updated about the proper use of the sheet metal press brake he/she operates. The ability to read a drawing and pick the correct tooling and setup for the job, setting up in minimal time and lastly executing the run with a satisfactory result – these are the marks of the competent operator. Knowing whether to coin, bottom bend or air-bend in any given situation is paramount. Knowing when NOT to choose a specific bending technique is even more important, as it could mean the difference between succesful production and a wrecked press brake.
In short, buy the best sheet metal press brake you can afford, but skimp on the learning, and the quality and productivity will suffer.