In recent years, over 30% of sheet metal factories have started using folding machines to replace traditional bending machines for partial bending processes. Compared to bending machines, folding machines are bending equipment that offer many advantages and are easier to operate. This article provides a brief introduction to bending machines and folding machines.
Bending machines can be categorized into manual bending machines, hydraulic bending machines, and CNC bending machines. They can be further classified as upward motion or downward motion machines based on their movement. Hydraulic bending machines can be divided into torsion shaft, mechanical-hydraulic, and electro-hydraulic synchronization based on their synchronization methods.
CNC bending machines achieve bending functionality by controlling the stroke of the machine's slide and the back gauge. When using a CNC bending machine, all that is required is to input the part drawing and the bending angles for each step, and the machine will sequentially execute the bending process according to the input steps. Advanced CNC bending machines mainly use electro-hydraulic servo systems and are equipped with linear scales to form a closed-loop control system, ensuring high synchronization control accuracy, bending precision, and repositioning accuracy. In terms of operation, CNC bending machines offer flexibility. They can be used in tandem for processing extra-long sheets or individually for processing individual parts. This not only improves the efficiency of bending machines but also reduces energy consumption. Bending machines consist of a frame, a worktable, and a clamping plate. The worktable, composed of a base and a pressure plate, is placed on the frame. The base is made up of a seat shell, coils, and a cover plate. It is connected to the clamping plate through hinges, and the coils are placed in the recess of the seat shell, which is covered by the cover plate. When the coils are energized through the wires, they generate a force on the pressure plate, thereby clamping the sheet between the pressure plate and the base. Bending machines can meet various workpiece requirements by changing the bending machine molds.
Characteristics of bending machines:
1. Require skilled operators to position the bending flange.
2. Operators must support the material during the bending process.
3. Large surfaces of the material are suspended outside the bending machine.
4. For bending large workpieces, it is difficult for a single operator to complete the task, requiring two or more people to work simultaneously.
Factors determining the bending angle of a bending machine:
1. Stroke of the slide.
2. Dimensions of the mold.
3. Variation in material thickness.
4. Skill of the operator in supporting the material.
Folding machines are simple bending machines and can be divided into manual folding machines and fully automatic folding machines.
A folding machine is a mechanical device used to process the edges of products. It was previously used for mass production of simple-shaped stainless steel sheet products, but with the continuous advancement and maturity of technology, these products are now mostly produced using cold bending punch presses. A folding machine uses a model with a bending radius to secure the steel plate on the machine's worktable, with the protruding portion of the material placed on the movable worktable, which can rotate along the center of the bending radius. The movable worktable can be raised to bend the stainless steel to the desired angle. During the bending process, to prevent the material from being scratched due to sliding on the worktable, the worktable surface needs to be smooth, and a layer of plastic film is applied to the surface of the stainless steel workpiece to protect it from scratching. The upper beam of the folding machine is usually made in a wedge shape to create a gap, allowing the use of appropriately shaped blanks to fold into quadrilateral boxes or slots.
Characteristics of folding machines:
1. Low skill requirements for operators.
2. During the bending process, the sheet is placed on the back gauge worktable to ensure the bending distance and support the sheet. In manual mode, the safety of the folding machine operator is greatly improved.
3. Small variations in plate thickness do not affect the bending accuracy.
4. Folding machines can perform bending in extremely tight spaces, and different plate thicknesses do not require mold changes. They have certain advantages in large arc bending.
5. Narrow edge width, reducing costs.
The original automatic tool-changing combination slide block includes a complete set of segmented upper slide block molds, equipped with mechanical rotary locking mechanisms and mechanical mold clamping mechanisms. When bending large workpieces at the rear of the machine, there is ample space behind the clamping slide block and the mold. Moreover, when completing the bending of various complex products, mold changes can be done more quickly and flexibly. When mold changes are required between different bending sequences, the upper slide block automatically rises to the highest position through programming and setting in the CNC system. The operator steps on the foot switch, and the mold-changing device automatically rotates to achieve mold exchange.
Optimizing the overall production process is the desire of every enterprise because it ultimately reduces labor costs, improves work efficiency, and ensures production quality accuracy. Therefore, as people's understanding of bending machines and folding machines deepens in the sheet metal industry, guiding and using folding machines correctly becomes a direction for improving bending processes.
Bending machines can be categorized into manual bending machines, hydraulic bending machines, and CNC bending machines. They can be further classified as upward motion or downward motion machines based on their movement. Hydraulic bending machines can be divided into torsion shaft, mechanical-hydraulic, and electro-hydraulic synchronization based on their synchronization methods.
CNC bending machines achieve bending functionality by controlling the stroke of the machine's slide and the back gauge. When using a CNC bending machine, all that is required is to input the part drawing and the bending angles for each step, and the machine will sequentially execute the bending process according to the input steps. Advanced CNC bending machines mainly use electro-hydraulic servo systems and are equipped with linear scales to form a closed-loop control system, ensuring high synchronization control accuracy, bending precision, and repositioning accuracy. In terms of operation, CNC bending machines offer flexibility. They can be used in tandem for processing extra-long sheets or individually for processing individual parts. This not only improves the efficiency of bending machines but also reduces energy consumption. Bending machines consist of a frame, a worktable, and a clamping plate. The worktable, composed of a base and a pressure plate, is placed on the frame. The base is made up of a seat shell, coils, and a cover plate. It is connected to the clamping plate through hinges, and the coils are placed in the recess of the seat shell, which is covered by the cover plate. When the coils are energized through the wires, they generate a force on the pressure plate, thereby clamping the sheet between the pressure plate and the base. Bending machines can meet various workpiece requirements by changing the bending machine molds.
Characteristics of bending machines:
1. Require skilled operators to position the bending flange.
2. Operators must support the material during the bending process.
3. Large surfaces of the material are suspended outside the bending machine.
4. For bending large workpieces, it is difficult for a single operator to complete the task, requiring two or more people to work simultaneously.
Factors determining the bending angle of a bending machine:
1. Stroke of the slide.
2. Dimensions of the mold.
3. Variation in material thickness.
4. Skill of the operator in supporting the material.
Folding machines are simple bending machines and can be divided into manual folding machines and fully automatic folding machines.
A folding machine is a mechanical device used to process the edges of products. It was previously used for mass production of simple-shaped stainless steel sheet products, but with the continuous advancement and maturity of technology, these products are now mostly produced using cold bending punch presses. A folding machine uses a model with a bending radius to secure the steel plate on the machine's worktable, with the protruding portion of the material placed on the movable worktable, which can rotate along the center of the bending radius. The movable worktable can be raised to bend the stainless steel to the desired angle. During the bending process, to prevent the material from being scratched due to sliding on the worktable, the worktable surface needs to be smooth, and a layer of plastic film is applied to the surface of the stainless steel workpiece to protect it from scratching. The upper beam of the folding machine is usually made in a wedge shape to create a gap, allowing the use of appropriately shaped blanks to fold into quadrilateral boxes or slots.
Characteristics of folding machines:
1. Low skill requirements for operators.
2. During the bending process, the sheet is placed on the back gauge worktable to ensure the bending distance and support the sheet. In manual mode, the safety of the folding machine operator is greatly improved.
3. Small variations in plate thickness do not affect the bending accuracy.
4. Folding machines can perform bending in extremely tight spaces, and different plate thicknesses do not require mold changes. They have certain advantages in large arc bending.
5. Narrow edge width, reducing costs.
The original automatic tool-changing combination slide block includes a complete set of segmented upper slide block molds, equipped with mechanical rotary locking mechanisms and mechanical mold clamping mechanisms. When bending large workpieces at the rear of the machine, there is ample space behind the clamping slide block and the mold. Moreover, when completing the bending of various complex products, mold changes can be done more quickly and flexibly. When mold changes are required between different bending sequences, the upper slide block automatically rises to the highest position through programming and setting in the CNC system. The operator steps on the foot switch, and the mold-changing device automatically rotates to achieve mold exchange.
Optimizing the overall production process is the desire of every enterprise because it ultimately reduces labor costs, improves work efficiency, and ensures production quality accuracy. Therefore, as people's understanding of bending machines and folding machines deepens in the sheet metal industry, guiding and using folding machines correctly becomes a direction for improving bending processes.
