As an essential equipment in the metal processing industry, the maintenance and care of press brakes are crucial for ensuring production efficiency and extending the machine's lifespan. This article will provide a detailed overview of the maintenance methods for manual, hydraulic, and CNC press brakes, along with the maintenance measures for various components.
Classification and Characteristics of Press Brakes
Press brakes are mainly categorized into three types: manual press brakes, hydraulic press brakes, and CNC press brakes. Hydraulic press brakes are further subdivided into torsion shaft synchronization, mechanical-hydraulic synchronization, and electro-hydraulic synchronization. From the perspective of motion, they can be classified as upward movement and downward movement. Understanding these classifications is helpful for targeted maintenance and care.
Routine Maintenance and Care Methods
Before performing maintenance or cleaning on the press brake, ensure the safety of the machine, align the upper and lower dies, and keep the machine closed until the maintenance is completed. If startup or other operations are necessary, select manual mode and ensure all safety measures are in place.
Maintenance of Hydraulic Oil Circuit
1. Oil Level Check and Oil Quality Management
- Check the oil level in the tank weekly, especially after hydraulic system maintenance. If the oil level is below the indicator on the oil window, hydraulic oil should be replenished promptly.
- Recommended hydraulic oils include ISO HM46 or MOBIL DTE25.
- For new machines, the hydraulic oil should be replaced after 2000 hours of operation, and subsequently every 4000 to 6000 hours. When changing the oil, the oil tank should be cleaned.
- The oil temperature in the system should be maintained between 35°C and 60°C and should not exceed 70°C to prevent deterioration of the oil quality and damage to components.
2. Filter Replacement and Cleaning
- Each time the oil is changed, the filter should be replaced or thoroughly cleaned.
- If the machine alarms or the oil quality is poor, check and possibly replace the filter.
- The air filter on the oil tank should be checked every three months, and it is recommended to be replaced annually.
Maintenance of Hydraulic Components
1. Cleaning and Inspection
- Hydraulic components (including the base, valves, motor, pump, etc.) should be cleaned monthly to prevent dirt from entering the system. Avoid using any chemical cleaning agents during cleaning.
- After one month of use for a new machine, check for any deformations or damage in various parts, and replace them promptly if any abnormalities are found.
- After two months of use, check and tighten the connections of all components. When conducting this work, ensure that the machine is turned off and the system is depressurized.
Special Maintenance for CNC Press Brakes
Due to their high precision and automation, CNC press brakes require additional maintenance considerations in addition to the general maintenance mentioned above:
1. Software Updates and Maintenance
- Regularly check and update the operating system and application software to ensure the machine runs the latest software version, optimizing performance and fixing known vulnerabilities.
2. Regular Inspection of CNC Systems
- Regularly inspect the functionality and accuracy of the CNC system, especially for mechanical-hydraulic synchronization and electro-hydraulic synchronization systems, ensuring all electronic components and circuits are in good condition.
3. Strengthening of Safety Measures
- Due to the complexity of operation for CNC press brakes, operators' training should be reinforced to ensure they understand all safety operating procedures.
Through these detailed maintenance and care measures, the lifespan of press brakes can be significantly extended while maintaining high operational performance. For hydraulic and CNC press brakes, especially equipment with high synchronization and precision requirements, adopting professional maintenance strategies is particularly important as it can avoid many common faults and ensure the stable operation of the production line.
