TIME TO SWITCH TO CNC SYNCHRONISED BENDING
Daniel Fisher of Applied Machinery reckons that the transition to CNC synchronised bending has never been easier.
If you are new to the bending game, or have been running torsion bar pressbrakes for years, you might want to consider how a CNC synchronised pressbrake could be the perfect machine for your company.
Advantages
All of the hydraulic rams (Y1 and Y2 axis) are synchronised via the CNC controller to allow for absolute precise delivery of pressure for your bending job – regardless of where you are bending across the bed. Your bending performance will be equally as good at each end of your bed, as it will be for dead centre, allowing for tooling setups along the bed for more efficient processing of your multi-bend, multi-angle work.
Furthermore, because of the greater accuracy in the delivery of the bending force, the CNC machine is inherently much more power efficient than the “always 100% on” force delivery from a torsion bar pressbrake. And with skyrocketing energy costs in Australia, this can significantly impact your bottom line.
More PBA production, lower prices for our customers
At Applied Machinery, we have been providing high-level CNC synchronised pressbrakes into the Australia market for well over 10 years in the shape of the Yawei PBH series.
And while Yawei has always produced an entry-level CNC synchronised pressbrake – the PBA Series - the economics of the machine have never really allowed us to present a competitive entry-level offering to our Australian customers - until now. The reduction in the price of steel, along with increased production at Yawei have seen the emergence of the PBA series machine as a legitimate option for companies looking to enter the market.
With a PBA machine, you can be sure that you are getting years of product refinement from the PBH range, passed down to its little brother.
When comparing the prices of these machines, to a similar spec torsion bar machine, the difference may only be as little as 15%. However, when you take running and maintenance costs into account, the switch to the PBA could actually save you money over the payback period.
Let’s take a closer look at the Yawei PBA series CNC pressbrake from a technical standpoint.
The CNC controller is a Delem DA-52S, which is capable of CNC control of 4 axes as standard. A USB interface enables quick and easy memory stick backup of product and tool information and a 7-inch colour display gives quick visual access to the critical bending information that you require. Speedy single-page programming, tool/material/product library and hotkey navigation really make this control a fantastic option for entering the CNC market.
The machines feature CNC control of 3 axes as standard: Y1, Y2 and X (backgauge). To keep costs down, we offer this machine without the CNC R-axis as standard, but it is available as an optional upgrade. All machines featuring Hoerbiger hydraulics, Heidenhain linear scales and Voith oil pumps. Lazersafe light guards, along with Rolleri tooling really add icing to the cake and finish this machine perfectly.
What about crowning compensation?
For the vast majority of customers looking at either 2050 or 2550mm machines deflection in the main beam will barely be a consideration. However for 3100mm machines, crowning compensation is usually included with the machine as standard.
What next?
We see the PBA series of CNC pressbrakes offering customers with far more choice. A high spec torsion bar machine will be priced not too far below a PBA, and when you consider the features that you will be getting in the CNC control, in the machine build quality and componentry, along with the associated power savings, then it becomes really easy to justify the upgrade.
These machines will never replace the CNC5 and CNC7 available in the PBH series. However, they offer a legitimate entry point into CNC controlled synchronised sheet-metal bending, and we would welcome an opportunity to explain this further.
Applied Machinery
03 9706 8066
www.appliedmachinery.com.au