Press Brake Lower Beam Structure for Controlled Edge Deflection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bending machines face issues with lower beam deflection during bending operations, which can lead to inaccuracies and reduced mechanical stability, particularly due to high manufacturing costs associated with active crowning methods and rigidity reduction in slot-provided lower beams.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a lower beam with a central element and side elements, featuring recessed regions that reduce bending stiffness at the edges, allowing for controlled deformation and maintaining mechanical stability by distributing force through both the central and side elements during bending.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If active crowning techniques are used to counteract lower beam deflection, then bending precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases due to required sensors and drives
Solution Approach 1:
The lower beam is pre-crowned during manufacturing to anticipate and compensate for the expected deformation during bending operations. This preliminary shaping eliminates the need for active correction systems, sensors, and drives, thereby maintaining bending precision while avoiding increased manufacturing costs and device complexity
2Manufacturing precision
If slots are provided in the lower beam to manage deformation, then deformation control is improved, but mechanical stability deteriorates due to reduced rigidity
Solution Approach 1:
The lower beam features localized recessed regions at specific positions to reduce bending stiffness only where needed for deformation management, while the majority of the beam maintains full rigidity. This selective modification allows deformation control without compromising overall mechanical stability
3Manufacturing precision
If the lower beam is pre-adapted through milling or plates to counteract deformation, then bending accuracy is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The crown compensation features are integrated directly into the lower beam structure during manufacturing, merging the compensation function with the beam itself. This eliminates the need for separate compensation plates or additional structural elements, thereby improving bending accuracy while avoiding increased device complexity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a bending machine for bending workpieces, comprising a lower beam (12) and an upper beam (11), for forming a workpiece by bending along a bending line, wherein a tool holder (15) for receiving bending tools is provided on the lower beam (12) and each end (15c) of the tool holder (15) is associated with a recessed region (16), which is formed in the lower beam (12) overlapping with the respective end (15c). The lower beam (12) comprises a central element (13) and at least one side element (14, 14'), which are arranged adjacent to one another in the thickness direction of the lower beam (12), wherein the recessed regions (16) are provided in the central element (13) and/or in the width direction (y) adjacent to the central element (13). The lower beam (12) also includes a central region (B1) in which, during a bending operation of a workpiece, a force is introduced via the tool holder (15) both into the central element (13) and into the at least one side element (14, 14'). Furthermore, the lower beam (12) comprises, for each end (15c) of the tool holder (15), a free region (B2) which contains a recessed region (16) and in which the central element (13) and the at least one side element (14, 14') are arranged in such a manner that, during a bending operation of a workpiece, at least initially, a force is introduced exclusively into the central element (13).