Maximize Safety: 6 Essential Tips for Press Brake Operators

Operators of press brake machines are exposed to various hazards when working with different workpieces. Each workpiece has its own unique set of hazards and requires specific countermeasures to ensure safety.

1) Punch and dies

Downward movement of the ram will cut off the limb!

Measures:

Do not put your hand between the upper and lower dies.

2) The edge of the workpiece

Bending the edge of a workpiece can cause warping, and the workpiece may fall down after bending, creating a risk of injury and squeeze injury.

To prevent these hazards, the following measures should be taken:

• Maintain a safe distance from the workpiece while bending it.
• Ensure that your hands and fingers are not in danger of being pinched when holding the workpiece.
• When using an auxiliary bend support, hold the workpiece from the side after bending it.

3) Locate the workpiece

If the workpiece is not positioned correctly, it can collide with the finger of the rear stopper, causing potential injury.

To prevent such accidents, the workpiece must be positioned in accordance with the movement of the rear stop finger to ensure that it does not collide with the rear stopper.

4) Backstop finger

The rear stop finger can move unexpectedly, posing a risk of injury.

To prevent accidents, the following measures should be taken:

• The workpiece should only be positioned when the rear stop finger is in the correct position for the next step.
• When removing a larger workpiece after bending, be mindful of the positioning and movement of the rear stop finger in the next step.

5) Mold adjustment

A falling or cracked mold can be extremely dangerous, posing a risk of injury.

To prevent accidents, the following measures should be taken:

• It is strictly forbidden to place your hand between the upper and lower dies to support the upper die during mold replacement or adjustment.
• When adjusting the die alignment, select the appropriate mold length based on the load-bearing pressure value of the die, using the lower pressure value between the upper and lower dies as the standard.
• Before performing the pressing operation, ensure that the upper die, lower die, and lower die base are securely fixed in place.

6) Bend operation

Workpiece extrusion, collision, or a cracked mold can lead to serious injuries.

To prevent accidents, the following measures should be taken:

• Before starting the processing, reconfirm the main parameters of the bend to avoid accidents during bending.
• Confirm the positioning L value of the back stopper and determine whether the back stop fingers will interfere with the die during the bending positioning process (when the backgauge is only equipped with the X-axis).
• When bending a small workpiece or a workpiece with a short position in hand, pay attention to the position and mode of holding the workpiece to avoid finger injuries between the mold and the workpiece.
• After clamping the workpiece between the molds, release it immediately to avoid personal injury if it falls back.
• Do not place your hand between the workpiece and the rear stopper during the operation of the press brake.

• When positioning the rear stopper, it can push the plate and cause it to be extruded, so it is important to place the plate for bending only after completing the positioning of the rear stopper.
• When bending a larger workpiece, be aware of the potential for the workpiece to flip rapidly. Consider the danger of holding the workpiece horizontally by hand and placing a warped workpiece.