Robotic Press Brake
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What Is a Robotic Press Brake? How Automated Bending Works
A robotic press brake integrates an industrial robotic arm with a computer numerical control (CNC) press brake to automate the entire bending cycle. A robotic arm picks up the blank and takes it to the robotic press brake bending cell, which closes, forming the first bend. If subsequent bends are needed, the robotic bending cell will reorient and regrip the sheet as necessary, taking it through a sequence of steps. Once all bends are made, the robotic bending machine will then stack the part on a pallet or place it on an output conveyor.
A robotic press brake system includes a six-axis industrial robot for part handling, an end-of-arm tool or exchangeable gripper set for secure part pickup, and a press brake. The machine also includes a vision and sensing system for part detection and alignment with sensors that enhance accuracy by verifying sheet placement and measuring bend angles. The cell control software comes with grippers that integrate multiple gripping methods and can include clamps and suction cups.
Capital Machine Technologies carries robotic press brake systems covering production and automation needs from small-part automation to heavy-tonnage robotic bending across two bending machine platforms: SafanDarley and Accurpress. We carry SafanDarley integrated bending cells, such as R-Brake, Robo Mate, Mini Cell and Multi Cell, and Accurpress press brakes paired with custom automation solutions.
How to Decide If Robotic Press Brake Automation Is Right for Your Shop
Robotic machine bending systems deliver the strongest return on investment (ROI) for shops running repeat parts at volume. If you're bending the same parts across multiple shifts with consistent material types and thicknesses, a robotic bending system can eliminate the labor cost and variability that accumulates across thousands of cycles.
Shops running high-mix, low-volume work should evaluate the SafanDarley Robo Mate with quick-switch manual mode or the SafanDarley Mini Cell with the ability to handle successive product changes without reprogramming.
Operators should consider part size, weight, and complexity in any evaluation of robotic press brake solutions. The SafanDarley Mini Cell can handle small parts up to 600 mm x 800 mm at 25 kg, while the SafanDarley R-Brake and Multi Cell cover mid-size work up to 70 kg. The Robo Mate handles heavy parts up to 280 kg, while Accurpress automated cells tackle the heaviest plate work up to 3,000+ tons. These robotic press brake bending machines are excellent at bending automation and material handling. Parts requiring more than 6-8 bends per piece add programming complexity that should be evaluated during a robot bending unit feasibility study.
Capital Machine's equipment specialists can conduct robotic bending feasibility assessments for you at one of our five technology centers. We will evaluate your part mix, production volumes, and current labor structure to recommend the right cell configuration, robot, and brake, while calculating your projected ROI before you commit. You can also test out our robotic automation systems to find what works best for your shop.
Installation, Programming, and Lifetime Service for Your Robotic Bending Cell
Capital Machine manages the complete robotic bending cell installation from facility assessment and floor layout through cell assembly, robot teaching, press brake calibration, safety system commissioning, and production validation, with all your actual parts and materials.
Every robotic cell installation includes comprehensive training on press brake automation, such as operator training on cell management and manual/automatic mode switching, programmer training on RoboBend (SafanDarley) or Delem (Accurpress) offline software, and maintenance training covering robot, press brake, automation systems, and safety system inspection procedures.
Post-installation, our 53-member service department and 41 field service engineers provide integrated support for the complete cell, not just the press brake machines or just the robot, but the entire system as one, with parts-stocked service vans and condition-based maintenance programs across our 22-state territory. Contact us today to learn more.