An electronic adaptive control system for use with hydraulic press brakes to provide compensation for material spring back to accurately produce a desired bend angle in the work piece with a single ram stroke. Fixed input parameters associated with the press brake and material properties, together with ram position and force data are continuously input to a digital computer which calculates the precise point of punch penetration necessary to reverse ram movement in order to produce the desired bend angle in the work piece. By using in-process measurements, a significant savings in machine set-up-time can be achieved in order to produce an accurate bend angle in the work piece the first time and every time.

Press brake having spring-back compensating adaptive control

A tube bending apparatus is provided for placing a plurality of bends in an elongated tube. The apparatus includes a position sensor for sensing at least one location on the tube for assessing the accuracy of the bends placed therein. The apparatus further includes a programmable bender having a bend die and a clamp die for securely engaging the tube and bending the tube through a selected degree of curvature. A collet assembly is operative to axially and rotationally position the tube for each sequential bend. A pressure die boost and a collet assembly are provided for exerting axial pressure on the tube to urge the tube into the bend. The amount of axial force is programmed and selectively controllable in response to sensed operating conditions. A lubricated mandrel is programmably operative to be placed inside the tube. The movement of the mandrel is programmable and the flow of lubrication therethrough is both programmable and condition responsive.

Precision bending apparatus

A precision bending apparatus is provided for pre­cisely bending tubes. The precision bending apparatus includes a preprogrammed bender for placing a selected sequence of bends in the tube. The apparatus further includes a position sensing means for sensing the precise position of locations on the bent portion of the tube. A control means is in communi­cation with both the position sensing means and the bender, and is operative to alter the program of the bender based on data sensed by the position sensing means.

Precision bending apparatus and process

There is provided means for bending a small diameter metal pipe capable of accurately finishing all of bending operation by a single bender even when a linear length of a pipe distal end portion is short A method of bending a small diameter metal pipe for chucking one end of the small diameter metal pipe to be worked, setting a working direction and carrying out bending operation from a front end side of other end to the one end, characterized in that bending operation of one step or several steps is carried out previously from a pipe distal end of the one end, a portion subjected to the bending operation is chucked and bending operation is successively carried out from the front end side of the other end toward the one end subjected to the bending operation under the state

Method of bending small diameter metal pipe and its apparatus

A process is described which makes use of a folding press and a numerically controlled manipulator device provided with mechanical pincers; the sheet metal to be worked is gripped by the manipulator device and carried against an abutment shoulder disposed in front of the press; the alignment of the front edge of the sheet metal with the abutment shoulder is then tested by means of microswitches, and then the sheet metal is carried under the blade of the folding press utilizing, as reference co-ordinates for the movements of the manipulator, those of the abutment shoulder.

Process and apparatus for precision folding of sheet metal

A NUMERICALLY CONTROLLED TUBE BENDER IN WHICH EACH BEND IS INCREMENTALLY PROGRAMED IN TERMS OF THE DISTANCE BETWEEN STARTING POINTS OF SUCCESSIVE BENDS, THE PLANE AND THE ANGLE OF THE BENDS. THE LENGTH OF TUBE USED IN MAKING EACH BEND, WHICH VARIES WITH TUBE CHARACTERISTICS, IS SUBTRACTED FROM THE PROGRAMED DIMENSION BETWEEN THE BEND STARTING POINTS AND THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE END OF THE FIRST BEND AND THE START OF THE SECOND BEND IS ADJUSTED ACCORDINGLY.

Tube bender with incremental tube measurement

A NUMERICALLY CONTROLLED ROTARY TUBE BENDER IN WHICH A CONTROL PROGRAM INCLUDES INFORMATION ESTABLISHING BEND LOCATION, PLANE AND ANGLE. MOVEMENT OF THE TUBE CARRIER INTO A POSITION OF INTERFERENCE WITH THE PRESSURE DIE CAUSES INITIATION OF A SPECIAL CONTROL SEQUENCE. NEITHER THE INTERFERENCE CONDITION NOR THE SPECIAL CONTROL SEQUENCE ARE A PART OF THE PROGRAM FOR BENDING THE TUBE.

Robert A Suding

Papers

Tube bender with incremental tube measurement

Tube bender pressure die interference control