Adjusting A Sheet Metal Brake

Step 1 check clamping pressure by clamping test strips in the brake approximately 3 or 4 inches away from each end of the brake.

Adjusting a sheet metal brake.

Once again place the sheet metal strip 0 50mm from previous step between bender and bed but this time a little higher from the surface of bed bender. A sheet metal brake should bend sheet metal with much more ease than trying to do it by hand. If you are having a hard time with the bending action first check to see if a smaller piece of scrap metal can be easily bent. Adjust by means of clamping handle adjusting nuts as shown.

Check clamping pressure by placing test strips in the brake about 3 or 4 inches away from each end of the brake. However if you are using large sheets of sheet metal it may not bend easily. Do this on both sides of the brake. When hemming and flattening material where double or triple thickness is.

Check end to end clamp alignment by placing a test strip. Operate the brake and bend some material first before attempting any major adjustment. There must be adequate area around the brake for free movement of the operator and the handling of large sheets of metal. Set the clamping pressure so that it is enough to keep the material from slipping during a bend.

Radius set back refers to the distance between the leading edge of the clamp and the inside edge of the apron. Adjust the brake so as to be adjoined to metal strip tightly. It is recommended that this adjustment be made for each thickness of material. Use test strips of metal approximately 3 inches by 3 inches each of the thickness you will be forming for the following adjustments.

For the following adjustment use test strips of metal each approximately 3 inches by 3 inches of the thickness being formed.