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Custom tooling and die design · Lesson 1 of 4

Custom tooling and die design: principles and terminology

What tooling means on a press brake, a folder and a punch; the parts of a tool set and its rating; standard, special and custom tools; and the lockout, guarding and lifting rules for tool changes.

You will be able to: Name the parts of press brake, folder and punching tools, tell standard, special and custom tools apart, say how AFS forms its profiles, and state the safety rules that cover tool changes.

12 min · 12 slides · 9 questions

All lessons in this module
Slide 1 of 12

Two machines, two kinds of tooling

WILA: on a press brake the sheet is bent between a punch with a tip angle and a die with a groove angle.

DGUV: a folder clamps the sheet between upper and lower beams, and the folding beam swings the protruding part up.

KNUTH: on a folder no punch forms the workpiece, and no tool change is needed for different angles.

Sources

Videos for this lesson

What this video shows: WILA, a tool maker: per its description, a set of top and bottom inserts that makes offsets on a press brake. A maker's demonstration of its own tools.

Video: One-hit offset bending by WILA, on YouTube. AFS checked its description against this lesson.

What this video shows: Wilson Tool, a tool maker: per its description, a spring-loaded two-stage hemming die that completes a hem in two steps. A promotional demonstration of its own product.

Video: 2 Step Hemming Solution in the Press Brake from Wilson Tool by Wilson Tool International, on YouTube. AFS checked its description against this lesson.

What this video shows: Wilson Tool: per its description, swing ear sections that swing out of the way after box bending so the finished part can be removed.

Video: Swing Ear Sections for Press Brake by Wilson Tool International, on YouTube. AFS checked its description against this lesson.

What this video shows: CIDAN, a folder maker: per its description, its F, FS and FX folders come with three folding-beam rails (7, 10 and 20 mm) that are quick to change. A CIDAN machine, not the AFS folder.

Video: How to change folding beam rails on a CIDAN folding machine, series F FS FX by CIDAN Machinery Sweden AB Sweden, on YouTube. AFS checked its description against this lesson.

What this video shows: TRUMPF, a machine maker: per its description, a radius formed from many single bends one after another, giving a segmented surface.

Video: Create a radius bend using bumping technique by TRUMPF Inc., on YouTube. AFS checked its description against this lesson.

Glossary

Punch and die
The top and bottom tools of a press brake: the sheet is bent between a punch with a tip angle and a die with a groove angle (WILA).
Tool height
WILA: the distance from the tool holder to the end of the clamped tool. Taller tools give more bending freedom at higher cost.
Tang
The stem of a press brake tool that the holder clamps; its width depends on the tool style, for example 12.7 mm for WILA American Style top tools.
Gooseneck punch
A punch with a relief that lets an already-formed return flange pass it; more bending freedom, less load capacity than a straight punch (WILA, Mate).
Offset (Z) tool
A press brake tool set that makes two equal and opposite bends in one hit (WILA).
Bump bending
Forming a large radius as many single bends, one after another (TRUMPF); WILA, which also calls it step bending, notes it uses regular tooling.
Folding rail
A bending tool on a folder's upper beam; DGUV names folding rails, round (radius) rails and bitefoot (goat's foot) rails.
Total die clearance
In punching, the space between punch and die on both sides of the punch added together (Mate).
Servicing and maintenance (OSHA)
Under 29 CFR 1910.147, work such as setting up, adjusting and tool changes on machines; covered by lockout rules unless the minor-change conditions all hold.