4 Features That Set SafanDarley’s Integrated Software Apart From the Competition

Sheet metal fabricators investing in automation find a wide range of user experiences in the software that operates modern press brakes. In most cases, the software lacks flexibility, usability, or features that one needs to realize the true value of what really matters: the bending machine. None of these limitations are acceptable for a major capital investment.

SafanDarley takes a different approach. Here are the four design features that set SafanDarley’s software apart from that of every other press brake OEM:

Flexibility to Grow and Evolve with Your Operation

Our goal is for our automated systems to be adaptable for each of our customers as their operations grow and change. Our software’s graphic user interface (GUI) makes it easy to operate while still allowing even the most novice users to unlock the full potential of the machine.

Rather than locking our customers into a fixed, stagnant software system that cannot grow with them in their automation journey, we focus on adapting the solution to customers’ individual needs.

Our software can be configured to be as simple or advanced as our customers need it to be at any given time. Many of our customers start off with a straightforward user interface and then add additional capabilities as their skills and fabrication needs evolve and become more complex.

Operator‐Centered Design

Until the last decade, robotic programming was considered to be a complicated undertaking requiring extensive training to gain the appropriate programming skills. SafanDarley uses simple, GUI-based, point-to-point software to simplify the programming process so any capable operator can successfully program a complicated bending sequence with nothing more than a few days of training online.

Using a variety of 3D CAD formats, our AutoPOL software determines the optimal bending sequence to minimize waste and maximize throughput. Before releasing a job for production, the operator can create a visual simulation of the fabrication process to ensure that the part will be produced correctly. The entire job can be programmed offline using a laptop or PC and then uploaded to the automated cell via intranet or a USB drive.

Using this simple approach, an operator can program hundreds of production hours for multiple press brakes in a single programming session — without typing a single line of code.

Leading‐Edge Technology in the Automated Solutions Cell‐Control

SafanDarley’s redesigned Automated Solutions Cell‐Control (ASC‐Control) software was developed with a single goal in mind: empowering operators to “punch above their weight” and be more productive.

Our ASC‐Control was fully developed in-house and is maintained by our internal Automation Software team. Keeping the development and maintenance in‐house gives SafanDarley maximum visibility and control over the software and prevents us (and our customers) from having to rely on a third‐party software vendor. This approach also allows for the maximum level of modularity. SafanDarley can adjust the software to accommodate a wide range of customer‐specific requirements.

The ASC‐Control includes a built‐in gateway with OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA) and application programming interface (API) preparation protocols. These features enable the ASC‐Control to easily integrate into almost any production environment and connect to advanced manufacturing equipment such as automated guided vehicles (AGVs), punching lines, and automated warehouses.

The gateway can even be configured to connect to office networks to provide status updates and error messages to connected devices, providing enhanced visibility when operators and managers are away from the shop floor.

The ASC‐Control also allows for successive bending of different products without intermediate programming.

Non‐Proprietary Approach with Widely Supported Components

Automated press brake systems that are controlled by proprietary software architecture can only be serviced by the OEM or their designee. This can result in a nightmare scenario when something goes wrong and a fabricator is effectively locked out of their equipment.

SafanDarley takes a dramatically different approach. Our systems include widely supported software with large user communities, so support for troubleshooting and optimization can be sourced from a number of places (including SafanDarley and FANUC).

ROI is the most important consideration for our customers, and having a customer locked out of their investment is unacceptable to us. SafanDarley has taken great measures to ensure our customers always have access to widely available tech support and online resources.

We even go so far as to make our standard line of press brakes automation ready, with software that is designed for open interfacing with future automation projects.

Don’t Underestimate the Value of Customer‐Centered Software

When most people think of press brakes and automated cells, software isn’t the first aspect that comes to mind. While the robot and hardware specifications certainly warrant attention, your operators will spend the vast majority of their time interacting with the software.

Poorly designed software leads to bad user experiences, and bad user experiences lead to unhappy, less productive operators — which erodes ROI.

SafanDarley’s integrated software allows for a simple, generic implementation that results in a user‐friendly, elegant, and highly customizable experience that can be modified to follow each customer’s changing needs over time.

A lot of our customers start simple and keep it that way, while many others elect to modify their automated cell to grow with them, programming increasingly complicated and productive operations.

And that’s the whole point. Our customers’ automation journeys should not be defined by overly rigid software systems. The software should be flexible enough to meet the customer where they are and maximize production from day one.

Contact us or leave a comment below if you have any questions about our integrated software. If you would like to test drive SafanDarley’s AutoPOL software, you can submit a request for a 30-day free trial.

We would also be happy to help you think through the feasibility of automation for your business. Just fill out an Automated Solutions Analysis Request, and we’ll be in touch.

We look forward to hearing from you!