The Crucial Role of Angle Control in Press Brakes

The angle control is a high-tech accessory that allows the achievement of a very important consistency of the bend angle values.

For years, manufacturers have developed many solutions to address variations in raw material properties before bending. An angle control is able to detect the deformation of the material dynamically during machining.

Obviously, not all angle control systems are the same and to better understand their characteristics and peculiarities it is necessary to take an in-depth study.

Below is an overview of the existing systems on the market today.

O.A.C. (Optical Angle Control) optical controls

Although it is part of the group of optical angle controls, IRIS plus is a solution capable of taking an extremely accurate reading during the bending phase while remaining at a safe distance from the work area.

IRIS plus does not set any space limits because it is a system housed directly inside the Lazersafe safety devices.

This eliminates any interference between the workpieces and the angle control devices and achieves total versatility of use.

With IRIS plus, control is perfect but non-invasive, leaving full freedom to the operator while working and always guaranteeing excellent results with all tools and materials.

VICLA adopts the IRIS Plus angle control system precisely where it can guarantee the best performance: on small press brakes .

The system, in fact, allows a very interesting precision and reliability if the emitter and receiver are not beyond a certain distance. In fact, when approximately 2.5 meters are exceeded, there is a natural increase in the phenomenon of refraction of light rays that reach the control system that are not sufficiently clear.

The "noise" can be reduced by decreasing the sensitivity of the system but with the consequence of not guaranteeing the same accuracy in reading the lean angles.

Laser Angle Control

The DATA M control is a type of laser angle control; it consists of two laser sensors mounted on linear guides that slide at the back and front of the press brake table.

Compared to other types, the Data M is one of the most effective and high-performance solutions for automatic angle measurement and control:

This device measures and corrects the bend angle in a few ways:

• Performs a dynamic measurement while the workpiece is bent
• Extrapolate the springback and calculate the correction on the numerical control
• Bends based on the previously calculated correction

Requirements:

• Requires a minimum reading edge of 20 mm out of slot
• We recommend that you use a T-matrix
• It involves the installation of two linear guides on the machine bench

When to buy an angle control system?

Often those who have to buy a new bending machine find themselves in doubt whether to also install an angle control system.

Assessing the need for angle control is a complex issue and there is no single answer for each case, because it depends a lot on the type of machining and the needs of the individual workshop.

Benefits of Angle Control Systems?

If you are looking for a new press brake, you must carefully evaluate all the technical aspects of the machine.

Before you even choose your brand, it's important to consider what your needs are. Very often we let ourselves be enchanted by the big brand names, but there is no worse mistake than letting yourself be guided in the choice only by the notoriety of the brand or by the price; often we end up neglecting the technical aspect.

It is far more important, therefore, to be clear about your company's production needs.

Even when choosing whether or not to buy angle control, it's important to ask yourself at least two questions:

What kind of work do you do?

What is your goal?

For example, if you work with small, custom batches, or you make prototypes with fine materials, or you do machining that requires extreme bending precision, you should consider equipping the bending machine with an angle control system.

This device is not only an optional extra, but it is a real indispensable ally for certain processes, especially if the material is valuable and a mistake on the corner means having to throw away the piece (and your money!).

Many business owners are hesitant about the idea of using angle control, for two reasons:

1. The prejudice on the initial investment, judged by many to be too high
2. The misconception that angle control slows down the work too much

Are these legitimate doubts, or are they the result of errors of initial assessment?

Let's try to answer them.

Angle control costs too much

Angle control systems are very advanced instruments, equipped with various measurement methods that facilitate the bending process.

It is normal, therefore, that the initial investment reflects the complexity of the option. However, in the face of an initial investment that may seem high, the price of angle control is a completely subjective parameter and is affected by many considerations.

For example, have you ever tried to quantify the cost of material thrown away due to errors and waste?

You should also include the economic impact of all delivery delays and staff hours lost due to bad work in your calculation.

If you haven't already, you'll be amazed to find out how a significant amount of moneyare wasted to rework due to errors, distractions, and waste!

If, on the other hand, you already know the costs that are weighing on your company, you are certainly able to more correctly assess the amount of the investment of an angle control.

Think about it: does the value of angle control outweigh all the money you've thrown away so far due to mistakes and material waste?

Angle control slows down work

Some people might wonder that angle control slows down the bending process.

Of course, the measurement process takes time, which varies depending on the measurement method used and the complexity of the part to be performed.

For those who do precision machining, prototyping, or using fine materials, for example, getting the part right the first time means lowering costs, increasing production quality, and reducing risk.

Another important aspect to consider is that, nowadays, modern angle controls are equipped with different methods of use that allow you to choose the most suitable function depending on the type of processing.

For example, if you need to make bends that have the same angle, you can set the measurement method to correct all equal angles based on the measurements made on the first bend.

In the same way, if you have already derived the springback of that batch of sheets, you can use a particular function, similar to the Real Time control, but much faster.

In summary, instead of thinking about how much angle control slows down your work, wouldn't it be more useful to consider how much productivity can increase?