Answers on tooling systems, die selection, tool steel, tonnage limits and ordering

Frequently asked questions about press brake tooling

This page collects the questions buyers ask most often before ordering press brake tooling, from identifying the correct tooling system to specifying steel, hardness and lead time.

What is press brake tooling?

Press brake tooling is the matched punch (upper tool) and die (lower tool) set that forms sheet metal on a press brake. The punch presses the sheet into the die opening to create a bend. Tooling determines the achievable bend angle, inner radius, minimum flange length and required bending tonnage.

How do I know which tooling system my press brake uses?

Check the tang or shank profile of the punch currently in the machine and the clamp that holds it. Amada style uses a 13 mm tang with no safety shoulder; Trumpf/Wila style uses a 20 mm tang with locking safety pins; American style uses a 1/2 in shank. Confirm against the machine builder's data sheet.

Can one punch and die set bend different thicknesses?

Yes, within limits. Air bending uses the die opening rather than a fixed radius, so one V opening covers a range of thicknesses. A common starting rule is V = 8t for mild steel, with V = 6t giving a tighter radius and V = 12t reducing tonnage. Change the die opening when the required radius or tonnage falls outside range.

What is the difference between air bending and bottoming?

Air bending presses the sheet into the die without forcing it to the die walls, so the bend angle depends on punch depth and the inner radius is roughly 0.16 times the die opening. Bottoming presses the sheet fully to the die shoulders, giving a more accurate angle but requiring roughly three to five times more tonnage.

Why are press brake punches supplied in segments?

Segmented punches let you build any working length from a standard set, and let you replace only the damaged section. A common Amada and European set totals 835 mm (for example 10, 15, 20, 40, 50, 100, 200 and 400 mm pieces). Trumpf/Wila sets are built from segments of 100 mm and longer to suit the machine working length.

What tool steel and hardness is used for press brake tooling?

Common punch and die steels are 42CrMo4 (DIN 1.7225) and 1.2379 (an AISI D2 equivalent). Hardness is supplied from 45 to 60 HRC as per item or request, matched to the profile and the work: the lower end of the range favours toughness for narrow tips and acute angles, the upper end favours wear life on heavy or abrasive work.

What is the difference between a press brake punch and a die?

The punch is the upper tool that pushes the sheet down; the die is the lower tool with the V opening that the sheet bends into. Together they set the bend angle, the inner radius, the minimum flange length and the tonnage needed.

How do I choose the V opening for a press brake die?

Start with V = 8t for mild steel, where t is the sheet thickness. A smaller opening such as V = 6t gives a tighter inner radius but needs more tonnage; a larger opening such as V = 12t reduces tonnage but increases the radius and the minimum flange length.

What inner radius does air bending produce?

In air bending the inner radius is roughly 0.16 times the die opening, so a 16 mm V opening gives an inner radius near 2.5 mm. If a specific radius is required, either change the die opening or use a radius punch.

How is minimum flange length determined?

As a rule of thumb the minimum flange is about half the die opening plus the material thickness. The flange must be long enough to rest on the die shoulders. A narrower punch tip or a die with reduced shoulder width allows shorter flanges.

Can you make special or custom press brake tooling?

Yes. Special profiles, radii, offsets, reduced shoulder dies and matched sets are produced to drawing. Send a drawing, a sketch with dimensions, or a photo of the existing tool with the critical dimensions marked.

What do you need to quote a custom tool?

The tooling system, the profile or a drawing, the overall length and height, the critical dimensions and the quantity. A photo of the existing tool alongside a ruler is often enough to identify the profile.

Do you supply tooling for machines other than the four main systems?

Often yes. Send the machine make and model together with a photo of the tang or shank and the clamp. Many less common machines use one of the standard interfaces, or an adapter that we can identify.

How is press brake tooling packed and shipped?

Tooling is normally supplied in a fitted case or wrapped and crated to protect the ground faces in transit. Confirm the packing requirements and the delivery address when ordering.