How to identify your press brake tooling system

How do I find out which tooling my press brake uses?

Measure the tang width and the punch height, look at how the punch is clamped, and measure the die body. Those four observations separate the Amada, Trumpf/Wila, American and European families in almost every case.

Identify the interface in four measured steps

Work through the steps in order and write each measurement down. The tang width narrows the possibilities to two families; the punch height and the clamp decide between them.

1. 1. Measure the tang width. Measure across the widest part of the tang with a caliper. A nominal 20 mm tang points to the Trumpf / Wila family; a nominal 13 mm tang points to the Amada or European family.
2. 2. Measure the punch overall height. Measure from the seating shoulder to the punch tip. Punch height separates the Amada family from the European family, which share a 13 mm tang but differ in height.
3. 3. Inspect the clamp. Look for locking pin holes or a retention groove in the tang, or a separate punch holder. Pin retention means a safety tang; a separate holder points to American style tooling.
4. 4. Measure the die body. Measure the die width across the body. A European die is typically around 60 mm; American dies are heavier-section and usually sit in a different holder arrangement.
5. 5. Confirm against the machine data sheet. Match the measurements against the machine builder's tooling data sheet, or send the photographs and measurements to a tooling supplier for confirmation before ordering.

Where do I start?

The six sections below cover everything on this site. Each one answers the questions that come up before a press brake tooling order is placed.

Which tooling does my machine make use?

Tooling is decided by the machine's clamp and tang, not by the brand name alone. Each page below gives the interface that machines of that make are commonly supplied with, and how to confirm it on your own machine before ordering. The makes in bold have a page for each machine series as well.

See all 70 press brake makes

What should I send for an accurate quote?

Send the machine make and model, a photograph of the clamp with a ruler in shot, the measured tang width and punch height, and the part drawing with the material and thickness. With those five items the tooling can be specified without a site visit.

• Machine make, model and year if known.
• Photograph of the clamp and the existing punch, with a ruler in the frame.
• Measured tang width and punch overall height.
• Part drawing, material grade and thickness.
• The bend angle, inside radius and any flange that is close to the minimum.

Can I use a different tooling family if it is cheaper?

Only with the right adapter, and the adapter changes the tool height and therefore the die opening. It is rarely worth it: the setup becomes non-standard, the tonnage limits change and the operator loses the safety features of the original interface.

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