The manufacturing industry has changed tremendously in the past few years. The industrialization has been boosted on a massive level, all thanks to the latest innovations in the industry.
Working with metal was never easy, it took a lot of hard work and machinery to bend metals in the past, ultimately delaying the manufacturing process.
It’s not easy for large parts to be easily bent by press brakes, there’s a need for more than one press brake to do the work. Here’s what you need to know about tandem press brakes.
What Are Tandem Press Brakes?
Tandem press brakes are two smaller press brakes that are connected and operated in tandem. They are used to form extra-long pieces and can be operated either as one long press brake or independently as two separate press brakes.
Tandem press brakes work on a consolidated CNC configuration, but the same configuration can also be used to operate the two smaller press brakes separately. This allows for greater flexibility and accuracy when producing parts, as well as improved productivity and throughput.
The use of linear encoders, servo-hydraulic valves, and state-of-the-art CNC machine controls also helps to maintain control and accuracy when using tandem press brakes. Additionally, if one of the presses breaks down or needs maintenance, the other can still be used to continue production.
How Do They Work?
Tandem press brakes are a configuration of two or more press brakes that work together to provide greater bending length without requiring the unnecessary cost or expanded space needed for a giant press brake.
Tandem press brakes maintain complete control and accuracy with the use of linear encoders on the side frames, servo-hydraulic valves, and state-of-the-art CNC machine controls. The machines can typically be operated from a single workstation to act as one long press brake, but they can also be used individually as two separate press brakes.
Tandem press brakes offer several advantages over a single large brake. They are cheaper and have a smaller footprint than a single enormous press brake, making them easier to install.
They also offer faster speed since a single large brake requires more time to perform a bend than smaller brakes in tandem. Additionally, most multiple brake configurations are set up with multiple controls so that they can still be operated separately, providing flexibility in operations.
Tandem press brakes are suitable for shops that need to bend large-sized parts. They increase productivity and throughput while maintaining complete control and accuracy. Shops evaluating their need for tandem press brakes should understand how they work, their proper applications, and any material handling options available to increase productivity.
Benefits of Using Tandem Press Brakes
Here are some of the most common benefits of tandem press brakes.
Speed
There’s no denying the fact that speed is necessary for running a successful industry. If you are planning to beat the market, you’ll have to be better than your competitors. Bending speed is slow when using large press brakes, but tandem press brakes are proven to work faster and provide the needed parts in a lesser timeframe.
Meaning that your production rate can skyrocket with the use of tandem press brakes, they are considered one of the most tremendous innovations in the manufacturing industry. Due to such innovations, many industries have benefited such as automotive, construction, and many others.
More Flexibility
If you are wondering why the whole length of the tandem press brakes is needed to manufacture smaller parts, you might be wrong here. As these brakes work on consolidated CNC configuration, you have the option to use each of the smaller brakes for different purposes.
You’re not restricted to using the smaller brakes, which makes tandem press brakes extremely flexible as they improve the productivity of your plant. These brakes are more flexible and versatile than single-press brakes, making them the best option for your plant if you seek high productivity.
Let’s suppose one brake isn’t working for some reason, and you might need to get it repaired, you can still use the other brake to carry out the operations. You won’t have to wait for the other brake to function properly, and there will be a minimum loss. If you use a single-press brake, there are chances that it might need some maintenance.
Better Accuracy
You just can’t compromise on accuracy when you buy any machinery, as the whole success of your industry is dependent on this factor. As you are using smaller press brake machines in tandem press brakes, it allows you to work with small-sized scales, hydraulic valves, and linear encoders.
Such features of tandem press brakes allow them to have better precision and ultimately benefit your industry.
Convenient Installation
If you aim to install a single large press brake in your industry, the first problem you’ll have is the installation process. The duration of setup and configuration plays a pivotal role in the success of your manufacturing plant, the larger the press brake, the longer it’ll take to set up.
The production cost will increase, and you’ll be wasting a lot of money by not producing any parts during this period.
However, that is not the case with tandem press brakes, as they take less time to install, making them ideal for your business. Sometimes, the factory floor isn’t enough to accommodate such a huge press brake, but the installation of a tandem press brake is easier and might take less space.
They have a smaller footprint and are less costly too. Moreover, you don’t have to worry about transporting the brakes, as smaller press brakes are easier to transport in the facility.
Conclusion
As the world evolves, the newest technologies are developing advanced features. The newest pieces of machinery such as tandem press brakes are easier to maintain. You can use numerous dies to make multiple workpieces that can be used for airplanes, transformers, and whatnot. However, you need to utilize such machinery well enough and must gain maximum output to boost the growth of your business.
