Abstract: A controller for a press brake, which provides for the accurate sequential bending of sheet metal by a press brake. The controller includes a microprocessor arrangement for operating a press brake in response to manually entered input to control a gauge stop and to produce output control signals relating to the relative positioning of the ram and die which positioning causes an angle of bend in a workpiece. Included is a sensing device for sensing the actual angle of bend in the workpiece and means for comparing the actual angle of bend to a desired angle. By such a comparison, the manual inputting of complex variables which are required to predetermine the precise relative positioning of the ram and die are made unnecessary. Further, feedback relating to the springback of the workpiece material causes sequential re-cycling of the press brake thereby improving the accuracy of the resulting angles produced.

Abstract: A pair of arms having mounting pads affixed at one end of each arm, is mounted to a press brake bed. Gauge support members are guidingly received on the arms to support a gauge bar or other gauge mounting surface for workpiece locating stops. The gauge is to be moved and maintained with the gauging edge parallel to the press brake mounting faces of the pads, and thereby, parallel to the tooling of the press brake. One of the gauge support members is driven by a motor and drive screw, and connected through flexible non-extensible tensile members to drive the other gauge support in synchronism, and thereby position the two gauge support members simultaneously and at equal distances from the press brake tooling.

Abstract: A milling machine includes a C-shaped frame, tool support member movable in a vertical direction, a saddle member movable in a transverse direction, a work table movable in a longitudinal direction, a tool drive unit, a tool knock-out assembly and two oppositely positioned and removable bearing ways associated with each direction of travel. For the vertical axis the bearing ways are between the C-shaped frame and the tool support member. The tool drive unit includes a hollow tool spindle and a drive motor with a vertically extending output shaft which is rigidly and coaxially connected to the hollow tool spindle. The tool knock-out assembly includes a spring-loaded tool collet assembly and a double-action air cylinder arranged in a surrounding coaxial relationship with the output shaft.

Abstract: A rear gauge assembly includes a gauge bar extending between two carriages, each carriage being mounted to a housing mounted to the rear of a press brake bed and having a lead screw and motor associated with it. Front gauges are provided on carriages on a pair of similar housings mounted to a rail mounted to the front of a press brake bed, each of these housings also having a lead screw and motor for driving its respective carriage. A microcomputer is employed to control the two motors for synchronizing movement of the rear gauge carriages with each other while driving the rear gauge, and to control the two motors for the front gauge while the front gauges are being driven to synchronize movement of front gauges with each other. The same synchronizing techniques for two lead screws are employed on a new type of ram drive for press brakes incorporating two ram drive screws, with a motor for each screw, the motors being synchronized by the controller.

Abstract: A rear gauge assembly includes a gauge bar extending between two carriages, each carriage being mounted to a housing mounted to the rear of a press brake bed and having a lead screw and motor associated with it. Front gauges are provided on carriages on a pair of similar housings mounted to a rail mounted to the front of a press brake bed, each of these housings also having a lead screw and motor for driving its respective carriage. A microcomputer is employed to control the two motors for synchronizing movement of the rear gauge carriages with each other while driving the rear gauge, and to control the two motors for the front gauge while the front gauges are being driven to synchronize movement of front gauges with each other. The same synchronizing techniques for two lead screws are employed on a new type of ram drive for press brakes incorporating two ram drive screws, with a motor for each screw, the motors being synchronized by the controller.

Abstract: A microprocessor unit (MPU), together with appropriate memory devices of the read only (ROM) and random access (RAM) type, and peripheral interface adapters (PIA), light emitting diode (LED) displays, and back lighted information displays, is included in a pendant control cabinet having on the front thereof a control panel with arrays of push-buttons for entering data and instructions, and windows displaying data and operational information. The pendant control is mountable as original equipment or as a retrofit installation to a machine tool, such as a press brake or milling machine, to control tool or gauge slide drives for positioning as needed during the desired sequences of operation.

Abstract: A die holder frame receivable in the die plate or bed of a press brake has a die holder bar mounted thereto supported on a plurality of adjustable wedges, the forming die itself being mounted in the die holder bar. Wedges are individually adjustable to provide a crown along the length of the die holder bar, and are adjustable as a group to provide various desired heights of the die holder bar.

Abstract: A corner shearing machine has two pairs of shears, the lower blade of one pair intersecting the lower blade of another at a right angle, and the upper blade of one pair intersecting the upper blade of the other pair at a right angle, the lower blades being mounted to a base and the upper blades to a reciprocable ram. Adjusting wedge assemblies, with screw drives and manually operable cranks facilitate adjustment of blade clearance, and hydraulically energized pressure pads maintain zero clearance between ram guide slides and guideway blocks therefor. Ram drive is by one or another of two hydraulic cylinders operating through a rocker shaft and linkage connected to the ram, and hydraulic clamps secure the work.