A workpiece manipulation device for a swivel bending machine includes a base rack; a manipulation device carrier arranged on the base rack so as to be displaceable by a manipulation device carrier guide in a Y-axis relative to the base rack; a manipulation arm arranged on the manipulation device carrier so as to be displaceable by a manipulation arm guide in a Z-axis relative to the manipulation device carrier; a first rotary punch arranged on the manipulation arm, and a second rotary punch arranged on the manipulation device carrier. The manipulation device carrier is configured in an L-shape and has a first limb, which extends along a Y-axis, and a second limb, which extends along the Z-axis. The manipulation arm guide is formed on the second limb, and a distance between the manipulation arm guide and the rotational axis of the first rotary punch is greater than 1000 mm.

The bending machine (100) has an upper beam (211) and a lower beam (212), each of the beams (211, 212) having a clamping element extending therefrom adapted for clamping an elongated flat sheet metal workpiece (218) with a portion extending from the machine in cantilever fashion. Bending tool carriers (221, 222) having a bending tool (223, 224) extending therefrom are movable relative to the beams so that the bending tool (223, 224) can extend and pivot to form an elongated bend in the workpiece (218). A plurality of wedges (251, 252) are selectively extendable between the beams (211, 212) and the carriers (221, 222) to provide uniform depth of the bend in the workpiece (218) along the length of the bend, the depth of extension being adjustable with ball screws (261, 262) attached to synchro or servomotors (265, 266).

A bending group of a panelling machine tool (1) for manufacturing profiled elements by bending a sheet of sheet metal comprises a main frame (10), a blocking press (20) able to block the metal sheet during the manufacturing steps. The bending group (4) comprises a first bending member (30) and a second bending member (40), distinct from the first bending member (30), both suitable for carrying out at least a bending of at least a portion of the sheet of sheet metal, at least one of the first bending member (30) and second bending member (40) being mobile with respect to the other.

A method for forming a metal beam may comprise: clamping first and second portions of the metal beam in a substantially fixed and in a position whereat the metal beam is rotatable about three axes; applying a net bending force to the clamped second portion of the metal beam at a predetermined angle; sensing twisting of the second portion of the metal beam resulting from the net bending force; and modulating the angle at which the net force is applied to reduce the twisting of the metal beam. As a result, the net bending force is moved toward the shear center and toward being along the principal axis of the metal beam.

A method for forming a metal beam may comprise: clamping first and second portions of the metal beam in a substantially fixed and in a position whereat the metal beam is rotatable about three axes; applying a net bending force to the clamped second portion of the metal beam at a predetermined angle; sensing twisting of the second portion of the metal beam resulting from the net bending force; and modulating the angle at which the net force is applied to reduce the twisting of the metal beam. As a result, the net bending force is moved toward the shear center and toward being along the principal axis of the metal beam.

A lower tool for a bending machine, in particular die bending machine, includes a longitudinally extended base body, which has, on its bottom side, a tool shank for being received in a guide slot of a tool holder and optionally tool shoulders in the transverse direction, and at least one friction reduction device on the bottom side of the base body for reducing a frictional force between the bottom side and the tool holder in the event of a displacement of the lower tool in the longitudinal direction, wherein the at least one friction reduction device is configured such that a weight force of the lower tool acting on the tool holder, while applying a prestressing force in the direction of the weight force, causes a resulting normal force of the lower tool onto the tool holder that is lower relative to the weight force.

The invention relates to a bending press (10) for bending a workpiece (19), comprising a first platform (1) with a first tool mount (11) and a second platform (2) with a second tool mount (12), wherein one of the platforms (1) is movable relative to the other platform (2) for performing a working movement, a first safety device (20) for creating a light barrier (27) extending between the tool mounts (11, 12) transversely to the working movement of the movable platform (1), wherein the first safety device (20) has a first mount (21) and a second mount (22), wherein one of the mounts (21) carries a light emitter (25) and the other mount (22) carries a light receiver (26), and wherein the first mount (21) is arranged on a first side of the first platform (1) and is adjustable relative to the first platform (1) by a first adjustment drive (23), a controller (9) that is connected to the first adjustment drive (23), characterized in that the first tool mount (11) is designed in the form of a guide rail, which has at its first end a first front side opening (13) for changing a bending tool (8), and that the access for changing a bending tool (8) via the first front side opening (13) is obstructed in a first relative position of the first mount (21) to the first platform (1) and is unblocked in a second relative position of the first mount (21) to the first platform 1.

The invention relates to a bending press (10) for bending a workpiece (19), comprising a first platform (1) with a first tool mount (11) and a second platform (2) with a second tool mount (12), wherein one of the platforms (1) is movable relative to the other platform (2) for performing a working movement, a first safety device (20) for creating a light barrier (27) extending between the tool mounts (11, 12) transversely to the working movement of the movable platform (1), wherein the first safety device (20) has a first mount (21) and a second mount (22), wherein one of the mounts (21) carries a light emitter (25) and the other mount (22) carries a light receiver (26), and wherein the first mount (21) is arranged on a first side of the first platform (1) and is adjustable relative to the first platform (1) by a first adjustment drive (23), a controller (9) that is connected to the first adjustment drive (23), characterized in that the first tool mount (11) is designed in the form of a guide rail, which has at its first end a first front side opening (13) for changing a bending tool (8), and that the access for changing a bending tool (8) via the first front side opening (13) is obstructed in a first relative position of the first mount (21) to the first platform (1) and is unblocked in a second relative position of the first mount (21) to the first platform 1.

A tool to be used for bending a sheet metal is selected and tool layout data is generated in advance that includes a tool ID of the selected tool, mounting position information, and information on a place where each tool is housed in a tool stocker. A display controller controls a display to display information on a place where a tool is housed. A tool collation unit collates a tool ID read by a reader of a tool retrieved by an operator from a tool stocker with a tool ID of a tool included in tool layout data. In a case where the read tool ID matches a tool ID of none of tools included in the tool layout data, the display controller controls the display to display a message indicating that the tool retrieved by the operator is an incorrect tool.

A tool-changing unit for a production plant for forming sheet metal using a bending operation. The tool-changing unit includes a tool-holding device having a carrier body and a number n of tool-holding modules arranged directly next to one another and held on the carrier body. Each one of the tool-holding modules includes a first coupler and a first actuating device cooperating therewith as a component of a coupling device, wherein the first coupler can be brought into coupling engagement and out of coupling engagement with an individual clamping jaw of a clamping jaw set. Moreover, a production plant has the tool-changing unit and the clamping jaw a method changes tools.