A sheet metal bending machine comprises main bending tool assembly (2; 6) that extends along a longitudinal direction (A) and is movable so as to bend a workpiece (50), a guide (3) associated and parallel to the main bending tool assembly (2; 6), extending through a working zone (W) of the bending machine (1) and sideways protruding from the latter at least with a first end portion (4), and shuttles (21, 22, 23) slidably mounted on said guide (3) and supporting at least one auxiliary tool (41, 42) to be associated with the main bending tool assembly (2; 6) in order to execute partial bends on the workpiece (50); the shuttles (21, 22, 23) are movable along the longitudinal direction (A) between a first active position (P1), in which the shuttle (21, 22, 23) are inside the working zone (W) and the auxiliary tool (41, 42) is mounted on the main bending tool assembly (2; 6), and a first inactive position (R1), in which the shuttle (21, 22, 23) are outside the working zone (W) and positioned at the first end portion (4) of the guide (3); the shuttle comprise a first set (11) of shuttles (21, 22, 23), each shuttle (21, 22, 23) carrying a respective auxiliary tool (41, 42), said shuttles (21, 22, 23) being mutually connectable to form a first shuttle convoy (13) having a selectable number of shuttles (21, 22, 23); the first shuttle convoy (13) is movable between said first inactive position (R1) and said first active position (P1) in order to mount a defined composition of auxiliary tools (41, 42) on the main bending tool assembly (2; 6).

A method of forming a vehicle panel includes deforming a sheet metal workpiece between stamping tools to form a first and second edges that converge at a corner of the workpiece's main surface. The first edge is defined by a junction of the main surface and a first flange. The second edge is defined the main surface and a second flange. Forming the first and second edges includes deforming the workpiece so that the second flange has a first region bent to a first angle relative to the main surface and an unwinding region bent to an angle that unwinds from the first region as the second flange approaches the corner. The method includes deforming the workpiece between a second set of stamping tools that deform the first flange and the unwinding region of the second flange until the first and second flanges are bent greater than 90.

A duct making apparatus includes a first station configured to accept a formable sheet material and a second station configured to receive the formable sheet material from the first station. The first station includes a mechanism for forming one of a male lock bend and a female lock seam in a leading edge of the formable sheet material. The second station includes a retractable conveyor. Movement of the sheet material from the first station to the second station defines an axis of travel of the sheet material. The retractable conveyor is selectively movable from a first position in which the retractable conveyor is in close association with the first station, and a second position in which the retractable conveyor is spaced from the first station.

A duct making apparatus includes a first station configured to accept a formable sheet material and a second station configured to receive the formable sheet material from the first station. The first station includes a mechanism for forming one of a male lock bend and a female lock seam in a leading edge of the formable sheet material. The second station includes a retractable conveyor. Movement of the sheet material from the first station to the second station defines an axis of travel of the sheet material. The retractable conveyor is selectively movable from a first position in which the retractable conveyor is in close association with the first station, and a second position in which the retractable conveyor is spaced from the first station.

The invention relates to a bending press (1) and/or a loading device (2) for loading a bending press (1) with bending tools (5, 6), comprising: at least one tool holder (3, 4; 13, 14) with a rail (7) having an inner profile (8) for receiving and displacing a bending tool (5, 6), at least one internal wall (9) of the rail (7) forming a guide structure (10) extending in the longitudinal direction of the rail (7); and at least one transfer device (15) drivable by a drive (21) for displacing a bending tool (5, 6) within the tool holder (3, 4; 13, 14) and/or between the tool holder (13, 14) of the loading device (2) and a tool holder (3, 4) of a bending press (1), wherein at least one portion of the transfer device (15) is guided by the guide structure (10) formed in the rail (7).

A bending machine for bending workpieces is disclosed. The bending machine includes a lower beam and an upper beam for forming a workpiece by bending along a bending line. A tool holder for receiving bending tools is provided on the lower beam and each end of the tool holder is associated with a recessed region which is formed in the lower beam overlapping with the respective end. The lower beam includes a central element and at least one side element arranged adjacent to one another in the thickness direction of the lower beam. Recessed regions are provided in the central element and/or in the width direction adjacent to the central element. The lower beam also includes a central region in which, during a bending operation of a workpiece, a force is introduced via the tool holder both into the central element and into the at least one side element.

A table assembly is used to support a workpiece to facilitate bending of the workpiece. The table assembly is attached to a press brake system and include a base and a clamp. The clamp is movable relative to the base to enable placement of the workpiece onto the base, and the clamp secures the workpiece to the base to block relative movement between the workpiece and the press brake system without additional user operations. The workpiece is secured via the table assembly without a manual force (e.g., to hold the workpiece in place) while the press brake system operates to bend the workpiece. The table assembly reduces, limits, or eliminates certain user operations during metalworking. The table assembly improves user experience (e.g., reduce an amount of manual labor) and/or efficiency associated with press brake operations.

A table assembly is used to support a workpiece to facilitate bending of the workpiece. The table assembly is attached to a press brake system and include a base and a clamp. The clamp is movable relative to the base to enable placement of the workpiece onto the base, and the clamp secures the workpiece to the base to block relative movement between the workpiece and the press brake system without additional user operations. The workpiece is secured via the table assembly without a manual force (e.g., to hold the workpiece in place) while the press brake system operates to bend the workpiece. The table assembly reduces, limits, or eliminates certain user operations during metalworking. The table assembly improves user experience (e.g., reduce an amount of manual labor) and/or efficiency associated with press brake operations.

A production installation for producing workpieces from sheet metal by forming in a bending operation includes a bending machine and a clamping tool having at least one lower clamping jaw and an upper clamping jaw set including first upper clamping jaws and a second upper clamping jaw. The second upper clamping jaw has a clamping jaw part at each of the two second upper clamping jaw end sections, the clamping jaw parts being movable from a working to a pull-out position. At least one first upper clamping jaw is arranged on both sides of the second upper clamping jaw. The first upper clamping jaws have a first horn at each of the first end regions of the first upper clamping jaws facing away from the second upper clamping jaw. A method adapts a total length of a bending edge of a clamping jaw set of this production installation.

A production installation for producing workpieces from sheet metal by forming in a bending operation includes a bending machine and a clamping tool having at least one lower clamping jaw and an upper clamping jaw set including first upper clamping jaws and a second upper clamping jaw. The second upper clamping jaw has a clamping jaw part at each of the two second upper clamping jaw end sections, the clamping jaw parts being movable from a working to a pull-out position. At least one first upper clamping jaw is arranged on both sides of the second upper clamping jaw. The first upper clamping jaws have a first horn at each of the first end regions of the first upper clamping jaws facing away from the second upper clamping jaw. A method adapts a total length of a bending edge of a clamping jaw set of this production installation.