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.

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.

A processing machine for flat material parts includes a machine frame, a lower beam, an upper beam, at least one processing tool, and a control unit and an infeed table on which the flat material part to be processed can be placed for positioning in the processing machine. A support loading unit with a plurality of suction cups is provided for the positioning of the flat material part on the infeed table. The infeed table can be moved from a parking position in an extension direction to a loading and unloading position and back again. The support unit is mounted on the movement axis assigned to the processing tool or tools for a pivoting movement into the same direction.

A bending machine, in particular a swivel bending machine, is provided that defines a safety-relevant work area in which an operator of the bending machine is present during its operation, loading, unloading or the like, having a safety module comprising a safety barrier which provides a variable-size shield for the safety-relevant work area such that a shut-off state and an access state can be generated, wherein in the shut-off state access to the safety-relevant work area is at least partially restricted and wherein in the access state access to the safety-relevant work area is at least partially granted. A method is provided for processing a workpiece by means of a bending machine.

An elongated bending beam for a swivel bending machine has an approximately C-shaped beam cross section and two bending tools, which are opposite one another relative to a preferably horizontal central plane, and which run facing one another in the longitudinal direction of the bending beam, between which a workpiece portion of a workpiece to be bent can be introduced. An angle-measuring system for contactlessly measuring a bending angle is arranged inside the C-shape beam cross section, with which a bending angle can be measured relative to a reference plane at a workpiece section bent by one of the bending tools. The angle-measuring system also includes a first angle-measuring unit arranged below the central plane and having a first measuring region positioned substantially above the central plane, and a second angle-measuring unit arranged above the central plane and having a second measuring region positioned substantially below the central plane.

An elongated bending beam for a swivel bending machine has an approximately C-shaped beam cross section and two bending tools, which are opposite one another relative to a preferably horizontal central plane, and which run facing one another in the longitudinal direction of the bending beam, between which a workpiece portion of a workpiece to be bent can be introduced. An angle-measuring system for contactlessly measuring a bending angle is arranged inside the C-shape beam cross section, with which a bending angle can be measured relative to a reference plane at a workpiece section bent by one of the bending tools. The angle-measuring system also includes a first angle-measuring unit arranged below the central plane and having a first measuring region positioned substantially above the central plane, and a second angle-measuring unit arranged above the central plane and having a second measuring region positioned substantially below the central plane.

A flanged duct blank has a male part defined by lead notches formed at each side of a leading end and has a female part defined by trail notches formed at each side of a trailing end. The male part includes a lock tab. The female part includes a leg part and a Z-bend. The Z-bend includes a leg part and a gap. The duct blank is repeatedly clamped and bent by a pivoting wiper to form a duct portion. The pivoting wiper includes a clench tool that has a retractable rib and a retractable roller. With the lock tab inserted into the Z-bend and the retractable rib engaged with the Z-bend, the retractable roller clenches the leg part over the lock tab to lock the male and female parts together in a duct seam.

A flanged duct blank has a male part defined by lead notches formed at each side of a leading end and has a female part defined by trail notches formed at each side of a trailing end. The male part includes a lock tab. The female part includes a leg part and a Z-bend. The Z-bend includes a leg part and a gap. The duct blank is repeatedly clamped and bent by a pivoting wiper to form a duct portion. The pivoting wiper includes a clench tool that has a retractable rib and a retractable roller. With the lock tab inserted into the Z-bend and the retractable rib engaged with the Z-bend, the retractable roller clenches the leg part over the lock tab to lock the male and female parts together in a duct seam.

A production installation for producing workpieces from sheet metal by reshaping includes a bending machine, a support table defining a support plane, and a manipulation device having a support arrangement and a holding arrangement. The holding arrangement has interacting upper and lower holding units. The support arrangement has a separate upper support unit and a separate lower support unit, wherein the upper holding unit is arranged on the upper support unit, and the lower holding unit is arranged on the lower support unit. In an open insertion position of the manipulation device for the sheet metal to be accommodated therein, and in a loading region in front of the bending machine, the upper support unit, together with the upper holding unit, is arranged entirely above the support plane, and the lower support unit, together with the lower holding unit, is arranged entirely below the support plane.

A production installation for producing workpieces from sheet metal by reshaping includes a bending machine, a support table defining a support plane, and a manipulation device having a support arrangement and a holding arrangement. The holding arrangement has interacting upper and lower holding units. The support arrangement has a separate upper support unit and a separate lower support unit, wherein the upper holding unit is arranged on the upper support unit, and the lower holding unit is arranged on the lower support unit. In an open insertion position of the manipulation device for the sheet metal to be accommodated therein, and in a loading region in front of the bending machine, the upper support unit, together with the upper holding unit, is arranged entirely above the support plane, and the lower support unit, together with the lower holding unit, is arranged entirely below the support plane.