Press brakes work by using a punch and die set at predetermined angles to bend or cut metal into various shapes and forms. Fast forward to today, and press brakes have evolved into highly-advanced machines powered by hydraulic systems and computer technology. These modern technology press brakes easily bend sheet and plate metal, supplying various industries with simple and complex parts. Let's see brake in action:

The basic principle of press brake forming relies on force, otherwise known as tonnage. Tonnage press brake this determines the total amount of pressure that can be applied by the punch during a bend. The higher tonnage, the thicker the materials that can be bent and vice versa.

Along with the tonnage comes bending length, which is the maximum length of sheet metal that can be bent. For example, if you have a machine with a 14' bending length, any sheet metal larger than 14' will be too long for that machine to process.

Depending on the application and material size/thickness, different machines with different tonnages and bending lengths are required for proper fabrication. In fact, these factors are important because they help determine the press brake's load limit - a limit calculated in tons per inch.

Knowing each machine's load limit and press power is important because if the wrong tonnage or length is used, it can damage or ruin the equipment.