Coventry-based Bystronic UK Ltd (www.bystronic.com) has launched a press brake that can be moved around the shopfloor using a fork-lift truck; and despite a footprint of less than 3m², the machine offers a bending capacity of 80 tonnes over a length of 1.5m.

Called Xpert 80, the press brake joins the smaller 40-tonne 1m Xpert 40 model; both are said to boost productivity by avoiding the need to use a large slower press brake to bend small components.

Overall output can be increased further by relocating the machines next to a laser cutting cell, another press brake or other machine tool.

The Xpert 80 press brake can bend material up to 20mm thick and can be equipped with multiple tools, while the Bystronic-developed ByMotion drive control ensures that the machine’s upper beam and back-gauges are accelerated quickly without compromising precision. Bending speeds up to 25mm/sec are available.

Ergonomic design features include drawers built into the side of the machine to house bending tools and other equipment within easy reach of the operator, while a height-adjustable folding table at the front of the machine can be used as a working surface or storage area.

Power consumption is low, due to the machine’s energy-conserving design and the start-stop technology used in the drivetrain.

The upper and lower tools self-seat during clamping, when the operator presses the appropriate icon on the machine’s touch-screen control.

Moreover, tool positions are automatically calculated as part of the program, with flashing LEDs on the front of the upper beam instructing the operator where the tools need to be mounted to correspond with the 3-D movements of the back-gauge.

The ByVision touch-screen control, which is mounted directly in front of the operator, displays simple
3-D graphics of the bending process.