A press brake bends sheet metal to precise angles, and precision is the whole point — a machine that cannot hold angle consistently produces scrap. On the used market, press brakes are widely available and can be excellent value, but tonnage, ram accuracy and the CNC control decide whether you are buying a productive asset or a frustration. Here is how to size and inspect one.
Step 1: Size the tonnage and bed length
A press brake must have enough tonnage to bend your thickest material across the length you need, and a bed long enough for your longest part. Undersize either and the machine cannot do your work; oversize massively and you overpay and lose fine control on thin parts. Size to your actual and near-future work:
- Tonnage — driven by material thickness, length of bend, and die opening. Heavier/longer bends need more tonnage.
- Bed and stroke length — must exceed your longest part and deepest box.
- Throat depth — matters for boxes and flanged parts.