Preventing Hazards: A Guide to Secure Press Brake

Safety is probably at the forefront of your mind if you own or operate a metalworking shop. In metalworking shops and manufacturing facilities, press brakes are essential tools that allow for sheet metal bending services. To ensure the safety of everyone in your facility, it’s important to take all necessary precautions to prevent hazards associated with press brake operation. This guide will provide an overview of the major hazard-prevention systems used in brake press services.

Barrier Guards

Barrier guards are physical barriers that isolate operators from hazardous points on press brakes. They are typically mounted on both sides of the machine and can be adjusted for various sheet sizes. The barrier guard is designed to keep hands and other body parts away from moving parts such as blades or clamps during operation. Depending on the type of press brake system, additional guarding may be required between the operator and the back gauge system or clamping device.

Curtains

Light curtains are a form of photoelectric protection that consists of an array of infrared light emitters and receivers mounted around the perimeter of a press brake machine. The light curtain detects any interruption in its beam pattern due to an operator coming into contact with hazardous areas while operating a machine. When this occurs, the machine immediately stops functioning until a qualified person has reset it manually (or remotely). Light curtains provide an extra layer of protection against hazards associated with press brakes and should be installed on all machines in any shop where they are used.

Two-Hand Controls

Two-hand controls require operators to use two hands simultaneously when activating a machine’s start button or switch. This ensures that operators have both hands free when handling materials or working near hazardous areas on a press brake. Two-hand controls also reduce reaction time if something goes wrong during operation because an operator’s hands will naturally move away from hazardous points when two buttons are pressed together. Two-hand controls should always be used with other hazard prevention systems, such as barrier guards and light curtains, for maximum protection against potential accidents or injuries in your shop environment.

Laser AOPD

Laser-assisted automated optical point detection (AOPD) is an advanced technology used by some press brakes manufacturers to detect potential hazards before they occur. AOPD uses lasers to scan material before it is loaded onto a press brake for bending operations, ensuring that no hazardous points are present before the operation begins. This technology helps reduce downtime due to accidents or injuries caused by human error, making it ideal for facilities where high volumes of materials need to be processed quickly and safely without fail.

Conclusion

Press brakes can pose serious risks if not operated correctly, so it’s important for anyone working near these machines to practice safe habits at all times and invest in appropriate hazard prevention systems like those discussed here. By using barrier guards, light curtains, two-hand controls, and laser AOPD technology, you can significantly reduce the risk of injury or incident due to improper use of press brakes, providing peace of mind knowing everyone inside your facility remains safe while completing their metal bending services or brake press services tasks.

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