Bending radii
without special tools
GIGAbend Bending centers
RAS GIGAbend Metal folding system
GIGAbend: Excavation buckets
RAS GIGAbend with grippers
The upper beam moves down and up with a spindle drive. For clamping the parts PowerBoosters are activated. They create 120 metric tons of clamping pressure, hold thick workpieces in position and have sufficient reserves for hemming.
The folding beam is the heart of each folding machine. The intelligent crowning system of GIGAbend automatically compensates elastic beam deformation caused by the bending forces. Sensors measure the beam deflection. The results are straight bends and precision parts.
Straight bends without test bends and without programming for:
On a program change, the machine automatically adjusts in 5 seconds to the new sheet thickness and bending radius. A digital display provides additional comfort during the folding beam initialization.
The gauging system positions the part for each bend. It supports the weight of the large and heavy components. The stop fingers can be lowered in any program line so that the workpiece does not collide during rotation.
The tools of the upper beam, folding beam and lower beam are segmented. The front-free or rear-free geometries provides plenty of space for long C-flanges or narrow components. Different tool heights and shapes cover the variety of bending challenges. In case of a focussed part analysis a single tool set is often sufficient for the entire range of parts.
For some materials, material manufacturers recommend the use of radius tools. The larger bending radius avoids cracks on the material surface. Especially when bending thick aluminum, the radius tools lead to excellent bending results.
In contrast to press brake bending, which usually leaves clearly visible pressure and scratch marks next to the bending line, metal folding can also be described as gentle forming. This makes a considerable difference in quality for parts with a demand on the optical finish. However, if upper beam tools with a radius are used instead of sharp tools, the sliding section of the folding beam tool on the material surface will be also longer. In such applications folding beam tools with a plastic insert avoid pressure marks on high-quality material surfaces.
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RAS 76.30 |
RAS 76.40 |
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Working length | 3200 mm / 126" | 4060 mm / 159" |
Material thickness max (400 N/mm²) | 6.0 mm / 126" | 5.0 mm / 6 ga |
Upper beam upstroke | 500 mm / 19.7" | 500 mm / 19.7" |
Upper beam clamping pressure (metric) | 120 tons | 120 tons |
Gauging system (Rectangular gauging system) | 10–1550 mm / 0.39"–61" | 10–1550 mm / 0.39"–61" |
Gauging system (J gauging system) | 10–3050 mm / 0.39"–120" | 10–4050 mm / 0.39"–159.5" |
Machine dimensions (Rectangular gauging system) | 4620 x 2430 mm / 182" x 96" | 5480 x 2430 mm / 216" x 96" |
Machine dimensions (J gauging system) | 4620 x 3940 mm / 182" x 155" | 5480 x 4890 mm / 216" x 193" |
A job shop with a focus on machine cladding and containers has to be able to cover a wide range of sheet thicknesses in the bending process. The sometimes large and heavy components with large surfaces are ideal for metal folding. A wide range of challenges need to be mastered in terms of bending geometries. This includes hems, radii, inside bends, sheets with sensitive surfaces, and the full range from very thin to very thick materials. The RAS GIGAbend metal folding machine manages this balancing act perfectly.
When bending radius parts from 3–4 mm aluminum, the RAS GIGAbend can achieve outstanding results. Exact and repeatable radii over the entire length of the part and scratch-free material surfaces characterize the folding technology for radius parts with perfect optical finish. Using adapter tools, the customer can produce tools with any desired radius and expand the range of applications the GIGAbend can achieve at a reasonable price.
Tecnic Metal Listes near Barcelona, Spain, is a metal builder specialized in the metal doors, projecting roofs, fireplaces, stairs and window frames. May the special requirements of the architects be extremely special, Angel Rodriguez and his team, will take any challenge. With the RAS GIGAbend and several sets of tool, the small company meets nearly all requirements. Angel Rodriguez appears perfectly satisfied with his decision for the RAS GIGAbend. "The machine has so much free space that we can custom-design parts profitably even in small batches."
Where formerly cable car stations were located in windy heights, skier and hiker nowadays expect a luxury ambience. Modern cable car station today are comfortable building that offer much more than just wind and weather protection. The lift stations of the Doppelmayr cablecars are known worldwide. Salzmann Formblechtechnik GmbH produces the sheet metal covers for cable car stations on a RAS GIGAbend folding machine.
STAHL Wäschereimaschinenbau manufactures laundry equipment already in the fourth generation. Among the customers of STAHL there are hotels, hospitals, laundries, handicapped work-shops, tanning salons, commercial laundries and many others. STAHL uses the GIGAbend RAS 76.40 for panels as well as for structural components up to 5 mm mild steel thickness on 4060 mm working length.
The production principle at Helgesen is networking. As a subcontractor, the company located in Hartford, Wisconsin (USA) is closely associated with its customers. This starts in the joint product design and goes through the flow preparation until delivery. Nate Marshall explains, "RAS GIGAbend is one of our core machines for the production of platforms on the right and left of Caterpillar's construction truck. We produce 15 of these platforms every day. All panel type and structural components are bent on the GIGAbend".