News Important Things Every Press Brake Operator Should Know
In metal fabrication, the press brake operator fulfils a very important role. Fabricators and operators are both essential for successful project completion. You cannot expect to see results if operators are poorly trained or unskilled. When that happens, there is a great risk of wasted time and costs, and an even bigger risk of project failure. With that in mind, something that should always be considered when choosing a sheet metal fabrication partner is the experience and expertise of their brake operator. In this guide, we share some of the criteria that every press brake operator should meet.
Important Things Every Press Brake Operator Should Know
What Every Press Brake Operator Needs to Know
From the role itself to the machine, drawings and tooling, here are some of the things that every press brake operator should know.
Role
Every good operator will work to improve skills, embracing new technologies all the time. Even new operators need to have a foundation for growth. This should include training when needed, as well as a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of sheet fabrication, press brake machines and other aspects involved in the role. The operator should be able to plan and implement projects all the way through to completion with a solid understanding of fabrication deadlines, job specifications, machine capabilities and set-up, and anything else that is needed to get the job done well.
Drawings
Drawings play an integral part in every project. Operators should be able to include all relevant information needed to make parts. From bend angles to dimensions, radii and other factors, drawings need to be done according to specifications. This will ensure that press brake and tooling is used properly.
Machine
This may sound obvious but operators should also have a deep understanding of the machine itself. There are various types of machine - mechanical, hydraulic, retrofitted CNC, and full CNC. These all have different requirements, setup and limitations. Even if the operator is still relatively new to the job and still gaining experience, they need to have a basic understanding of machines to use them correctly. This should apply not to one single machine but rather to a variety of machines.
Tooling
Poor tooling can ruin a project extremely quickly. There are many different types of tooling, including air bending, bottom bending, coining, and others. Operators need to know the differences between each so that the right tooling is used for each project.
With extensive experience and expertise in sheet metal fabrication, Bystronic works with only the best operators and fabricators. Contact us today to learn more about finding a highly-skilled press brake operator to assist with your needs