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BECKETT CNC MACHINERY

NEWS

BECKETT CNC MACHINERY

Key points to understand when operating a multi-function bending machine

DATE:2026/2/5 13:15:23
The core focus of operating a multi-function bending machine revolves around six dimensions: safety standards, equipment compatibility, operational procedures, precision control, emergency response, and routine inspections. These dimensions must be implemented in conjunction with the bending process (steel bars/metal sheets/pipes, etc.) and the functional module characteristics of the equipment to ensure compliant operations, qualified products, and trouble-free equipment. The following are the core operational points for each module, along with standardized operational requirements for adapting to industrial-grade multi-function bending machines:

1. Before operation: The core is "spot inspection + adaptation + protection" to eliminate hidden dangers during startup. 1. Safety protection must be in place. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (anti-smashing shoes, protective gloves, goggles, and it is forbidden to wear loose clothing/long hair); check whether the equipment safety shield, emergency stop button, limit switch, and grounding device are intact and effective. It is strictly prohibited to start the machine if the shield is not closed.
2. Comprehensive equipment inspection - Mechanical part: Inspect the wear/looseness of the bending mold, clamping mechanism, transmission gear/chain, and guide rail. The fit clearance between the mold slot and the spindle must meet the requirements, with no deformation or cracks; - Hydraulic/pneumatic part (hydraulic model): Check the hydraulic oil level, and inspect whether there is any oil leakage at the pipeline joints. The air pressure (pneumatic model) should be stable within the equipment calibration range, and the pressure relief valve and pressure gauge should be normal; - Electrical part: Inspect the power cord, operation panel buttons/display screen for any damage. Test the motor start-stop and forward/reverse functions to ensure they are normal. For the CNC model, confirm that the program contains no garbled code.
3. Pre-adaptation of process parameters: Based on the material (steel type/grade), specifications (diameter/thickness/pipe diameter), bending angle/radius of the workpiece to be processed, select the appropriate bending mold (the mold curvature needs to be ≥ the minimum bending radius of the workpiece to avoid cracking). Adjust the clamping force of the clamping mechanism (too loose may cause slipping of the material, while too tight may damage the workpiece/clamping fixture). For CNC models, enter the processing program in advance and simulate its operation.
4. Workpiece Pre-processing Inspection: The workpieces to be processed should be free of burrs, fins, rust, and deformation, with precise cutting dimensions. For long workpieces, auxiliary supports (such as material supports) should be prepared to avoid workpiece shaking during processing, which could affect accuracy or cause collisions.

II. During operation: The core lies in "standardized operation + real-time monitoring + precise control", which involves controlling the entire processing workflow. 1. Basic operation specifications: The primary operator should be single, and multiple people are strictly prohibited from operating the control panel/manually adjusting the workpiece simultaneously. If coordination is necessary, a clear command communication mechanism must be established. The workpiece should be centered and tightly clamped to the mold, and the equipment should only be started after confirming that it is securely clamped. During processing, it is strictly forbidden to touch rotating/moving molds, workpieces, and transmission components with hands, and it is prohibited to adjust the position of the workpiece with bare hands. When the equipment is running, operators should stand in the safe operation area (away from the workpiece rotation radius and mold opening and closing area), and no part of the body should enter the equipment's working range.
2. Precise control of process parameters Speed control: Adjust the bending speed according to the workpiece material. For hard materials (such as high-carbon steel and thick plates), bend at a low speed. For soft materials (such as low-carbon steel and fine steel bars), the speed can be appropriately increased to avoid excessive rebound of the workpiece and damage to the mold due to impact caused by too fast a speed. Angle/radius control: For conventional models, precise positioning is achieved through limit stops and dials. For CNC models, the program is used for fine adjustment to compensate for the "elastic rebound" of the workpiece (reserve a certain amount of rebound, for example, if bending 90°, set the equipment to bend 92°-95°, calibrated based on actual measurements according to material/specification). Multi-pass bending process: Follow the sequence of "from one end to the other, from a larger radius to a smaller radius" to avoid repeated bending that can lead to metal fatigue and excessive deformation of the workpiece.
3. Key points for switching multifunctional modules. The multifunctional bending machine is compatible with multiple functions such as straight bending, arc bending, edge folding, chamfering, etc. When switching modules, the machine must be stopped and powered off/pressure relieved:
When replacing molds/accessories, use specialized tools to secure them, and do not knock the molds (to prevent deformation);
When switching hydraulic/pneumatic circuits, confirm that there is no pressure in the circuit before disconnecting the connectors to avoid oil/gas spraying;
After switching the processing mode for the CNC model, recalibrate the zero point, simulate operation for 1-2 times to confirm there are no errors before starting formal processing.
4. Real-time monitoring and timely loss prevention. During processing, observe the equipment operating status (no abnormal noise, vibration, or oil leakage) and the workpiece forming effect. If there are issues such as workpiece slippage, crushing, cracking, or angular deviation, immediately stop the machine for handling. It is prohibited to operate with faults. When processing long workpieces, cooperate with auxiliary personnel to smoothly feed/receive the material to avoid the workpiece swinging and hitting the equipment or personnel. Before batch processing, conduct **first article inspection**. Only proceed with mass production after the dimensions/angles are qualified. During the process, conduct regular spot checks (once every 20-50 pieces).

III. After operation: The core is "shutdown specification + cleaning + recording", and complete equipment cleanup. 1. Standardized shutdown: First, stop feeding, and after the equipment spindle/mold completely stops rotating and the clamping mechanism is released, remove the remaining workpieces; for CNC models, save the machining program, shut down the system, and then cut off the main power supply of the equipment; for hydraulic models, turn off the oil pump, open the pressure relief valve to vent the residual pressure in the circuit; for pneumatic models, turn off the air source and exhaust the residual air in the pipeline; reset the clamping mechanism and mold to their initial positions, and adjust the equipment to the "standby/shutdown" state.
2. Equipment Cleaning and Maintenance: Clean the iron chips, dust, and oil stains on the workbench, molds, and guide rails using a brush/compressed air (do not directly blow high-pressure air onto electrical components/hydraulic connectors); Apply anti-rust oil/lubricating oil (as specified in the equipment manual) to friction areas such as molds, transmission parts, and guide rails to prevent rusting; Organize hydraulic/pneumatic pipelines to avoid bending, squeezing, and promptly mark and replace damaged pipelines.
3. Workpiece and site tidying: Qualified and unqualified workpieces should be placed separately and properly labeled; clear away waste materials and debris from the operation site to keep the passageways unobstructed; and ensure that labor protection supplies and specialized tools are stored in their designated places.
4. Fill in operation records. Record the specifications/quantity of the workpieces processed during the shift, process parameters, equipment operating status, fault conditions, and handling measures to provide a basis for subsequent equipment maintenance and process optimization.

IV. Special Situations: The core of emergency handling is "stop the machine first, then handle the situation", to prevent secondary accidents. 1. If the equipment exhibits abnormal noises, stalls, oil/gas leaks increase suddenly, or the motor overheats, immediately press the emergency stop button, cut off the power/gas supply, and it is strictly prohibited to forcefully power on the equipment for troubleshooting; 2. When the workpiece gets stuck in the mold, first stop the machine, release the pressure, and use specialized tools (such as crowbars, jacks) to slowly remove the workpiece. It is forbidden to knock on the equipment to forcefully demold; 3. In the event of personal injury (such as scratches from the workpiece, or injury from the equipment), immediately stop the machine and initiate on-site first aid, while reporting to management personnel; 4. In the event of a sudden power outage/gas cut-off, immediately turn off the equipment's main switch, remove the workpiece from the mold, and after the power/gas supply is restored, re-inspect the equipment, calibrate the parameters, and then power on again.

5. Key taboos: absolutely prohibited operational behaviors. 1. It is strictly prohibited to operate beyond the **rated processing range** of the equipment (such as using fine material molds to process coarse materials, bending plates beyond their thickness), to avoid equipment overload and damage; 2. It is strictly prohibited to perform operations such as mold replacement, parameter adjustment, and iron chip cleaning while the equipment is running; 3. It is strictly prohibited to remove/modify the safety protection devices of the equipment, and the emergency stop button must not be blocked or damaged; 4. It is strictly prohibited to use hands/body parts to replace tooling fixtures to fix workpieces, and it is strictly prohibited to place unrelated debris on the workbench; 5. For hydraulic models, it is strictly prohibited to start the machine without oil, for pneumatic models, it is strictly prohibited to operate forcibly without air pressure, and for CNC models, it is strictly prohibited to randomly modify system parameters or delete programs.

VI. Key Points for Differentiated Operations (By Processing Category) Multi-function bending machines are often adapted to different workpieces, requiring targeted adjustments to operational focus: 1. Rebar bending: The key is to control the clamping force to avoid slipping of the rebar, reserve a rebound amount for the bending angle, and use a support frame for long rebars to prevent them from swinging during bending; 2. Metal sheet bending: The mold needs to be tightly attached to the edge of the sheet to prevent edge warping. Bend thick sheets at low speed and use anti-scratch tooling to avoid damage to the sheet surface; 3. Metal tube bending: It is necessary to install an anti-wrinkle mold/mandrel (selected according to the tube diameter) to prevent the tube from being flattened or wrinkled at the bend. The clamping force should be based on the principle of "no slipping of material, no crushing of tube".