The Importance of a Clean and Organized Workspace Around Your CNC Press Brake Machine

In the field of metalworking, precision, productivity and safety in the process sequence are fundamental. As great as the modern features is on contemporary CNC press brake machines, the atmosphere in which they function is equally important. At Nanjing ACL Machinery Factory, we know that our commitment to creating value for our clients does not end at the purchase of your equipment. There's more to keeping the area around your press brake nice and tight than simply good housekeeping, although that does play a role, there are bigger implications that revolve around safety, product quality and operation efficiency.

A Foundation for Enhanced Safety

The number one non-negotiable reason for keeping a clean workspace is safety. A CNC press brake is a very high energy machine, with tonnages as much as 400 tons and automatic back gauges which can pull your fingers into the machine. An untidy, metal-scrap-laden floor or abandoned tooling or spillage of hydraulic fluid, all are potentially severe trip-hazards for the operators. In such a high-steaks environment, where loss of balance even for one second could lead to disaster, an empty floor can act as the first line of defense. There are also potential hazards related to the removal of wood dust and waste that build up around the machine, which can create obstructions for safety systems such as light curtains or laser guards, triggering system failure. This way blanks and end products do not lie around inconveniently, wobble or fall over. You have established an organized environment that is only half the battle. Storing tools and disposing of swarf and off-cuts in a methodical manner on a day-by-day basis, you are consciously forming a safety-conscious environment to protect your most valuable asset: your staff.

Driving Uncompromising Product Quality

A cluttered work area can destroy the accuracy of a CNC press brake. Dust, metal shavings and grease, you know which contaminants are a quality enemy! These particles, when present at the work-piece surface, between the dies, or in the metal sheet itself, may cause defects to appear in the final bent shape. Dirty work surfaces often result in scratches, dents, and uneven bend angles. A tidy area keeps your material stored correctly, stopping it from getting bent or ruined before it even gets into the device. It also permits proper, safe storage of precision tooling that would otherwise be susceptible to nicks and damage that will appear later in the form of defective parts. That's why having a clean machine and clean workspace are two of the most important prerequisites for getting those repeatable, high-quality bends your customers demand.

Boosting Operational Efficiency and Productivity

Time wasted trying to locate that one tool, feeler gauge or some such piece of material is time wasted on production. With all tooling and accessories labeled for guaranteed accuracy, there’s no need to search around for the correct die or accessory – it’s all organized! The wanted tools can be very easily found by the operator and a considerable amount of machine stoppages are cut down on. It is even more convenient to work in a clean environment. When the press brake area is unobstructed, material in and finished product out flow more smoothly, which cuts down on handling time and prevents back-ups. Eliminating the headache of sifting through clutter, can allow your team to move much more efficiently from raw material storage all the way through processing to staging of the final product by creating an efficient flow.

Extending the Life of Your Equipment

Your CNC press brake is a major investment, and you expect it to last for years to come. If an environment is clean the better for the machine, it benefits directly from it. Over time, build-up of metal dust and dirt can clog air filters, penetrate electrical cabinets and soil hydraulic systems. This can cause things to heat up over time, rapid degradation of parts in motion and possibly even expensive service calls and costly downtime. Routine exterior and area cleaning and a strict preventative maintenance schedule help assure that everything works as it should. You are protecting your investment, by preventing unnecessary contamination to your equipment, whether that is system performance or lifespan.

In summary, maintaining a clean and organized work space is integral to the efficient functionality of your CNC press brake. It's an incredibly holistic approach that really improves safety, quality and productivity and the life of the equipment. We at Nanjing ACL Machinery Factory believe in these best practices because we have seen how they enable our customers make their machinery work to their full potential. When you invest effort into the space surrounding the machine, and not just cleaning for this cleanup’s sake, but systemizing it all – you are building a more robust, reliable and profitable fabrication process.