››› PREss BRaKE RounduP Speed demonS From Quick Setups To Sophisticated Controls These press brakes won’t let bottlenecks become part of the daily grind By Abbe Miller Contributing Editor amiller@fsmdirect.com The Trumpf TruBend 5000 and its automatic controlled bending (ACB) enables high output with a high range of parts. W hat sets the U.S. apart is the ability to produce complex parts with extreme precision; doing it at a faster clip and with little to no bottlenecks is what will forever keep the competition at bay. But how is it done? This competitive edge is embodied in our nation’s skilled workers and the sophisticated machinery that they operate. A recurring and unfortunate issue seen on the manufacturing floor, however, is the difficulty in finding that skilled labor. And unskilled labor can produce bottlenecks for bent parts. To get around the unskilled labor problem Trumpf offers a solution. “Trumpf continues to optimize machines and software to alleviate this issue and allow less skilled operators to be more successful,” says Shane Simpson, press brake product manager at Trumpf, about the company’s TruBend 5000 press brake. “This occurs through offline programming that helps with bend sequencing, tool selection, and eliminating scrap and test pieces. The new technology also helps the operator set up the machine with easy optical aids as well as with descriptive setup sheets that match the tools directly. “