Ever since the first metallurgical processes were invented, metal has been shaped and reshaped to fit human desires. And metal bending is an age-old art that continues to be practiced today. The way you shape metal can vary depending on its placement in the structure and process requirements. There is a common denominator among these methods: traditional methods utilize the human hand, while modern manufacturing techniques rely on automatic brakes. These machines enable fast, efficient, and precise bending of metal.

Why Use a Manual Brake?

Manual brakes are useful when making smaller bends because they require less space than automatic models do, making them ideal for small shops and garages where there isn't room for large equipment like an automatic press brake. They're also useful if you want more control over how much pressure is being applied to your material at any given time because they allow for manual manipulation of the bending mechanism. They have their place, but the technology of automatic brakes is improving to make them a cost-effective alternative. 

How an Automatic Brake Works

An automatic brake is a machine that uses air pressure or a hydraulic system to bend metal sheets into different shapes. It can be used to create simple bends or complex bends with multiple angles. An automatic brake uses an air cylinder to apply pressure to either side of a sheet of material, bending it into its desired shape.

Why an Automatic Brake Is Better Than a Manual Brake

An automatic brake will always outperform a manual brake when it comes to bending metal quickly and efficiently. While there may be some situations where an operator can bend metal more quickly than an automatic brake, these situations are rare and usually only apply when bending small pieces of steel or aluminum. 

How to Select the Best Automatic Brake 

An automatic brake will always outperform a manual brake when it comes to bending metal quickly and efficiently. While there may be some situations where an operator can bend metal more quickly than an automatic brake, these situations are rare and usually only apply when bending small pieces of steel or aluminum. Therefore, you might want to have a manual brake, as well as an auto brake in your shop to use for different applications. 

Automatic brakes are easier to use and better for your wallet. For more info about products like Roper Whitney autobrakes, contact a local company. 

Share