Front and rear magnetic gauges for a press brake and the method of operating same

摘要

A press brake includes gauges on opposite sides of the punch for positioning a sheet of material being worked upon. Each of the gauges includes a magnet in the end abutting the work piece. The magnet on the back side of the punch is carried on a rod adjustably positioned by a U-bolt. The end of the rod abutting the work piece and including the magnet is convex in shape to maintain tangential contact with the work piece and thereby allow slight misalignment. The gauge on the front side of the punch is made from sheet material and has a tapered front end which includes a transversely extending surface including the magnet. The method of forming the work piece into a finished item includes positioning the front gauge a distance away from the centerline of the die and punch equal to the length of the finished work piece. One end of the work piece is positioned against the back gauge and the punch is operated. The work piece is then rotated 180 DEG with the shaped end bearing against the front gauge followed by operation of the punch thereby producing a finished work piece having a length equal to the distance between the front gauge and the centerline of the press. An alternate gauge or stop is provided for the back side of the press and includes a slotted gauge member having an upstanding cylindrical magnetized pin for engagement by the work piece.