How can the surface of press brake tooling be protected to extend its service life?

Protecting the surface of press brake tooling is essential to extend tool life and maintain consistent bending quality. Several methods can be used to reduce wear and protect the tooling surface during production.

First, proper heat treatment and surface hardening improve the hardness and wear resistance of the working area. Induction hardening can increase the surface hardness to HRC 54–60, allowing the tooling to withstand repeated high-tonnage bending operations.

Second, precision grinding and smooth surface finishing help reduce friction between the tooling and sheet metal, preventing premature wear and surface damage.

In addition, sandblasting treatment, which is widely used by leading international manufacturers, can further enhance tooling surface performance. Sandblasting helps provide anti-scratch protection and relieves internal machining stress, improving the stability of the tool and reducing the risk of deformation during long-term use.

Bendmax applies controlled sandblasting processes to tooling surfaces, improving scratch resistance and helping maintain consistent performance throughout the tooling life cycle.

Proper operation and maintenance, such as selecting the correct V-die opening and using appropriate bending tonnage, also contribute to extending the service life of press brake tooling.