Press Brakes

Press Brakes for Sale • Bending Tips, and General Press Brake Information

A press brake is a machine used to bend sheet metal by clamping material between a punch and die. If you are researching
press brakes for the first time, you are not alone. Most buyers start with basic questions like: “How much tonnage do I need?”,
“What is the difference between air bending and bottoming?”, and “How do I choose a V-die?” This page answers those questions in plain language
and helps you understand what matters when selecting a press brake for real production work.


Filter by Tonnage / Size

Stroke (in Inches)

Bed Area (Inches Right to Left)

Weight Capacity (lbs.)

Width (in Inches)

Thickness / O.D. (in Inches)


Press Brake Quick Basics

  • Tonnage: The force used to bend material. More thickness, stronger material, and shorter die openings require more tonnage.
  • Bed length: The maximum bend length the machine can typically handle.
  • Tooling: The punch (top tool) and die (bottom tool) that form the bend.
  • Backgauge: Positions the material for repeatable bends.
  • Control: The CNC or controller that manages stroke depth, angles, and backgauge moves.

Press Brake FAQs (Beginner-Friendly)

What is a press brake used for?

Press brakes are used to bend sheet and plate into parts like brackets, enclosures, channels, pans, and structural formed components.
They are common in fabrication shops, OEM production, HVAC manufacturing, automotive suppliers, and general metalworking.

How does a press brake work?

The press brake pushes a punch into a die with sheet metal in between. The bend angle is created by how far the punch travels into the die,
the die opening (often called the V-opening), the punch tip radius, and the material properties. The backgauge locates the material so bends
are consistent from part to part.

What is the difference between air bending, bottoming, and coining?

  • Air bending: The punch does not bottom out in the die. Angle is controlled by stroke depth. Most common today because it needs less tonnage and is flexible.
  • Bottoming: The punch forces the material closer to the die angle. More consistent than air bending but needs more tonnage and dedicated tooling angles.
  • Coining: The punch presses material fully into the die, imprinting the shape. Highest tonnage requirement, very consistent, used for specialized work.

How do I know what tonnage press brake I need?

Tonnage depends on material type, thickness, bend length, and V-die opening. As a rule, bending thicker material or higher-strength material
requires more tonnage. A longer bend length also increases tonnage. If you share your material, thickness, and bend length, tonnage can be estimated quickly.

Is there a simple press brake tonnage chart?

Many charts exist, but they vary by assumptions. The best way is to calculate based on your actual material and V-opening.
For air bending, a common approach is to choose a V-opening around 6x to 10x material thickness, then calculate tonnage per foot.
If you want, you can create a small internal chart for your common materials and thicknesses once your tooling standards are defined.

What is the V-die opening and why does it matter?

The V-opening is the width of the die opening. A wider V-opening typically reduces tonnage requirements and increases the inside bend radius.
A narrower V-opening increases tonnage and can tighten the radius, but it may increase marking and risk of cracking on some materials.

How do I choose a V-die for my material thickness?

For air bending, many shops start with a V-opening of about 8x material thickness for mild steel, then adjust for your desired radius,
tonnage available, and part requirements. If you need a tighter inside radius, you may choose a smaller V, but tonnage goes up and tooling wear may increase.

What is the inside bend radius and why does it change?

In air bending, inside radius is influenced heavily by the V-opening and material properties. A larger V-opening tends to produce a larger inside radius.
Different materials spring back differently, and high-strength materials usually spring back more.

What is springback?

Springback is when the material relaxes slightly after bending, opening the bend angle. Harder materials and thicker materials often spring back more.
Press brakes compensate by overbending, using bend allowances, and using consistent tooling and process settings.

What is a backgauge and what does it do?

The backgauge positions the sheet for the bend. It improves repeatability and speed. CNC backgauges can move multiple axes, allowing complex bends and
faster setups with fewer manual adjustments.

What is a CNC press brake?

A CNC press brake uses a controller to manage ram depth, backgauge movement, bend sequencing, and sometimes crowning adjustments. CNC models help
improve repeatability, reduce setup time, and enable more complex part programs.

What does “crowning” mean on a press brake?

Crowning is a method of compensating for deflection in the bed and ram during bending. Without compensation, long bends may be deeper in the center
than at the ends. Crowning helps keep bend angles more consistent across the length.

How accurate is a press brake?

Accuracy depends on material variation, tooling, machine condition, crowning, operator setup, and whether the press brake uses angle measurement systems.
Even with CNC, material thickness and hardness changes can affect the angle unless the process is controlled tightly.

What is a press brake stroke and shut height?

Stroke is how far the ram can travel. Shut height is the distance between the ram and bed at the bottom of stroke with tooling installed (definitions can vary by manufacturer).
These specs affect what tooling and part geometries you can run.

What is the difference between hydraulic and electric press brakes?

  • Hydraulic press brakes: Common, powerful, and widely used for medium to heavy bending.
  • Electric press brakes: Often selected for energy efficiency, fast response, and high repeatability, typically in lighter tonnage ranges.

What are common press brake problems?

  • Inconsistent bend angle along the length (often related to crowning/deflection)
  • Angle changes between sheets (material variation or setup issues)
  • Tool marks or galling (tooling condition, V-die choice, lubrication)
  • Backgauge inconsistency (mechanical wear, dirty rails, calibration)
  • Hydraulic issues (leaks, temperature drift, valve performance)

How do I reduce marking on stainless or aluminum?

Marking is often influenced by die choice, surface finish, and pressure. Common approaches include using polished tooling, protective films,
urethane inserts, or selecting a V-die and process that reduces concentrated contact pressure.

What is press brake tooling compatibility?

Tooling standards vary (American/European/other styles). It is important to match the machine’s clamping style and tooling profile.
Many shops standardize tooling to simplify setups and reduce changeover time.

What information should I have ready when asking about a press brake?

  • Material type(s) and thickness range
  • Typical bend length and part sizes
  • Target inside radius and angle tolerance
  • Production volume and changeover frequency
  • Preferred tooling standard (if any)
  • Power requirements and floor space constraints

Common Press Brake Terms (Glossary)

  • Air bend: Bending method where the punch does not bottom out in the die.
  • Bottoming: Bending method where the punch forces the material closer to the die angle.
  • Coining: High-force forming where material is pressed fully into the die.
  • Crowning: Deflection compensation across bed/ram length.
  • Backgauge: Positioning system for repeatable flange lengths.
  • V-opening: Die opening width that heavily influences tonnage and bend radius.
  • Springback: Material relaxing after bend, opening the angle slightly.