Horizontal bending machines are powerful metalworking machines, capable of handling serious metalwork. To use them safely, follow these practical checks every time you use one.
Check Guarding and Tooling Before You Start
Check the guards are in place, and the tooling is correctly fitted and tightened. Check the clamp on the workpiece every time it is set up for bending.
Wear the Right PPE
Safety glasses, cut-resistant gloves and steel-toecap boots are just a few of the items of personal protective equipment that you should wear when operating a horizontal bending machine. It is also worth remembering that you should avoid wearing loose clothing, particularly items with long sleeves that may dangle down into the tooling area.
Keep Hands Clear During the Bend
Springback is a metal bending phenomenon in which the material after bending returns to its original straight shape, often with considerable force. This can cause injury to fingers that have been placed in the bend zone. The workpiece must be positioned correctly on the machine, and the operator must step back from the machine before the ram starts to move. For Euromac Bending Machines, visit https://www.cotswold-machinery-sales.co.uk/euromac-bending-machines/horizontal-bending-machines.
Know Your Machine’s Rated Capacity
Know the rated capacity for the bending machine you are using for horizontal bending. The rated capacity for thickness and width of the workpiece must not be exceeded. Spring-loaded guard interlocks are nowadays standard on modern bending machines, e.g. Euromac Bending Machines, but they are not a substitute for operating within the machine’s rated capacity. Information on horizontal bending can be found on Cotswold Machinery Sales.
Clear Off-Cuts and Trip Hazards
Off-cuts of metal accumulate quickly around the floor of a bending machine. Remove these on a regular basis throughout a job, and make sure there is space behind the machine for safe retreat to avoid being knocked by a foot.
Safe Shutdown and Tool Removal
Release pressure from the machine and return the ram to the rest position. Only then remove the tooling from the workpiece and clear the machine. When leaving the machine unattended it must be in a safe state. The requirements for safe isolation and inspection of work equipment as defined in the PUWER requirements must be met for the particular work equipment being used.
Remembering these few practical checks to be carried out by an operator every time he uses a horizontal bending machine will save injuries and damage to the machine and tools.
