Special stiffening rib forming tools by Eurostamp Tooling.

This article is going to focus on the case history of a special production: a tool to form stiffening ribs.

Stiffening ribs are a particular type of long indentation in sheet metal, used to strengthen it or to make it look good.

Stiffening rib forming tools are widely used to form ribs or beads in order to stiffen and stabilize sheet metal, to drain liquids or to hide wires.

The height of these tools allows to use them on different work stations.

Special tools: the customer's request.

The first step in the making of a special tool is the initial assessment, which means we need to gather and collect data. First of all: what workpiece is going to be formed? What are its measures, parameters and characteristics? Secondly: what type of tool is needed for the workpiece to comply with the contract?

We also ask for really precise information about our customer's press brake, such as model, tooling style, length and tonnage.

In this case, our customer requested a tool to work on a 2.0 mm stainless steel sheet metal.

Feasibility study.

Our Technical Office took on the job and performed a feasibility study.

After that, a 3D drawing was created of the tools needed to make the pieces.

A special tool for radius bending was designed, while the other 90° bends were formed with a different setup, using standard tools.

We always choose how many setups are needed together with the customer, in order to make the right choices in full cooperation.

Pre-production sample testing.

After accepting the proposal, the customer usually provides material samples to run tests on a pre-production sample of the special tool.

Making a pre-production sample of the press brake tool to be produced is another step to ensure that the tool fully meets the customer's request.

Specifically, the sample was fundamental in this case, as stiffening rib forming requires more force than other bending operations.

Testing a prototype allows to verify tonnage and strength before the real production starts, in order to avoid making mistakes and wasting time and money.

Press brake operators know very well that theoretical calculations are not enough, especially when it comes to complex fabrications like this one. An accurate product which fully meets the customer's request can only be obtained by performing rigorous testing.

To this end, Eurostamp has a test room, where specific testing and studies are carried out, in order to obtain the right dimensions and provide the best bending solutions.

Ultimate verification and production.

The tool was then measured with an extremely precise mechanical dial comparator, to verify its dimensional tolerances.

The workpiece was also measured in the same way, to ensure that the shape corresponded to the drawing submitted by the customer.

When the test results are fully satisfying, production is carried out and the tool is finally dispatched.

Eurostamp Tooling: Italian excellence.

In this article we have told you about one of the many cases in which Eurostamp Tooling's Technical office dealt with a customer's special request from start to finish.

Eurostamp makes tools starting from raw steel: we design the piece and follow each step of the fabrication, up to the finishing and marking stages.

Eurostamp Tooling is always standing next to their customers to accurately and efficiently respond to their requests, even the most urgent. Have a look at our catalog.