3D Bending with PNBend

A CAM-System for Press Brakes

The "offline" programming of Punch/Nibble/Laser machines in the sheet metal fabrication industry is standard since more than 10 years. The "offline" programming of press brakes was left behind. Until now...
PNBend is the machine independent "offline" programming system for press brakes. With "offline" programming you can essentially increase the productivity of your press brakes. With PNBend you get all the information required such as size and sequence of all bends, required tooling, setting up times and machine times during the production planning.

Operating PNBend

PNBend is based on the experience of the operator and is a tool for the operator. Each sheet metal can be different. The press brake with its configuration and its tools is fixed. Working with PNBend is characterized by automation, using the knowledge and experience of the operators. At every step of the programming process PNBend offers the possibility of automatic or interactive programming. Besides the different bending processes like air bending, die bending, 3-point bending, PNBend supports every press brake option such as angle correction systems, support arms, lifting aids or frontgauges up to collision monitoring.

Functionality of PNBend

  • Direct 3D-CAD interface to import sheet metals of the following data formats:
    • OneSpace Designer/Sheet Advisor
    • Pro/Engineer
    • Solid Works
    • Solid Edge
    • Parasolid
    • Inventor
    • Catia
    • NX
    • Neutral data exchange formats:
      • Iges
      • Step
  • Automatic recognizing of the bending informations in 2D-CAD files:
    • DXF
  • Support of air, 3-point and die bending operations
  • Automatic or interactive definition of the bending sequence
  • Automatic or interactive selection of the tools
  • Automatic or interactive positioning of the fingerstops
  • Real-time simulation with collision check
  • Automatic generation of the NC-program in the proper format of the press brake for every press brake on the market
  • Automatic generation of the report
  • Simple change between the existing press brakes
  • Graphical 3D-interface for the simulation in the control system of the press brake
  • Parametrical programming of sheet metals of the same geometry
  • Intuitive user interface
Advantages
  • Increased productivity
    • Less machine downtime due to "offline" programming
    • Less tooling time due to better work preparation
    • Less programming time due to competent und automatic functions
    • Programming based on 2D- und 3D-CAD-data
    • Reutilization of existing NC-programms
    • Customized output of the production data
  • Quality
    • Less construction errors due to bending simulation
    • Less production errors due to collision detection
    • Central determination of the bending technology
  • Flexibility
    • Less tooling time due to better work preparation
    • Simple change between the existing press brakes
    • Central administration of the tools