How to Adjust the Stop Finger of the Press Brake Backgauge

The accuracy of your press brake backgauge is crucial for achieving precise bends in metalworking projects. In this tutorial, we'll walk you through the process of adjusting the stop finger alignment to ensure your backgauge operates flawlessly.

Step 1: Prepare the Press Brake

Ensure the press brake is powered off and disconnected from the power source to prevent accidents.

Put on your protective equipment (PPE) including safety goggles and gloves.

Step 2: Accessing the Backgauge

Locate the backgauge mechanism on your press brake. This may involve opening a panel or accessing it from the rear of the machine.

Step 3: Determine if the Error is In the Beam or the Stop Finger

Beam error confirmation:

1. Determine the distance between a stop finger on the right side and the front lower mold and record it.

2. Move this stop finger to the leftmost side and measure the distance to the front lower mold.

3. If the two distances are different, it means that there is an error in the beam.

As shown in the video, there is a 2mm error in the beams, with the right beam having 2mm more than the left.

Stop finger error confirmation:

1. Measure the distance from different blocking fingers to the lower mold in front of the adjacent position.

2. If the distance is different, it means that there is an error in the stop finger.

As shown in the video, there is a 2mm error in the two stop fingers at the same position, with the right one having 2mm more than the left stop finger.

Step 4: Aligning the Beam and Stop Fingers

Aligning the Beam:

Firstly loosen all the nuts, loosen the center screw and tighten the two screws next to it, the beam distance increases; and if we loosen the two side screws and tighten the center screw, the beam distance decreases.

As shown in the video, there is a 2mm error in the same stop fingers at two sides, so we loosen the two side screws and tighten the center screw and decrease the distance.

Aligning the Stop Finger:

After loosening the two set screws on the stopper finger, adjust the rollers to suit. Clockwise rotation is to increase the distance, counterclockwise rotation is to decrease the distance。

As shown in the video, there is a 2mm error in the two stop fingers at the same position, with the right one having 2mm more than the left stop finger. So screw counterclockwise to decrease and remeasure to confirm.

Step 5: Testing the Alignment

Power on the press brake and engage the backgauge mechanism.

Place a test piece of material against the stop fingers and perform a test bend.

Measure the resulting bend angle with a protractor or angle gauge.

If adjustments are needed, repeat Steps 3-4 until the desired alignment and bend angle are achieved.

Step 6: Final Checks and Safety

Once satisfied with the alignment, power off the press brake and secure any panels or access points that were opened.

Perform a final inspection of the backgauge area to ensure there are no loose components or obstructions.

Store tools in their designated locations and clean up the work area.

By following these steps, you can effectively adjust the stop finger alignment for your press brake backgauge, ensuring precise and accurate bends in your metalworking projects. Remember to always prioritize safety and consult your press brake manual for specific instructions related to your machine.