Modelling and Simulation of Automated Hydraulic Press Brake

Abstract

In this study, a reconfigurable hydraulic press brake was designed using Solidworks and simulated on a hydraulic Automation Studio Fluidsim. The designed press brake comprises of the frame balance, conveyor rollers and support, belt, chuck, six hydraulic cylinders assembled with bolts and nuts. The buckling force was determined analytically and compared with the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) simulation to prevent distortion of length and section. The Von mises stress theory was used to determine the stress, resultant load and displacement. The results obtained from the FEA simulation were compared with the mechanical properties of the hydraulic press brake. The maximum stress induced is significantly lower than the tensile strength of the hydraulic press brake. Hence, the stress induced due to bending cannot cause the cast alloy to yield. Also, the buckling force significantly exceeds the resultant force giving no chances for buckling. The designed hydraulic press brake is flexible enough to control using hydraulic cylinders and enhances sufficient strength and rigidity during clamping and loading conditions.