Precision Sheet Metal Workshop Introduction Your Presenter Steven

Precision Sheet Metal Workshop Introduction

Your Presenter: Steven D. Benson President/CEO of Asma LLC Author of seven text books on Press Brakes, Lasers and Turret Presses 59 published articles in: The Fabricator, The. Fabricator. com. Forming and Fabricating, International Sheet Metal Review Publisher of The Precision Sheet Metal Chronicle, Worlds first on-line magazine dedicated to the Precision Sheet Metal Trade Chairman of FMA’s Precision Sheet Metal Council Contact: Asma, LLC 2952 Doaks Ferry Rd. NW Salem, Oregon, 97304 Phone: (503)-399 -7594 Email: Steve@asmachronicle. com Web: www. asmachronicle. com

So… Why are you here?

To learn how to operate… A state-of-the-art press brake with all the bells and whistles?

Or. . do you want to learn to operate… That tasty old. . . 40’s Vintage Mechanical?

What kind of tooling are you using? Is it that unforgettable, tried and true American style planed tools? or… Precision ground, the finest in the land? Is it better than the old standards? Does it even matter?

It doesn’t… If the equipment is in good working order.

Either way… There is plenty to be said for the State-of-the-Art of anything. There’s plenty to be said for the tried and true !

Either way it’s about knowledge … It’s about a common understanding of the process’s, the equipment and the tools of the trade. A “COMMON LANGUAGE“ !

How training was done… In the past, new employees (apprentice’s) were put into training programs that taught them from the ground up ! Training that over time allowed them to become skilled and productive craftsmen.

However… When it came to learning press brakes… Well… they seemed to run on the black arts rather than understanding or knowledge. It was Black Magic!

And if not black magic, Press Brakes seemed to require some kind of ”secret knowledge”. Consider the following conversation…

The instruction “Which tool should I use to bend this part? ” “The. 500 V-die and a 1/32 gooseneck !” “Why do I want to use those tools for this job? ” “Because they work ! “ “Yeah, but why do those tools work ? ” “Because they work, that’s why ! Now go build some parts“

Sound Familiar ? Seasoned veterans guarding the “secret knowledge” in your shop? In reality, the “old timers” are more than happy to share their knowledge with the less experienced…

The “old timers” had no idea why… “It’s not that they didn’t want to explain what was happening… they couldn’t. They knew what worked in practice but, had no idea why. In essence, they learned it the same way they were now teaching it. ”

Today… Same problem Modern machine controllers offer many functions that few, if any, understand the purpose of… Including the salespeople, set-up staff, OEM trainers, etc. For example: What is the purpose of dwell ?

Point in fact… The general working knowledge required was far greater in the past then it is today!

Building parts took a mechanic! Time was that “sheet metal mechanic” needed to know how to do it all: • Layout • Punching • Forming • Finishing

Well…Right back where we started “It just works, that’s why, now download the program and run the parts… “

What’s going to make you a press brake operator? Knowledge ! Being able to apply that knowledge!

The knowledge you’ll gain here will help to make you a “Precision press brake operator”, but… it is still going to take a lot of practice. . So… who am I? And what qualifies me to be here and teach you this stuff? …

Awards Fabricator and Manufactures Association (FMA) Best Technical Article of the Year for 2001 2003 Readers Favorite Award, The. Fabricator. com Most 5 -Star rated articles at The. Fabricator. com 2001 - present 2004 Readers Favorite Award, The. Fabricator. com

Author of - The Precision Sheet Metal Chronicle WWW. asmachronicle. com/chronicle. htm Award winning Since 1997 Worlds first on-line e-magazine for the precision sheet metal trade. Outstanding Contribution to Educational Activities 1999

Pocket calculators Texas Instruments TI 55 Circa: 1978 Now this was cool! Even if you couldn’t read the red LCD numbers in the light.

Radio Shack’s TRS - 80 Circa 1983 Came with no software 1. 9 k of memory ! Just think of what you could do with that kind of computing power… imagine the possibilities!

Course objectives: • Establishing a common language • Calculating bend functions • Types of press brakes • Methods of forming • Punch and Die basics • Safety • AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!

Buckle up … This bus is leaving!