This is the semi-automatic laser-based bending angle measuring device enables the user to determine the exact bending angle for press brakes by a built-in semiconductor laser with line optics and the 1/3” CMOS-camera together with strain gauges – and it works contactlessly.

The bending angle is measured by scanning the projection of the laser beam to the surface of the sheet metal with the CMOS camera. The angle between the laser and the viewing axis of the camera defines the correlation between the position of the line in the camera image and the angle between the sensor and the sheet metal. With a second sensor at the opposite site the bending angle is calculated.

It is mounted on the press brake under an angle of 45° to the die in a working distance of 160-300 mm below the die. It is moveable along the die manually (or automatically). Due to its mounting position the measuring range is 0° to 180°. For each measuring position there are 2 sensors needed.

The sensor accuracy is better than ±0.1°. The system accuracy is influenced by the control, the machine accuracy, the tools and the material. To increase the bending accuracy the sensors were calibrated after mounting. So, the mounting errors are reduced.

The result is a bending angle with a never seen precision just after one bending step regardless of if differences in material properties such as thickness or other.