2017 Two-V Die, 60°
Amada-style quenched-steel die with 16 mm and 20 mm openings.
From $241 CAD
View Two-V Die →Press Brake Tooling: Complete Selection Guide
Choosing press brake tooling is not a matter of matching a punch to a die that looks close. The clamping style, punch profile, die opening, material, bend method, part geometry and available tonnage all have to work together. This press brake tooling selection guide gives fabricators a practical sequence for narrowing the options before a tooling chart, drawing or supplier review confirms the final setup.
Safety first: These are selection principles, not machine settings. Use the press brake manufacturer's manual, the tooling manufacturer's load chart and your facility's approved setup procedure. Never exceed the rating of the machine, ram, holder, punch or die; the lowest rating controls.
Press Brake Tooling Selection in Seven Steps
- Identify the upper and lower clamping style.
- Define the material, thickness, tensile strength and bend length.
- Choose the bend method: air bending, bottoming or coining.
- Select the punch profile and tip radius for the angle and part clearance.
- Select the die type, angle and V opening for radius, flange and force requirements.
- Calculate required force and compare it with every rated component.
- Confirm section lengths, alignment and collision clearance before setup.
1. Identify the Tooling and Clamping Style
The machine nameplate is only a starting point. Used machines may have adapters or replacement holders, and manufacturers may use different systems across models and production years. Record the press brake model, holder brand, tang profile, overall tool height, safety features and lower-die mounting method.
Amada/Promecam, Wila, Trumpf and Bystronic-style systems are not automatically interchangeable. Read our press brake tooling styles guide for the key differences and adapter considerations.
2. Define the Bending Application
Tool selection begins with the part, not the catalog. Record the material grade, actual thickness, grain direction, desired inside radius, target angle, bend length, shortest flange, return flanges, holes near the bend and surface-finish requirements. Higher-strength material may require substantially more force than mild steel of the same thickness.
| Application input | Why it changes tooling choice |
|---|---|
| Material and tensile strength | Affects tonnage, springback and achievable radius. |
| Thickness range | Guides V opening, punch radius and tool capacity. |
| Inside radius and angle | Influences punch tip, die angle and forming method. |
| Minimum flange | Must remain supported across the die shoulders. |
| Return flange or box depth | May require a gooseneck punch or taller tooling. |
| Cosmetic surface | May require film, a special die or reduced-marking process. |
3. Choose Air Bending, Bottoming or Coining
Air bending uses three points of contact: the punch tip and the two die shoulders. Bend angle is controlled by penetration, and the V opening strongly affects the natural inside radius and force. It is flexible and commonly used on modern CNC brakes.
Bottoming brings the workpiece closer to the die faces and uses a matched tooling relationship. Coining uses much higher pressure to imprint the tool geometry. Do not substitute force values or tooling rules from one method into another.
4. Select the Punch Profile and Tip Radius
A straight punch handles many open profiles. A gooseneck creates clearance for return flanges and deep boxes, but its load rating and geometry still need checking. Acute punches can support overbending for springback, while radius punches serve large-radius parts.
For air bending, the sheet normally forms a natural radius related to the V opening and material. Mate Precision notes that a punch tip that is too small can penetrate the material surface, while a tip larger than the natural radius can take control of the finished radius. Use the tooling supplier's recommendation for the actual material and opening. Review Mate's punch-tip guidance.
5. Choose the Die and V Opening
For a standard 90-degree air bend, many shops begin near a V opening of eight times material thickness. Manufacturer charts refine that starting point by thickness: Wilson Tool, for example, lists 6× for material up to 2.6 mm, 8× from 3 to 8 mm, 10× from 9 to 12 mm and 12× for 14 mm and thicker. These values are references, not universal settings.
Use our detailed guide to choosing a press brake V-die opening for the starting table, flange check and worked examples.
6. Verify Tonnage and Load Distribution
Required force changes with material strength, thickness, bend length and V opening. A narrow opening can raise required force sharply. Compare the calculated force with the press brake's capacity at the working length and with the maximum load of the holders and tooling. Also observe minimum tool lengths, sectional load limits and any rule against concentrated loading.
Manufacturer force charts should be the final reference. Mate's air-bending chart, for example, states that its results are guidelines and includes different force adjustments for aluminum, mild steel and stainless steel. See Mate's air-bending force chart.
7. Confirm Setup Lengths and Part Clearance
Decide whether the job needs full-length tools, segments or a staged setup. Confirm that sectional tools are aligned, seated and loaded as permitted. Model the bend sequence to check the ram, punch body, die, backgauge and already-formed flanges for collisions. Tall or offset tooling may solve one clearance problem while creating another.
Press Brake Tooling Buying Checklist
- Press brake manufacturer, model, year and serial number
- Upper and lower holder photos plus tang/profile measurements
- Material grade, thickness range and bend length
- Desired angle, inside radius and minimum flange
- Punch profile, tip angle and radius
- Die style, included angle, V opening, height and base
- Maximum tooling load and calculated job tonnage
- Required section lengths and part-clearance drawing
Continue the Press Brake Education Series
Step 1: Identify the styleCompare Amada, Wila, Trumpf and Bystronic-style clamping systems.
Step 2: Choose the V openingUse thickness, radius, flange and tonnage checks to choose a starting die opening.
Recommended Press Brake Tooling
Use these as examples of available profiles and V-die formats. Confirm the complete tooling style, dimensions and application before ordering.
1324 Gooseneck Punch, 86°
Tall Wila-style punch for applications requiring return-flange clearance.
From $503 CAD
View Gooseneck Punch →
3161 Self-Centering Die, 88°
Single-V insert die with a 10 mm opening for compatible lower holders.
From $250 CAD
View Self-Centering Die →
Need help matching tooling?
Send the machine and holder model, profile photos, measurements, material and part drawing. We can review stocked or custom options.
Get Help Matching Press Brake Tooling
Send the machine and holder model, profile photos, measurements, material and part drawing. We can review stocked or custom options.
Get Help Matching Press Brake Tooling
Calculate the Required Air-Bending Force
Enter material, thickness, bend length and V opening in the new metric/imperial calculator. It also estimates natural inside radius and minimum flange.
Flat-pattern planning: Continue with the press brake bend allowance, K-factor and bend deduction guide.
Plan Bend Radius and Springback
Learn how the V opening and material affect natural inside radius, why a bend opens after unloading, and how to confirm compensation with a controlled test coupon.
Compare Tonnage by Material and Thickness
Use the metric and imperial air-bending charts for mild steel, stainless and aluminum, then enter the exact bend length in the calculator.