Operation Guide for DELEM DA-58T CNC Bending Machine

Operating the DELEM DA-58T CNC press brake can be challenging, but this manual will guide you through each step to optimize your machine's performance and ensure precise results.

The DELEM DA-58T CNC press brake operation manual offers detailed instructions for configuring and using your press brake efficiently. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can achieve smooth, accurate bending operations.

Let’s now explore how to set up and operate your DELEM DA-58T CNC press brake to deliver perfect results with every bend.

Operation overview and general introduction

●The control unit

The control looks as follows:

The precise outfit of your control may vary.

Operation of the control is mainly done over the touchscreen. A description of the functions and available touch controls is given in the next sections of this manual, aside of the description of the specific functions.

This user manual focuses on the control software and related machine functions.

●Front control elements

The Start and Stop button, integrated in the touch screen user interface:

●USB connectors

At the right side of the control a USB port is available for connection of external devices, such as a memory stick or an external keyboard or mouse.

●Operation and programming modes

The DA-Touch controls main screen looks as follows:

Depending on the navigation button which is active, the screen will differ. The above main screen will appear having the Products function active.

Just by tapping the various modes, the specific mode will be selected.

The structure of the main screen is as follows:

Title panel

In the top the title panel is always shown. In this area you can find logo information, which product is loaded, the active bend, selected subdirectory and (when activated) the service row. Also machine indicators can be found here.

Information panel

In the information panel all functions and visualisation related to the selected modus are displayed and can be found.

Command panel

The command panel is part of the Information panel and is the location where the controls related to the Information panel can be found. 

Navigation panel

The Navigation panel is the area where all the major modes can be found. This area is always visible. The controls, large buttons with icons, can be used to directly switch from one mode to the other.

Explanation of the main modes / navigation buttons

●Getting started

⒈ Introduction

In order to obtain a bend program for a product, the control offers the possibility to create a product drawing and calculate a valid bend sequence for the product. With this information, a product program is generated.

⒉Preparations

Before product programming can be started, the following preparations must be made.

• The correct material properties must have been programmed in the Materials library. You can find this on the Materials page in the Settings mode.

• The correct tools must be programmed in the Tool Library. Tools are necessary to create a CNC program. You can find the libraries for the different types of tools in the Machine mode.

⒊Create a drawing

The control offers the functionality to create a drawing of the intended product. With this drawing application, tap Drawing in the navigation panel, a 2D profile is created. At this stage, there is no calculation of bends or dimensions: any profile or drawing can be created.

⒋Determine bend sequence

When the product drawing is completed, the control offers Tool setup mode to program the exact tool set-up as it is organised on the machine. After this you can select the Bend Sequence mode to determine and simulate the required bend sequence. 

In the Bend Sequence mode, the control shows the product, the machine and the tools. In this menu the bend sequence can be programmed and checked visually. When a bend sequence has been determined, the CNC program can be generated.

⒌Numerical program

The Program menu gives access to the numerical program and values of the active product. 

There are two possibilities to create a CNC program:

• enter a numerical program, started via Products mode, tap New Program, step by step;

• generate the program from the graphical bend simulation started via the Products mode, tap New Product, via the Drawing mode. (see: Drawing mode; product drawing).

⒍The Auto menu and Manual menu, production modes

A product program can be executed via the Auto mode. In Automatic mode, a complete program can be executed bend after bend. In the Auto mode the Step mode can be selected to have each bend started separately.

The Manual mode of the control is an independent production mode. In this mode, one bend can be programmed and executed. It is typically used to test the behaviour of the bend V0215, 1.9 system.

More information about this can be found in chapters 7 and 8.

⒎Back-up data, external storage

Both product and tool files can be stored externally. Depending on the configuration, these files can be stored on a network or on a USB stick. This facilitates a back-up of important data and the possibility to exchange files between Delem controls.

More information about this can be found in chapter 9.

● Programming aids

⒈Help text

This control is equipped with an on-line Help function. When the Help-button in the navigation panel is pressed context sensitive help will be provided.

This Help window contains the same information as the Operation manual.The help window can be used as follows:

You can scroll through the text sliding one finger in the desired direction. By tapping on the lower or upper part of the screen Previous Page / Next Page can be used to browse through the help text.

The Index function helps to jump to the table of contents. Hyperlinks in the table help to directly navigate to the desired topic.

Tap End to close the Help window.

⒉Listbox functionality

Several parameters on the control have a limited number of possible values. When selecting such a parameter, by tapping the parameter line on the screen, the list of options will open up near the position where you tapped the line, and the desired value can be selected.

⒊Filter, live search

In some modes a list of entities is offered (products, tools, materials, etc.). An example of such a menu is the Products mode (product selection). To search a particular product or tool, the filter function can be used. Press the command button Filter, type a part of the ID in the enter field. Automatically, the list is limited to those items that contain the typed part.

Multiple search parts can be separated by .

⒋Navigation

Within some modes, the program screens are divided into tabs.

The tabs can easily be selected by just tapping them. When a tab is not completely visible or not visible at all, just by dragging the tab row horizontally, the desired tab can be “pulled” in sight and be selected.

⒌Text input and editing

The cursor can be used to enter a specific value or text within an existing input. Just tap at the desired position to do so. The cursor will appear and input will be added there.

⒍ Typing alphanumeric characters vs. special characters

Both alphanumeric characters and special characters can be used throughout the control. A full on-screen alphanumerical keyboard will pop up when required.

When editing a field which is pure numeric, the alphanumeric characters will be “greyed-out” and only the numerical keypad can be used. For fields which enable to use alphanumerical strings, the keyboard is completely available. Special characters as ? % – can be found using the special character button on the left-lower side of the keyboard.

Special characters (like á, à, â, ã, ä, å, æ) are supported by the on screen keyboard by keeping a character (like ‘a’) pressed.

⒎Network

The CNC control optionally can be equipped with a network interface. The network function offers the operators the possibility to import product files directly from the network directories or to export the finished product files to the required network directory.

⒏Keylock function

To prevent for changes to products or programs, the keylock function offers the possibility to lock the control. 

There are two levels of locking the control. Program Lock and Machine Lock.

• In Program Lock, only a product can be selected and executed in Automatic mode.

• In Machine Lock, the machine is locked and the control can not be used.

⒐Manual positioning

On the manual positioning page in Manual mode and Automatic mode a slider at the bottom of the screen can be used to position the axis. The distance moved with the slider determines the speed of the axis. When the slider is released, the axis stops. The buttons at each end of the slider can be used to fine-tune the axis position. When “sliding” the beeper gives feedback that the axis is moving.

⒑Software versions

The version of the software in your control is displayed at the System Information tab in the Machine menu.

Products, the product library

● Introduction

⒈The main view

In Products mode an overview is given of the program library on the control. In this mode a product program can be selected (loaded). After that a program can be modified or executed. Each item in the list consists of a thumbnail of the graphical product (for numerical programs a symbol is shown), its Product ID, the Product Description, the Number of bends in the product, what kind of product it is (Type) and the Date it was last used or modified. 

⒉Product selection

To select a product a single tap will do. The product will be selected and loaded into the memory. From here production can be started by tapping Auto. Also navigation can start through the Products Drawing (if existing), it’s Tool Setup, the Bend Sequence and also into the numerical Program of the product.

⒊New Product, starting a new graphical product

To start a new graphical product tap New Product. 

After New Product is chosen, the programming of a new product starts with its general details like Product ID, Thickness and Material.

⒋New Program, starting a numerical program

To start a new numerical program tap New Program. 

After New Program is chosen, the programming starts with its general details like e.g. Product ID, Thickness and Material. The shown general tab is next to the successive tabs which are ready for programming the first bend.

⒌Edit, Copying and Deleting a product or program

To delete a product in the Products mode select a product by tapping it. It will be selected. After that tap Edit and use Delete. To finally delete it confirm the question. To delete all products and programs at ones, tap Delete All.

To copy a product select a product or program and tap Edit and use Copy. After this the name of the product can be programmed and the copy will be done. The product will appear in the same directory. The copied product will be an exact copy including tool setup and bend 

sequence if available.

⒍ Product Lock/Unlock

The product Lock/Unlock function provides a simple method to prevent accidental changes to finished programs or products. In this way products which have been tuned and found to be good cannot be changed unless the product is unlocked.

When tapping on Edit the Lock Product / Unlock Product feature can be switched for each product or program.

⒎Filter function

To make finding products easier the filter function enables live searches through-out the Products mode. 

When tapping Filter, the filter screen will show. By typing the desired filter string, optionally devided by spaces, the live search will start. 

Optionally a different view can be selected. Also the specific property on which the filter is applied can be changed by using Selection. 

Selections can be done on Product ID or Product Description.

You can either enter a complete name or number or only a part of it. If you enter part of a name and this part occurs in several product names, the control will show all product names that contain that part. It is also possible to enter a combination of name and number.

See also section 1.6.2 about Filtering and ‘Live search’.

⒏ Change directory

To change to a different product directory, or to add a new product directory, tap Change Directory. When an obsolete directory must be removed, select the directory and tap Remove Directory. When a desired directory is reached, tap Select to jump back to the Products screen which will show all products in the directory. The active local directory name is displayed in the header.

⒐Network product selection (only available when Network option has been installed)

When a networkdirectory has been mounted in the control this mounted directory can be found under Network. Network is available next to the Product directory when using change directory. The name of the mounted drive indicates availability for product selection and storage. 

The network directories can be navigated thru in the directory browser. Directories can be selected, added and removed and products can be selected. When a desired directory is reached, tap Select to jump back to the Products screen which will show all products in the directory. The network directory is now the active local directory. Its name is displayed in the header of the screen.

Product drawing

● General product properties

To start a new product drawing, choose New Product in the product library

When a new product drawing is started a screen with general product properties appears.  First these properties, general data, should be set before starting with the product drawing.

●2D product drawing

⒈ Introduction

After entering the general product data the drawing screen appears.

In the upper information row you will find the information about product ID, product description, inside/outside dimensions selection and actual product directory.

Now you can create the profile of the product. It is possible by using your fingers to tap and create quickly the product in ‘sketch’ mode. After that the real product dimensions and corresponding values can be entered by using the keyboard. 

It is also possible to directly enter the angle of the bend followed by the length of that side by using the keyboard and the Enter button. The properties are prompted in the input bar of the screen on the keyboard panel. This procedure continues until the product has the desired profile. 

The product data can be changed by selecting Product Properties. The properties of the product angles and lines can be changed by selecting Properties.

●Line properties

⒈Introduction

When the cursor is on one of the product lines it is possible to change the properties of that line by selecting Properties.

● Projection

Inside the window with line properties, the following projection properties can be programmed:

Horizontal projection

The horizontal distance a line must measure, regardless of its angle value.

Vertical projection

The vertical distance a line must measure, regardless of its angle value.

● Precision selection

When the drawing cursor is on a line segment, you can select the level of precision for this line. Enter the properties and go to the parameter Precision.

● Bend properties

⒈Drawing a product graphically is simply programming the line length, angle value, next line length, etc. till the product has its required shape. The bends in the product have their standard or specific properties. The bend properties can be set by selecting the bend and 

selecting Properties.

⒉ Large radius: Bumping

If a tool with large radius is not available, the bumping method can be chosen. With this method, a large radius in a product is obtained by a series of slight bends in succession.

⒊Hem bends

When creating the required profile of the product with a hem bend it is possible to first prepare a flange with a prebend angle, place the cursor on the bend and select Properties. The bend properties can be programmed in the pop-up window.

Tool configuration

● Introduction

● Standard procedure

When the function Tool Setup has been activated, the screen shows the active machine setup. Both punch and die can be selected from the tool library.

● Tool selection

When selecting tools, both upper and lower tool (resp. punch and die) can be selected from the tool library.

Tap Select Punch or Select Die to change tools to the configuration. 

To change the filtering, Selection can be used to switch in between ID and Description.

Bend Sequence

● Introduction

When a tool configuration is available, the bend simulation can be started to determine a bend sequence for the active product. The bend sequence determination is started by tapping the navigation button Bend Sequence.

The bendsequence determination can be realised by automatic calculation starting with the bent product. It is also possible determining the sequence manually starting with the flat product, not using the automatic calculation.

In the bendsequence screen the product appears between the tools in a possible last bend position. When starting the simulation, the product is shown in its final state. In order to obtain a bend sequence, the product must be unfolded from the last bend to the first. This can be done with the available function keys.

When it is prefered to start with a unfolded product to manually chose the bendsequence, this can be chosen under the command button Bend Sequence.

● Bend selector

Within the bendsequence screen bends can be selected and navigated thru with the bend selector. In the top of the screen the number of bends is indicated with preliminary bend selectors. After completing the bend sequence, these are all colored, active and show a turn indicator.

● Unbend product

In order to generate a CNC-program the bend sequence must be known. There are two ways to achieve this:

• Press the function key Compute. The control will automatically compute the quickest possible bend sequence for this product.

• Press the function key Unbend repeatedly, until the product is completely unbent.

●Manual selection of bends

Normally the control proposes the next (un)bend in a sequence. This is computed by the control depending on the programmed assignments and of course the product shape and applied tools. For various reasons it can be necessary to choose another bend line for the bend sequence. The bend sequence can be changed/determined through the function Manual Selection. When the function Manual Selection has been choosen, a new window is opened.

⑴Shift gauge

The control automatically computes at each bend the X axes and R axes positions.

IIt takes into account the values of the option assignments and searches for a solution without collision of the fingers with the product. In order to be able to choose alternative positions, you can move the fingers manually by selecting the function Shift Gauge. A new window appears.

● Assignments

⒈ Introduction

The Assignments are parameters with which the bend sequence computation is controlled.The assignments screen is opened from the tool configuration screen with the function key Assignm.

Automatic bend sequence computation works with several conditions in order to find an optimum between a minimum production time, handling possibilities without product/machine and product/tool collision.

In order to find one of the optimums you must program several computation parameters with which the bend sequence can be computed. Some of these parameters are machine-related and some are related to product accuracy, handling possibilities and turn times.

⒉ Assignments – general

⒊Assignments – Backgauge possibilities

⒌ Show bend sequence

When the function Show Bend Sequence has been pressed, a graphical overview of the bend sequence is shown.

This option can be called at any time after the first unbend has been made. The graphical overview displays the determined bends as well as the not yet determined bends (question mark sign).

Each image in the overview can separately be enlarged or reduced with the available functions. The images can also be rotated by finger movement.

Product programming

● Introduction

To edit an existing CNC program, select a product in the Products overview and select the navigation button Program. When starting a new program, select New Program and after giving in the main product properties, the system will automatically switch to Program.

In both cases, a screen as shown above should appear. Programming and changing data is done in the same way for both modes.

●Bend parameters

The parameters of every bend are listed on one page and can be scrolled thru. Below the specific bend paramaters are explained.

Bend methods

● Bend functions

Auxiliary functions of the bending can be programmed scrolling down the bend parameters page.

●Special edit remarks

After changing program data the control will not automatically calculate:

1 Force

2 Decompression

3 Crowning device setting

4 X-axis position correction

Parameters 1 through 3 are only automatically recalculated if the parameter Auto 

Computations Edit (see the Settings mode) has been enabled.

Parameter 4 is only automatically recalculated if the parameter Active Bend Allowance Table (see the Settings mode) has been activated. Corrections on the X-axis position can be edited with the parameter Corr.X (per bend) and G-corr.X (for all the bends of the active program) in the Automatic mode.

There is one exception: 

When the parameter Bend Method is changed the Force and Decompression will be adjusted automatically.

Automatic mode

● Introduction

In auto mode with the active program, production can be started. After entering Auto, the Start button can be pressed and production can begin.

The automatic mode executes the program automatically bend by bend after pushing the Start button. When selecting a different product in Products mode, which is in the library and has already been used for production, one can immediately switch to Auto and start production. Every time after a different bending program is selected you must check your tools and tool positions in your machine. This is also indicated with a ‘check tools’ warning message when you enter the automatic mode.

Automatic mode

● Introduction

In auto mode with the active program, production can be started. After entering Auto, the Start button can be pressed and production can begin.

The automatic mode executes the program automatically bend by bend after pushing the Start button. When selecting a different product in Products mode, which is in the library and has 

already been used for production, one can immediately switch to Auto and start production. Every time after a different bending program is selected you must check your tools and tool positions in your machine. This is also indicated with a ‘check tools’ warning message when you enter the automatic mode.

In the header of the Auto mode screen the selected product is displayed along with the product description. At the top of the screen the bend selector shows the available bends in the program. By tapping the prefered bend the bend can be selected. The start button can be pressed to start from this bend. The details of the selected bend are shown in the available views.

⒈Auto mode, parameter explanation

Following is a list of the available parameters in Auto mode.

● View modes

The auto mode screen is offering a diversity of views which, depending on ones production methode, can be chosen. When selecting auto mode for the first time, the main screen will appear. On the right side of the screen the available view modes can be selected.

Following view modes are available:

●Bumping correction

In case of a selected bumping bend a general correction for a bumping bend can be entered. This function can be activated when the cursor is on the parameter for angle correction (‘corr. α1/α2’). It is only available if a product is loaded that contains a bumping bend.

With Bumping Corr. a new window appears in which the correction can be entered.

Manual mode

●Introduction

In manual mode you program the parameters for one bending. This mode is useful for testing, for calibration and for single bends.

Manual mode is independent from Automatic mode and can be programmed independently of the programs in memory. In the top of the Manual mode screen you can find the Y-axis and the main X-axis current position. All other axes and functions are listed one by one in the two columns below.

When these Y axis value or the X-axis value is highlighted it means that the reference markers of these axes have been found and that they are positioned correctly referred to their programmed values.

⒈Manual mode, parameter explanation

Following is a list of the available parameters in Manual mode.

● Programming parameters & Views

Parameters in manual mode can be programmed one by one. The effect of the parameter on other parameters can be computed either automatically or manually. This depends on the selected mode on the left-hand side of the screen. The Auto Computation switch enable to select between:

●Macro

With Macro the control switches to a new view with only large axes values on the screen. This view can be used when working a little remote from the control, still able to read the axes values.

●Manual movement of the axes

⒈ Movement procedure

To move an axis to a specific position manually, the slider at the bottom of the screen, can be used. After tapping Manual Pos in the main screen of Manual Mode, the following screen appears:

⒉Teach

To teach the control, taking over a position found by manual moving an axis, a simple procedure can be used.

When you have moved an axis to a certain position with the slider, you may want to store this position. To do so, tap the axis name in the Programmed column. The actual axis value (left side) will appear in the programmed axis field (right side).

●Corrections

In this view mode the corrections for the bend programmed in Manual mode are shown. Since this is always a single bend, a single line will be shown.

The programmed corrections can be verified here similarly to the corrections in Automode. Entries in the correction database and for initial correction can also be monitored in this screen. Since these are of significant influence on the bend result, access to the database can 

be used to modify. This can also be usefull while finding appropriate corrections with testbending and storing the found results in the database.

●Diagnostics

When tapping Diagnostics, the control switches to a new view which shows axes states. In this window, the current state of available axes can be observed. This screen can also be active while the control is started. As such, it can be used to monitor the control behaviour during a bend cycle.

Settings

●Introduction

The Settings mode of the control, which can be found in the navigation panel, gives access to all kind of settings which influence the programming of new products and programs.Default values and specific constraints can be set.

The settings are divided across several tabs logically organizing the different subjects. In the following sections the available tabs and detailed settings are discussed.

Navigation through the tabs can be done by just tapping them and selecting the required item to adjust. Since there can be more tabs than the screen can show in one view, dragging the tabs in horizontal direction enables to view and select all available tabs.

●General

Select the required tab and tap the parameter to be changed. When parameters have a numerical or alphanumerical value, the keyboard will appear to enter the desired value. When the setting or parameter can be selected from a list, the list will appear and selection can be 

done by tapping. Longer lists allow scrolling vertically to check the available items.

●Materials

In this tab, materials with their properties can be programmed. Existing materials can be edited, new materials can be added or existing materials deleted. A maximum of 99 materials can be programmed on the control.

●Backup / restore

This tab offers the possibilities to backup and restore products, tools as well as settings and tables. When products or tools originate from older control models, both for products and tools an import function can also be found here.Tools and products can be backupped and restored according to the following procedures. 

The procedures for saving or reading data are similar for all types of backup media: e.g. network or USB stick