What should I check on the tooling every shift?
Five things, in under a minute with the tooling installed: punch and die alignment, clamp condition, die seating, ram tilt and the first-piece angle. All five are visible without instruments, and all five show up in the part before they show up anywhere else.
How do I check alignment quickly?
Close the ram on light paper or shim stock at four points along the die. Even pinch marks mean the tooling is parallel; a heavy mark at one end means tilt. Then bend one piece and measure the angle at both ends and the middle.
| Check | How | Pass looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Punch and die alignment | Paper pinch at 4 points | Even pinch marks |
| Clamp condition | Visual, plus tang seating | No wear steps, tang fully home |
| Die seating | Straightedge along the die | No rock, no gap at the holder |
| Ram tilt | First-piece angle, both ends | Angles match within tolerance |
| Deflection | Angle in the middle | Middle angle within tolerance |
What does each failure look like in the part?
Alignment problems leave fingerprints. A heavy paper pinch at one end becomes an angle difference end to end; a rocking die becomes a mark on one face; a worn clamp becomes an angle that drifts through the shift with no obvious cause.
- Tilt: angle differs between the two ends of the bend.
- Deflection: angle opens in the middle of a long bend.
- Worn clamp: punch sits high, angle drifts through the batch.
- Loose die: one face marked, tooling moves under load.
When do I stop and fix it rather than adjust?
When the symptom returns after a correction, or when the tooling itself is the cause. Chasing alignment with shims on worn clamping or a scored holder wastes the shift; the wear parts have to be replaced.
Related technical pages
Die installation and adjustment
The full installation sequence and the adjustments available.
Common setup mistakes
The six mistakes this check is designed to catch.
Bend troubleshooting
Symptom-to-cause tables for angle, force and marking problems.
Regrinding guide
When worn tooling should come off for regrind instead of adjustment.
Next step
Ask us about replacement clamps and wear parts for your tooling system before the shift that needs them.
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