4 things you need to know about a brake press operator job

Understand the machine

To succeed as a brake press operator, professionals need to understand the machines and the various processes it performs. There are many different types of press brake machines, each with varied capabilities and limitations. Bake press types include hydraulic, mechanical and CNS brakes. It’s important that operators fully understand these machines and the differences between each, as they will need to know how to warm up the machine, provide maintenance, and make sure the machine is always shutdown correctly after use. Understanding the machines and being confident using them during operation times are crucial for success as a press brake operator.

Know your tools

It’s essential that you understand all the different tooling involved when operating a press brake. Lacking clarity around tooling selection and the purpose of different tools can lead to errors, which can cause further problems when bending materials. For example, if you select the wrong tool, it may cause you to create the wrong radius in the final part. Therefore, the role of a brake press operator requires outstanding attention to detail and knowledge of how to use different tooling for the various types of bending, such as coining, air bending and bottom bending. If you want to become an in-demand press brake operator, you need to be comfortable applying these tools for forming the metals and to understand the proper procedures when tools break or wear down.

Master the drawings

CAD drawings and blueprints are a key area of brake press operations. It’s important that brake press operator professionals understand how to read both CAD and mechanical drawings, and have the ability to work from precise tolerances in various materials, such as stainless steel, aluminum and carbon. Technical engineers and architects create the blueprints using symbols and abbreviations, providing details about the project. Understanding the relationship between brake press operations and mechanical drawings is key for ensuring an efficient manufacturing process. When you understand the blueprints as well as the various tools, you’ll have a great chance of succeeding as a brake press operator.

Are you looking for your next brake press operator job?

The role of a brake press operator is a great career choice for the right person. It gives professionals the chance to learn about new materials and build on their problem-solving skills. At TRS Craft, we have an excellent team of recruiters with years of experience in recruiting the top talent into brake press operator roles. We’re passionate about helping candidates find roles within the construction, manufacturing, fabrication and logistics sectors. Contact us today if you would like more information about brake press operator jobs.