Cincinnati Incorporated To Release Load Calculator App, Compatible with All Press Brakes
Cincinnati Incorporated (CI), a U.S.-based, build-to-order machine tool manufacturer, has developed and released a load calculator app that lets users figure out the press brake tonnage required to air bend a certain piece of metal. The app, called CI Load Calc, is available now for iOS and Android, and it’s compatible with all makes and models of press brakes and press brake tooling.
In metal fabrication, a common thing operators have to do is calculate the air bend tonnage that’s needed to form a part on a press brake. CI has had a load calculator on its website for years, and the consistent and impressive traffic warranted the development of the company’s first mobile app.
“The load calculator page on our website is one of our most-viewed pages,” said Matt Garbarino, Director of Marketing Communications at CI. “It’s simple, helpful and manufacturer-independent. If you’re trying to buy a press brake and you need tonnage ideas, or if you’re looking at a job and seeing if your current equipment can handle it, that’s what the load calculator is for.”
The beauty of the load calculator is its simplicity. Press brake operators only need to select a material, thickness, bend length, then enter the vee die opening. The app automatically gives the inside bend radius and the minimum flange. After entering the four parameters, users have their formability factor and required tonnage, either in metric or imperial. CI Load Calc also saves previous entries, and users can access that history at any time.
“We did a lot of research before launching into app development, and we found that similar tools out there are extremely clunky,” Garbarino said. “Plus, they default to metric and do not allow the user to easily select which units they prefer. We let you use either measurement system. The app is easy to use—everything is done in just a few screens—but a lot of thought went into the user experience. As a result, anyone on the shop floor who’s dealing with press brakes will think CI Load Calc is pretty slick.”
