Forming machine

Forming machine comprising a rotatingly drivable gripping device for gripping a forming tool and a material plate to be formed, a movable lower slide, a first driving means for moving the lower slide, a first detector for determining the position of said lower slide with respect to a first reference, a movable upper slide mounted on the lower slide, a second driving means for moving the upper slide, a forming roller, a holder mounting said forming roller and supported on the upper slide, a second detector for determining the position of said upper slide, with respect to a second reference, a control unit controlling the movement of the forming roller by actuating both said driving means, said control unit being connected to said detectors, wherein a memory is connected to the control unit for storing position values of said slides, the control unit being provided to control the movement of the forming roller in dependence on the position values stored in said memory, wherein the forming roller is coupled to the second driving means through a spring means with a given spring characteristic;

• and a third detector for determining the compression of said spring means, said third detector being connected to the control unit, wherein the control unit operates the second driving means to withdraw the upper slide when a preselected spring compression is exceeded as detected by said third detector.