Press brake back gauge finger

An apparatus for bending a metal sheet, said apparatus comprising:

• a. an at least one die wherein the die supports the metal sheet from underneath and has an impression;
• b. an at least one tool wherein the tool has a protrusion that is of a shape and of a size to engage the impression;
• and
• c. an at least one pair of press brake fingers each finger comprising:
• a support member comprising an electrically insulated support having a top surface and an electrically conductive back plane, and
• an insulator shield for mechanically protecting the electrically insulated support, the insulator shield disposed on said top surface of said electrically insulated support wherein said insulator shield is electrically isolated from said electrically insulated support and said conductive back plane and wherein the tool engages the metal sheet, supported by the die and forms a bend in the sheet similar to the impression of the die.

A method for bending a work piece, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. inserting a work piece into a press brake machine wherein the press brake machine comprises an at least one pair of fingers each finger comprising:
• a support member comprising an electrically insulated support having a top surface and an electrically conductive back plane, and
• an insulator shield for mechanically protecting the electrically insulated support, the insulator shield disposed on said top surface of said electrically insulated support wherein said insulator shield is electrically isolated from said electrically insulated support and said conductive back plane;
• b. aligning said work piece by manipulating the work piece to contact both conductive back planes of said pair of fingers;
• and
• c. bending the work piece within the press brake machine.