# Press Brake Setup and First Piece Inspection Checklist > Source: https://netray.co/tools/press-brake-setup-and-first-piece-inspection-checklist > Publisher: Netray (netray.co), AI and integration engineering for ERP and manufacturing systems. > Section: Free Tools ## Short answer A shop floor checklist for press brake job setup, first piece verification and release to production. ## Category mes-shop-floor ## Industry Sheet Metal Fabrication ## Audience - Press brake operator - Shop supervisor - Quality inspector ## Tool **Kind:** checklist **Groups:** #### Before setup **Items:** **Text:** Traveler, drawing and bend program are the current revision **Critical:** true **Text:** Material, alloy, temper and thickness match the traveler **Critical:** true Grain direction and orientation to the bend line are confirmed Tooling list from the program matches the tools pulled Blanks are deburred and free from sharp edges and oil #### Machine and tooling setup **Items:** **Text:** Machine safety guarding, light curtains or laser guards are functional **Critical:** true **Text:** Punch and die are clean, undamaged and seated and clamped correctly **Critical:** true V opening and punch radius match the program **Text:** Tonnage per metre is within the tooling and machine limits **Critical:** true Back gauge fingers are positioned and calibrated to the program Crowning is set for the part length and material Part supports or followers are positioned for long or heavy parts #### First piece **Items:** **Text:** First piece is bent from production material, not scrap of a different lot **Critical:** true **Text:** Bend angle is measured on every bend with a calibrated protractor or gauge **Critical:** true **Text:** Flange lengths and critical dimensions are checked against the drawing **Critical:** true Bend sequence produces no collision and no distortion of holes No cracking on the outside of the bends No surface marking or die lines beyond what the drawing allows Corrections are saved to the bend program and noted on the traveler #### Release and run **Items:** **Text:** First piece is signed off by the operator and inspector **Critical:** true Inspection frequency for the run is stated, for example every 25th part Measuring tools used are within calibration date Nonconforming parts are tagged and segregated Actual setup time and run quantity are recorded for the job Tooling is cleaned and returned to the correct rack after the job **Scoring Note:** Complete before the run and again after any tooling or material change. All critical items must be checked before the first piece is released. This is a shop floor aid and does not replace your safety procedures or machine manual. ## Content **Intro:** A disciplined setup and first piece check prevents the most expensive press brake failure: running a full batch at the wrong angle. This checklist follows the order an operator works in, from paperwork to release. **Sections:** #### How to use it **Body:** Print the checklist or complete it on a tablet at the machine. Work through each group in order, mark items as you confirm them, and do not release the run until every critical item is done. Export the completed list as a PDF and attach it to the traveler or the job record so a quality auditor can see what was verified and by whom. **Bullets:** - Use it at every setup, not only for new parts. - Repeat the first piece checks after any tool or lot change. - Log actual setup time to improve future estimates. #### Why first piece matters **Body:** Springback varies with the material lot, thickness within tolerance and grain direction. A program that worked last month can give a different angle on a new coil. Measuring every bend on the first piece, adjusting, and saving the correction to the program stops that drift from becoming a batch of scrap. For regulated work, the first piece record is also evidence of process control. #### Safety and tooling checks **Body:** Guarding, tool clamping and tonnage limits are not optional items. Tooling has a rated maximum load per unit length, and exceeding it can damage the tool or the machine. Confirm tool seating and clamping before approaching the part, and never bypass guarding to speed up a setup. Follow your site lockout and safety rules in addition to this list. #### Common mistakes **Body:** Operators often skip angle measurement on secondary bends once the first one looks right, run first pieces on scrap of a different thickness, or forget to update the program with the correction. Also common is leaving the traveler on an old revision, which results in bending to the previous design. **Cta:** If setup records and first piece sign-offs live on paper, we can help move them into your ERP or MES shop floor screens. **Faq:** #### How many first pieces should be checked? **Answer:** At minimum one, measured on all bends. Many shops require a second piece to confirm the correction before running. Follow your quality procedure and customer requirements. #### How often should parts be checked during a run? **Answer:** It depends on the part risk and customer requirement. Common approaches are a check at a fixed interval, such as every 25 or 50 parts, plus a check after any interruption, tool change or new material lot. #### What tool measures bend angle? **Answer:** Digital protractors, angle gauges, templates or a coordinate measuring system. Use a calibrated tool with resolution suitable for the angle tolerance, and measure at the same location each time. #### Why record setup time? **Answer:** Setup is a major cost on small lots. Recording actual setup against the estimate improves future quotes and shows where tooling or program preparation can be improved. ## Search terms press brake setup checklist, press brake first piece inspection, press brake operator checklist, brake setup sheet, bend angle inspection checklist, press brake safety checklist, first article sheet metal bending, press brake job setup --- Talk to an engineer: https://netray.co/contact?intent=erp_ai | Machine catalog: https://netray.co/agent/catalog.json