Amada HFE3 170-3

The Amada HFE3 170-3 is a third-generation servo-electric press brake in Amada's HFE series — a platform that has been refined through multiple generations since Amada pioneered the commercial servo-electric press brake concept in the late 1990s. With 170 metric tons (1,700 kN / 187 US tons) of press force and a 3,050 mm (120 in) bending length, the HFE3 brings servo-electric precision and energy efficiency to the mid-to-heavy tonnage class that previously belonged exclusively to hydraulics.

The HFE3's servo-electric drive is the defining characteristic of the machine. Instead of a hydraulic pump and cylinders, an AC servo motor drives a ball screw mechanism that moves the ram with direct mechanical precision. The result is Y-axis positional accuracy of +/- 0.0001 mm (0.000004 in) — significantly tighter than what a hydraulic system can deliver even with linear encoder feedback. That level of precision matters for high-tolerance sheet metal work: electronic enclosures with tight joint tolerances, medical device housings, aerospace brackets where angle deviation translates directly to assembly problems downstream.

The HFE3 third-generation platform refined the servo-electric drive mechanism for higher reliability and improved thermal stability compared to earlier HFE generations. The ball screw drive eliminates hydraulic oil, hydraulic filters, oil coolers, and the associated maintenance tasks. Energy consumption is dramatically lower — the motor only draws power during the actual stroke and during deceleration, regenerating energy back into the drive during the return stroke. Amada's published figures show 50–60% lower energy consumption versus equivalent hydraulic machines.

Ram speed on the HFE3 reaches 150 mm/s approach and return, with a programmable bending speed from 1 to 25 mm/s. The ability to program bending speed allows fine-tuning for different materials: slower speeds on thick stainless reduce springback variability; faster speeds on thin aluminum keep cycle times competitive. The press stroke is 200 mm with an open height of 480 mm (18.9 in).

The standard back gauge on the HFE3 170-3 is a 6-axis servo-driven system (X, X2, R, R2, Z1, Z2) with a depth range of 650 mm and speed up to 900 mm/s. Amada's back gauge design integrates with the AMNC-3i control's bend sequence planning to minimize repositioning steps on complex multi-bend programs. The AMNC-3i is Amada's third-generation touchscreen CNC, running on a 15-inch color display with 3D solid modeling, automatic bend sequence calculation, and tool layout simulation that shows the operator exactly how to set up tooling before the first bend.

Angle correction is handled by Amada's AFH (Angle Finder Head) option, which measures the actual bend angle acoustically through the tooling without touching the part. Like TRUMPF's ACB system and Bystronic's OAM, it eliminates test bends on new material batches by detecting springback characteristics and programming compensating strokes automatically.

New HFE3 170-3 machines typically run $220,000–$340,000 depending on back gauge configuration, angle measurement options, tooling packages, and regional pricing. Used HFE/HFE2 machines in comparable tonnage trade between $80,000 and $180,000 depending on generation, hours, and condition. The HFE3 competes directly with the TRUMPF TruBend 5130 and Bystronic Xpert 150 in this tonnage class. Amada's servo-electric drive is the differentiating factor — the precision advantage is real and measurable, but comes at a higher initial cost than hydraulic alternatives. Specs are sourced from Amada published technical data, dealer listings, and equipment reseller databases.