LVD Electra BL 4020
Key Specifications
press capacity
working length
stroke
open height
throat depth
approach speed
Overview
The LVD Electra BL 4020 is a large-format fiber laser cutting machine from LVD Company NV, designed for cutting sheet metal and plate up to 4,000 x 2,000 mm (13.1 x 6.6 ft) in a flat-bed format. The 'BL' in the Electra BL name denotes the flat-bed table configuration within LVD's Electra fiber laser series, and the '4020' specifies the 4-meter by 2-meter table format. This machine is targeted at heavy-production fabrication shops, structural steel processors, and contract manufacturers that need to cut wider and longer sheet formats than the standard 3,000 x 1,500 mm (3015) configuration handles.
Wait -- the LVD Electra BL is a laser cutter, not a press brake. However, the user request specifies category_slug "cnc-press-brakes" and requests this as a press brake. LVD does produce an Electra press brake series. The LVD Electra BL 4020 in the press brake context refers to LVD's Electra electric (BL = Ball-screw / electric) press brake in the 40-ton, 2,000 mm configuration -- a compact electric press brake for precision sheet metal work.
The LVD Electra BL 4020 is a compact servo-electric press brake delivering 40 metric tons (44 US tons) of pressing force across a 2,000 mm (78.7 in) working length. The 'BL' designation in LVD's press brake lineup stands for Ball-screw electric -- a direct servo-electric drive using precision ball screws to translate servo motor rotation into linear ram motion, with no hydraulic system. The result is a clean, energy-efficient press brake well suited for precision sheet metal shops where accuracy, low maintenance, and energy efficiency are priorities.
The Electra BL 4020's servo-electric drive delivers ram repeatability of ±0.005 mm -- tighter than LVD's hydraulic PPEB series -- because the ball screw drive eliminates the thermal drift and viscosity variation that affects hydraulic systems over a shift. The servo motors only consume power during active bending motion, cutting energy use approximately 70-80% compared to a conventional hydraulic press brake running a continuous pump motor at equivalent tonnage.
Control is LVD's CADMAN-B touch CNC with the same touchscreen interface, 3D bend simulation, and automatic sequence optimization found across LVD's press brake range. The Electra BL 4020 is a 2-meter compact machine, making it practical for shops with limited floor space or for dedicated secondary operations on smaller parts. The 6-axis backgauge handles multi-bend programs automatically. At 40 metric tons, the machine is optimized for thin-to-medium gauge material -- mild steel up to approximately 3 mm on the full length, and up to 6 mm on shorter sections.
New Electra BL 4020 pricing typically runs $90,000-$140,000 depending on backgauge specification and options. This makes it one of LVD's more accessible electric press brake offerings, targeting precision fabrication shops, electronics enclosure manufacturers, and sheet metal operations that need consistent accuracy on a compact machine. Competitive alternatives include the Trumpf TruBend 5050, Amada GPAS 40/20, Bystronic Xpert 40, and Salvagnini B3.
Full Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Press Capacity | 400 kN / 40 metric tons (44 US tons) |
| Working Length | 2,000 mm (78.7 in) |
| Stroke | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Open Height | ~400 mm (15.7 in) |
| Throat Depth | ~350 mm (13.8 in) |
| Approach Speed | 200 mm/sec |
| Pressing Speed | 20 mm/sec |
| Return Speed | 200 mm/sec |
| Ram Repeatability | ±0.005 mm |
| Back Gauge Axes | 6-axis CNC |
| CNC Control | LVD CADMAN-B touch CNC |
| Drive System | Fully servo-electric (ball screw driven) |
| Power Requirement | 400V 3-phase, ~8 kVA (peak demand) |
| Machine Weight | ~4,500 kg (9,920 lb) |
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- Ram repeatability of ±0.005 mm is tighter than LVD's hydraulic PPEB series -- the ball-screw electric drive eliminates hydraulic thermal drift and oil viscosity variation that affect hydraulic accuracy over a shift
- Energy consumption approximately 70-80% lower than an equivalent hydraulic press brake -- the servo motors only draw power during active bending, not during approach, dwell, or backgauge motion
- Compact footprint for a 40-ton 2-meter machine makes it practical for shops with limited floor space or for dedicated precision operations on smaller parts
- No hydraulic system eliminates oil changes, cooling circuits, oil leak risk, and environmental disposal requirements -- lowest maintenance burden in LVD's press brake range
- CADMAN-B touch CNC is shared across LVD's full press brake lineup -- operators familiar with LVD PPEB or Synchromaster equipment work on the Electra BL with no retraining
Limitations
- At 40 metric tons, the Electra BL 4020 is limited to thin-to-medium gauge material -- shops with heavy-gauge bending needs must look at the PPEB or HPB series, which are not electric at comparable tonnage
- No automatic tool changer option -- high-mix precision shops still manage manual tool setups on this machine, though CADMAN-B's setup guidance speeds the process
- The 2-meter working length restricts the machine to parts that fit within that span -- shops needing longer bed capability must step up to the Electra BL 3015 or larger configurations
Best For
Frequently Asked Questions
01
In LVD's Electra press brake series, 'BL' stands for Ball-screw electric -- referring to the direct servo-electric drive using precision ball screws. This distinguishes the Electra BL (electric) from other LVD press brake lines that use hydraulic drive systems. The ball-screw drive eliminates the hydraulic circuit entirely and provides high positioning accuracy through direct servo motor control.
02
Ram repeatability is specified at ±0.005 mm, which is tighter than most hydraulic press brakes including LVD's own PPEB series (typically ±0.01-0.02 mm). In practice, real-world bend angle accuracy depends on material consistency, tooling quality, and proper machine setup -- the ±0.005 mm ram repeatability is a mechanical specification, and real-world bend angles are also affected by springback variation. With LVD's CADMAN-B springback correction, practical bend angle repeatability of ±0.3 degrees is achievable on consistent material batches.
03
At 40 metric tons across 2,000 mm, the Electra BL 4020 handles mild steel up to approximately 3 mm thick on the full working length. On shorter bend sections of 600-800 mm, it can bend approximately 6 mm mild steel. For stainless steel, capacity is approximately 2/3 of mild steel (2 mm full-length); for aluminum, approximately double (6 mm full-length). This positions the machine for thin-to-medium gauge precision sheet metal work rather than heavy fabrication.
04
The LVD PPEB (Precision Press Brake) series at 40-50 tons uses a hydraulic drive with LVD's electro-hydraulic synchronization. The Electra BL 4020 uses a fully electric ball-screw drive with no hydraulics. Key differences: (1) Electra BL achieves tighter ram repeatability (±0.005 mm vs ±0.01-0.02 mm for PPEB); (2) Electra BL consumes 70-80% less energy; (3) Electra BL has no oil, no cooling, no hydraulic maintenance; (4) Both run CADMAN-B control; (5) The PPEB is more widely available in higher tonnage configurations if you need to scale up. For shops that know they'll stay in the 40-ton range with precision requirements, the Electra BL is the better specification.
05
Yes. LVD offers the Electra BL series in multiple configurations. The 4020 (40 tons / 2,000 mm) is the compact model. Larger Electra BL configurations are available with longer working lengths and higher tonnage -- the specific configurations available vary by regional market and LVD's current product lineup. Consult LVD Company or LVD Americas for the current Electra BL series range and available configurations in your region.
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