A crowning table—also called a crowning system—is used on press brakes to keep bending results accurate and consistent across the entire length of the workpiece. When a press brake bends metal, the machine’s ram and bed naturally deflect slightly in the center due to bending force. This causes parts to bend more in the middle than at the ends, leading to uneven angles.

The crowning table fixes this problem.

It works by creating a controlled, adjustable “opposite deflection” in the press brake’s lower die area. The table is built with wedges or mechanical blocks that can be raised or lowered. By adjusting these wedges, the operator adds a small upward curve in the center of the bed. This compensates for the machine’s natural downward flex during bending.

Modern crowning systems can be manual or CNC-controlled. Manual systems use hand adjustments, while CNC crowning automatically sets the correct compensation based on bend length, material, and tonnage.

When properly set, the crowning table ensures the entire bend—from end to end—has the same angle. This improves accuracy, reduces rework, and keeps parts consistent, especially on long sheets of metal.