Is there a best practice or rule for sectionalizing press brake punches/dies?

[Garwood]

I have a 65 ton/ 54" Verson that Freightliner updated in the 90's with OSHA air controls. I use it for running tools like a stamping press for the most part.

I'm working on a small product that needs several 30ish inch 90 bends in 16g 5052. I rummaged through a friends spare tooling pile yesterday and came out with a couple 6' - 8' long American style soft punch and die sections that will work for me.

I can just whack off what I need and be good, but I would like to be smarter about it if I can.

What should I take into consideration to figure out what lengths I need?

 

[Kustomizer]

I cut mine to 54" then saved the rest until I had a job for some of it, you can always shorten the 54 if you have to but I never did

 

[Steve]

I tooled up a new 8' brake twenty some odd years ago. I ordered 10' long tooling and cut 2' off every punch & die. On the 24" common punch, I cut one each of the following:

1/4"
1/2"
3/4"
1"
2"
3"
6"
10-1/2"

This gave me the maximum adjustments for whatever the job requires.
I did cut some other lengths over the years from the 8' punch, you could do the same for your 30"ish parts.