Hydraulic ram

G

Guy Thomas

Joined
Feb 1, 2000
Messages
1,370
I am set on building a hydraulic press but I am a seriously lacking in information on hydraulic systems. About hydraulic cylinders, it seems that rams with 5" bores and about an 8" stroke seemed to be the favored size. Is there a particular reason for this size? would a 4" bore do as well?

Since I have no hydraulic experience, other than using a press for forging, should I get some reference material? Maybe Dr. Batson's plans for hydraulic presses?

Guy Thomas
 
Guy: I just built a press this year. Feel free to email me direct or you can call me @ 508 999 7090 ( before 8:00pm est)and I can walk you through it. You can see what Bertha looks like on my photopoint. Most of the hydraulics was from Northern and the ram was from Surplus Supply 4 1/2 x 8 for $124.
 
Guy, You are going to love a press. I think you need more than an 8" ram though. The dies take up some room and you dont want to limit yourself on the size of the billet. I know because mine only has 8" of travel although it has a 24" ram. Im going to shorten it so I can press a 12" billet if I wish. Get a 16" or 18" ram. You dont have to use it all. Get a 5" dia. so you have more power potential. Northern has everything you need.
 
Thats a good link for the formulas, thanks!

George, I will definitely correspond with you on this. I've been looking at the pictures of your press with great interst. How is it working out? I've only used a press that was built on a H-frame plan. The I-beam set up looks like it might give you better access to the press. This is a project that may take a while as I will have to collect the components as money allows.

Bruce, when you say get the 5" bore because it has greater potential, do you mean it has more pressing power due to it's size when working with pressures around 1500 psi? (I would think, but I may be wrong, that as the bore gets smaller line pressure would have to go up in order to develop the same amount of pressing power.)

Lastly, does Northern have a web site, or contact info for a catalog?

Guy Thomas
 
http://www.northerntool.com/
Making damascus is more addictive than making knives. The press works great. But if I build other one I would go with a big cylinder like Bruce B. said. Ou! Ou! Ou! more power. I have a excel spread sheet with a list of hydraulic parts that you will need.
 
I can help with all the calculations and any parts you need. What type of tonnage do you require? How fast would you like your press to run? If you know what parts you need I could help you find them, or need help with the design, my number is (740) 377-9777.

http://www.phchydraulics.com

Jeff Wheeler
 
A 5" cylinder is great. They develop about 22-25 ton pressure all acording to where the pop off valve is set. Only thing better than a 5" is a 6"
 
It depends what pressure the system is running at. Typical operating pressures are around 3,000 PSI. Enerpac has some nice 10,000 PSI cylinders that would be good for a smaller application with just as much tonnage. How much space do you have for a press? You can get a nice old press cheap and make it match your specifications. Do you already have a hydraulic power unit. If not, it's not hard to build your own. The only reference material you need is an industrial hydraulics manual. Vickers, Rexroth.. all the major distributors have good ones. Don't buy a new one though, they are over priced.

http://www.phchydraulics.com
 
Jeff Wheeler
did you see just how old this thread is?
im not sure Guy needs the help anylonger :)
 
I noticed. You never know though. This project may have been sitting, idle for many years, just waiting on one more post. I can only assume the worst as no pictures of a finished press have been posted.

Jeff
 
Well, I'm not Guy, but I know he hasn't finished the press! LIfe has gotten in the way:)

He has been slowly accumulating parts for it, though. Of course, now that mine is finished, he can us it whenever he wants!:D
 
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