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- Oct 20, 2008
- Messages
- 5,547
Hi guys. I posted recently that I'd finished my press, and of course someone mentioned that that was worthless without pics. I agree! So here's some pics of the press, as well as some vids of it running.
Over two years ago, I had posted a thread about the press build project... most of the welding on the frame was done at that point. I expected then to finish the build within 6 months. Well, life happens, losts of other great stuff took place instead that I didn't expect.
At the end of that thread, Chris (winterbear) asked if I'd finished it yet. I said I'd post when I did, so here I am, 2.5 years later, fulfilling that promise!
Here's a link to the original thread. You can see that it was originally going to be a bottom die pressing up type press, until I got some good scrap red iron and made a tall base for it and flipped it.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/963746-Some-pics-of-my-press-build-Not-really-a-WIP
So here are some pics of the finished press. First, I had to add some gussets of 3/8 plate all the way up the I-beam. They pass right behind the cylinder mount eyes and stiffen the flange there where it was moving, as well as reducing flex throughout the beam. Made all the difference.
The set of combo dies I made from mild steel, and a view of the quick change die holders-
The control assembly. Later I'll build a foot pedal linkage for hands-free operation. All I can say about the fittings is, don't use teflon tape (I didn't) or PTFE pipe dope ( I did, it only worked on some threads) but DO use anaerobic pipe dope, like the stuff permatex makes (it saved me from despair and sealed a couple of problem threads.)
Originally, the motor, pump, and reservoir were going to be built into the base of the press. Then, I got a good deal on a nice Vickers hydraulic power unit. The motor and pump were not quite right, but I swapped my motor and pump onto it and took advantage of the nice reservoir and return assembly.
It's a 1725 rpm 5hp single phase 220V Baldor motor, running a 16 gpm 2 stage splitter pump. The fact that I've halved the rpm also halves the pump GPM, which is fine, as the 8 gpm fast stage gives me about 2 inches per second ram travel. Seems plenty fast. Also, the press isn't very loud at this speed. Don Hanson told me about that.
Here's a set of squaring dies I made- the bottom die will accept several sizes of top die, which I'll make more of as needed. I started with a 1.5 top die, which has already proved useful in starting the reorientation for crushed w's.
That's all the pics of the press, but I'm tacking on some videos of it running.
First up is taking a billet soaked in nothing but kerosene out of the forge at a screaming welding heat (looks hotter on camera) and pressing it. Then, a little borax for the edges, and back into the forge.
[video=youtube;VD_W-Ru5Xac]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=VD_W-Ru5Xac[/video]
Then, a second welding squeeze and some bites...
[video=youtube;4M7UfJtsMkg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=4M7UfJtsMkg[/video]
Then, beginning to draw it out at a welding heat, showing some good squinching on the press...
[video=youtube;l0_tNjwt9fo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=l0_tNjwt9fo[/video]
See first comment by me, for three more clips.
Over two years ago, I had posted a thread about the press build project... most of the welding on the frame was done at that point. I expected then to finish the build within 6 months. Well, life happens, losts of other great stuff took place instead that I didn't expect.
At the end of that thread, Chris (winterbear) asked if I'd finished it yet. I said I'd post when I did, so here I am, 2.5 years later, fulfilling that promise!
Here's a link to the original thread. You can see that it was originally going to be a bottom die pressing up type press, until I got some good scrap red iron and made a tall base for it and flipped it.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/963746-Some-pics-of-my-press-build-Not-really-a-WIP
So here are some pics of the finished press. First, I had to add some gussets of 3/8 plate all the way up the I-beam. They pass right behind the cylinder mount eyes and stiffen the flange there where it was moving, as well as reducing flex throughout the beam. Made all the difference.
The set of combo dies I made from mild steel, and a view of the quick change die holders-
The control assembly. Later I'll build a foot pedal linkage for hands-free operation. All I can say about the fittings is, don't use teflon tape (I didn't) or PTFE pipe dope ( I did, it only worked on some threads) but DO use anaerobic pipe dope, like the stuff permatex makes (it saved me from despair and sealed a couple of problem threads.)
Originally, the motor, pump, and reservoir were going to be built into the base of the press. Then, I got a good deal on a nice Vickers hydraulic power unit. The motor and pump were not quite right, but I swapped my motor and pump onto it and took advantage of the nice reservoir and return assembly.
It's a 1725 rpm 5hp single phase 220V Baldor motor, running a 16 gpm 2 stage splitter pump. The fact that I've halved the rpm also halves the pump GPM, which is fine, as the 8 gpm fast stage gives me about 2 inches per second ram travel. Seems plenty fast. Also, the press isn't very loud at this speed. Don Hanson told me about that.
Here's a set of squaring dies I made- the bottom die will accept several sizes of top die, which I'll make more of as needed. I started with a 1.5 top die, which has already proved useful in starting the reorientation for crushed w's.
That's all the pics of the press, but I'm tacking on some videos of it running.
First up is taking a billet soaked in nothing but kerosene out of the forge at a screaming welding heat (looks hotter on camera) and pressing it. Then, a little borax for the edges, and back into the forge.
[video=youtube;VD_W-Ru5Xac]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=VD_W-Ru5Xac[/video]
Then, a second welding squeeze and some bites...
[video=youtube;4M7UfJtsMkg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=4M7UfJtsMkg[/video]
Then, beginning to draw it out at a welding heat, showing some good squinching on the press...
[video=youtube;l0_tNjwt9fo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=l0_tNjwt9fo[/video]
See first comment by me, for three more clips.
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