WIP Hydraulic forge press (pic heavy)

What pressure are you running at? As to your comment about hydraulic power and the force being the same on extend as on retract that is not exactly true as you need to subtract the area of the cylinder rod from the piston. The retract force is always less on a double acting single rod cylinder when constant pressure is applied as the effective area on the retract side of the piston is smaller than on the extend side. So if you are running extremely low pressure gravity would help the ram fall but you may be limited on raising that mass back up. But I am sure you have tried to crank the pressure and still no luck...
 
629hugo said:
What pressure are you running at? As to your comment about hydraulic power and the force being the same on extend as on retract that is not exactly true as you need to subtract the area of the cylinder rod from the piston. The retract force is always less on a double acting single rod cylinder when constant pressure is applied as the effective area on the retract side of the piston is smaller than on the extend side. So if you are running extremely low pressure gravity would help the ram fall but you may be limited on raising that mass back up. But I am sure you have tried to crank the pressure and still no luck...
Click to expand...

Well I'm learning something new every day with this thing... lol... I was under that impression only because some people set up they're H frame presses where the cylinder actually pulls down the anvil block rather than using the ram to push the anvil block down... ????

Yeah the only pressure adjustment I've messed with so far has been the relief valve on the 2 stage pump. I was told by the manufacturer that the adjustment would simply change the speed in which the second stage kicked it... I really do wish there was more detailed information on the components than what I'm reading. All good though, at least I can offer those specifics here during the troubleshoot.
 
We have a valve issue. :(

.... finding a resolution... a replacement rather...


I was looking through the receipts, preparing to return either a malfunctioning valve or a hydraulic cylinder and discovered an "SA" in the serial# of the receipt for the valve purchase. After some research at Prince hydraulics; "SA" stands for "Single Acting"... So the cylinder was behaving accordingly... lol...

- Mr. Derp-a-derp

I just got back from Northern Tool with a replacement Valve... One explicitly for DA or "Double Acting" cylinder!!!


Now I have an extra Single Acting valve.... ??? The best idea I have for it's eventual application is a telescoping deer stand that I can mount in the bed of a truck... lol... any other ideas are welcome...
 
Last edited:
Now that's a useful tool and built to last, haha! Congratulations on a fine piece of mad fabrication.

My tiny press is only 10-ton, with a 1/2 hp motor and 1/4" hydraulic lines, yet it can squash a piece of round stock to half-thickness in one bite, and gets a lot of work done. Your press-build is making me want some more powerful equipment.
 
Salem Straub said:
Cool! Now let's see it squish something hot!
Click to expand...

I'm on it... :D

I'm tempering the dies as I type. I understand that mild steel is more than sufficient as a die for the hydraulic press, but I opted for D2 on the first couple of what I think will be nice user dies...

Mecha said:
Now that's a useful tool and built to last, haha! Congratulations on a fine piece of mad fabrication.

My tiny press is only 10-ton, with a 1/2 hp motor and 1/4" hydraulic lines, yet it can squash a piece of round stock to half-thickness in one bite, and gets a lot of work done. Your press-build is making me want some more powerful equipment.
Click to expand...

I'm stoked by the capabilities of this machine in general. whether it be a 10 ton press or a double barreled 60t, the mechanism moves metal, and stretches forging capabilities to the next level.

I'm convinced it's magic... lol
 
Can you just put a full beer can or a bowling ball or something between that machine's jaws and pull the fun-switch? I'm dying to see something get smashed!

What are you gonna name your press?
 
Last edited:
Am I the only blade freak that wishes he has/had the time/money to invest in such projects? :( Currently I am a fitter/welder/fabricator who has absolutely no time/money to invest in this....Perhaps (if there were such a thing as 'Karma') I could accomplish this in another lifetime....
 
Shaggy DA said:
Am I the only blade freak that wishes he has/had the time/money to invest in such projects? :( Currently I am a fitter/welder/fabricator who has absolutely no time/money to invest in this....Perhaps (if there were such a thing as 'Karma') I could accomplish this in another lifetime....
Click to expand...

Have a design in mind and collect as much free steel as you can.

Cruise craigslist for cheap motors and cylinders

Build it when you're ready
 
SinePari hath forsaken us, left us crawling through a desert devoid of hydraulic press action, croaking in thirst to see something get smashed!
 
He is busy welding grinders on the anvil of the press so he can automatically clean up billets as he squishes them. This will make for super fast folding. :)
 
Well then, long story short, pictures, video coming soon;

Philll christened it on it's maiden voyage, snapped a 1/2" thick D2 bottom die in half... Sounded like a gunshot and I nearly baby-ruth'd in my dickies...

Evan sought revenge and tried to kill it last weekend, but I have since revived it's beating heart...


Issues of note (some have been resolved);

I'm sticking with mild steel dies from here on out... that D2... :eek:

I'm still playing with the valve pressure to increase it's output...

Issue of greatest concern now is when the ram does the smush, the pump/motor halts... which caused the first overheating of the motor... I can't remember any video thus far that I've seen where the machine did this...??? so I'm still researching.
 
SinePari said:
Well then, long story short, pictures, video coming soon;

Philll christened it on it's maiden voyage, snapped a 1/2" thick D2 bottom die in half... Sounded like a gunshot and I nearly baby-ruth'd in my dickies...

Evan sought revenge and tried to kill it last weekend, but I have since revived it's beating heart...


Issues of note (some have been resolved);

I'm sticking with mild steel dies from here on out... that D2... :eek:

I'm still playing with the valve pressure to increase it's output...

Issue of greatest concern now is when the ram does the smush, the pump/motor halts... which caused the first overheating of the motor... I can't remember any video thus far that I've seen where the machine did this...??? so I'm still researching.
Click to expand...

Do you have pressure relief valve that bypass back to the tank?
 
It SHOULD NOT stop when pressing. It should make a bogging down sound as the second ( higher pressure/slower speed) stage kicks in. The motor/pump should be running all the time.

My question would be the one Hugo asked, "Are you sure you have the right valve and hose setup????" When the pressure maxes out, the relief by-pass should open and send the fluid back to the tank. If you are running a closed system (plumbed up/down only) with no by-pass, that would be a really bad idea.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top