Randy Posted November 6, 2011 Posted November 6, 2011 Attached is the link to the article I wrote a couple of years ago for ABANA's Hammer's Blow. Maybe it will answer some of the questions I've been getting about my press and show the versitility of a press besides just making knives.http://www.abana.org/hbarchive/HB%20vol17.4/HB17_4McDaniel.pdf Quote
Randy Posted November 8, 2011 Author Posted November 8, 2011 I hope this article has answered some of your questions. I find the key to this machine, as many others, is tooling. I have a lot of texturing dies and forming dies, but it always seems like I need more. I still want to make some punches, but will need a particular job to determine what sizes are required. Once they're made I find it incredible in what you can do with the press. Quote
Timothy Miller Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 What size pump and motor do you run? Quote
HWooldridge Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 Your YouTube video is also informative and impressive. Quote
Randy Posted November 9, 2011 Author Posted November 9, 2011 It's a 5 h.p. motor and a Northern Tool, 16 GPM, 2 stage, 1/2" shaft, 2,500 PSI / max 3,000 PSI pump. Quote
Javan C.R. Dempsey Posted November 11, 2011 Posted November 11, 2011 I've been using a press for the last year that uses the same configuration, the 16gpm blue pump from Northern Tool with a 5hp compressor duty motor, that is great. It moves itself and metal fast, and isn't overly loud. A lot of the presses I've seen though seem to be using one of the black pumps, I assume the 11 or 13gpm models, and they seem to be obnoxiously slow and loud. I feel the properly built forging press is the most useful tool in a shop period, as much as hammers are more fun, the press seems much more versatile, but as you mention, having the correct dies are essential. Quote
Steve H Posted November 11, 2011 Posted November 11, 2011 Agreed- When I sold the 3B I never thought a 400$ press would do as much work for 1% of the price. I can run the on-board 3HP setup (1725rpm using the 16gpm pump @ 8gpm) or do a quick coupling hose change for the stand alone 10HP power pack (227 gpm pump) when I really want to lay waste to some metal. I get almost 5 or 6" per second of ram speed out of that combination (double rod 7" cylinder) Quote
Randy Posted November 16, 2011 Author Posted November 16, 2011 If I had to start all over again from scratch, knowing what I do now I think I would get a press instead of a power hammer. It can do most of what a p.h. can do plus a lot more. Quote
Timothy Miller Posted November 16, 2011 Posted November 16, 2011 So if you if you were going to build a new press. You had say a budget of $3000 and the power to push the motor 220 3ph 200 amps what would you build and what features would it have. Quote
Randy Posted November 16, 2011 Author Posted November 16, 2011 It depends. What type of work do you want to do? First off though, I'd get a 5 h.p. motor. 3 is a bit weak. For the work I do, pretty much what I have. Minimum of 50 ton, H-frame. More travel than I have now to accept more tooling and bigger work. A larger opening, too, but not by much. I see where limit switches can be handy to set where the press stops every time. They're better than using blocks. Maybe stack my tank, motor and pump to take less floor space, but still on a separate cart. Not mounted to the press. The floor pedals are a great feature. I'd never use a hand lever. One thing I want to add to my press is quick disconnect couplings on the hoses. That way if I need to load the press and cart for a demo or class somewhere the hoses just come off. A must on all presses is to take in safety! Definitely get hose protector sleeves for your high pressure hoses! Then it's a matter of making all the tooling for whatever you want to make. Quote
Javan C.R. Dempsey Posted November 16, 2011 Posted November 16, 2011 A guy on bladeforums built a real nice H-frame, self-contained on casters, that uses a hydraulic solenoid and electronic controller for automated movement etc.. Pretty impressive build, although the pump seems pretty small. Regardless, I'd like to build one based on the basic body of his. Here's a link: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/648250-WIP-Hydraulic-Press-Build?highlight=press+build Quote
Timothy Miller Posted November 16, 2011 Posted November 16, 2011 I am thinking of going big. I want versatility. I don't make knives I do forge tools though. I Have a press I have been playing with. It is a H frame shop press with no guides. It has a 4" cylinder and a pump that came out of an old iron worker. It only develops 1000 psi so I am only getting about 7 tons but it has a lot of flow. I have only used it to bend things so far. The ram moves very fast. I have a few rams laying around 2-4" and an monster 8". I was thinking it would be useful to have a wide frame with room for several dies in a row for forging complex shapes. I am thinking at least as powerful as Randy's press if not more. But I don't mind starting from scratch. I was thinking 80 ton with a 10 hp motor and a 22gpm pump. At this point I am just gathering information. Quote
kpotter Posted November 17, 2011 Posted November 17, 2011 I saw your videos a while back and have been in the process of building my press. I have a 100 ton h frame that I have used for forging but it is slow and not designed to forge with. I have the frame built out of 10 inch 1/2 inch wall square tube and I have the cylinders they are 18 inch stroke 5 inch diameter 2 inch rod cylinders and for the pump I have a 10ph 3ph motor with a 16 gpm pump. I should have it up and running in a couple of months. I have been thinking of using the frame for the oil sump I could probably get at least 30 gallons in it. I dont want to overheat the oil. Does your press get hot. Quote
Randy Posted November 17, 2011 Author Posted November 17, 2011 Kevin, sounds like a good deal. I'd ike to see it. Pictures? No problems with it getting hot. If anything just the opposite. Especially when first starting. If the oil is cold the machine is sluggish and can even stall out. Some times when I'm getting ready to use the press I'll just turn it on and let it idle to get the oil circulating so it starts warming up. Quote
Timothy Miller Posted December 5, 2011 Posted December 5, 2011 How thick of steel can you work with your press randy? Quote
Randy Posted December 5, 2011 Author Posted December 5, 2011 I've worked up to 2" round solid. Here's the cabinet base that has the 2" legs so you can see how much pushing it did. Quote
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