Has anyone built a lever advantaged hydraulic press?

[TBinKC]

I have been considering a press of some sort for way longer than I care to admit. The designs seem relevantly straight forward. But every time I get into the thick of it, I consider getting a scotchman or similar "ironworker" type press. It got me to thinking... why haven't I seen anyone use this type of press for forging? In my eyes, you should be able to use something like a 2:1 lever ratio to get twice the pressure of the straight line press which means 1/2 the needed input for the same results. Am I missing something here? Has someone already done this and I'm just missing it? Is it too difficult? what are the obstacles? other than money and time.. go ahead.. let me have it.. I think I can handle it.

[ThomasPowers]

More throw requires more flow and as a major issue with forging is how rapidly you can apply the force slowing things down is contraindicated.  Of course you could then use a larger pump, hoses, etc to increase the flow; but why not go that route directly?

BTW have you looked how knuckle presses work?  Of course their drawback is limited throw...

[Frosty]

A 2:1 leverage advantage means a 2:1 disadvantage in stroke distance and speed. You get 2x the pressure at 2x the time and half the distance. 

I vote for the iron worker.

But yes, I've considered lever presses, I think about a lot of things I never intend to try just because. For the purposes of discussion you have a 5ton hydraulic jack on a 2:1 lever resulting in a bit under 10 tons pressure to the dies.

Suppose you make a lever press frame and lever but make the lever 10':1'. A little fun with springs and the lever would stay in position open at say 6' elevation. Add a 2:1 compound lever so the dies move in a convenient direction, eg top die mobile, bottom die anvil.

This would give the die a 3" stroke and if I'm putting my 200lbs on the lever 4,000lbs of force. If I need fast I bounce on the handle hard for IDK 3x my weight? Call it 12,000 or 6 tons.

But fast. 

Being the kind of guy who rejoices in linear extrapolation I envisioned lifting a 55gal drum filled with steel scrap cemented into a solid piece with a block and tackle or electric winch and releasing it with trip catch. like you see on Trebouchet. Ooooh a HARD hitter but slow for a second blow. So I imagined ways to make a vast spool type winch driven by an electric  motor that stored momentum in a spinning concrete filled tire. 

There are ways to do almost anything but is the bang worth the investment: money, time, performance specs, etc.

It is F U N to think about though. 

Frosty The Lucky. 

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

I picked up a Scotsman ironworker recently and have plans of making some forging dies for it.  From the videos I watched on it it moves pretty fast.

[TBinKC]

Thanks for the input.. back to thinking about it I guess. 

[Machine shop]

I realise this a fairly old thread, but I thought this was relevant

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=c_UuVV7fhMc

[Charles R. Stevens]

I have seen that video, and I thought braving it up and going either air over or  hydraulic. It would still be slow and better suited for food work but benders, where’s and punching dies would work.