Would it be too slow for a hydraulic forging press? Im currently building a 100 ton two station forging press using what. File that little tidbit away under STOCK.

This book and drawings are designed to help you build your own 24 ton Hydraulic Forging Press. A two horsepower 220 volt single phase motor running at 1725 RPM powers a 5.5 gallon per minute 'Hi-Lo' hydraulic pump. Ram force of 24 tons is applied by a 5' diameter double acting hydraulic cylinder at 2500 psi pressure. The movement of the ram die is controlled by a 4 way, 3 position hydraulic valve. The length of the ram stroke is 8'.

The maximum speed of the ram is 1.1 inches per second. The ram speed can be doubled by using a 5 horsepower electric motot running at 3600 RPM. A section is included which will enable you to alter a Log Splitter for use as a Forging Press.

Format: Soft cover; Dimentions: 8 1/2' x 11'; Pages: 46; Illustrations: 35.

My press is based on the hydraulic forging press made. I owned one of his presses when I lived in Wisconsin, and I really like the moving ram frame design. It places the hydraulic cylinder at the bottom but then combines a traditional hydraulic press forging method. Many of the presses that have the cylinder on the bottom accomplish forging by moving the bottom die, but this design moves the top die up and down by utilizing a ram frame that slides in a frame guide which is supported on structural steel. I drilled and tapped holes for grease fittings to make it easy to lubricate the ram frame and frame guide. Once the ram frame was welded, I installed the hydraulic cylinder by connecting it to the frame guide and the ram frame then suspended it with rigging to get ready for it to be mounted to the base plate and support tubes (Left Picture).

I then went to work on making the base plate. I cut it from a sheet of 1/2″ steel and welded metal casters that could support 1200 pounds to the bottom of the plate.

This would allow me to move the press and power pack around my shop for convenience (Right Picture). I laid out the exact position of the support tubes (4″ X 6″ X 1/4″ structural tubes) on the base plate. I utilized multiple methods to ensure the tubes stayed plumb during welding. This was a critical phase in construction since the tolerance between the tubes was very tight and the tubes needed to be square to the base to ensure the press would be plumb (Left Picture). I then welded finger bars onto the support tubes at the exact elevation that I needed for the ram frame and frame guide to sit. I then lowered the guide and frame onto the finger bars then checked to make sure it was all square and plumb to the base.

Once I was satisfied, I welded the frame guide to the support tubes. I also added caps to the top of the support tubes. I made the one on the right wider to provide for the control valve. I drilled and tapped holes to make the control valve attachment easier (Right Picture. I installed a support bar to limit the lateral movement of the hydraulic cylinder. It was made of 1018 mild steel which provided for a small amount of flex while at the same time limiting the movement of the cylinder. This was not absolutely necessary since the ram frame moved up and down quite smoothly and in line with the guide, but I wanted to make sure there was extra support to prevent any twisting and warping of the frame (Left Picture).

I then installed a scale shield. Below the scale shield (not pictured) I put a cover that protects the whole front of the press below the scale shield. Also, pictured are my first set of forging dies.

It is acceptable to use mild steel for dies, but I opted to use 4140 for added durability. Prior to putting the press to use, I filled the reservoir and set the safety relief valve on the control valve at 2,500 psi. It is critical that you have a guage as a part of your system. This allows you to precisely set the control valve. Too much pressure will lead to damage to your press and even injury to the user. According to Build Your Own Hydraulic Forging Press by James L. Batson, a 5″ cylinder operating at 2,500 psi will generate 24.5 tons of hydraulic force.

The power pack includes a 16 gpm two-stage pump and a 7.0 HP motor running at 3450 rpm. According to his book, this creates a ram speed of 3″ a second. I find it is a little slower than this but not by much. Gigaware vhs to dvd converter mac driver download. I really have to watch how much I move the control valve lever.

It is quite easy to over forge a piece of hot steel. I’ve been able to create a variety of dies that serve different purposes.

Everything from drawing dies to beveling dies. I even made a lateral drawing die that is on an angle for drawing axe blades out sideways. This is quite helpful when make Type M axes.

I have a large set of flat dies I use for pattern weld billets. The bottom die has holes drilled into it so I can insert a set of thickness stops.