Hydraulic press tooling ... what to get? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 17, 2021, 05:41:54 am
content: My press is still to arrive - but I've been looking at what accessories to get.Certainly drivers of various sorts are on top of the list, but there are some wildly varying prices for whatlookslike the same thing. One wonders about what differences there are ... if any. I am curious, however, at the use of aluminium in some sets I've looked at...Is there a rationale for this - or is it cheaping out?More generally - what materials are better and are they job dependent?

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 17, 2021, 05:55:49 am
content: First thoughts are:Stated as aluminiumStated as carbon steel.Thoughts? Opinions?

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2021, 06:04:23 am
content: Small bending brake of some sort for DIY enclosures or mods. Needn't be this fancy but this sort of thingeBay auction: #https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/xi0AAOSwAGRgf-Xk/s-l1600.jpgHole Punches are good too but only buy them as needed of if you have the need.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2021, 09:02:10 am
content: My advice on tooling is to get what you need at the time.Of course, when you buy something like socket wrenches, it is much cheaper to buy a whole set. Are you going to be replacing bearings every day for profit? In that case, a set of collars is probably warranted. In my case, I use my press for a lot stuff besides bearings. In the US, most domestic electric motors will be 1/2" or 5/8" shaft. One doesn't need a whole set for that. I make what I need or improvise. Deep sockets for wrenches work well. Attached is a picture of my press. Most of the tooling I use is located on top. I have had the press for about 18 years. Before that, I had a DIY version without a pressure gauge and remote hydraulic. I find both enhancements worthwhile.As for a sheet metal brake, I suspect a finger brake aka box and pan type would be more useful than one more limited to single or opposing bends rather than boxes. I also use my press as a press brake. It is much easier to get nice radiuses for metals like 2024-T3. I was able to pick up some used dies for $0.10/# (1980's) at an industrial junk yard, but for occasional use, mild steel will also work.One thing to consider is a decent shear. A stomp shear is far easier to get nice cuts with then a hand shear.

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2021, 09:05:55 am
content: Actually waiting on one of these little 5+ Vice Brakes to arrive. No reason one wouldn't work on a press either.eBay auction: #184497419637or hook a couple together with the Welder @Brumby also NEEDS

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 17, 2021, 09:38:55 am
content: You are incorrigible.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2021, 09:39:49 am
content: The lips on the sides of those dies provide alignment in a vise. Such fixed jaws are not on a typical press. The ram of my DIY press was heavy wall square tubing. The upper die had a corresponding square rod welded to it. A thumb screw in the ram held the top die in position. In practice, I would lower the ram to get the female die positioned. Clamp that. Then raise the ram and start bending metal.Like most hydraulic shop presses, the Dake ram is round and solid, but it has male threads on the end. I welded a piece of heavy wall square tube to a matching nut to allow me to still use my press dies. Not quite as convenient as the DIY press, but rather than move the latter from Minnesota, I gave it to a friend in 2007.

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2021, 09:47:03 am
content: Quote from: Brumby on November 17, 2021, 09:38:55 amMmm Opens a thread asking for input - thinks the OP doth protest to much

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 17, 2021, 10:17:36 am
content: I was asking about driving accessories .... you introduced metal bending and picked up on my previous expressed interest in welding. I'm surprised you haven't chimed in on the lathe front.Yet.

author: Zeyneb
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2021, 10:22:43 am
content: Hi Brumby,About the boxes you showed. I have experience with both of them. The box with the black discs I bought myself. Mine are made from a strong type of steel, certainly not aluminium (maybe if offered on aliexpress, that seller is wrong about it). The discs are very useful for pressing bearings and bushings. The disc diameters are in 1mm increments. You might also find another box with even larger diameters if that is what you need.And I think you would need that second box also because sometimes a piece of shaft is sticking out as you have figured also. That second box is bought by my DIY car repair shop and people use that all the time. Those cups are of a very solid steel too and can take the force for pressing wheel bearings.I believe all is coming from the same chinese/taiwanese factory. But you never know and you don't want aluminium discs for pressing bearings.

author: Zeyneb
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2021, 10:25:14 am
content: And I'm pretty sure my post is more useful than where beanflying is talking about.

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2021, 10:27:45 am
content: Other than a Lathe would make sense then DIY you own I shall refrain ..... For nowThe usual rule of presses seems to be the tooling of all sorts expands over time to overflow the space available. The last time I used a press on a regular basis we had mainly steel bits as you don't want flex and twist if possible but there is plenty of times Aluminium even if just a thin spacer on top of the steel makes sense to avoid marking up what you are pressing. So start with Steel and get some 2 or 3mm to make protective shims if needed.Quote from: Zeyneb on November 17, 2021, 10:25:14 amI have prior form as the enabler of @Brumby so dont take it to seriously

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2021, 10:39:10 am
content: Haven'tfound a sourcebut one of these for Bearings is invaluableTry hereeBay auction: #171888308750oreBay auction: #255220638520

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2021, 10:54:53 am
content: That ram has no easy way to attach something to it that stays aligned. I think a threaded or square ram has definite advantages. When pressing, you don't want anything wobbly, or it might "squirt" out under pressure. Pictured below is the ram on my current press. Any variation on that theme should work.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 17, 2021, 12:04:49 pm
content: I might just start with using sockets as they have a range of sizes - then step up when the need arises.Quote from: beanflying on November 17, 2021, 10:27:45 amQuite so.Bean has been a long standing enabler - and we tend to take the mickey out of each other....So... I wonder what else can I blame him for .....

author: Zeyneb
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2021, 05:05:30 pm
content: Quote from: Brumby on November 17, 2021, 12:04:49 pmIn the other thread you mentioned you might want to use it for bushings in engine mounts of your wife's car. Maybe you can have a more careful look into that car and measure some diameters before you buy some tooling. Or even buy some raw steel pieces to make something custom.You know, sometimes I do visit my local salvage yard just to put my digital caliper on some parts of an identical car to determine if I have the right stuff to complete a repair. It sucks pretty hard to have a car in pieces and then to realize you don't have the right tools to complete it properly. And in your case your wife is complaining about it.Quote from: Brumby on November 17, 2021, 12:04:49 pmAlright, fine.

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2021, 06:56:04 pm
content: Make the press dies yourself on the lathe.I regularly work on my car in a DIY garage. They have a huge box of ad-hoc press dies, and if you don't find one that fits, make it and add it to the selection.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 17, 2021, 11:39:02 pm
content: Quote from: Benta on November 17, 2021, 06:56:04 pmI don't have a lathe... **Yet.QuoteThat was the plan.** (Well, actually I do - but it's a woodworking lathe. It's still in it's box a year later - but it was the last one and they wanted to clear it out, so I got it for a price I just couldn't pass up.)

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 18, 2021, 02:51:13 am
content: Quote from: Brumby on November 17, 2021, 12:04:49 pmI will get myself off the hook for suggesting the vice types at leastBack side of the casting isn't flat so without a fair bit of rework or a custom mount (a welder made one maybe) not usable on a press.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 18, 2021, 02:56:40 am
content: I already have a couple of ideas for that. A metal lathe and a welder would feature in the solutions, though. Even at the cheap end, there's about $3k on top of what I already have.Why do you keep putting ideas into my head?

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 18, 2021, 02:58:21 am
content: Oh... I received a call today to come pick up my press. It is now in my garage, awaiting assembly.

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 18, 2021, 03:12:06 am
content: Quote from: Brumby on November 18, 2021, 02:56:40 amSorry to others but RAMBLE belowA Lathe at this stage is one thing I will be paying someone else to do my jobs on. Any of the toy ones in steel just aren't going to get it done and as most of what I would want to do will be in Stainless even more so. Finding room for a 4-800kg lump at 2m long just isn't going to happen in my current location and circumstances. While I admire what Quinn gets out of her little onehttps://www.youtube.com/c/Blondihacksmost of my stuff would be larger and heavier.Cost is another thing and you would really need to stack on 50-100% for tooling and extras. I can buy a lot of time instead and use the space for other things.The Welder and metalwork fixture table/workbench is all on wheels and manageable but likewise given my 'normal' spend it would be a long payback. Regardless of welder I needed a metalwork table anyway. As I have a base to make for my big Router and when I massage the room the bigger Laser (was going with timber base but now not) build it made sense to do it now as the fabrication bill for both would add up to a good chunk of the outlay.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 18, 2021, 04:05:09 am
content: My aspirations in metal are rather modest. I've seen a few machines under $1500 that seem reasonable and I can visit a B&M store to see two of those for real ... and ask questions.Not going to jump wildly into this. Payback period is not a consideration, just an investment into useful gadgets at a price I can write off without too much pain.I still have my larger format laser project in mind, but that's not high on the list just yet. I'm keen to see how yours pans out, as I am looking at somethingextremelysimilar.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2021, 07:48:03 am
content: To protect the bed....press blocks.You ideally want multipurpose ones like these:https://cjautosheywood.co.uk/product/press-blocks-ws11-for-hydraulic-press/They come in a few different styles some which fit the bed exactly so the upstand portion fits neatly between the bed rails.The ones I've used on previous employers 60t press were of 2" steel and no way you ever wanted to drop on on your foot.

author: Zeyneb
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2021, 02:11:34 pm
content: Hi there,Regarding the black discs set shown in Brumby's 2nd post. As they go in 1mm increments from 18mm to 65mm, they are also very valuable to clamp pieces together concentrically. Like shown here. I'm making an car exhaust flange set.Now lets drill that one hole.Regards, Zeyneb

author: SmallCog
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 07, 2022, 02:33:59 am
content: I'm probably a naughty naughty boy but I've put a heck of a lot of sockets into hydraylic presses over the yearsIf you can justify a 3/4" drive socket set it's not just handy for undoing large fixings, also handy for pressing.Pretty sure colinfurze is abusing a modified brick bolster for shaping metal in his presshttps://youtu.be/E1dTwm8Lmpc?t=615(whole video is worth a watch but linked to the bolster)

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 07, 2022, 02:59:33 am
content: Quote from: SmallCog on January 07, 2022, 02:33:59 amMe too, lost count of how many times I used a 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" or 3/4 drive socket for drifting something although usually in one of my 6" Record vices that are as good as a small press ..... for small pressing jobs anyway.Once you've owned a 6" Record vice to hell with bothering with anything smaller.A place I worked decades ago had a 60 tonner press and no way you'd use a poor socket in that beast.

author: BrokenYugo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 07, 2022, 03:24:27 am
content: Sockets are often handy, I haven't squashed on yet doing such things with them, but I'm sure it's possible if one doesn't think. Best I can tell good safety (I.E. a lack of explosive disassembly events) and results on a press is all in a well thought out setup.If the press is flat on top put a piece of plywood or whatever on top to act as a shelf to hold tooling.Keep large bearing races and whatnot, I've often pushed in a new bearing that had to go below flush using an old one lightly ground on the OD to slip into the bore, and then on the shelf it goes.Cardboard box underneath with some extra cardboard or rags in the bottom is also handy so you don't have to catch things as they're pressed free or worry about them getting dinged up hitting the floor (or vice versa).