Get the Most Press for Your Money: 5 Tips for Buying the Best ...

20 May.,2024

 

Get the Most Press for Your Money: 5 Tips for Buying the Best ...



The right hydraulic press can boost your bottom line and make life easier for your workers and for you as the owner of a machine shop. Presses produced by a quality manufacturer like RK Machinery use cutting-edge design and superior components. The result is a press that is reliable, versatile and cost-effective.

Here is a look at why you should consider buying your first hydraulic press or upgrading your current one, and 5 tips to ensure the press you choose fits your needs.

 

For more information, please visit our website.

Modern Hydraulic Presses Are a Good Investment

Modern presses have fewer moving parts, so less can go wrong. Compared to mechanical presses, they are relatively uncomplicated. The pressurized oil lubricates parts effectively, ensuring a long lifespan.

Presses made in North America, like those produced by Press Master, use off-the-shelf parts available locally. That reduces downtime if you need to replace or repair a component.

Maintenance and repair are straightforward, which helps keep your ongoing cost of ownership low. Because upkeep can be handled in-house, downtime is reduced.

These presses are versatile and real workhorses. Newer hydraulic presses make it simple to adjust tonnage, with more control throughout the stroke. The result is a single press can do a range of jobs.

 

5 Tips for Choosing the Best Hydraulic Press for Your Shop

  • Do Your Research
  • Experts say the best way to get the right press is invest time before investing money. Research is your friend when it comes to buying a hydraulic press.
  • Decide on a budget. Figure out what applications you want the press to perform. Decide what types of customers you want and what types of work they will request.
  • Check out websites and product lines. Ask other shop owners about the pros and cons of their current presses. Find out what manufacturers they respect. Choose a press maker with experience, known for quality products and innovative design. Look for a company that is expert in customizing a press to meet precise specifications.
  • Hydraulic presses last for many years. You want to partner with a manufacturer that you can rely on. When you select a press manufacturer known for excellent support, you make life easier. Choose one that gets back to you quickly with an informed answer to your questions and concerns.

 

Select the Proper Tonnage

Are you upgrading from a mechanical press to a hydraulic model? You’ll be happy to know that tonnage requirements are the same. You are safe using the same method for calculating tonnage, and in most cases tooling is interchangeable. Another similarity is that shear in the dies lowers blanking tonnage for both hydraulic and for mechanical presses.

Another benefit from switching is better results for a wide range of jobs. In deep drawing, the hydraulic press has a full power stroke that will give you higher quality outcomes, compared to a mechanical press, in most cases.

The big advantage you’ll discover when you upgrade to hydraulic is versatility. You can easily regulate the tonnage, adjusting it up or down for each job.

 

Match the Press to Your Applications

Look at the type of jobs you do on a regular basis and those you want to attract to your shop. Consider:

  • Shape: open-gap presses give you access from 3 sides; straight-side presses are good for off-center loading for progressive die applications; 4-column presses distribute pressure evenly.
  • High-end jobs that require precise tolerances: you need a press with higher reserve tonnage capacity
  • Quality: heavy duty presses are best for general purpose metalworking jobs; light duty machines work for “spanking” the job briefly and reversing.


 

You also have a wide range of options to choose from. The most popular include:

  • Die cushions
  • Touch screen controls
  • Dwell timers
  • Switches for distance reversal limit and pressure reversal
  • Servo system feedback to give the operator repeatable stroke control, ensuring precision and consistency
  • Ejection cylinders or knockouts
  • Continuous cycling
  • Electronic light curtains
  • Rotary index tables and sliding bolsters

 

Know How to Compare Presses

These six construction elements can help you choose the right hydraulic press for the job:

  • Horsepower: compare ratings. Horsepower includes length of the pressing stroke, speed and duration.
  • Speed: how fast will each press work
  • Frame: check differences in rigidity, thickness of the bolster and dimensional capacity
  • Cylinder: look at the diameter, how it is constructed, the manufacturer and ease of maintenance and repair
  • Maximum system pressure: figure out psi at full tonnage. For most presses doing industrial work, the range is 1000 to 3800 psi.
  • Watch Out for Trouble Spots

Look at these 4 areas when researching hydraulic presses:

  • Is speed your most important requirement? Does the job need a fairly short material feed stroke? Then you might be better with a mechanical press. The fastest mechanical press beats the speed of a hydraulic press.
  • Do you need absolute stroke depth accuracy? Then you will probably need “kiss” blocks in the tooling.
  • Do you need automatic feeding? The feeder on most hydraulic presses needs its own power and must be fully incorporated with the control system in the press. Be aware that you need some type of external power to effectively feed the stock.
  • Does the press have an anti-shock component? Hydraulic presses require this because the shock can negatively impact fittings and lines.

 

Partner with the Quality Hydraulic Press Manufacturer

Press Master has been making superior hydraulic presses in North America for over 40 years. We are proud of our reputation for competitive pricing, quality components and excellent customer service.

We can customize a press to meet your exact needs.

Call Press Master today to find out more about the best hydraulic press for your machine shop.


 

Industry Insight: Hydraulic Press Automation

Industry Insight: Hydraulic Press Automation

Efficiency and precision are key to success in today’s manufacturing landscape. As Industry 4.0 continues to take over the industrial space, it is imperative for manufacturers to integrate the latest technologies to streamline their processes. One way for metal manufacturers to achieve this is through press automation. Automation technology has revolutionized the way that manufacturers produce precision metal parts, making the process faster, more accurate, and more cost-effective.

What is Hydraulic Press Automation?

Press automation involves using technology to enhance efficiency, safety, and quality control, allowing for precise operation and flexible production runs.

How Does Hydraulic Press Automation Work?

In modern manufacturing, metal forming presses are commonly automated using several sophisticated methods, each offering distinct benefits.

Robotic arms and manipulators are a popular choice; they not only enhance precision in loading and unloading parts but also allow for complex movement patterns, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing the risk of human error.

Automatic feed systems are another crucial method, streamlining the process by consistently feeding metal sheets or coils into the press. This automation ensures a steady supply of material, minimizing downtime and boosting productivity.

Lastly, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) play a key role in press automation. They provide precise control over the press’s speed, pressure, and timing, and their reprogrammable nature allows for quick adaptation to different tasks, thereby enhancing the flexibility and efficiency of the manufacturing process.

Each of these methods significantly contributes to improved safety, consistency, and overall productivity in metal forming operations.

While hydraulic press automation alone can result in a more efficient manufacturing process, many manufacturers also experience significant benefits by automating ancillary processes that surround their hydraulic press as well. Beckwood collaborates with third party automation companies to engineer integrated works cell for customers. These work cells allow customers to entirely optimize their precision metal forming processes and maximize the benefits of hydraulic press automation.

 

Beckwood can integrate any level of automation into your hydraulic press machinery.

Explore the possibilities today with the guidance of one of our automation engineers. 

 

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How Hydraulic Press Automation Improves Precision Metal forming

Increased Efficiency and Productivity

One of the main benefits of hydraulic press automation is the elimination or reduction in human error due to a more repeatable process. Additionally, the press can operate at a faster speed and with more precision than manual operation. This results in a higher output of quality metal parts in a shorter amount of time.

Automation reduces the need for manual labor, therefore freeing up workers to focus on other value-added tasks as the hydraulic press system runs. This can lead to a more streamlined and efficient manufacturing process overall.

Cost Savings

By increasing efficiency and reducing the risk of errors, hydraulic press automation can also lead to cost savings for manufacturers. With faster production times and fewer defects, manufacturers can save on labor costs and materials.

Additionally, automation can reduce the need for manual inspections and quality control, further reducing costs and increasing overall profitability for manufacturers of all kinds.

Hydraulic Press Automation in Industry Applications

Hydraulic press automation has a wide range of applications in the manufacturing industry. Some common uses include:

Metal Stamping

Metal stamping is the process of shaping and forming metal parts through the use of a press and a die. This process is commonly used in the automotive industry to produce car parts, such as body panels. These systems can integrate all levels of automation, from automated material feeding to robotic trimming and finishing of parts.

Deep Drawing

Deep drawing is a precision metal forming process that involves stretching a sheet of metal over a die to create a three-dimensional shape. This process is commonly used in the production of kitchenware, automotive parts, and other metal products.

Hydraulic press automation allows for precise control over the pressure and movement of the press, resulting in more accurate and consistent deep drawn parts.

Coining

Coining is a metal forming process that involves compressing a metal blank between two dies to create a specific shape. This process is commonly used in the production of coins, medals, and other small metal objects. Repeatability and consistent quality are key in coining, making the process a great candidate for automation.

 

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To learn more about how automation can be integrated into your hydraulic press machinery, claim your FREE guide to hydraulic press automation below!

 

How to Implement Automation for Hydraulic Press Machinery

Choosing the Right Press- Hydraulic, Servo, or Hydroforming?

The first step in implementing hydraulic press automation is choosing the right press for your needs. Beckwood offers a wide selection of hydraulic and servo presses to choose from, each with its own capabilities and features.

Consider factors such as the size and type of parts you will be producing, the level of precision required, and the speed of production when selecting a press.

Our TRIFORM sheet hydroforming presses are ideal for precision metalforming of aluminum and high strength materials like titanium and lightweight composites for aerospace applications. TRIFORM presses can produce parts with high draw ratios that are complex in geometry, or a multitude of smaller parts in just a single machine stroke. This is due to an elastomeric diaphragm that acts as a universal female die.

LSP and EVOx linear servo presses utilize servo-electric technology to achieve unmatched forming precision for standard and exotic metals alike. Unlike traditional hydraulic press machinery and TRIFORM sheet hydroforming presses, servo-electric presses eliminate the need for hydraulic fluid. This makes them the top choice for cleanliness and safety as well as precision metalforming.

Don’t see quite what you need? Get in touch with our sales team today to start developing a custom hydraulic press engineered to be an ideal fit for your application.

Selecting the Right Hydraulic Press Automation System

Once you have chosen your hydraulic press machinery, the next step is selecting the right automation system. This will depend on the capabilities of your press and the specific needs of your manufacturing process.

Some common hydraulic press automation systems include:

  • Automatic Feed Systems: Automated material feed systems ensure that the right amount of material is delivered to the press bed at the right time. This not only boosts production efficiency but also improves worker safety by reducing the need to interact with hydraulic press machinery.
  • Quick Die Change Systems: These systems are excellent for high-mix productions which require dies and tooling to be frequently changed. An automated quick die change system can help maximize uptime for a more efficient workflow and reduce the amount of unnecessary wear on tooling.

Hydraulic press automation has revolutionized the manufacturing industry, providing increased efficiency, precision, and cost savings. By choosing the right hydraulic press machinery and automation system, manufacturers can streamline their processes and achieve greater success.

With the continued advancements in technology, hydraulic press automation will only continue to improve and play a crucial role in the manufacturing industry. If you’re ready to upgrade your hydraulic press machinery with a custom automation solution, contact Beckwood Press today.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website automated hydraulic press.