[TheForge] 15Ton Press

Mon Jan 7 19:53:05 2002

Thanks for the pictures, Chuck.

Steve

Chuck Robinson wrote:

> Hey Ed, Ralph, Steve,
> I'll send separately, pics of my original 35 T press and one I helped Ben
> Ferguson build.
> The press design has gone thru a long and almost continual evolution. I
> first discussed my design concept with Jim Batson while he was writing his
> hydraulics primer. He incorporated some of my concepts into an H frame press
> that he built and sold to" Uncle AL the Knifemakers Pal". Uncle Al modified
> the design some, and produced a unit, that I think he still sells.
> I saw a version of this unit at a BBS conference about 6 years ago and
> incorporated some of Uncle AL's improvements in my later designs. One of the
> best is the use of the rail 2" square stock to also make the slide bearing
> surfaces.
>  Ralph if you are worried about the lateral force resulting from upsetting
> metal stock, you can make the guides 20" long and weld guide bars across the
> front and back bottom faces of the guides. Just make sure that you wrap the
> slide with some shim stock before welding the guides in position. This will
> give you enough clearance to minimize rail friction. I used machined bronze
> bearings for my first press, that used 2" round stock, but I found that it
> was overkill.
> Ed, my design called for using 2 hydraulic cylinders, the main reason being,
> to leave the area below the bottom die open so that I could drive drifts
> completely thru the handle holes in the blade forging hammers I make. I
> didn't make this version yet because I wasn't certain about balancing the
> cylinder force, and the rail throat has to be about 20" to provide enough
> working clearance between cylinders.
> Another idea that Len Landrum had was to make the unit using 3" or 4" heavy
> wall square tubing. It promises to be an inexpensive way to increase the die
> base support and also lighten the weight of the total package.
> Since you are aware of  the pros and cons of the VFD motor option I think
> you should try it. I'm hoping that we all can learn something about VFD
> motors thru your experience. None of us have all the answers.
> Chuck
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Ed Fasula <[email protected]>
> To: <[email protected]>
> Sent: Monday, January 07, 2002 6:39 AM
> Subject: Re: [TheForge] 15Ton Press
>
> >
> > >Echoing Chuck with added emphasis, doubling the speed on the pump (to
> 3600rpm)
> > >will *dramatically* increase the noise. I find it hard to believe that
> the
> > >pumps
> > >last very long with the noise level I had on mine at 3600 rpm.
> >
> > It depends on how long is long.  My neighbor has a wood splitter that has
> > an ailing pump, on the other hand others I know lend their splitter out to
> > all their friend and they last for years.  Most gas motors turn at 3600 I
> > understand.  I don't know what other reasonable options I have for
> > splitting wood - maybe run it off the tractor's system.  But that damn old
> > Farmall M is a project onto itself and it guzzles gas like sailor drinks
> > fine ale on shore leave.
> >
> > >Your comment about Northern's expertise on their own equipment sounds
> > >familiar. My
> > >valve bypasses came set for about 1200 psi (I figured out later). They
> > >swore up
> > >and down on the phone that they were set for a lot higher, and that my
> > >setup must
> > >have a problem. I checked a bunch of stuff before raising the pressure.
> > >Bad enough
> > >that they don't have a clue, worse that they act like they do!
> >
> > Yah, I don't give Northern "technical" support much weight anymore.  When
> I
> > was putting up a shed I had to get the roof penetration in before I got my
> > double barrel stove from Northern in the mail.  I called up to find out
> > what diameter stove pipe to use.  8" the guy said.  I made sure, "that's
> > not the OD of the insulated pipe is it, 8" is pretty uncommon."  No,
> > standard 8" stove pipe.  He was SURE.  Well, insulated pipe and the
> > hardware is quite a bit more for 8" versus the 6" that the stove
> *actually*
> > takes, as I was so happy to see when I got the stove in the mail after the
> > roof was done.  Don't expect much, you won't be disappointed.
> >
> > Ed
> >
> >
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