[TheForge] 15Ton Press

Mon Jan 7 21:42:01 2002

        Chuck, I appreciate the picture of your press.  Thanks.  The thing I
really like about my press is the open anvil under the die.  I can put
something 44 inches tall under the press to upset it........nice option.
Your design looks a lot easier to build than mine.

Ralph

> 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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> > >
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