[TheForge] Air hammer return stroke

[DragonsWatch]

Hi Steve,
    Sorry if someone else already suggested this, but.  Have you considered
closing the exhaust air valve and let the air do the work.?

Larry

Steve Smith wrote:

> So I'm still working on a self contained air hammer, although my
> question applies to other hammers as well.
>
> When the ram is on the return, headed upward, it reaches a hard stop so
> that the air cylinder doesn't bung itself up. I'm trying to figure how
> to cushion the hard stop.
>
> A spring seems like a good idea. Unfortunately, there is quite a bit of
> energy to absorb. If I did it right, I could do it with a stack of
> Belleville spring discs. This would run about $50 buying them from MSC.
> I sized them based on stopping the hammer in less than 1" travel (which
> makes for a lot of spring washers). The rod on the cylinder that the
> discs would go around is 1 1/8" diameter. A large coil spring would also
> work, but I don't have a source for one.
>
> Any other suggestions out there?
>
> Thanks,
> Steve Smith