[TheForge] need help from heavy metal math guys

[Ries Niemi]

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>> I recently came upon an 8x20x3.5" double acting hydraulic cylinder.  I
>> would like to build a "C" frame press and basically sandwich the
>> cylinder in the opening at the top of the C. I want the opening to be
>> approx. 20"h x 20" deep. My thinking is to use 1" plate with 
>> stiffeners
>> btw the two plates. Is 1" enough,  and if so, how much surrounding 
>> steel
>> is necessary? From rough calcs, the cylinder will push 120k and pull
>> 105k. All help and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
>> Thanks
>> John Emmerling
>>
>>
>>

I thinks 2 pieces of 1"plate is nowhere near enough.
I have a nice old whitney hand punch, a model 94, which is a 24" 
throat. It is only about a 10 ton punch- that is, there is only about 
10 tons of force with the mechanical advantage it  offers.
And it is made from 4" plate, flame cut into a big c shape.
I am not sure how many tons of pressure your cylinder puts out, but my 
30 ton "H" frame hydraulic press is made from 2 pieces of 12" Channel-
So my guess is a 20" throat 50ton "C" press would need to be at least 
6" thick plate, maybe 8".
There is a reason they made a lot of machines like this from huge 
castings.
A commercially made press like this would probably weigh 10,000lbs.
Hydraulic cylinders can put out a lot of force, and when that steel 
snaps or the weld breaks, you dont want to be standing in front of it.

ries