[TheForge] press vs power hammer/fly press

[Chuck Robinson]

The 2 factors critical to forging damascus are force and speed.
You need to move the metal before the dies drop the billet temperature below
welding heat.
Optimal speed for a press ram is 1" to 2" per second.
you won't get that with most arbor presses without a hydraulic drive.
Lower tonnage presses (16-20) tons must use smaller surface area dies to
achieve adequate pressure to weld damascus billets.
My press is 60 tons so I can use larger dies.
larger dies make shearing the layers less likely.and are faster.
The action of a fly press is too slow for billets. It is better used for
precise pressing.and forging.
Each machine has advantages and disadvantages for different forging ops,
 but if I had to have one machine I would probably choose a large air
hammer.
Chuck

----- Original Message -----
From: <xlch58 at swbell.net>
To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2005 9:40 PM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] press vs power hammer/fly press


> Uh, Justin, we don't use words like obsolete around here......
>
> Kidding aside, personally I would take a flypress over an arbor press
> any day.  You really need to find an opportunity to try each of them and
> you will see the difference.   The hydraulic is great for applying a lot
> of pressure SLOWLY in general, though some lucky smiths out there have
> electric/hydraulic or pneumatic hydraulic that make it run a lot
> faster.  If I had the room, I could find use for all three, they each
> have strengths.   There is also a rolling mill with hydraulic pressure
> that is touted as the thing for damascus work.  I have not had a chance
> to try that one.
>
> Charles
>
> Justin Fellenz wrote:
>
> >As a sidebar to this discussion, here's a question for the sages...why
> >a *fly* press? To me they look like a little obsolete.
> >
>
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