But even when you use precautions, accidents can happen at any time. You need to be sure your workers stay safe under any circumstance, including machine failure and human error. For the best possible protection, make sure to follow our hydraulic press safety requirements listed above and outfit your machines with failsafe locking systems. Not all machines are required to have a failsafe system installed by the original manufacturer. While there are machine guarding standards, they don't guarantee safety. Locking actuators address this gap.
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Hydraulic locking actuators and lock systems perform as secondary safety units, in addition to those that may be provided on a press machine. The highest-quality locking systems work by creating an interference fit with the outside diameter of the rod in order to lock it in place ' similar to a clamp.
Upon applying hydraulic pressure, the sleeve expands, providing just enough clearance for the rod to complete its stroke. Note that many options on the market won't work in the case of pressure loss, rendering the locking system useless in an emergency need. Your actuator or system should be a guaranteed failsafe. For absolute assurance, it needs to include:
Because hydraulic presses involve heavyweight, high-pressure and dangerous moving elements, hydraulic press safety standards are of the utmost importance. Machinists and press operators already face a risk of workplace accidents within close proximity of the ram stroke. Because they must hold metal objects near the area of impact, operators will suffer most from improper use or inadequate precautions.
Lack of safety precautions can also lead to a failure causing the ram to drop suddenly. Depending on the use and timing, this can mean injury by way of crushing or projectile. The ram can shatter objects completely, sending sharp pieces flying.
Even if a seal is deteriorating or a fitting is loose, it means potential loss of life for anyone near the machine. The numerous possibilities for accident are enough to create serious concern and anxiety for operators. If they aren't guaranteed safety, they won't be able to work efficiently or without high levels of stress.
Less severe but also important, failure and misuse damages the machine. The level of damage ranges from requiring repairs to rendering it useless, which means replacing the unit entirely.
While maintenance and acquiring safety devices for your hydraulic machines can be costly and time-consuming, it is a welcome tradeoff for protecting your workers. With regular practices and failsafe systems in place, your machinists can be efficient and happy knowing they are using a safe device.
Like the presses they fit on, not all locking devices are created equal. You want to purchase the best-fitting, most reliable device for your hydraulic press.
Custom building allows you to safeguard just about any of your hydraulic machines, even in restricted spaces and for specialized units. In order to request a custom build, you need to know a number of specifics:
With this information, you'll be ready to find the right lock system and locking actuator. You need to feel confident you are looking out for your workers' safety. Accidents happen, but you can prepare for them.
Bear-Loc® by York Precision Machining and Hydraulics was created for hydraulics operators everywhere. Our system creates a safer, lower-risk environment for you and your workers. With Bear-Loc®, you don't have to choose the closest fitting option. We custom build tailor-fit devices for your machines.
Our responsive team makes the ordering process hassle-free, so you can benefit from a custom Bear-Loc® without any stress. We also offer cost-effective repairs and replacement, just in case you need them.
There is no other hydraulic locking device with all of these features on the market. The complex and proprietary design is privately owned and cannot be reproduced by any other company. Bear-Loc® hydraulic cylinder lockout devices are one-of-a-kind, providing the safest and most reliable option for your business.
Our locking devices will benefit your business for decades of use. Choose to make your systems failsafe with a Bear-Loc® hydraulic actuator or independent locking device. Contact us through our online form to request more information or get started with a no-obligation quote.
Editor's Note: STAMPING Journal® will explore hydraulic press capabilities, the differences between mechanical presses and hydraulic presses, as well as servo and pneumatic presses in "How to select a press," which will be published in the March issue.
Understanding the fundamentals of press technology requires, at minimum, that you be able to answer some basic questions:
Before you can examine the structure of a press, you must take a step back and look at a stamping press's function.
Stamped components are made by forming, drawing, trimming, blanking, or piercing metal'in sheet or coil form'between two halves (upper and lower) of a press tool, called a die (see "Stamping 101: Die basics," page 22). The upper member is attached to a slide, and the lower member is clamped or bolted to the bed or bolster. The die is designed to create the shape and size of a component, repeatedly, and in quantities that will meet production demands. The two halves of the die are brought together in the press. Both force (load) and accuracy are required to achieve the repeatability and tolerance demands for the final stamped and assembled part.
Stampings are manufactured from many different materials. For example, beverage cans are formed from aluminum; many automotive parts are stamped from high-strength steels; doorknobs and lock mechanisms are stamped from brass. Structural parts, such as nail plates and joist hangers, are stamped from galvanized steel.
To size a die to a press, two calculations need to be performed. The first is tonnage (force) and the second is energy consumed. Every press in the world is rated by the tonnage (force in tons) that it can apply from bottom dead center (BDC) of the press cycle to BDC of the same press cycle.
The tonnage rating of a press must not be confused with the energy generated by the flywheel of a press. Each press has a tabulated graph of energy supplied by the press manufacturer'and each one is different. This is because flywheel-generated energy is dependent on the size of the flywheel and drive ratio. This also makes a big difference in the cost of a press.
Due diligence is needed when sizing a die. Many engineers who are very experienced in die design or in production or in press procurement but who are not experienced in all fields fall into the trap of considering only one of the two calculations. This question is then asked too late in the day: "Why can we not run this part?"
Presses fall into four main categories'mechanical (seeimage at top of page), hydraulic, servo, and pneumatic. Each category derives its name from the drive source that generates the pressure (force) on the die to form the finished stamping. Each category can be further divided into one of two different frame designs: straight-side or C-frame. Each type of press can have single- or double-slide (ram) connections. A low-tonnage press can have a single- or double-ram connection depending on whether the accuracy required justifies the additional cost of a double-ram connection.
Straight-side presses have two sides and four to eight guideways for the slide. This reduces the deflection and enables them to handle off-center loads better.
For more information, please visit stamping press safety features.
C-frame presses are shaped like the letter C or G, and most are manually operated. Because of its open form, a C-frame press is subject to higher deflection under off-center loads than a straight-side press. The slide is guided by two V-guides or box guides.
Other types of presses, such as transfer, hydroform, hot forge, and friction screw, are built for special applications.
Mechanical presses also can be categorized by the type of drive transmission that exerts force on the die: flywheel, single-geared, double-geared, double-action, link (also called alternative slide motion [ASM]), and eccentric-geared.
All are powered by an electric motor that drives a large flywheel. The flywheel stores kinetic energy, which is released through various drive types. For each 360-degree cycle of the press, or stroke, energy in the flywheel is consumed as the part is made in the die. This causes the flywheel to slow, usually between 10 and 15 percent. The electric motor then restores this lost energy back into the flywheel on the upstroke of the press. The press is then ready for the next cycle.
If the percentage that the flywheel slows (slowdown), determined in strokes per minute (SPM), is greater than 15 percent, the electric motor will not have enough time to restore this lost energy, and the press will slow down too much. After several strokes, the press will jam on BDC. This occurs when the die tonnage or energy has been calculated incorrectly.
To stop and start the press, you use an electronic control to a clutch and brake, which in turn disengages the flywheel to the press drive. Most clutches and brakes are spring-applied and have either pneumatic or hydraulic releases. The stopping time of the clutch and brake is critical in determining both the speed that the press can be run and the safety of the operator and die.
Flywheel-drive Mechanical Press. Presses with flywheel drives (see Figure 1) are used for piercing, blanking, bending, and very shallow drawing with progressive dies. The normal press tonnage is between 30 and 600 tons. They run at high speeds'125 to 250 SPM on the low end, to speeds in excess of 1,000 SPM on the high end. Press stroke length is always kept as short as possible, as this affects press speed. The average stroke is 2 inches. If more energy is required at the lower speeds, an auxiliary flywheel can be added to the drive. However, the energy will never reach that of a geared press.
A flywheel-driven press normally is rated at full tonnage at 0.062 in. from BDC of the press cycle to BDC of the same press cycle. The flywheel, clutch, and brake are located on the eccentric or crankshaft. As a rule of thumb, full press energy is available between half of the top press speed and the top press speed. However, it is best to check with the press manufacturer for confirmation.
You need to check die calculations carefully when the material is thicker than the press-rated capacity. You must become aware of what to do with high snap-through (reverse loads) and press vibration when using ultrahigh speeds.
Flywheel presses are designed with dynamic balancing of the upper die and press slide (ram) weight using an opposing force. Without this opposing force, the press would walk around the floor at high speeds.
Single-geared Mechanical Press. This is the most popular press drive used by contract stampers in the automotive industry (see Figure 2). The tonnage ranges from 200 to 1,600, with a two-point connection to the slide. The gear ratio allows the flywheel to run fast, maintaining energy, while the press speed is much slower than a flywheel machine. Single-geared presses normally are rated at full tonnage between 0.250 and 0.500 in. from BDC to BDC. The correct rating to choose for your application depends on the die's energy requirement. This rating will make a difference in press price and drive size.
A single-geared press is used for progressive stamping with dies having shallow draw or forms with piercing and blanking. This type of press drive transmission can be run at continuous speeds down to 28 SPM. A typical press speed range is 40 to 80 SPM with a 12-in. stroke. Remember the rule of thumb regarding energy'full press energy is available between half of the top press speed and the top press speed.
Always look for a press with a twin-end drive that has opposing helical gears with an eccentric shaft. This will improve accuracy, reduce deflection, and increase longevity.
The single-geared drive can be fitted with an alternative slide motion (ASM), or link drive.
Double-geared Mechanical Press. This press is used when a continuous production speed of lower than 28 SPM is needed (see Figure 3). It is good for heavy-duty applications, especially for stamping high-strength steels. The drive gear ratio allows the flywheel to maintain its speed while the press runs slower than both the flywheel and single-geared press. Depending on flywheel size, very high energy can be generated with this type of drive. Press tonnage is from 200 to 1,600, with a two-point connection to the slide.
A double-geared press drive is good for transfer die work. Transfers typically run at 15 to 30 SPM. Presses with this drive normally are rated 0.500 in. from BDC to BDC. Some presses have a special drive rated at 1 in. from BDC to BDC; it is used for drawing, forming, blanking, and piercing with transfer and progressive dies.
The drive can be fitted with an alternative slide motion, or link drive.
Link Drive, or Alternative Slide Motion. This option allows reduced slide velocity during the working portion of the press cycle. It also may allow up to a 25 percent increase in production (see Figure 4).
Eccentric-geared Mechanical Press. This type of press and drive is used where a very long stroke is required ' normally in excess of 24 in. (see Figure 5). All of the features of a double-geared press apply to this drive design; however, accuracy is not as good as an eccentric-shaft press because of the clearance with the arrangement of the gear train and the additional clearance needed in the slide guiding gib adjustment.
Double-action Slide. This press has two slides'one slide within the other (see Figure 6). Each slide has two connections to the eccentric shaft. The stroke of each is different and timed so the outer slide is the blank holder while the inner slide completes the drawing operation.
A double-action-slide press is used in deep-draw applications, such as beverage cans. In addition, it is the first press in an automotive press line for drawing the outer skin panels of cars.
Hydraulic presses have advanced dramatically over the years with new technologies and improvements in electronics and valves. They are especially suitable for deep-draw applications, because they can apply full tonnage over the complete length of the stroke.
In addition, you can program the velocity that the slide travels as it closes the die.
You can program the return stroke for fast return, and you can adjust the stroke to any distance you need, thus achieving the maximum SPM available with the pump design.
A hydraulic press is powered by a hydraulic pump to a hydraulic cylinder or cylinders that drive the slide down. Pressure can be preset, and once achieved, a valve can activate pressure reversal so no overload can occur. With this press design and its applications, the die tends to guide the press, so the guiding systems do not have to be as accurate as with a progressive-die mechanical press. Hydraulic press production speeds normally are lower than those achieved with a mechanical press.
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