Guide to Choosing The Right Hydraulic Press
The beauty of a hydraulic press is that much like individuals – they come in all shapes and sizes and there’s a perfect match out there somewhere just for you! This isn’t really a love story but we can tell you how to find (and love) the right hydraulic press for the task or tasks you need done. If your job is to source and procure equipment that makes production faster, more efficient, safer and all while reducing costs, we can help you find the perfect match, sourcing which hydraulic press is just right for you.
Perhaps you’re familiar with the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears? In her quest for the perfect bowl of porridge, the perfect bed and the perfect chair, she tried out some bad ones along the way. With a hydraulic press, you can’t afford to make a mistake. The stakes are a little higher than just some lumpy oatmeal. This guide will give you an idea of what to ask, what to look for and what to consider when it comes to sourcing a hydraulic press that’s right for you and your business.
You already know the advantages of a hydraulic press. You know it can perform at a demanding pace, within exacting tolerances and at an output that can’t be matched by hands-on, human labour. While these are important features, you should also be asking these questions:
What is the tonnage required to get the job done?
The beauty of a hydraulic press is that it’s fast and simple to adjust tonnage meaning that you can tune the press to exactly the right tonnage you need for the right job.
What kind of Press do I need 4-Post, Straight side, Gib guided or other alternatives?
Like the best of us, a hydraulic press can multi-task! A hydraulic press can be used on multiple jobs, different sizes and shapes of metal and offers a high degree of customizable options suitable to a wide variety of industries. While indeed a 4-Post or Gib guided hydraulic press might best suit a particular function – hydraulic presses in general still offer a flexibility not found in other machines. Just one hydraulic press can sometimes do EVERYTHING you need with their ability to perform a variety of tasks like: stamping, crushing, bending, molding, forming and drawing.
- An Open-gap press will give you, as the name implies, easy access from three sides giving you flexibility in where and how the machine is positioned in your facility. Sometimes also called C-Gap presses they are ideal for smaller shops.
- 4-Post or 4-Column presses are considered a good idea for applications where larger dies are required. A 4-Post also offers flow through capability with work entering at the front and exiting from the rear. This press offers good accuracy.
- Gib-guided presses offer superiority when it comes to off centre loading, are adjustable and ensure precise ram guidance. Also known as Straight-sided presses, they also offer rigidity when using progressive die applications. Tight clearance and fully adjustable left to right as well as back to front they provide great resistance to any lateral slide motion.
What accessories will I need?
Whatever you need, a hydraulic press will have it. From dwell timers to ejection cylinders, touch screen controls to servo-system adaptability, a hydraulic press can be customized to meet your exacting specifications. Die cushions, automatic cycling and sliding bolsters are still more options. Varying ram speeds and computerized dashboards mean you can maximize efficiency and precision on almost any type of job.
What is the cost of my investment?
Comparatively speaking, the cost of a hydraulic press is lower in terms of up front costs and your return on investment is excellent with efficiencies gained including faster production times, improved safety and lower labour costs. You’ll even be doing something good for the environment. With fewer moving parts, more energy efficiency and less fuel required to operate, they’re environmentally friendly too!
As with any investment, it’s best to consider all your options and the best way to determine what kind of hydraulic press you might need is to first take the time to identify the type of job (or jobs) you want it to do. When you have that list, you can start to compile a list of questions that directly relate to those specific tasks and conduct your research accordingly. In other words, to know what you need don’t just randomly sample three separate bowls of porridge, research brands first! Do you prefer steel cut oats or fine? Do you need more iron in your diet? Are you eating oatmeal for its fibre benefits or just to fill you up on a cold day? Asking questions first – whether about oatmeal or a hydraulic press – will help to make sure you get exactly what you need.
