The Different Types of Industrial Press Systems

29 Apr.,2024

 

The Different Types of Industrial Press Systems

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An industrial press — more commonly called a machine press — can perform a broad range of tasks that require the application of pressure to form and shape metal. In addition to forming, industrial presses can accommodate tooling for cutting, assembly, and more. Presses are available in many different sizes and may use various energy sources.

There are three types of standard press system frames:

  • The H-frame press allows for easy material pass-through; front to back &/or left to right.
  • The C-frame press facilitates easy loading/unloading from the front, or from either side.
  • The CGB-frame press features a low-profile design and accommodates bench-top use.

The ideal frame and method of applying force will depend on the application. There are five types of industrial presses commonly used in machine shops.

Manual Press

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Manual presses are sometimes known as a workshop press or arbor press. A manual press derives its power from a human operator. The manual press’s ram can be moved in a linear motion and generates forces using simple methods like leverage. Affordable and straightforward in design, manual presses are ideal for bench-mounting and performing light-duty tasks, like bending and piercing for very low volume operations. The operator controls the press by moving the ram and applying force using a lever or handle.

Pneumatic Press

A pneumatic press uses compressed air to increase the cylinder’s internal pressure, generating linear motion and force. Pneumatic presses generate a relatively low maximum force dependent on the pressure of the regulated air source and the size of the cylinder bore. Although the maximum force may be low, pneumatic presses minimize operator fatigue with no tactile feedback.

Pneumatic presses are typically cost-effective for minimal to periodic use, providing quick and consistent force throughout the stroke range. Typical processes for pneumatic presses may include punching, bending, extruding, forming, and shearing.

Pneumatic Intensified (Air/Oil) Press

These presses are also called hydra-pneumatic presses, or air over oil presses. They use an air over oil intensifier cylinder for the press’s motion. They are controlled pneumatically, but they have a trapped section of hydraulic oil in the cylinder which gets intensified to provide higher forces (up to 200 tons). Air/Oil presses provide a smooth controlled power stroke to the workpiece. A pressure regulator controls the power stroke force, and a hard stop in the cylinder, part, or tooling controls the power stroke length. Hydra-pneumatic presses typically use significantly less compressed air than standard pneumatic presses, so they are more efficient for production environments.

Hydraulic Assembly Press

A hydraulic assembly press uses a hydraulic cylinder filled with oil, and a hydraulic power unit powered by an electric motor to move the ram and generate force through the hydraulic cylinder. Hydraulic presses are available in a broad range of sizes and capabilities. In general, the hydraulic cylinders’ bore size and regulated operating pressure determine the machine’s maximum force. The hydraulic press delivers consistent force throughout the stroke range and is adjustable based on a pressure switch or force setting.

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Servo-Electric Press

A servo-electric press delivers fuller control with flexibility and consistent force throughout the stroke. The servo-electric press is gaining popularity in recent years as the prices become lower. This industrial press type has several advantages, including a long lifespan, energy efficiency, and simple maintenance without messy oil and power units. It uses plant electricity to generate linear motion through a servo motor or drive unit integrated with a ball screw or roller screw actuator. Servo-electric presses also feature high precision and deliver full tonnage throughout the stroke without producing substantial noise, and have complete controllability at the touch of a button.

Rely on HyperCyl for Your Industrial Press Systems

An industrial press delivers force for cutting, assembling, and forming workpieces. With various industrial press systems to choose from, there is sure to be a press that suits your application. At HyperCyl, we have been delivering high-quality hydra-pneumatic press solutions since our establishment in 1994, and HyperCyl-EMA servo press solutions since 2010. Aries Engineering/HyperCyl is a privately-owned, American company with headquarters in Dundee, Michigan.

HyperCyl has been a member of the NFPA since the year 2000, and a charter member of the Assembly Show. We offer UL, CSA, CE panel certifications for any given system. We also hold seven trademarks and six patents on our cutting edge technology.

To learn more about our services and capabilities, reach out to us, or request a quote.

 

Types of Hydraulic Presses

Hydraulic presses have been around since the late 1700s. They are also called Bramah presses in tribute to inventor Joseph Bramah, a multi-talented man who developed the flush toilet. In fact, studying the motion of fluids when installing toilets helped him create the first hydraulic press.

There is a wide range of hydraulic press types. All are press machines that work with either fluid or hydraulic pressure. Based on Pascal’s principle, a hydraulic press works because pressure builds up throughout its closed system, exerting equal force within all areas of the container.

4 Types of Power Presses


Hydraulic presses are categorized as power presses, an area that also includes mechanical, eccentric and pneumatic presses. Here is a look at the differences in the three:

  • Mechanical presses generate power mechanically, using a motor that is connected to a crankshaft, which cycles the ram for each operation using flywheels and belts. The flywheel builds up pressure and then releases, transferring energy to the primary side in the process. The strokes of a mechanical press are called single-, double- or triple-action, based on the number of ram or slides it has. It can be adjusted within limitations.
  • Eccentric presses are fairly new and have a more efficient drive mechanism. They have a linkage of the drive motor and the ram, which ensures that the operator is able to send signals to the motor to operate at a specific speed.
  • Pneumatic presses use compressed air to produce dynamic movement. They can do most of the same functions as hydraulic presses. The big advantage of this type of press is its ability to reach up to 400 strokes a minute. They have a controlled flow rate, making it useful when ram velocity or flow rate is crucial. It also has fewer moving parts compared to mechanical and hydraulic presses.
  • Hydraulic presses use some type of fluid to generate the pressure needed for dynamic movements.


What Makes Hydraulic Presses So Useful?

There are three good reasons that hydraulic presses are the most common in use:

  • Their design makes them the most efficient.
  • They are dependable, the workhorses of manufacturing.
  • The level of force they reach can’t be duplicated with mechanical or pneumatic presses.


By far the most common material for constructing a hydraulic press is stainless steel, which makes them extremely durable.

Hydraulic presses are versatile heavy equipment because they come in both single and multi-station configurations. The single station has one set of tools inside the table, and multi-station units can handle several operations at the same time.

How Hydraulic Presses Work

The power in these presses is provided by hydraulic fluid, which produces the pressure that is generated. A press uses the standard parts for all types of hydraulic machinery, including pistons, hydraulic pipes, cylinders and a stationary die or anvil.

The pistons create a plunging or thrusting motion via liquid under pressure that exerts force. There are two primary cylinders, the small called the slave and the larger the master.

Oil or water is poured into the slave cylinder. As pressure builds is exerts force onto the piston in the larger cylinder. This larger piston then presses in the master cylinder. The action makes the punch connect with the die, which leads to deforming the metal into the shape that is desired.

Types of Hydraulic Applications

Hydraulic presses come in a wide range of types, suited to specific purposes. Here is an overview of several applications:

Platen presses
The C-frame press is an example of a platen press. All use a ram as well as a solid, and have a surface that is designed with stability in mind. They can be used for banking, drawing, straightening, punching, bending, forming and timing.

Vacuum and laminating presses

Credit cards are made with these presses, which encapsulate several layers of plastic. These presses can also apply film.

Stamping presses
These presses are commonly used in the auto and metal working field. They can cut and shape material with a process called deformation with die.

Transfer presses

Used most often in aerospace and the medical industry, these presses mold and stamp rubber.

Forging presses
These presses are used strictly on metal.

Two Types of Frames


C-frame hydraulic presses can be used manually or automatically. As a rule they take up less floor space than other hydraulic presses because of their C-shaped frame. These presses, made of steel, are sturdy and have very little deflection.

The H-frame hydraulic press is used for a variety of operations. As a laminating press, it uses two places, one for heating, the other for cooling. Using the two together speeds up the process of laminating. When it is used as a transfer press, flat material is fed in, often rubber, metal blanks or plastic. It is passed from die to die by a feed bar finger. Most are made for heavy loads, as high as 3,500 tons, but there are smaller presses also.

Hydraulic Press Types

Here is a look at the most popular types of hydraulic presses. Each has a distinctive application.

4-Post hydraulic press: these are used in precision tooling.

Arbor presses: these are used for bearings removal, assembly, seating stamping and repair of production jobs.

Assembly presses: these can generate enormous pressure to assemble and secure parts together.

C-frame presses: these presses are streamlined and sturdy, using a small amount of space. As a rule they have a single application.

Compression molding presses: these use two separate plates pushed together to compress material into the required mold.

Forklift tire press: these are used to remove solid tires off forklifts.

Gantry straightening press: this model straightens steel and other materials.

Forging presses: this is a metal forming machine that is powered by hydraulics, forcing metal to take on a specific shape using a particular mold.

H-frame presses: these are also called four-column presses, getting their name from the H-shape frame.

Hydraulic presses: these are industrial machines that use fluid to generate pressure, which lets them form and shape objects.

Laboratory presses: these are smaller size presses that have just one application. They are usually found in labs and testing facilities.

Laminating presses: these are used for impressing polymers onto other materials like metal, lumber or paper.

LIM presses: this stands for Liquid Injection Molding. It is used for plastics, produced through an injection process.

Mechanical presses: these are generally used for punching, shearing or assembly on specific types of materials, using dies or tools attached to rams or slides.

Platen presses: these are industrial hydraulic presses, using two large surfaces for condensing, forming or molding products.

Power presses: this is a type of hydraulic press that uses dies and tools for punching, forming or shearing.

Pneumatic presses: these use compressed airflow to generate energy, which is used to facilitate and control movement. Types of applications include bending, forming, shearing and punching.

Press brakes: either mechanical, hydraulic or manual presses, they can cold-work metal into different shapes.

Stamping press: these are machines that use stamping dies.

Straightening presses: these apply pressure to metal in order to straighten it.

Tableting presses: these are used to shape powdered materials into compacts or tablets.

Transfer presses: these are hydraulic presses that automatically move products from one process to the next.

Vacuum presses: these are industrial systems powered by hydraulics. They create air pressure for laminating operations.

Are you interested in learning more about automated hydraulic press? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!