I have noticed a trend toward very large transfer presses and also the use of multiple gap frame machines in the 100-150 ton range using high speed linear transfer devices.  I know of one company that saved about 1 million dollars by using 8 smaller gap frame presses to run a transfer part instead of purchasing the typical 800 ton transfer press.  What do you think?  Is the market declining in the 300-1000 ton straight side press market?

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  1. Place the slide on bottom dead center.
  2. Measure the die space on the center line of the slide front to rear and left to right taking measurements every 6-12”.  This will show the condition of the slide were the tooling mounts.
  3. Shim and adjust the tool to off set any slide or bolster distortion, thus making the tooling believe that it is running in a perfectly square box. 

As long as the tooling sees a perfectly square condition, it will run at optimum condition even in a machine that may not be perfect. 

Jeff Fredline

• 1. Hide the vertical lift clearances in the machine.
  2. Counterbalance the weight of the slide assembly and upper die assembly.
  3. Reduce the excessive backlash in the gearing as wear occurs.
  4. Assist the slide adjusting mechanism by lifting the weight of the slide and upper die.
  5. Improves safety by preventing the slide from falling due to a mechanical failure in the connection assemblies.

How often should the counterbalance air pressure be adjusted?  Every time there is a die change as each die weighs a different amount.  How do you adjust the counterbalance cylinders?  There are (2) basic methods;

• 1. Place the slide at the 90 degree position in the stroke, release the brake and adjust the air pressure until the slide dwells at 90 degrees.
  2. Place the press in the continuous mode of operation with a amp meter attached to one of the main motor leads.  Adjust the air pressure while the press is running until you obtain the minimum amperage draw on the meter.

Remember the counterbalance system is critical to increasing the productive life and out put of your machine.
Press Safety is always an important consideration.  All metal stamping presses require a mechanical safety inspection on a periodic basis.  We recommend that annual press inspections be performed on a regular basis with a formal record keeping system.  If you use a formal inspection format you can use it to generate work orders and track the condition of each press thus leading your organization toward predictive maintenance which should be the goal of any great organization.

Jeff Fredline

1^st A completely square environment for the tool to function in. (See Theory of the Box)

2^nd The rated tonnage of the machine.

3^rd Finally, a repeatable die space with the proper rated tonnage and a perfectly square environment.

There are very simple methods of maintaining the square condition of the machine.  As long as there is no distortion we can inspect and adjust the level of the press bed. Once the press bed is level, place the slide at the bottom dead center position, check and adjust the level of the slide left to right and front to back.  Always check the parallelism on the centerline of the press left to right and front to rear as well as the four corners of the slide.  The die seats on the center lines of the press, thus you can have one corner of the slide that may be out of square with the bed, but if the tool is inboard of the damaged area you can operate in a somewhat trouble free condition.  Remember that the most important condition is squareness!

Jeff Fedline

Jeff Fredline