thinking of building a c frame press out of 20mm plate

[chester dylan]

so iv seen 100 ton cylinder on ebay for 200 quid and theres some peces of 20 mm plate at the scrap yard 800 by 600 I was wondering if i got two of them and some how cut a C in to them and webed betwen them would it work. This is the cylinder im looking at
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100ton-50...504963?hash=item21076d0103:g:71kAAOxyBLBR~1Pw
I have got a 10000 psi power pack to drive it the two things im not shure of are
how mutch of a throt i can have and whats the best way of cuting 20mm plate
I went to see the laser cutting guys next door to where i do my day job and thay said thay would only cut new steel and the cost of having new steel cut was out of my budget so looks like ill be geting steel from the scrappy and cutting myself is this posable on a bridge port my only outher tool would be a sthil saw but i dont fancy that. My frind has oxy acetlen torch but it would take ages to clean up after.
any idears welcom

 

[brokenbiker]

best way to cut steel that thick i would think is either Oxy acetylene, oxy propane or a big plasma cutter but all 3 will need a bit of clean up afterwards. a grinder will take ages, and i mean ages and go through god knows how many discs, laser cutting is obviously out of the question

as for the actual welding i am no where near qualified to answer those areas.

 

[dobbslc]

Is a 50mm stroke going to be enough to press anything worthwhile?

 

[Woody.v8]

For straight line cuts you would be better with a oxy fuel PUG , you can pick them up at the right money or rent/borrow one.

 

[Welderpaul]

If your Bridgeport is man enough a slot drill will cut out the C shape and make a nice job of it?

I doubt if you would get much of a throat out of it to deal with 100 tonnes. It will want to twist the frame sideways...think cheap G clamps that twist over when they get tightened too tightly.

 

[brokenbiker]

Is a 50mm stroke going to be enough to press anything worthwhile?

would have to keep adding blocks when it gets to the end of the travel i would think

 

[Woody.v8]

I miss-read the OP, Deffo oxy fuel either free hand or better still make a cutting guide out of say 10 or 12mm square bar and tack it to the plates in the correct profile.

 

[brokenbiker]

I miss-read the OP, Deffo oxy fuel either free hand or better still make a cutting guide out of say 10 or 12mm square bar and tack it to the plates in the correct profile.

what is PUG?

 

[Wendelspanswick]

what is PUG?

 

[Woody.v8]

what is PUG?

One of these init.

 

[brokenbiker]

automated oxy fuel cutting rig?

 

[awemawson]

PUG is a BOC straight line oxy-acetylene cutter - you want one I'll sell you one

To the o/p : That cylinder is single acting so will be a right pain to use in a press to get it to return - it's really a jack.

 

[Woody.v8]

automated oxy fuel cutting rig?

They use one in this vid from 2.25

 

[Hitch]

Gas, against a guide or cutting bar...with some practice its as neat as plasma. Quick tickle with a 5" and you'd never know the difference.

 

[Maker]

automated oxy fuel cutting rig?

The metalworker's equivalent of a track saw.

 

[brokenbiker]

The metalworker's equivalent of a track saw.

the first thing that i thought when i saw the picture was 'wow, thats nearly an oxy fuel scroll saw...' then realised it only works in one direction at a time lol

 

[awemawson]

With thick plate, oxy-fuel will give a neater cut with less tapering than plasma if the O2 is cranked up

 

[chester dylan]

Thanks for all the replys sory iv not posted got side tracked with a job i was tinking of useing these to join the to plates
and bolting it with m20.
As for the throw i want it for having a go at makeing some damascus steel so some sort of insulated pece needs to be made as i will be useing it for hot work and some sort of big spring return but i can see an issue with return speed if the port on the cylinder is to small

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Thanks for all the replys sory iv not posted got side tracked with a job i was tinking of useing these to join the to plates
and bolting it with m20.
As for the throw i want it for having a go at makeing some damascus steel so some sort of insulated pece needs to be made as i will be useing it for hot work and some sort of big spring return but i can see an issue with return speed if the port on the cylinder is to small

I can't see a hydraulic press working for Damascus steel, I did a bit of lamination work when I did my blacksmiths apprenticeship and speed was of the eccesnce so a hammer and anvil for most stuff and a power hammer for big stuff.
You will never match the speed of a Blacker with a hydraulic press.

 

[brokenbiker]

As above a press is t going to be any good I don't think, too slow