Question: Printing press power

[vilts]

I came across supposedly 500 ton press, which seems to be a printing press. Made in 1962 in Germany by Koenig & Bauer.

I was thinking of using it for pressing coins, but there are some doubts about it. Does anyone have experience with similar presses and knows the tonnage? Pressure gauge on the machine went up to 600bar and 355mm cylinder at 500bar should do right about 500 tons of pressure. But I don't know the exact diameter of the cylinder. What's usually the power of such printing presses?

Second problematic thing is the clearance between plates - only 110mm, or 4.3 inches. Would that be enough for dies?

Third thing is that the top section of the press is moving - so that when something is placed out of center, it will move accordingly (that's the round part inside the frame). That problem can possibly be overcome.

If this press is actually 500t, then it is with really-really good price and very close to me. Doesn't happen often.

 

[sam]

Viljo: Talk to Ron Landis about this. He's got a lot of experience with coin presses. He's on Facebook.

 

[Ron Spokovich]

I'm going to make an educated(?) guess here what that press was used for, and its POSSIBLE unsuitability for your purpose. We had a rotary version of such a press that made forms pressed onto steel type that made curved printing plates to print the newspapers for our local town. Your press needs only a few inches of clearance, if that's its purpose. You'd need more room to work, and for the necessary die thickness, top and bottom. Also, there's a big difference in approaching maximum tonnage spread out over an area of a few square feet, versus a few square inches. . .too much force may be concentrated in too small of an area. Some knifemakers are using similar presses for "forging" damascus, and my late friend Hugh Bartrug did such a thing. As Sam mentioned, I'd consult someone more knowledgeable than I, and you'd need to do your homework on this one. To consult an Engineer might save you some misery down the road, but you may get lucky, too. This is just my occupational opinion, and some things to take into consideration.

 

[silverchip]

I'd say keep looking cause that one is a boat anchor and for your purposes you might consider a something like a percussion screw press or drop hammer.

 

[tundratrekers@mtaonline.n]

Look at paul Lantuchs last few postings.
He shows his 50 & 100 ton bottle jack presses.
michael

 

[atexascowboy2011]

You can build a 75 or so ton "H" frame press fairly cheap.
IF, you were a couple of miles closer I'd let you have a 75 I'm not using.
Coupled with a hydraulic pump and you'd nearly have a coining press.
Plus parts (overhere) are EASY to find.
A few years ago, I worked with several kids from Estonia while in Wyoming.
They were ALL, VERY WELL MANNERED!.
I had an 1, 800 pound mule named Scoobey Doo. When he decided that the grass MIGHT be greener on the other side of the log corral, through it he 8would go.
One day, one of the girls was down by the river and thought she heard Scoobey in the brush, figuring he had broken out.
I was upstream a couple of miles, when a park ranger told me to secure the ranch's guests, as a large boar Grizzly, was making his way downstream.
Meanwhile, this girl started calling, "Here Scoobey ", "Here Scoobey". All of a sudden she heard a WOOF! , and then a TREMENDOUS crashing through the brush!
She didn't realize, just how lucky she was!

 

[dhall]

Not sure of your situation, or where you might set up this equipment, but I'd guess it'd take 3 phase electrical power. Something else to check out before you take the plunge.

Best regards,
Doug

 

[vilts]

Thanks for all the replies. It's just wonderful to have access to such helpful people

I was actually thinking the same, that this press might not fit the bill for my needs. 500t to 4 sq feet is very different to 500t 2 sq inches. I bet it can bend or break the plates and whatnot there. Checked out Paul Lantuch's pics about his presses - that's probably the way to go. I found some 150t low profile jacks that are perfect for this and frame will be rather small too. Whenever I get to actually building it, I'll post it here too.

 

[LVVP]

Viljo, you are lucky man

 

[sonofagraver]

look for a fly or screw press. I use one for all sorts of work in my jewellery shop she's 120 years old and has never let me down

 

[vilts]

look for a fly or screw press. I use one for all sorts of work in my jewellery shop she's 120 years old and has never let me down

I've kept my eyes open for these for quite a while, but haven't seen anything locally. Ebay and used machine shops sell them with crazy prices. I wouldn't pay 2000 USD for 20-40 ton screw press when I can build 150 ton hydraulic one with the same price

 

[atexascowboy2011]

Vilts
Last year on another forum, a man was complaining about NOT being able to find an anvil in his area.
Going through my mental catalog, I came up with something like 26 anvils that I KNOW of within a 15 mile radius.
I can also think of 7 fly presses in the same radius.
They are like a pyramid of stepping stones, find one, that one's owner knows of two others and so forth.
Get with folks who use them. Blacksmiths, machinists, etc.