The Hitch Post

The Old Timer Part 14: Extra Cylinders Beef Up Assembly Press

March 9, 2013

How to get more force without using more air or higher pressue.

The Old Timer of Royal Oak, Mich., was a regular contributor to H&P years before we ever even heard of the internet. But most of his advice is just as ueful — and interesting — today.

So rather than leave his wisdom printed on pages archived in our storage room, I pulled out issues from the late 1980s and early 1990s and have been reproducing relevant entries in this blog. Here is my 14th entry, which was originally published in the February 1989 issue:

Extra cylinders beef up assembly press

Hydraulicspneumatics Com Sites Hydraulicspneumatics com Files Uploads 2013 02 1989 02 Old Timer14 A

When some parts were redesigned with new materials and thicker sections, it looked like our pneumatic assembly press had become obsolete. Even at maximum available air pressure, the 16-in. bore cylinder couldn’t develop enough force to do the job. And the press configuration would not let us substitute a larger bore cylinder.

Hydraulicspneumatics Com Sites Hydraulicspneumatics com Files Uploads 2013 02 1989 02 Old Timer14 B

However, after a bit of careful carving on the press frame and reinforcing the platen, we could add some smaller cylinders on either side of the existing press cylinder. We hooked up a pair of 8-in. bore cylinders in tandem to give us the extra pressing force we needed. At the same time, we vented the main cylinder to convert it to single action. By using only the new 8-in. cylinders to return the press, we were able to perform the heavier assembly work without increasing our compressed air consumption.

About the Author

Alan Hitchcox Blog | Editor in Chief

Alan joined Hydraulics & Pneumatics in 1987 with experience as a technical magazine editor and in industrial sales. He graduated with a BS in engineering technology from Franklin University and has also worked as a mechanic and service coordinator. He has taken technical courses in fluid power and electronic and digital control at the Milwaukee School of Engineering and the University of Wisconsin and has served on numerous industry committees.

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