A second-hand hydraulic press is a great opportunity for your machine shop if you are looking for conventional and affordable equipment. Buying second-hand machinery can be a sound investment for the workshop, and it also brings a number of benefits such as technical service and machine parts at very reasonable prices.
What is a second-hand hydraulic press?
The hydraulic press is one of the most widely used conventional machine tools in the metalworking industry, although its invention and working principle date back to the seventeenth century. The principle behind these machines was discovered by Blaise Pascal, who showed that pressure applied to a confined liquid is transmitted equally in all directions. As a result, very large forces can be obtained from much smaller ones.
The hydraulic press is the practical application of Pascal's principle. It is a device made up of a series of communicating vessels driven by pistons, known as cylinders, of different sizes, using small forces. The pistons are hydraulic, which means they rely on a liquid (water or oil) to move and generate a greater force.
Why would you need a second-hand hydraulic press? If you want equipment that lets you press and lift heavy objects using small forces, this is the machine for you. Presses are capable of mass production, which is why their use has become so widespread. They also produce consistent parts with a good finish, and machining costs are not particularly high.
Why a second-hand hydraulic press?
Buying used machinery does not mean it is faulty or that you cannot enjoy all the machining benefits. A second-hand hydraulic press offers the same performance as a new machine at a lower price. These machines are delivered fully operational and reconditioned, so you can carry out high-precision work with good results.
Moreover, not only second-hand hydraulic presses but most used machinery comes with a range of accessories at the time of purchase. These may include chucks, vices, spare parts and other components belonging to the machine that would be much more expensive to buy separately.
When you buy second-hand machinery, you may also be able to receive technical service: specialist staff to install the machine, train your personnel (if necessary) and carry out preventive maintenance. Preventive maintenance consists of a series of scheduled inspections that keep the machine from deteriorating quickly. It also makes it possible to detect potential faults before they occur and thus reduce the risk of a production stoppage.
Benefits of hydraulic presses
In addition to the benefits of buying used presses described above, these machine tools offer a number of advantages for the machine shop. A press is fairly compact, meaning it does not take up much space in the workshop; this naturally depends on the type and model of hydraulic press you choose.
A quiet machine
The press ram is hydraulic and can be controlled, which allows you to manage noise levels; as a result, the machine is fairly quiet. Furthermore, because it has fewer moving parts, a hydraulic press is much quieter than a mechanical one. It is also considerably safer for operators.
Price and spare parts
Hydraulic presses are very easy to maintain and need nothing more than a constant supply of pressurised oil for lubrication. If they break down, they rarely require major repairs. In the event of a fault, parts are easy to find and fairly inexpensive.
Stroke force of a second-hand hydraulic press
On mechanical presses, the stroke force is only available at the bottom or end of the stroke. On second-hand hydraulic presses, full force is maintained throughout the entire stroke. This means there is no need to estimate tonnage pressure.
Easy to use
Hydraulic presses have the advantage that you can always keep control over force, stroke, movement and even working time. These machines achieve fast approach and working speeds, which makes them highly productive. On hydraulic presses, the depth distance or approach distance can also be controlled using timers, feeders and so on.
Machining operations
These machine tools carry out operations according to their stroke force. That is why hydraulic presses can deep draw, reduce, form and shape, stamp, blank, punch, press and assemble parts. They are also used to manufacture abrasive wheels, size diameters and compress materials such as plastic or rubber.