Hydraulic Press Maintenance Programs
Filed Under Hydraulic Press Care, Hydraulic Shop Presses |
The maintenance program for a hydraulic press is as diverse as the types of hydraulic presses available. So good luck trying to get a consistent answer about what proper maintenance on a hydraulic press should be!
One of the critical components of proper press maintenance starts with the hydraulic press operator themselves. Any time there are unusual sounds, weird vibrations, or parts that seem to be misaligned it is important to fix it then.
Some press operators hesitate to do that because of the cost to productivity. Why would he want to stop in the middle of a run? Why not wait til the run is over? Because, quite simply, you’ll save yourself time later. A fix that might only take 30 minutes in the middle of a run is much more acceptable than running the hydraulic press until it breaks and it is out of service for several days waiting for a technician to come repair it.
Anytime there is an oil leak, attention should be given to the hydraulic press.If any oil is noticeable on the ram, for instance, the ram seal should be immediately replaced. There should NEVER be drops of oil. Instead there should just be a very light film of oil on it.
Bushings are an important items on which to keep an eye. The bronze bushings should be greased when needed.
Hydraulic lines are a good thing to watch as well. Any oil leaks should be immediately addressed. Fittings can be tightened, extra oil can be wiped off. Not only is this great maintenance and good practice in general, but it also makes it easier to identify leaks that are infinitely more serious should they arise.
Make it a regular practice to monitor the hydraulic press oil level. If it is low, fill it to the recommended level immediately. Unless otherwise instructed by a repair professional, always use the recommended oil as specified by the manufacturer of the press.
As a hydraulic press undergoes heavy use, it is quite common for bolts or fasteners to become loose over time. Always be sure to check the bolts - especially around the tooling area and tighten upon discovery.
The guide plates should regularly undergo lubrication checks. Like the ram, the guide plates should merely have a film of oil. There should not be large globs or drops of oil.
Some of the hydraulic press bushings have a check valve fitting. These fittings don’t need grease. Instead use something like Mobil Viscolite or something like it. And only use small amounts.
Oil temperature is important. Always check it. The usual ideal temperature is around 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Light curtains. Regularly check these. Check by breaking the beam while the ram is coming down - not up. When you do this the press should instantly stop. This won’t happen when it is traveling up. As always, check your user’s guide for the correct way this is to work.
In the same way that your car needs regular oil checks and changes, a hydraulic press cannot operate properly if the oil level is low or the oil is gunked up and dirty.
How to Keep Hydraulic Press Oil Clean
This is actually an easy process. Since dirt and high temperatures are the biggest problems for hydraulic press screwups, these are the two biggest things you need to monitor - preferably daily.
As stated earlier, the average oil temperature for a hydraulic press is around 120 degrees fahrenheit. Depending on the type of hydraulic press you have, there are usually either air or water cooled devices to keep the temperature down.
Air Coolers
Air coolers use a device similar to a radiator. This removes heat through the use of an electric fan. They should always be clean. The veins of the radiator actually have a tendency to collect dirt and dust. When this happens airflow is restricted from moving at maximum volume. This can often be remedied by attaching a filter - the kind that are used in A/C units. This will greatly reduce the amount of contaminants making it into the radiator.Water Coolers
With a water cooled hydraulic press system it tends to work in a similar way to the air cooled, except fluid flows through the vanes instead of air. There are three main types of water coolers for the hydraulic press. Regardless of what cooler you end up using, yearly inspection is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.City Water:
Simply utilizing city water is a great choice for many press operators, because really, no maintenance is involved other than the lines inside the factory and inside the press. There is no system outside of the hydraulic press itself, however, that needs additional maintenance. The same cannot be said of the next two items:Rooftop Mounted Units:
These can actually collect dust and dirt - mainly because they are located OUTSIDE. When these do the water tends to clog, which then causes rust to the water lines (if there is no rust inhibitor in the system). Again, like the air coolers, an inline water filter works great in keeping the junk out of the water. These units tend to get neglected because they are on the roof and no one wants to climb up there and do maintenance on the unit.Water Chillers:
These are a favorite for those that can afford them. These are great because the water can be kept very cold and rust inhibitors can easily be added to the system.
Another yearly maintenance task should be performing an oil sample. This helps reassure the operator that contamination and fluid properties are where they are supposed to be.
If you find the oil is contaminated, does that mean you need to change the oil? Not in most instances. Sometimes though, it may be necessary to add chemicals to the oil to help bring the oil properties back to their proper levels.
Code 10 filters are required for simple hydraulic press. More complex systems usually require code 03 filters. Whatever filter you use should match the ISO code range for your machine. Many advertisers here on Hydraulic Press Now have a wide array of hydraulic press accessories.
Hydraulic Press Electrical Maintenance
Again, maintenance and preventative replacement is important when dealing with the electrical side of the hydraulic press. For instance, the coils on the valves usually are good for about 3 million strokes. Relays - 1 million strokes. It is important to replace these BEFORE they die to avoid costly downtime or expensive repairs.
One way to stay on top of these replacement items is to install an hour meter or some sort of stroke counter. When these changes are performed a record should be kept of the maintenance that has been done to the hydraulic press.
Control wiring should also be monitored closely.Any loose wiring should be run through cable trays or tie-wrapped. Keep any electronic boxes free of dust and dirt.
A hydraulic press is a large investment for a company. It is important to keep the preventative maintenance practice daily, always checking oil levels, temperature, and making sure the wiring is securely protected and fittings are tight.
Following these tips will ensure your hydraulic press keeps running, stays productive, and earns its keep!
Check out these related articles:
No related postsComments
2 Responses to “Hydraulic Press Maintenance Programs”
Leave a Reply
[…] at Hydraulic Press Now we have given considerable attention to hydraulic press maintenance. One of the most important aspects of proper press maintenance is care of fluids - especially […]
Hydraulic Press Maintenance Programs…
The maintenance program for a hydraulic press is as diverse as the types of hydraulic presses available. So good luck trying to get a consistent answer about what proper maintenance on a hydraulic press should be!One of the critical components of prope…