The Armour Archive

Well a lot of people have talked about building them but I am so crazy I did it. I got it mostly for forging and dam steel stuff like that. If I can make the right dies it should also be good for armour. I got the power cart going, with no leaks I might add (its alive bwhahaha). Now I just have to cut and weld up a frame (shouldnt be to hard). Enough of my jabering here are some pics.

<a href="http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/7726/h10s2cr.jpg" target=_new><img src="http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/7726/h10s2cr.jpg" width="300" height="383" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

<a href="http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/8376/h14s3kb.jpg"><img src="http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/8376/h14s3kb.jpg" width="370" height="254" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

<a href="http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/6848/h16s3ac.jpg" target=_new><img src="http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/6848/h16s3ac.jpg" width="316" height="255" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

(Edit by JT to shrink the display-size of the images. Click on them to get the fullsize version)

That is pretty sweet, Minotaur, you will find it a great worksaver and quiet to boot. Kind of like a simple minded shop hand with superhuman strength. Here is a little something I put together a couple of years ago out of a 8" dia x 24" stroke dump truck cylinder. I bought the cylinder off a guy who had built a log splitter with it then realized it was overkill. With the pump I am using I imagine it is only putting out 60 tons but it is more than enough for what I need. I just want to put a larger solenoid in to pick up the cycle time, and add an adjustable limit switch to control the down stroke for repeatability. Use urethane or UHMW for your female dies sometime when you want to control marring the finish, even if just as a liner in your steel dies. Never use acrylic or something that will shatter, I have even used leather and lead.
You might want to mount a rod down off your splitter valve to rig up a foot control as you will typically want both hands free. Looking good, can't wait to see the finished press!
Cheers, Erick Davidson
[img]http://www.photodump.com/direct/Zweihammer/press01.jpg[/img]

and a couple of more large images

http://www.photodump.com/viewer/Zweihammer/press02.html
http://www.photodump.com/viewer/Zweihammer/press03.html

Looking good....
Does it have a high pressure relief return valve?

Thanks for the pics.

Hal

Its an open center system, it only builds up psi when the work ports are open. When in neutral it will stay at 0 psi. When the ports are open it will build up to its set relief and not any higher. Right now I have it set at 2k psi but I could go to 3k if I wanted to. So long answer short "yup".

Wow Erick that press is a monster . I think I am going to go with an easy H or maybe something like an ironworker. Your dies are just what I was thinking about, so its good to know I am on the right track. This should cut the hammer work way down.

OOOooooooohhhh, Aaaahhhhh, OOOAAAAhhhhhh!

Not that is pretty smurfy.

Ok I found some steel to build the rest of this thing. Just I am not to sure its still good. I have some thats in better shape. I think it will be good but it would suck if it just pulls apart. So let me know what you guys think.

<a href="http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/6613/steel9mm.jpg" target=_new><img src="http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/6613/steel9mm.jpg" width="316" height="121" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

(Edited by JT to shrink display-size of image)

Yeah I've got 5 presses now ; used 'em for 15 years already. I highly recommend that you make your frame in a "C" shape to get bigger pieces in there. Most of my presses are based on bottle jack H and A frames, and they can be a real pain in the ass to work around. A "C" frame needs to be really strong so use lots of gussets and full-penetration welds and enjoy! I'm preparing an essay on presses and tooling but I've got to finish this full suit by Oct 1 so I shouldn't even be yammering now!