Why is a hydraulic press preferred over mechanical one in industries?

Posted by Dinesh Kumar on February 11th, 2020

In a mechanical press, a motor is connected to a crankshaft in various ways. Since the motor generates the momentum, and it is connected to a flywheel through belts, it is called a mechanical press. In simple punch press, it is connected and controlled by a clutch. In bigger presses, gears are added for rotating the crankshaft smoothly and efficiently. In straight side press, two pinions and gears run a single crankshaft. While speed and consistency of tonnage are higher in the case of the mechanical press, there are a few aspects that make the hydraulic press a preferred option as compared to mechanical press in industries.

Why is a hydraulic press better?

Hydraulic punch presses have pressurized hydraulic fluid that is pumped to the ram via a cylinder. A typical hydraulic punch press doesn’t have a flywheel. It runs by the pressure of the fluid. It is useful for conditions where consistent pressure is required and a large range of strokes. Contrary to popular belief, it can be used for faster-running processes as well. However, the ability to run deep draw parts vanishes as the speed increases. If proper force is not maintained, then there are chances of overexertion. It may cause damage to the press and die by ripping the bottom.

Benefits of hydraulic press

• It is better for small runs because of high efficiency.
• Force remains unaffected with an increase or decrease of shut height.
• Excellent capacities of drawing and forming.
• Compressed air needs relatively less motion for exerting maximum force.
• Better efficiency as compared to the conventional flywheel and motor system.
• A wider window within the stroke path.

A few terms and their meaning

• Stroke: It is the distance traveled by ram between the two extreme points of retraction and extension.
• Shut height: The maximum possible distance between ram and bed when the press is fully extended.
• Bed height: Distance between the bottom and the top of the bed bolster (the plate that serves as the working surface).
• Daylight: The distance between the ram and bolster in case of total retraction.

Due to the benefits mentioned above, hydraulic press leaves behind mechanical press in a variety of industrial applications. Though mechanical one is inevitable in a few industries where high pressure and thrust is required along with high speed, a large number of establishments prefer hydraulic ones. So the demand for hydraulic presses is on the rise year by year.

Srichakra Engineering Equipments was established in the year 1985. We are one of the leading manufacturers and suppliers of wide varieties of hydraulic presses that are used in the gamut of industrial applications. Our spectrum of hydraulic presses caters to the industrial segments like plywood, block boards, flush doors, wood compreg, mica rubber, particle boards, coir, mattresses, high-pressure laminates, PC boards for electrical insulation and pre-presses with built-in chain conveyors. We have a highly sophisticated and state of the art manufacturing facility at Bangalore, India, through we which we handle manufacturing and global delivery. Defect-free products, quickest delivery time and service are the three major core values of our firm. We are an ISO 9001:2008 certified company. Over the years we have successfully installed more than 2000 different types of hydraulic presses across India and the world.

One of the most common uses of presses is in plywood industries. Hydraulic plywood presses are extensively used in wood processing industries.