How to make a hydraulic press for a garage

Makeshift press from a jack with his own hands

I decided to make a homemade press from a jack. Materials I already had in the garage, made with what was.

Soviet jack for 5 tons, channel 160. 2,5 meters, corner 90. 2,5 meters. I had to buy only electrodes 3, disks on an angle grinder. 3 pcs, a pair of springs and paint. paint.

I am a design engineer by profession, so I decided to make drawings and calculate the metal that was available.

The dimensions of blanks:

I cut blanks out of angles and channel bars.

Fastened everything with bolts M12, then decided to weld all joints in addition.

Did the first tests on the pipe, the pipe bent easily. Satisfied with self-made jack.

make, hydraulic, press, garage

The specifics of the hydraulic jack

The hydraulic jack was not selected by chance as the basis for the homemade press construction.

An important feature of this device is that its performance is based on basic laws of physics, according to which the fluid under pressure is not compressed and does not decrease in volume. This explains why there is no loss of power when the jack acts on the object being worked on.

In addition, the hydraulic jack has a fairly high efficiency (80%), which allows you to count on a significant compression force in the case of the power press.

Classification of presses

The press is an ancient industrial device, and many jobs are simply impossible without it. The design and functionality have changed slightly over the years, and there are currently four main types manufactured by companies:

Presses with hydraulics, in turn, are divided by design into vertical and horizontal. Vertical presses perform such work as pressing, pressing and punching, and horizontal. straightening, cutting and bending. Vertical designs are often found in construction and machine-building industries. The main parts of this device are the high-pressure pump and the housing.

The device of the hydraulic press for the garage

Since garage work is often performed not on a production scale, but “for yourself”, it is better to choose a press that meets the needs of the owner.

The main features of the garage press will be in this case:

  • Maximum power output. The force with which the piston presses on the surface of the product is between 4 and 10 tons in weight.
  • Reliable gauges. Since these elements reveal the amount of force exerted by the piston to perform the work, they must also work smoothly.
  • Working stroke parameters. Influence the characteristics of cultivated surfaces, and in garages presses with a stroke up to 200 mm are used.
  • Lifting capacity in the bed. To ensure comfortable operation, you need to individually select the height to which the machined structure will be raised.
  • Press sizes. Since the garage is not an industrial hall and, as a rule, is characterized by compact dimensions, the hydraulic press is better to do there a small size.

Garage hydraulic press is an installation on a metal frame, which has the following design elements. cylinders, jack (or pump), moving table. Separately, it should be noted that the frame (or bed) should be made of high-strength metals and have a shape similar to the platform.

In addition, the openings should be made with some margin and be larger than the dimensions of other subsequently installed parts.

The hydraulic jack must be installed on a frame in such a way that it is possible to regulate the piston stroke and the height of the parts to be processed. To this end, the pump is installed either with a screw drive, or with interchangeable pads.

Hydraulic press diagram: popular ideas

Before starting to manufacture a hydraulic press with your own hands, you need to develop a certain design of equipment, so that the future device meets all the necessary requirements.

The most common of these are the circuits:

make, hydraulic, press, garage
  • With the pump positioned at the foot of the bed with the pressurizing force directed upward.
  • With the jack on top of the device, the pressure of which is directed downward.
make, hydraulic, press, garage

Industrial models are now equipped only with pistons that press from bottom to top. And in the case of making homemade equipment, the principle of reverse design can also be used, most often used for pressing ball bearings or various kinds of knotted parts (which include bushings and hinged parts).

Before starting work, and before making a drawing, it is also necessary to keep in mind that the press made with your own hands must meet a number of requirements.

Highly rigid base is important. Since the frame is subjected to double pressure from the piston and cylinders, care must be taken to strengthen the reliability of the frame. Free piston rod must be adjustable. To this end, they make removable stops or make additional plates. The system of replaceable inserts made of metal plates is also used.

The device of the hydraulic press for the garage: the main characteristics

How to make a hydraulic press sometimes you need to know in order to make such a unit for your garage. In this case, practical designs can be made from improvised raw materials. For the garage unit will need a manual drive, as well as a hydraulic pump. Deciding on the type of installation: table or floor standing. The dimensional drawing also comes in handy.

For the production of a hydraulic press, it is important to determine the model variant. This is how they can be:

  • the complex hydraulic design requires specialized equipment and operating time;
  • manual mechanism can be made by yourself;
  • The standard tire changer construction is two-speed and has a manual pump. The piston is mobile;
  • The floor-standing model is equipped with an overload valve and a manual pump drive.

For self-made manufacture you need fasteners, cutting tools and welding machines. The advantage of the garage assembly will be the ability to control each stage of the installation work.

It is important to determine the type of design. Horizontal devices are used for bending, straightening and cutting individual elements. And vertical equipment is required for pressing and pressing parts. Hydraulic unit is used to dispose of waste. It presses waste paper, plastic waste and corrugated cardboard.

Also, the devices can be table or floor-standing. The table machine can be mounted on a workbench. Presses differ in load capacity.

Floor-standing designs have a wide range of work table adjustments. This version can have a capacity of up to 20 tons. They are used for disassembly and assembly of assemblies.

There are also special safety rules for working with such equipment:

  • to work in clothing without parts that could fall under the press. It is important to protect the hair from such contact;
  • special goggles are used for eyes;
  • no children or bystanders allowed in the work area
  • the parts are placed in the center of the press;
  • only high quality oils are used for the jacks.

An important drive is the manually operated hydraulic pump. It is able to perform reciprocating motion in the working part. Hydraulic cylinders can be ram or piston cylinders. This largely depends on the quality of the fluid used.

To make a simple unit for the garage, a bottle jack is needed. For a small workshop, you can choose a machine that can produce up to 10 tons of force. This will reduce the size of the device. Also needed are a welder, hacksaw, angle grinder, and metal cutting disks.

Before assembly, it is important to choose only a good jack and make a solid base for it. Such a press consists of a hydraulic pump, a pressure gauge, a frame with a frame and a hydraulic cylinder. In some designs, the cylinder and pump can be replaced by a jack.

  • the simplicity of the device;
  • No safety mechanisms;
  • the location of the working table does not affect the working force of the design
  • it is possible to adjust the length and height of the working stroke.

The disadvantages include the low speed of the working surface.

Assembly Instructions

At each stage of the hydraulic press assembly refer to the drawing. For its sequence it is suggested to follow the following recommendations:

According to the dimensions indicated in the drawing, cut the rolled metal into parts. Then, using a drill, you need to make all the marked holes in all the elements.

Welding the frame of the hydraulic press from profile pipe. Seams are to be welded on all sides. The upper steel plate is welded to the frame. To prevent the perimeter from deforming, it is necessary to weld reinforcing ribs in the corners of the frame. After that, bolt the U-frame to the base. We obtain the ready base frame.

Work table is made. Metal sheet of 10 mm and profile pipe along its perimeter, or a channel is used. The length of the tube should be slightly less than the gap between the frame legs.

The guides for the vertical movement of the table are made of 10 mm steel strip. Total width of rails equals the width of the frame. Then a pipe is put between the frame legs, steel bands are put on, and the structure is bolted at the sides with nuts.

The same pattern is used for making an adjustable replaceable thrust stop. The only difference is that opposite to the posts, at a certain height, holes are drilled for its mounting.

The retracting springs are fixed in accordance with the drawing. Before installing the jack, the work table must be pulled away. To ensure that the head of the jack reliably rested on the mobile table and not move during pressing, it is necessary to make a special thrust socket from a piece of round tube and weld it to the bottom center part of the table.

Now a personal self-made garage press is completely ready, the only thing left is to bring it in a marketable form: sanded weld scale and paint. And if you have locksmith skills, diligence, access to lathe and milling equipment, you can make such a machine tool, which can not be distinguished from the factory product.

If not needed, the homemade press will not take up useful space in the garage or home workshop. Then the jack can be easily removed from the design and use it to perform other work.

Blueprints

Before starting work on the creation of a hydraulic press, it is highly recommended to make a drawing. The dimensions of all parts of the design must be fully consistent, otherwise at the first use of the machine, the design will move sideways.

Specialists are recommended to independently make a drawing of the future system, since ready-made options will not always be able to satisfy the owner in terms of dimensions, and it is possible to make a mistake with the choice of the jack type. In this case a lot of time will be lost for the adjustment of the system to its parameters.

Photos of drawings of the hydraulic press can be easily found on the Internet.

Step-by-step instructions for making your own hydraulic pressing equipment.

One of the main steps involved in making a hydraulic press with their own hands is the preparation of the frame. It is called the “frame” and it is inside it that the future press will be located. Its strength must have some reserve, since the pressure inside the frame is applied in both directions (both up and down), so there is a possibility that the frame will burst.

The first thing to do: cut all the main parts of the construction according to the drawing data. It is necessary to drill holes in the structure. Next, a special plate is installed by welding.

The next step is to assemble the model. Mounting the jack in the structure is the last step of the construction.

To build a more robust system, it is recommended to use a channel and mounting angles, and for more stable operation of the press you can add a portable supporting beam.

Thus, independent creation of the press is a fascinating activity, which will not only save on the purchase of new equipment, but also to adjust such parameters as the size and power of the tool to their own needs.

Pressing devices for various applications

Rather widespread is the use of a hydraulic press in a home workshop or garage. This relatively small device can be used both for repair work on the car and for other household works.

With this compact device you can easily perform removal of glands and bearings, as well as pressing new parts in their place. In addition to repair work, the press can be used for bending metal parts and workpieces, creating the necessary pressure for gluing dissimilar surfaces, squeezing juice and oil, briquetting waste.

Pressing equipment of industrial production has a relatively high price, so not everyone can buy it. That is why home craftsmen try to make a home-made press from a jack, having spent only money to buy the necessary materials. The peculiarity of the device of such a device is its complete adaptation to solve the necessary task with a particular workpiece or part. A manufactured press fits perfectly into the functional interior of any garage or workshop.

How to make a press with your own hands

The presence of high requirements to the technical characteristics of the homemade press from a jack is not considered mandatory. For home works it is enough that the device develops the force of 10-20 tons and is able to perform the function assigned to it.

Regardless of the nature of making a press, it must fully comply with a number of parameters for the product:

  • The total weight of the equipment.
  • The dimensions of the device.
  • The stroke of the working piston.
  • The possibility of installing a pressure gauge in the press.
  • Characteristics of the supporting bed of the operating product.

In hydraulic presses, the pressure in the main cylinder is most often created by a hydraulic hand pump, which can be located either separately from it, or integrated into the design. The location of the pump depends on the design of the equipment. The use of a jack is considered the most expedient solution, since it already has a manual pump built in.

Before drawing the future product, it is essential to consider the layout of the pump. There are basically two options:

  • The jack is located at the bottom of the press and the pressure on the workpiece is upward.
  • The jack is fixed at the top of the equipment, which correspondingly leads to downward pressure on the workpiece.

Most often the scheme when the jack is located at the bottom of the press is used as the basis. This scheme is also used on equipment made in the factory. The second design is mainly used where bushes or bearings need to be pressed out of individual machines or assemblies.

Making the frame

The supporting base of any equipment of this type is the base frame. This device is given special attention in the design and construction of the entire press product system. Structurally, it is a frame, inside of which there is a jack with working plates, transferring pressure on the metal workpiece.

The frame should be solidly built because all its parts will be exposed to load in several directions. To avoid premature failure of the entire structure, all parts of the supporting frame must be calculated with a large margin of safety of the elements.

The lower part of the frame is also responsible for the good stability of the machine. Therefore, when calculating the width of the frame, you need to consider not only the size of the blanks, but also the size of all the components of the future construction.

The height of the inner opening of the frame is determined from the total height of the following elements:

  • The jack that is planned to be installed on the equipment.
  • The free stroke of the piston rod.
  • The total thickness of the processed part and the working body of the press.

The self-made device will be much easier in operation, if it is possible to adjust the free stroke of the jack rod, which can significantly affect the permissible height of the workpiece. This requires:

  • To place in the upper part of the frame additional plate, freely moving on rails at the expense of the screw-type drive with a hand wheel. Thus it is possible to easily change the clearance for placing the part inside the structure within a rather wide range.
  • It is also possible to make a removable support that is used as a mobile platform. To fix the position of such a platform inside the frame you can use a bolted connection, for which you drill holes in the frame with the necessary pitch. The pitch of such an attachment should not exceed the free stroke of the jack piston.
  • It is also possible to make interchangeable metal inserts of different thicknesses.
  • Some designs use different methods simultaneously.

Working part

After all the preparatory work and thinking over the drawing of your future structure, you can proceed to the construction of the press. First of all, all the material is cut to the size specified in the drawing.

Next, to make the base of the press, the square pipes that were cut beforehand are welded together, and the sheet metal material is welded on the rectangle that is formed. Then the frame’s top part and lateral stands are welded together. Be sure to check the right angle between the parts of the structure. After that, the entire structure is welded to the base, and you can consider the frame ready.

Making a movable type platform is the next stage of the device. For this purpose it is desirable to use a rectangular or square tube or a channel. In the center of the platform a piece of pipe is welded, which will be a socket for the head of the jack rod. The guides are made of two steel strips, whose length corresponds to the width of the frame on the outer contour.

The bands can be bolted to the sides of the movable platform, pre-installed on the inside of the frame. The same scheme is used for the device of the removable stop, but holes are drilled in the guides symmetrically to the frame struts in order to reinforce them at the required height.

The complete process of making the press ends with the installation of the pulling springs and the pressure device itself. Such equipment is very convenient, because it has the ability to use the car jack at any time for its intended purpose.As you can see, the presence of a small number of tools (welder, electrodes, angle grinder, grinder) and simple consumables can in good hands become a necessary device for carrying out various works in the household.

The classic jack design

It is easy enough to create a classic manual press from a jack. First the frame is made of a thick channel. Its corner parts are reinforced with steel plates, which increase the strength of the entire structure.

A movable element is installed on the manufactured frame and is responsible for pressing the products. Specialists advise to install special limiters on it, which can better fix the working jack.

Some equip the equipment with a thrust rod. It is made of bearing rolls. The thrust rod is used to increase the stability of the press construction.

Features of building a mini-press

People who prefer to use compact equipment most often make a homemade table press. This is the simplest design, which is not often used in practice. For example, it is used to crack walnuts or to press fragile tin or plastic products.

To make the frame of the device are used thick wooden boards. Four planks are connected to each other to form a rectangular frame. To the upper part of the frame is connected movable pressing surface, which is also made of wood. As a hydraulic system, ordinary medical syringes are used.