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Mechanical presses have a number of moving parts, and one of the most important is the drive that controls the movement of the die and directly affects the type of part produced.

Meeting Diversified Needs

We offer a full range of drive arrangements to meet a wide array of diversified stamping needs. Selecting the right drive depends on several application requirements, including:

• The type of work (blanking, drawing, forming)
• The type and size of dies
• Parts material specifications
• Production volumes

Our drive train offerings include:

Singe-geared, opposed, counter-rotating crankshafts for smaller tonnage presses with slide areas that are relatively longer left-to-right vs front-to-back. Capacities usually do not exceed 500 tons.

Single-geared or double geared, single-end drives for blanking, forming and medium-depth drawing on presses with slides that have relatively small left-to-right dimensions. Capacities are usually less than 300 tons.

Mechanical Presses are the workhorses of the manufacturing world, producing millions of parts for a wide range of critical applications. Here’s a deep dive into the world of mechanical presses.

How does a mechanical press work?

Powered by an electric motor, a flywheel is engaged by a clutch and brake, driving a gear train that transmits the power to the crankshaft, which moves the press slide up and down. The motor then restores the energy to the flywheel, and the process begins again. The flywheel’s mass and speed determine the working energy of the press.

What are the advantages of using a mechanical press?

Mechanical presses are relatively inexpensive. Other advantages include fast production rates, very repeatable action with precision accuracy, and simple set-up and operation.

What applications are best suited to mechanical presses?

Mechanical presses are frequently used for flat to medium-depth drawn parts, like automotive, appliance and hardware components.

For more than 100 years, mechanical presses have been the mainstays of the metal-stamping world. They remain the most cost-effective solution for a high-production metal parts manufacturing system. Let’s take a closer look at these mechanical marvels.

From an operational standpoint, mechanical presses are straightforward: an electric motor supplies power to a flywheel that, when engaged by a clutch and brake, drives a gear train that transmits the power to the crankshaft, which moves the press slide up and down. The motor then restores the energy to the flywheel, and the process begins again. The working energy of the press depends on the flywheel’s mass and speed.

Press Advantages

These stamping machines offer a variety of advantages:

• Fast production
• Very repeatable action with precision accuracy
• Simple set-up and operation
• Relatively inexpensive

The two basic types of mechanical presses – gap frame and straight side – also offer their own benefits. Gap frame presses work well with smaller dies and provide easier access around the die. Straight side presses, offering greater rigidity and not as much deflection, provide higher accuracy and are usually more suitable for progressive die work.