Metal pressing is a basic form of machining and tooling, but it is also one of the most important.

1. Est. 1946
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Experts In Metal Spinning & Metal Pressing

2. An Introduction to
Metal Press Systems
Metal pressing is a basic form of machining
and tooling, but it is also one of the most
important. Important fields such as automotives,
medicine, aerospace, and the military simply
will not function without the parts produced by
this simple service.
There are three different types of presses:
the hydraulic press, the pneumatic press, and
the mechanical press. They all serve the same
basic function, but have decidedly different,
albeit subtle results in terms of the products
they produce.

3. Hydraulic Press
The operation of this press depends on Pascal’s
principle stating that a confined fluid transmits an
equal force to an area perpendicular to a container
wall. The machine has two pistons: the lever and the
press; the system maintains a constant force of
pressure between both. When the lever is
manipulated, the pressurized liquid inside exerts a
force equal to the area of the large piston, causing
it to push downward.
Hydraulic presses are ideal in terms of control.
Because of the
many calculations
involved in its
operation, the force
and pressure can be
manipulated to the
smallest measured
degree to produce
better products.

4. Mechanical Presses
This type of press is the first of the three, and is
still in use today; though the machines themselves
are vastly different, the principles of force remain.
The mechanical
press depends on
raw force and the
strength of a
platform to get the
job done. This press is
ideal for more
stubborn metals that
need to be formed
into simple shapes.
Pneumatic Presses
Pneumatics is a division of mechanical
technology that deals with the use of pressurized
gas to apply force. The principle is similar to
hydraulics, with the only difference in the type of
matter used. The main reason for using pneumatics
is safety and simplicity of design.

5. Pressurised gas has a lesser tendency of igniting as
compared to hydraulic oil, and pneumatic
pressure systems have a longer service life and
require minimal maintenance.
The only drawback for pneumatics is because
of the nature of gas molecules, some energy is lost
in the transfer. In addition, pneumatic systems need
to ‘bleed off’
pressurized gas in
order to relive tension
in the system after
every operation.
The practice of
metal pressing will not
stop anytime soon,
and neither will the
evolution of its
technology.
RESOURCES:
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/445445/Pascals-principle
http://winward.co.uk/metal-pressing/
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-machine-press.htm