Manufacturer of Hydraulic Presses
A reduction in performance is one of the first indicators that there is something wrong with your hydraulic press. One way this manifests itself is the slow operation of the machine. The slow operation may be a result of internal leakage. When this happens, there is a pressure drop leading to a rise in temperature.
This leads to a decrease in fluid viscosity. If the problem is not identified early, it can lead to a vicious cycle resulting in system damage.
Besides internal leakage, there are five more factors that reduce the performance of your system.
In this article, we’ll discuss the five factors that reduce hydraulic press performance.
When your system experiences slow operation or longer cycle times, the problem is usually a drop in pressure levels. You can trace the problem to actuators or the condition of the pump. Here is how it happens.
When the air gets in the fluid, cavitation occurs, leading to a rise in fluid temperature. As it moves from a high-pressure area to a low-pressure area, the fluid does not perform any useful work. As such, heat gets generated. Any component with abnormal internal leakage will also increase the heat load.
It could be an incorrectly adjusted rely valve or a damaged flexible intake line. The increase in temperature can damage the seals as well as reduce the life of your hydraulic press. It can also damage moving parts due to the excessive thinning of the lubricant.
To ensure the longevity of your system and prevent any downtime, don’t wait for increased cycle times. Replace parts once you discover the hydraulic press is hurting productivity.
Besides air, dirt and debris can find their way into the hydraulic fluid or lubricant. If the fluid or lubricant gets contaminated, it can result in the damage of expensive components and the eventual failure of the system.
Research shows that more than 90% of hydraulic press failures occur as a result of contaminated lubrication or operation oil. To prevent this, we recommend that you carry out periodic oil sampling.
By doing so, the sampling will reveal the presence of any contaminants. To ensure no contamination occurs, maintain a schedule of checking the filter and oil for dirt and debris.
The pump of a hydraulic press is the beating heart of the machine. For a new machine, the pump works efficiently, but for an ageing machine, the pump may fail. Thankfully, hydraulic press pumps have a tough build which keeps them working until they fail entirely.
Signs of an ageing pump include slow performance, thermal issues and pressure fluctuations. To ensure your ageing hydraulic press continues to work, have your maintenance crew carry out a routine checkup.
If they discover any issues, ensure they are quickly fixed.
The pump and hydraulic fluid are the heart and lifeblood of a hydraulic press. While this is true, the electronics are essential too. They communicate with other system components to ensure the proper functioning of the hydraulic press. Such electronics include relays and coils.
Coils have a life cycle of 3 million strokes while relays have a life cycle of 1 million strokes. To reduce downtime and hours of troubleshooting, do not overlook the electronics. To keep track of the electronics life cycle such as relays and coils, use the proper instruments. That includes cycle counters and hour meters.
These instruments will allow you to keep to your maintenance routine and keep proper records of the life cycles. If you detect any issues, have the maintenance crew fix them quickly
Maintenance engineers know about the hydraulic press design, its strengths and weaknesses. They also know the machine’s materials of construction and how it's built. When it comes to operators, they know how to use the machine.
If both teams fail to work together, your production line will experience a frequent breakdown. What you need to do is bring these two teams together. By doing so, you ensure knowledge transfer and teamwork.
Not only will they share knowledge on how to run the machine reliably and productively. But both groups will put the knowledge they gain to good use.
Know When to Replace Your Hydraulic Press
Although hydraulic presses can withstand years of use and abuse, there comes a time when it’s necessary to replace the system. Doing so improves your productivity and results in less downtime.
If the pump completely fails, the frame is cracked, and critical electronics problems exist, it’s time to replace the hydraulic press. Ignoring these issues will result in increased cycle times and longer downtimes.
