louvre press build

BIGYIN · 11-09-2009, 12:20 AM

looked around locally for a company to punch some louvres in a vintage panel, eventually found somewhere but there tool was chiped and pretty tired looking and the flypress throat wasnt really deep enough..

I had a look around and picked some brains ( thanks Paul) and eventually decided to go it alone.

For the louvres I needed i was quoted £360 plus vat, so sourcd a company in the UK and bought the tooling.

Searching the net I found a design for a presss frame that seemed to meet most folks needs, it was stiff uncomplicated and worked.. albeit most users noted that the frame throat flexed a little before punching the louvre .

Most of there machines were made to feed into the back of the throat, with the throats being on averge 48 to 53 inches deep.

This one stands 6ft tall and has a 36inch throat.

My thinking was that a shallower throat frame built with the same material they used for the bigger machines would be stiffer, so thats the route I decided to pursue.

I bought a compete length of 100x100 x 6 box section ( £100 ) and drew out the full size frame on the garage floor .

Over the next couple of days, when i managed to get a spare minute I cut the box section to suit the dimension of the frame, typically in 16 inches short, but should manage to turn that up at the scrapy..ad pick up some material for gussets.. might eventually sheet the whole thing in 1/4 plate, but waiting to see how it performs when its fuly assembled.

I decided to use a hydraulic cylinder to push on a slide that holds the louvre punch. The slide mechanism is at a local engineer shop, It comprises of a back plate, 2x 1 3/4 guides an 1 3/4 slide/ram. and a cover plate. this lot will be bolted to a face plate that will be weded to the main frame. The idea is that the louvre tool can be removed and other bits bolted to the face plate..maybee!

Unfortunately I dont know how far on they re wth the job but the basic frame is pretty much complete..

The cost for this lot will be in the region of £750, but between the job its being built for and one in the pipeline, its already almost paid for.

I dont intend to offer a louvre service, this tool is prety much for my own use nd my desire to be self sufficient..

Pics of the frame attached..

german8rcoupe · 11-09-2009, 08:52 AM

Ian, that style of truss frame,which I am using for the E wheel, is massively stronger if you plate it. RodDoc on MM has an E wheel frame like that that he does real thick stainless with.
Look at your Trumpf........very similair.

BIGYIN · 11-09-2009, 11:02 AM

Ross, If I decide to plate it do you think it would need to be as heavy as 6mm plate ? As it is the frame is just barely manageable to shift weight wise..

some folks thinking on MM is that its stronger still when bolted to the floor, I was hoping to put whels on it .. any ideas..

nobody · 11-09-2009, 11:40 AM

have to ask why you just didnt get a louvre tool for the pullmax.
.

if youre putting it on wheels run a bar across the bottom of the two legs.this will stop any flex if it isnt bolted down.

plating depends what youre going to do.try it ,if it starts bending add some on.
3mm would be fine

german8rcoupe · 11-09-2009, 04:23 PM

Ian, I,m putting 4mm on my wheel frame.That's plenty.
I am also putting big wheels on it as even though I have the space, I don't want it somewhere I can't get to it.
As long as two wheels steer and lock it wil be fine.
My planisher/helve hammer is on wheels and it doesn't move........much.

BIGYIN · 11-09-2009, 06:40 PM

[QUOTE=nobody;41385]have to ask why you just didnt get a louvre tool for the pullmax.
.

That wayne is the million dollar question. On reflection it would have been far quicker and easier and cheeper... I havent got any tooling sorted for the Trumpf yet... thats a future project, need a bit of space around it as well.. Its kind of stuck in a corner. Once the garage is clear the first port of call is to give serious attention to the Trumpf...and learn how to use it ...

german8rcoupe · 11-09-2009, 06:47 PM

You are kind of limited with the throat of the Trumpf though Ian.
Got the discs from Garry today thanks.

bigyellataxi · 15-09-2009, 04:50 PM

Ian, did you say you have got a ram???

If not I may be able to help...

BIGYIN · 16-09-2009, 01:35 AM

Guy, I dont have anything yet, looked at lots of options from old hydraulic electric forklift rams and gubbins, to various trailer brake actuators, body dozers etc etc .. never settled on anything yet, even considered custom built ram... what have you got on offer?....

bigyellataxi · 16-09-2009, 07:20 PM

I can get custom built ones fairly cheap, we have an NOS 'engine crane' type one sitting around doing nowt, but it's quite long/thin...

Best thing to do is give me a ring at work, we have others that are serviceable out the back, depending on what stroke/bore/tonnage your are going to need...

Can also offer power packs, so you can make it press on a button, or just go with a handpump (also available...!!!)

Work number is 0116 2761131, ask for me...!!!

I prefer to do 'work' stuff at work, it seems more aboveboard if you know what I mean...???

I am off Friday/Monday though, due to the Drags...

We can ship to Bonnie Scotland too...!!!