Pneumatic press: making a pneumatic press with your own hands

It is very convenient to use a pneumatic press to perform many works in the conditions of industrial and home workshops, which, developing sufficient effort, greatly facilitates the process of many technical procedures. In particular, using such equipment, it is possible to perform bending of metal products, to carry out die-cutting technological operations and impact-free riveting, use effort, which creates such a press, for gluing wood products and hot stamping. Very comfortable, what to make the simplest, but a fairly effective pneumatic press is possible with your own hands, and this does not require expensive consumables and special equipment.

Homemade pneumatic press from the gas piston of the office chair

preparation of components

Before you start making your own pneumatic press, should understand the principle of its operation. If hydraulic presses are driven by a hydraulic pump, then in the press equipment of pneumatic type the device is used for these purposes, producing compressed air. A compressor or air pump can be used as such a device. Compressed air of a certain pressure is supplied to the pneumatic cylinder or to the diaphragm-spring pneumatic actuator, on the output rod which creates the necessary pressure.

The device of the gas lift of an office chair allows to use it as a pneumatic pusher

It should be borne in mind, that pneumatic presses, if you compare them with hydraulic, create less pressure, but in many cases it is enough to perform certain technological operations.

so, to make the simplest air press, you need to prepare:

• pneumatic shock absorber (such shock absorbers are installed on office and computer chairs);
• air pump or small compressor;
• threaded fitting diameter 3 mm;
• connecting hose.

Apply penetrating grease to easily remove the gas lift from the cross member, remove the locking key and carefully knock the part out of the conical connection

manufacturing process

The process of making the press, which will be based on a pneumatic shock absorber from the chair, carried out according to the following algorithm.

1. On the side of the pneumatic shock absorber from the chair, using a marker, mark the place, on which the threaded fitting will be installed.
2. At the specified location make a hole of appropriate diameter, in which cut a carving for installation of the union.
3. The fitting is screwed into the prepared hole, for which it is better to use sealing tape.
4. A hose is placed on top of the fitting, for more reliable fixing of which it is better to use a collar of the corresponding size.
5. The other end of the hose is connected to the outlet fitting of the air pump or compressor and also fixed with a clamp.

Marking of the place of installation of the union

installation of a union

Now, when the air press is fully assembled, you can try it at work, for which it is enough to turn on the air pump or compressor. After the air from its supply device begins to enter the inner part of the pneumatic shock absorber, the output rod should start moving. If such a movement occurs, then it indicates the correctness of the actions taken.

Checking the efficiency of the mechanism

To make the pneumatic bench press more convenient and efficient to use, on the working end of its rod it is possible to fix a metal circle of small diameter, which, affecting the workpiece, will create pressure over a larger area.

The press of the design offered above if necessary is easy to finish. In the same form it can be used to perform the simplest operations of bending and cutting. If desired, the resulting structure can be fixed on the basis of the pneumatic chair, where there are already landing holes for it. Gradually in this way, you get a more user-friendly device, installed on a solid base.

How to make a functional pneumatic press

As mentioned above, pneumatic presses can be used to perform hot stamping, and also for veneering of any wood materials (natural array, Particleboard, MDF and others.). However, to solve such problems is not common, and a hot pneumatic press, which can also be made with your own hands. The main difference between this press and the usual type of device is, that its working body, which puts pressure on the workpiece, must be heated to a certain temperature.

Heating will be carried out with the help of heating elements

In order to provide heating of the working body of the pneumatic press, in the last it is necessary to build in electric heating elements, and the working body itself to be made of aluminum to ensure better thermal conductivity. The design of the pneumatic hot press must be supplemented by an electrical circuit, consisting of two independent parts:

• electronic unit, which is responsible for turning on and heating electric heaters (the main element of such a unit is the temperature controller, which allows you to maintain it to within half a degree);
• block, which will provide control of the air valve itself (due to the presence of such a unit, you can not only control the process of bringing the working body to the surface of the product (as well as diversion from it), but also to adjust the exposure time of the press in a compressed state).

Temperature regulator with an exit under the solid-state relay

Electrical circuit of the press with heating elements

Using such a press with different working nozzles, you can solve many practical problems, to which, in particular, include:

• performing hot stamping on leather products (footwear, bags, etc.);
• hot gluing of footwear elements;
• veneering of wood products;
• design of book covers, made of leather or imitation leather.

In conclusion, another version of the press with heating for lining furniture panels, which uses elements of electric underfloor heating.