Personal Press - hydraulic and heat press manufacturers

Hydro Presses

Hydroblock prior to forming. A cover plate may be necessary to set contours in the web and will ensure the part conforms to the block in the radius area.

The flat part is located over the hydroblock. Parts can be NC profiled, blanked, or hand trimmed.

Flat and finished parts. When the press is closed, the urethane box closes around the hydroblock forming the part.

The use of hydroforming is common to the aircraft industry for forming sheet metal parts. Rather than use expensive matched male and female dies for forming, the parts are formed over a male hydroblock, with a rubber or urethane box on the press conforming the part to the block. The bent flange usually experiences some spring back which must be accounted for in the male hydroform block.

Typical candidate parts for hydroforming are aluminum less than .080 thick or stainless steel under .040 in thickness. To avoid trimming after the forming operation, the parts are usually blanked or routed to a flat pattern profile before forming.

Since there is very little wear on the forming surface, hydroblocks can be made of aluminum or mild steel. Hard woods or plastic can be used in some cases.

Another characteristic of aircraft parts is a short flange. Usually less than one inch...just enough to pickup a fastener or a row of fasteners. Consequently, most aircraft hydroblocks are less than 2.5" in height.

The PERSONAL PRESS line of hydropresses consists of five standard sizes:

PHP-3070
For hydroblocks that will fit through a 30" x 70" rectangle and under 5" tall.

PHP-1428
For hydroblocks that will fit through a 14" x 28" rectangle and under 4" tall.

PHP-16
For hyrdroblocks that will fit through a 16" diameter circle.