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Clinton1
19th Oct 2005, 12:13 PM
As a mechanical idiot I want to start educating myself about hydraulics.

Can anyone in the field suggest a good learning resource.
I don't have time to do a TAFE course, and am looking for a theory based text book or course notes to start to edumicate myself from. I would mix it up with pulling systems apart and rebuilding them from the manuals they come with.
I guess I'm hoping there is someone out there who can personally recommend an avenue that they tried and found to be worth it.
I need both design theory as well as practical.

Thanks

Ashore
19th Oct 2005, 12:58 PM
Clinton

When I was doing my traineeship I was in the Hydraulics dept of the then BHP Newcastle Steeleorks for 6 months , 4 as a plant fitter and 2 in the design build also did some courses on fluid transferr control and pnuematic control
and then delt with hydraulic systems for my entire seagoing career, but this was usually just hose change stuff, or seal replacement etc

Hydraulics as such can be extremely dangerous to work on and with , high pressure oils these can be injected into the skin , which will often result in amputation so in saying that it may not be the best idea to go in after just some printed notes and start building , re-building units
Of course I don't know how far into it you want to go or what pressures you would be working with, I'm just trying to push the point that hydraulics can be as dangerous as electricity to the novice


Perhaps if you visited your local "enzed" or "pertec" type place and ask what courses their technitions do may give you a platform to start from http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon5.gif


The trouble with life is there's no background music.



Ashore

Clinton1
19th Oct 2005, 03:07 PM
Ashore,

Thanks for the safety warning, I'm intending to build very low pressure (maybe using water instead of oil) systems, for models. High pressure water is just as dangerous as oil though. Good tip on the technician courses, thanks. Anything I build will be "certified" by an appropriate engineer/mechanic after it is finished.
Its the design theory that I need, then it will be a case of make or scavenge parts for the models. It will need to be powered off a truck battery that is trickle solar charged, so by necessity the forces applied/moved, and fluid pressures will be low.

Ashore
19th Oct 2005, 04:49 PM
Fair enough Clinton
I have thought some more about it and would say have a very good set of tools , Some fittings are unf, metric, imperial and you need the right size spanner for each fitting ,not just close enough
These fittings damage easily so never ever use plyers , multigrips or shifters
Always use the original correct spares with o'rings espically as the material used plus the diam is critical

Flare fittings, super close inspection of the flare when you do your own

Olive fittings are matched to copper pipe size, these are easy to mix up

If you ever anneal copper pipe it must have the scale that forms inside the pipe removed

Thread tape wind on clockwise when looking at the thread. And never use on a parallel threads only on taper threads

Cleanless is Paramount most problems stem from dirt etc in the system

Watch your threads don't mix unf and metric for example as they are very close.

Hope this is some help
The trouble with life is there's no background music.


Ashore[/size]

rick_rine
19th Oct 2005, 08:36 PM
Vickers Hydraulics have a very useful book , or they did when I worked for Pirtek 20 years ago . Well worth chasing up .

Regards Rick

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Captain Chaos
19th Oct 2005, 08:39 PM
G'day Clinton,
I studied Fluid Power, Hydraulics 1 & Hydraulics II at T.A.F.E. back in the early 90's. The main book used was Industrial Hydraulics ( Rohner ). This book is still the standard for hydraulics training in T.A.F.E. colleges I believe. There are also some excellent books by Vickers Hydraulics & Mannesmann Rexroth on hydraulics which I used to suppliment Rohner. They are pretty pricey though, the Vickers book was around $ 55.00 In 1993/4 & the Rexroth books were all over $100.00 each if my memory serves me well.:eek:
If you would like to follow up on these books PM me & I shall give you the names & ISBN numbers etc. so that you can track them down. It may take a little while though as I've stored them away & will have to dig them out from the darkest recesses of my shed!! Yikes.:eek:;)
Take good care,
Barry.

Clinton1
20th Oct 2005, 02:46 PM
Thanks Rick and Barry.

Barry I'll PM you regarding the ISBN's, which would be greatly appreciated. I pay a membership fee to a TAFE each year just to be able to use the library, so here's hoping.

Captain Chaos
22nd Oct 2005, 12:34 AM
G' day Clinton,
I've PM'd the info to you. I hope that you find it of use.
Regards,
Barry.