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  1. #1
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    Default The Shimadzu Workshop Press Project

    I've been wanting a good press for as long as I can remember, as luck would have it I stumbled across a thing that looked like it would make a pretty good press...

    It was in the same Grays Auction as the Surface Plate.

    Turns out it's a Shimadzu UH -500kNA Universal Tester, it seems that it can do tensile testing and compression testing, well it might if we had the hydraulic pump and the strain gauges that seem to be missing..



    That middle platen is 8" thick solid steel, the lower platen is 4" thick solid... weighs a tonne ( well maybe more )
    There is a motor drive that raised and lowers the middle platen, and the top platen raises and lowers on the other two pillars
    with the hydraulic cylinder underneath the bottom platen. So for tensile tests, you put the part under test between the top and the middle platens
    and for compression the part goes between the bottom and the middle platen.. clever design.


    Comes with a nice looking control console with a fair sized dial..



    The dial is driven by a small motor and toothed belt, the LCD displays I guess will update with the scale changes,
    maximum range is 500 kN...

    The first part of the project is to figure out how the hydraulics are supposed to work and what kind of strain gauges it needs..

    Should be a fun project If I can figure it out, I'll be keeping the tensile testing function as original.

    Regards
    Ray

  2. #2
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    Default

    Hi Ray,
    You sure come across some interesting gear.
    Some may say its a little over the top for pressing on wheel bearing
    Whats the thin section in the pillars for? course adjustment of the top platen?
    Why would you need strain gauges? couldn't the hydraulic pressure be used?

    Stuart

  3. #3
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    Default

    Its funny how things turn up like that.
    Yesterday it was my job to cut samples out of welded coupons to be sent to Brisbane for tensile testing as these sorts of machines are as rare as rocking horse poo.
    Seems they have a backlog of a couple of weeks.

    There might be an opportunity for you there Ray.

    Its a serious bit of gear.
    Grahame

  4. #4
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    Default

    51 tonne hydraulic press with direct indication of force applied - not a bad find at all! Quite apart from the tensile testing capacity.
    Might be interesting to devise a 'pull broach' fixture for it. Sometimes pushing a broach throught a part is putting the part at risk, when pulling doesn't. Keyway broaches for example could easily be adapted to pull rather than push. So could other more complex shapes like hex and spline broaches.
    Congatulations on the amazing find!
    Cheers, Joe
    retired - less energy, more time to contemplate projects and more shed time....

  5. #5
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    Default

    It's another sad reflection on the way that bean counters have gained control over engineering entities. Years ago large companies in particular would have labs set up with all this sort of gear so that they could do periodic quality checks as well as test samples for development and other things (sort out their own problems for example). These days any checking like that has to be sent out to a sub contractor.
    I remember once doing a tour of a large car part maker and seeing their lab. The guide confessed that it was rarely used but it's existence was enough to keep their suppliers honest/ more honest.
    I can't think of one company I've worked for recently that has the facilities that Ray is accumulating. Another sub-contract opportunity perhaps?

    Michael

  6. #6
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    Hi Graeme,

    I'd be happy to do some tests for you if the machine was operational, but it's missing some vital parts.. I've sent off an email to Shimadzu to see if they have any service manuals etc, that will help getting the machine fully operational as a tensile/compression tester.. I found out that the local water authority has a similar unit ( but larger than this one) for testing compression strength of concrete, so I might be able to borrow some documentation from them.

    Hi Stuart,
    Yes, I think I'll be using hydraulic pressure, with a pressure sensor and I can design an interface to the electronics that will work. The only reason I thought strain gauge is that there is an input on the back panel for one.

    Josh said we should invite you up for a visit, and let you study it for a while, I'm sure you will be able to figure out quicker than we can. I'll even throw in a coffee or two..


    Hi Michael,

    This gear comes from an automotive part supplier that had a factory in Sydney, that factory closed 3 years ago and production was moved to Thailand, most of the gear was relocated and these few bits and pieces were moved to Melbourne to be auctioned off. There is a lot of metrology stuff showing up in the auction market at present, and most of it is coming from the auto parts industry.

    This sort of stuff doesn't come up all that often, when it does, it's not always clear exactly what it is.. for example here is the Gray's listing for this unit..
    Simadzu test unit Auction (0012-3002824) | GraysOnline Australia What idiot in their right mind would bid good money on that... ( oh!... wait.. I know. )

    Fun times!

    Regards
    Ray

  7. #7
    Ueee's Avatar
    Ueee is offline Blacksmith, Cabinetmaker, Machinist, Messmaker
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    Hi Ray
    You paid how much?

    Very nice score there. Will be interested to see what you come up with to get it working.
    1915 17"x50" LeBlond heavy duty Lathe, 24" Queen city shaper, 1970's G Vernier FV.3.TO Universal Mill, 1958 Blohm HFS 6 surface grinder, 1942 Rivett 715 Lathe, 14"x40" Antrac Lathe, Startrite H225 Bandsaw, 1949 Hercus Camelback Drill press, 1947 Holbrook C10 Lathe.

  8. #8
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    Where is BobL, this is his sort of thing. I cant really think of a reason why they would want a strain gauge, but I'm sure they have their reasons. Only idea I have come up with is its a more direct reading? Say you got a reading of 40tons using the pressure gauge. Maybe if something wasnt parallel etc some of that 40tons would be going into bending/twisting the press???


    Wow they really went out of their way to try and get the best possible price.
    "`...You hadn't exactly gone out of your way to call attention to them had you? I mean like actually telling anyone or anything.'
    `But the plans were on display...'
    `On display? I eventually had to go down to the cellar to find them.'
    `That's the display department.'
    `With a torch.'
    `Ah, well the lights had probably gone.'
    `So had the stairs.'
    `But look you found the notice didn't you?'
    `Yes,' said Arthur, `yes I did. It was on display in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying "Beware of The Leopard".'"

    I'll be up your way in a 3 weeks I believe, though that will be a flying visit

    Stuart

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Stustoys View Post
    .
    "`...You hadn't exactly gone out of your way to call attention to them had you? I mean like actually telling anyone or anything.'
    `But the plans were on display...'
    `On display? I eventually had to go down to the cellar to find them.'
    `That's the display department.'
    `With a torch.'
    `Ah, well the lights had probably gone.'
    `So had the stairs.'
    `But look you found the notice didn't you?'
    `Yes,' said Arthur, `yes I did. It was on display in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying "Beware of The Leopard".'"
    Classic Adams ... I'll be keeping an eye on ebay for a good deal on a used Vogon Constructor Fleet....

    Of course, if you can't afford the anti-matter fuel for the space fleet you could settle for a stapler..
    Hitchhiker Guide to the Galaxy - Vogon Stapler Replica Signed By Director - NECA | eBay

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ueee View Post
    You paid how much?
    My best guess is he paid about $19 more than the local scrap metal guy estimated it at. Isn't scrap back to $200 per tonne.

    And just a comment on what a remarkable job Gray's do in the best interests of their customers. As well as the comprehensive listing, I dropped in to take a look at it with Ray and Josh on the inspection day.

    After sucking out guts in to get past the other granite table, that was wedged up against some other stuff, then scampering over a pile of pallet racking spars, we actually got close enough to see it, or the shrink wrap it was in at least.

    Phil.

  11. #11
    Ueee's Avatar
    Ueee is offline Blacksmith, Cabinetmaker, Machinist, Messmaker
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    Quote Originally Posted by RayG View Post
    Classic Adams ... I'll be keeping an eye on ebay for a good deal on a used Vogon Constructor Fleet....
    Why on earth, or any other planet, would you want a vogon fleet........you would have to listen to their poetry!
    1915 17"x50" LeBlond heavy duty Lathe, 24" Queen city shaper, 1970's G Vernier FV.3.TO Universal Mill, 1958 Blohm HFS 6 surface grinder, 1942 Rivett 715 Lathe, 14"x40" Antrac Lathe, Startrite H225 Bandsaw, 1949 Hercus Camelback Drill press, 1947 Holbrook C10 Lathe.

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