Hydraulic press

The hydraulic press is a class of machine tool that was important in making possible the Industrial Revolution. Forming of sheet materials had previous required the material to be formed by hammering and shaping by hand with chisel and mallet. There had been previous press technology (such as the Screw press), but these had significant limitations — the biggest being the obtainable press-pressure. Modern hydraulic presses are capable of pressure at the head of 2,000 tons, and can cold form metal. Anther application of hydraulic presses is the compositing of material in the brick and concrete industry, allowing the creation of complex shapes, and production-line manufacturing.

Related Topics:
Machine tool - Industrial Revolution - Chisel - Mallet - Screw press - Brick - Concrete

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The hydraulic or bramah press (invented by Joseph Bramah) depends on Pascal's principle: the pressure throughout a closed system is constant. At one end of the system is a small area piston-driven by a lever to increase the mechanical advantage. Small-diameter tubing leads to the other end of the system; this is

Related Topics:
Joseph Bramah - Pascal - Pressure - Piston - Mechanical advantage

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a large-area piston which exerts a large force equal to the force exerted on the small piston multiplied by the ratio of the areas.

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:rac{F_1}{A_1}= rac{F_2}{A_2}

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The hydraulic press was made practical by Joseph Bramah's 1796 development of an oil-impregnated leather gasket which sealed the large-diameter piston:

Related Topics:
Joseph Bramah - 1796

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