Arbor Press
 | Specialist training is available for this equipment. You are welcome to review the training material below and use this equipment independently, but pay close attention to the safety notices. Ask a member of technical staff about training if you feel you need one-to-one instruction. |
There are two 1-tonne arbor presses in the Maker Space. One is located in the general workspace area between the laser cutters and the small material storage, the other is in the Morson Engine Room next to the Haas UMC-500.
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| A small manually operated press, located in the general workspace area of the Maker Space. | |
| Equipment Information | |
|---|---|
| Status | Unknown |
| Working Area | {{{workingarea}}} |
| Maker Space Information | |
| Training Required | No |
The presses are excellent at putting together beariings and shafts, and
Safety
- Review the Safe System of Work document before starting work.
Usage Information
Calculate your interference fit requirements
A press fit, or interference fit, should be designed to make sure it will take the load you are expecting. At the bare minimum take a look at a limits-and-fits calculator and choose a somewhat standard press fit range.
- Table of preferred limits and fits tolerances.
- Fits and tolerances calculator
- Interference fit strength calculator (very involved, for engineers)
Minimal force required
Pressing parts together should not be difficult - there is absolutely no need to be hanging all of your weight from the end of the lever arm. If you have to put excessive force into pressing your parts together the design should be adjusted, parts modified or a more powerful press (such as the fly press in the School Workshop) should be used.
If you are trying to separate parts it may be useful to try applying heat to break loctite bonds and help the two parts separate.
If you're having a lot of trouble pressing parts together, ask a member of technical staff for help. The more force you try and use on the press, the more force the parts will have when they fly out.
Retaining compound can help press fits
Loctite retaining compound can help lubricate a press-fit during assembly, and will of course help the joint stay together during its service life.
Fitting bearings
Do not press bearings into a housing using the centre race, and do not press bearings onto a shaft using the outer race. This transfers all the pressing force through the ball bearings which can cause damage, especially on high-performance bearings.
Pressing bearings into a housing with a flat plate is not ideal but is acceptable.
Protect precision surfaces
The work table and the pressing surface of the ram may not be in excellent shape. Use sacrificial material such as plywood or MDF to protect precision and delicate surfaces when pressing components together.
Not just for interference fits
A number of different tools are available for use in the arbor press. For example you could use a dimple die to impart extra strength in sheet metal parts.
Custom workholding
Use the 3D printers to quickly create custom workholding. This could help ensure parts are pressed in straight, or that they are oriented correctly. Don't be afraid to laser cut templates and jigs to make life easier.