2000 ton stamping press assembly

[Techie1961]

While I was in automotive I had the opportunity to project manage the installation of a 2000 ton Mueller Weingarten stamping press. I saw that a lot of you were interested in the locomotive thread (as am I) and thought that most of you likely haven't seen the bits that go into something bigger than a locomotive that makes car parts.

The photos show the pit (about 40' deep) and then the lowering of the base. After the base is installed, the uprights go on (4 corners), the ram is lowered in and then the crown placed on top.

The crown fully assembled weighs more than 130 tons. Not as heavy as some of the larger locomotives but this is being hoisted about 60' in the air when it is installed. It has to clear the tie rods before it can be lowered. The whole thing once assembled was about 400 tons IIRC.

Once in operation, the 80 ton ram went about 30 strokes per minute (a little slower than this little guy) and had a maximum capacity of 2000 metric tons.

 

[Steinmetz]

What kind of automotive parts? Many years ago, I worked a summer job (during college) in a plant having many large presses. I found them scary and fascinating at the same time.

 

[Techie1961]

This was for automatic transmission parts. It was a multistation transfer press that would progressively form the parts from a blank of steel. They are really scary. When things would go wrong, you wouldn't believe the damage it could do to what you think are indestructible pieces of steel

 

[JDon99]

Stamping presses are really neat. The last job I worked at, we had 75-450 ton stampers that would make various automotive airbag housings and brackets. I work in maintenance, and they were very intimidating at first for myself. Before I left that job, I was able to get some factory training at Minster Machine in Ohio, they had a 1650 ton press there, which was a monster! I cannot imagine the size of a 2k ton...

 

[bob from indiana]

I worked maintenance at a stamping plant that had 500 ton Versons and one 1000 ton Verson.It was like being in a thunderstorm and earthquake every day.

Years later I did some work at another plant that had 1000 ton presses with robotic feeder/ loaders. They were interesting to watch.

 

[coldfoot_luke]

Who makes that press, minster? One of my tasks at work is press reliability and tooling design, those machines are awesome. We just finished a rebuild of a machine originally built in 1937, simple and built like a tank. Looks like a toy next to this monster...

 

[Steinmetz]

This was for automatic transmission parts. It was a multistation transfer press that would progressively form the parts from a blank of steel. They are really scary. When things would go wrong, you wouldn't believe the damage it could do to what you think are indestructible pieces of steel

I still remember the first time I witnessed a die failing in a press. It exploded.

 

[bsaint]

Ive seen them double stamp a part at a Magna plant on a 1400 ton press. When a 60000 pound die splits, its pretty loud.

 

[CJKaz]

Worked with Minster presses in an aluminum can factory, between high school and college. Gave me added incentive to buckle down in college!

Fascinating equipment, punched out the can tops, formed the pull tab, scored the opening and riveted the pull tab onto the lid, at a dizzying pace. I was the unloader, stacking the finished lids into paper sleeves. Since my father was the plant manager, the mechanics kept that machine running at full speed, adjustments were made immediately. Thought it was out of respect, but in reallity they were trying to run me ragged as payback!

 

[Techie1961]

Who makes that press, minster? One of my tasks at work is press reliability and tooling design, those machines are awesome. We just finished a rebuild of a machine originally built in 1937, simple and built like a tank. Looks like a toy next to this monster...

Its a Mueller Weingarten. I think they later merged with Schuler but don't quote me on it.

 

[RV77]

Thanks for sharing this Techie and if you or anyone else have more pics or stories please post !

I find these interesting to say the least.

 

[Techie1961]

These are a couple more photos that give a better indication on size and parts. The first is the ram that does all the work. In the background of the photo you can see the uprights with the tie rods in place. They hold the crown from lifting off. The next is one of the two connecting rods with eccentrics and gears assembled. These go into the crown. The last is with the crown being placed over the tie rods.

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

Now I more clearly understand what a "rigging company" does. I've seen the cranes and trucks of many "crane and rigging" companies and could quite grasp the rigging part!

Great pictures.

 

[Techie1961]

Now I more clearly understand what a "rigging company" does. I've seen the cranes and trucks of many "crane and rigging" companies and could quite grasp the rigging part!

Great pictures.

Yeah, the guys at Cambridge Rigging were great as well. Really professional but also nuts. The job had a total budget at about $12 million and deadlines that couldn't be missed. The guys that did the rigging were supervised by the manufacturer's lead guy from Germany. Rigging on this scale is pretty amazing. I know there is bigger but this was stuff that I got to touch and feel up close. And climb on.