Keeping a shop built hydraulic press aligned

[MatBirch]

I’m getting ready build a new press, but I’m hoping for some insight. My last one worked well enough, but despite my best attempts, I couldn’t prevent it from swinging sideways a little. I could always get it into position, and never had anything damaged or anything, just really annoying at times. Especially when needing both hands free to hold stuff.
This time, I’d like to design a better carriage assembly that rides more square to the table and stroke. On my old one, I had ears that extended past the channel which held the jack. The ears fit nicely around the outer vertical channels, but it still allowed the jack to get skewed at times. I tried adjusting spring tension, spring spacing, jack position, etc, but it never really changed.
Anyone ever make something with rollers or the like?

Thanks!

 

[Bodj Built]

Is it just a regular press like the HF style, or a force multiplying press like f150skidoo is building?

If it's a regular press, try welding a 4 bolt flange to the top of the ram, and a matching 4 bolt flange to the frame and bolt them together. Then bolt the bottom of the pump down to the cross bar that slides (don't know the proper term for it). Doing all this will keep it traveling straight down.

 

[gearhead1]

Mine does the same thing. I was thinking of some angles welded to the end of carriage that go out tight against the verticals that way it can’t skew. I’m open to how others may have solved it. This is why I enjoy GJ. You’ll get a bunch of ideas if nothing else.

 

[Millwrong]

Mine's just a very small bench top 6 tonne, but I used nesting square tubes with great success. Perhaps something similar could be used in your case?

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Here's what I did for my Harbor Junk 12t. I use mine for riveting firearm receivers and it was almost worthless out of the box for my usage. I actually built this with mostly scraps, but it's probably $40 in material. The pin goes through the tubing and is welded top and bottom.

 

[Vahispd]

Probably a little late for the OP, but might help someone in the future. This press has rails along the uprights that locate and keep the horizontal carriage from skewing. The nut on the top of the rail is the upper limit stop for the carriage, and the bottom of the rail is threaded and fastened with a bolt through the uprights.
The press seems to be what some call a "Carolina Traveler" brand; several companies building presses, cherry pickers, engine stands etc. from Greenville, SC. I only used it a couple times and then scored a press with a ram on a rolling trolley.

 

[sz0k30]

If you are looking for a precision tool, a HF or equivalent "shop press" isn't it.