The press includes all machines that can change the shape of a piece by subjecting it to a pressure force. They form a large family of machine tools of different types, which can also be subdivided into subtypes for most of them. The category includes particularly
hydraulic presses. These are presses operating Pascal's principle, which consists of taking advantage of the constant pressure operated on a fluid in a closed-circuit. The choice of a machine of this type depends mainly on three criteria: the application, the size and operation rate. The hydraulic press allows works of forging, punching, stamping or molding. EITEL PPE, Galdabini, Inter Hydro,
LBM, Meyer, Peltsman, and
Sack & Kiesselbach are well known manufacturers of hydraulic presses. Other machine tool belonging to the category is the plastic injection press which allows working thermoplastic materials. Therefore, the desired shape is obtained by softening the plastic material before injecting it into a mold and cooling it. The manual press is based on the effect of the screw which transfers the rotational movement of the crank, the flywheel or the handlebar into translational movements. This action generates a pressing force which is exerted on the piece to be shaped. Companies such as
Fehlmann and aloffer excellent manual presses. Others, like COFMOPRESSES, ESSA, IMS, Mario Di Maio, Schnegg are especially known for their know-how in the design of
mechanical presses. These may be two-columned, gap framed, eccentric, double rod, cutting, punching, toggling, forming, stamping or perforating. The
pneumatical press is based on the action of the compressed air inside a tube ensuring the movement of the press. Valves allow the removal of air when the operation is finished. Speed, polyvalence, and user-friendliness are the main advantages of this type of machine, which we can particularly find in the manufacturer Schmidt. The balance, the die-spotting press, the powder compacting press, the riveter and the marking system also belong to this category of machine tools, available on the
second-hand market.
