Hydraulic Press Terms

Actuator — A device that is used to covert power or energy into a mechanical movement.
Age — the time that must elapse before appraising a molded part’s properties.
Backrind — is a part defect in which the material has shrinkage inside the part.
Bed — is the flat surface that provides the support for the material that is being worked.
Bolster — refers to plate that are connected to rods, which carry platens to the bed of the press. The bolster can sometimes have the capacity to be removed.
Check Valve — any of a number of valves that restrict flow to one direction.
Compression Set — refers to a deformation that tends to linger once the force has been removed.
Contact Gauge — is a hydraulic system feature which has the capability to turn the system on or off at a certain set pressure point.
Cylinder Assembly — the collection of the ram. Seals, packing, pistons and cylinder of a press.
Daylight — the greatest vertical capacity that the press is capable of handling, also referred to as vertical clearance.
Die — the tooling that is used for the purpose of punching, drawing, shearing, or assembling metal or other types of material.
Gate — Refers to the final gate through which the injected material flows through to get to the part cavity.
Heat Exchanger — is used for the purpose of circulating water or air in order to maintain the proper operating temperature.
Hydraulic Pressure — the pressure that is generated by fluid when under applied force.
Hydraulic Cylinders — devices that generate a force and linear motion by using hydraulic fluid that has been pressurized.
Hydraulic Pump — pumps that function through mechanical energy for the purpose of generating fluid flow.
Hydraulic Seal — a device used to prevent the escape of any hydraulic fluid from the system.
Hydraulic Valve — a device that transfers the pressure and flow of hydraulic fluid to the corresponding power systems.
Knockout — is used to remove the part from the die or punch.
Low Pressure System — a function that allows a press to continuously operate under 10 percent of its maximum force.
Platen — a series of flat surface to which the mold is attached.
Rod or Tie Rod — a long pole that is used to connect two separate parts of the press so that they will be able to function together.
Shut Height — refers to the clearance over the bed when the ram is completely down.
Sprue — refers to the primary feed guide, which travels from the outer part of the transfer or injection mold gate into the cavity mold.
Stroke Control — Controls the variable length of the stroke, and has adjustability.
Throat Clearance —impacts the size of the piece that can be used. It refers to the distance from the vertical centerline to the frame member that is located behind the bed.