Hot Foil VS Hydraulic Press for volume stamping

[Buckles]

One last thing that you might consider... can you adapt a laser or lasers (light-s) for positioning your workpiece OR the jig, since it sounds as though you might have to change from one product line to another on a regular basis? They are often times "standard equipment" on the cheap wood working machinery (chop saws etc.) so they can't be expensive.

BTW, I have been using a 2 ton press for clicker dies (but they aren't large) and it cuts the leather without a problem... 12 tons could certainly be over-kill.

[nstarleather]

16 hours ago, Workinman said:

Thank you all so much for taking the time to offer such detailed suggestions !!!  I really appreciate it !

Since the die and leather piece are mobile (not fixed to the press), I think the suggestion Mike Batson offered re creating a jig.  The way Mike described creating the jig will work for me because each of dies are square and can be set up using a "poster child" of each image as Mike described.

As for the pressure issue, since my press is hydraulic (not pneumatic), I will look in to adding a pressure gage.  If that isn't possible, I will upgrade my press to a pneumatic press- which does come with a pressure gage.

A guy at the local Tandy store also suggested that I look at the dies to see if they are warped, since I am using a 12 ton press.  He thought my dies might need to be a little thicker to press more evenly (just throwing this out there if case any of you encounter another another newbie like me

Thanks again everyone !!!!

I can't think of a perfect way to be consistent with pressure but you could always come up with a "ideal" pressure and make a mark on the handle and on one the press that you line up so you know how far to pull down, then you're getting some consistency.  

[Workinman]

Thank you, Mike.  I agree.  I do case my leather as it seems to leave sharper impressions that I think are visually appealing.  However, that introduces another variable- moisture content ?!?!?!  Frankly, if I can solve the other issues, the pressure is something I can deal with, like you said.  Get an approximate pressure for each image, note it and start there when stamping that particular image.  Should be close enough to not slow me down too much.

To all- I do appreciate the effort and trouble you went to in giving me your advice !!!

 

Mike

[Wizcrafts]

On 8/31/2022 at 3:06 PM, Buckles said:

BTW, I have been using a 2 ton press for clicker dies (but they aren't large) and it cuts the leather without a problem... 12 tons could certainly be over-kill.

I also used to have a two ton arbor press. I used it as a clicker press by placing a steel plate over the dies and moving them around under the ram. The ram was modified to hold a 3 inch diameter x 1/2 inch thick round steel plate that had a 1/2 inch rod welded in the center to fit onto the hole in the ram. The die maker also made me a 3 foot long handle. I had to bolt the press down hard!

[Workinman]

Thanks for your comment !

Before I bought the 12 ton press I looked into buying an Arbor press.  Since my images are approx. 3.5" in diameter, I felt the arbor press would be iffy.  I like the mod you made to the ram on your press.  You wouldn't happen to have a photo you could post ?  Also, what kind of company made that mod for you (welder, fabricator, etc) ??

Thanks again !