Overview
The workshop hydraulic press rig was designed and built as a multi-function test and press platform for in-house use. The rig handles pressing, load testing, and serves as a development platform for hydraulic control experiments. It was fabricated from steel box section, painted, and fitted with a hydraulic power unit, manual and solenoid valves, and a controls panel.
The project covered the full mechanical design in SolidWorks, structural fabrication, hydraulic circuit design, electrical panel build, and controls integration — all in-house.
Key decisions
The frame was designed with adjustable tooling mounts so the rig could be configured for different press/fixture combinations without welding. The hydraulic circuit uses a proportional pressure valve for programmable force profiles — useful for both pressing and load testing applications.
The controls panel includes a Siemens S7-1200 PLC and a touch panel HMI for manual and automatic operation modes. All hydraulic solenoid states are visible on the HMI with interlocks that prevent unsafe combinations.
What was delivered
- ✓Structural steel frame — designed and fabricated in-house
- ✓Hydraulic circuit design with proportional pressure valve
- ✓Electrical panel with S7-1200 PLC and HMI
- ✓Manual and automatic operation modes
- ✓Full wiring schedule and hydraulic schematic
Project milestones
SolidWorks frame model, hydraulic circuit schematic
Steel frame cut, welded, and painted in-house
HPU installation, valve manifold, pipe/hose routing
Panel build, PLC program, HMI screens
Pressure testing, interlock verification, cycle tests
Operating as workshop press and test platform
Gallery
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