Ideas for use of a 25 ton edwards ironworker

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 09:01:16 GMT

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I have an ironworker.  Outside the normal available dies and accessories what creative ways are y'all using your ironworker? I only use if for occasionally punching holes.  I have the oversize die holder assembly.  However, I have nothing on the open station.   Its  shearing and braking capacity offer nothing over my other available options.  Just looking for ways to make it more useful??
Reply:The coping dies for pipe or tube work good. The die for coping corners on angle or channels works good. I used a bending brake die, and found it kind of useless due to the small size it is.
Replyiranha has some good videos on you tube of things you can do outside shearing and punching. That might get your wheels turning- Christian M.C3 Welding & Fabrication - CNC Plasma Cutting-Mobile Welding-Custom welding and fabwww.c3welding.com
Reply:Thanks.  The bar brake/bender looks like one idea.
Reply:I have a 65Ton Scotchman with an angle iron shear, a punch station with over 30 dies and punches, a tubing notcher, and a 24" shear blade. I made a new table top for my punch station, so that I can have an adjustable straight edge behind the punch and the depth can always the same.I added an angle iron straight edge by my shear with measurements scribed on it so that I can mark and cut multiple parts without having to pull the work piece all the way out of the machine.I added a 110v edison outlet on the side of my machine and have some magnetic work lights that I can spotlight the cut marks with.When I bought my machine used, it came with some extra parts that I have no idea what they are for.  I think part of the beauty of the ironworker machine is that you can adapt it to do the job you want.  I think the extra parts were for a specific job and some guy decided to make a jig/table/part to do that thing.I kinda dig that part of it.
Reply:Originally Posted by Jay ElliottI have a 65Ton Scotchman with an angle iron shear, a punch station with over 30 dies and punches, a tubing notcher, and a 24" shear blade. I made a new table top for my punch station, so that I can have an adjustable straight edge behind the punch and the depth can always the same.I added an angle iron straight edge by my shear with measurements scribed on it so that I can mark and cut multiple parts without having to pull the work piece all the way out of the machine.I added a 110v edison outlet on the side of my machine and have some magnetic work lights that I can spotlight the cut marks with.When I bought my machine used, it came with some extra parts that I have no idea what they are for.  I think part of the beauty of the ironworker machine is that you can adapt it to do the job you want.  I think the extra parts were for a specific job and some guy decided to make a jig/table/part to do that thing.I kinda dig that part of it.
Reply:It’s too cold out to take current photos so here are random shots of my mechanical PendinghausSent from my iPad using Tapatalk:
Reply:And my hydraulic “baby” Mubea I just sold Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk:
Reply:You have a hydraulic power supply there, just build something to power off your little unit..Esab/Lorch ET-220iEsab 160i caddyThermal LM-200 Lincoln feedersThermal Pee-Wee 85sThermal 60i- 3phase /RPC powered (Beast)Thermal Drag-gun 35CINE 1500 Klutch 140i
Reply:Originally Posted by Brand XYou have a hydraulic power supply there, just build something to power off your little unit..
Reply:Originally Posted by Lis2323Not that easy plus the hydraulic unit is sold and wouldn't have had enough capacity. I like the mechanical. Way faster Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:Originally Posted by Brand XSimple with my 65 ton Edwards, and simple enough with a 25 ton.. I like the safety of a good hydraulic Iron worker.. Speed is not your friend when your fingers are involved Mine cycles plenty fast, and stroke control can help even more.. I like that it weighs 4000 pounds, so it has some good heft to it 24" inch shear that does a great job and is it's best feature  Anything less just does not cut it. Not sure if you can stage the work like a good hydraulic, but if you can't sneak up on things, it would be worthless to me..
Replyooks like there is a work around then. I generally stage the punch into the divot, and punch from there.Using only the ft.control. I can knock out a pattern really fast.. Since a lot of times I mark with a cnc plasma,and have gotten the divot size just perfect for the punch point. (zero slop) Attached ImagesEsab/Lorch ET-220iEsab 160i caddyThermal LM-200 Lincoln feedersThermal Pee-Wee 85sThermal 60i- 3phase /RPC powered (Beast)Thermal Drag-gun 35CINE 1500 Klutch 140i
Reply:No doubt mechanical is more dangerous. When I got mine I was punching metal and had my hand between the stripper and the material.  I was able to experience the force it took to clear a 1/8 plate off a punch. For production stuff it is hard to beat them.  It is not really made for trimming small parts or punching a single small plate.  Punching /shearing 20 foot stock is fast.  Here are some material stops I made for my Bateman.  The platform was made to be adjustable since any height difference will produce curved material.  The punch station stop is peeking up from the slot.  The shear stop is hinged and countered weighted so the sheared material falls easily and does not wedge.  The strippers are attached to the die plate.  The original design had strippers attached to the machine chassis.  The machine is too violent for that location and there is limited adjustability.  Notice the bronze on the die holder.  I ran out of options.  The screw wears and strips periodically.  I finally ran out of material to tap.  So I brazed a nut on.Forgot to rotate.sorry.  well cannot get the to rotate.  Keep coming out 180 degrees off. Attached ImagesLast edited by tapwelder; 12-12-2020 at 07:56 PM.
Reply:My self I used unit punches on simple hydraulic press. It prim job was forming flat bar 10 x ¾ A iron worker may not best tool for some shops. I never own one as it just not a good tool for my work.Dave Originally Posted by tapwelderNo doubt mechanical is more dangerous. When I got mine I was punching metal and had my hand between the stripper and the material.  I was able to experience the force it took to clear a 1/8 plate off a punch. For production stuff it is hard to beat them.  It is not really made for trimming small parts or punching a single small plate.  Punching /shearing 20 foot stock is fast.  Here are some material stops I made for my Bateman.  The platform was made to be adjustable since any height difference will produce curved material.  The punch station stop is peeking up from the slot.  The shear stop is hinged and countered weighted so the sheared material falls easily and does not wedge.  The strippers are attached to the die plate.  The original design had strippers attached to the machine chassis.  The machine is too violent for that location and there is limited adjustability.  Notice the bronze on the die holder.  I ran out of options.  The screw wears and strips periodically.  I finally ran out of material to tap.  So I brazed a nut on.Forgot to rotate.sorry.  well cannot get the to rotate.  Keep coming out 180 degrees off.
Reply:One local uses their cnc brake press to create louvers.  They remove a remove a few fingers and insert a die set assembly, then manually punch panels on the 20 foot brake press. The panels are less than a foot wide.
Reply:Originally Posted by tapwelderOne local uses their cnc brake press to create louvers.  They remove a remove a few fingers and insert a die set assembly, then manually punch panels on the 20 foot brake press. The panels are less than a foot wide.
Reply:Originally Posted by Lis2323I love louvers.  I may make a set of louvre dies some day. Have you seen how much they want for a set????Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:Originally Posted by ronsiiThat kinda looks like artwork Something like that belongs in the Louvre or a museum
Reply:https://photos.app.goo.gl/KQRqKm59M388fX9e7This is a stop I made for s specific job.  It is on my 25 ton edwards.  It got me through the job.  But has a flaw that became more pronounced when I attempted to use it again.  It has been dissambled and may someday be improved.My edwards 25 ton is 2013 model.  It doesn't have enough clearance for an elevated table.  Thus it is limited in how close the intervals you can punch.
Reply:Originally Posted by Lis2323I love louvers.
Reply:Originally Posted by davecWhat was that saying? "Louvers are for lovers"?
Reply:Originally Posted by tapwelderI have an ironworker.  Outside the normal available dies and accessories what creative ways are y'all using your ironworker? I only use if for occasionally punching holes.  I have the oversize die holder assembly.  However, I have nothing on the open station.   Its  shearing and braking capacity offer nothing over my other available options.  Just looking for ways to make it more useful??
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveI have the 25 ton as well.  I wish I had the coper/notcher instead of the shear on it.The shear is almost impossible to see the blade, and I normally cut by eye to a mark.
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveThe shear is almost impossible to see the blade, and I normally cut by eye to a mark.Originally Posted by tapwelderI have 2 others  Ironworkers with shears.They each have a table and straight edge.  A stop is set up a measures distance from the blade.  Neiither is easy to see the material. Cannot even accurately judge the alignment of the material mark and the blade.I have a angle iron notcher on a larger ironworker.  It is nice to be able to trim.I have a tube notcher.  I never use it.I also made a swagger for cable in cable rail. I think swagging cable may be obsolete practice with newer connectors?  Ultimately it would be nice to have 1 unit to combine all functions.  I have a 18, 25, and 50 ton ironworker.  The 18 ton does 90 percent of the work.  The 50 maybe 1 percent work.
Reply:Originally Posted by Lis2323Same here.  Great for quick repetitive lopping to length with a stop though. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:I think that Edwards really is missing the boat when it comes to accessories. The 25 ton only bends plate up to 6 inches.It really needs a longer die that could bend 18 inches of 14 gauge. Just add instructions as to length and gauge. So often, I need to bend sheet metal, not plate. Same with the shear. I added a backstop to mine so I can at least cut metal square and the right length. The shear is really blind without it. With 25 tons, it would be nice to have a shear that would cut wider 14 gauge or even 10 gauge. The tables on both ends should be much larger so bigger shears and brakes and guides could be fitted. I bought the Edwards and used it to punch almost 1000 11/16" square holes for an iron fence. I bought that die from Edwards, but since I am now mostly working with thinner aluminum, I just CNC my own odd shape punches and dies, sometimes out of tool steel, but usually out of mild steel. Again, I press all sorts of fitting out of light gauge with various homemade dies, sometimes welded up from pieces of pipe, sometimes out of maple. There are a number of You-Tubes showing people pressing with 3D printer dies. Works great if you are careful to shim the die up to just the right height to bend the part, but not smash the die. I just made a simple form to bend 90 degree 2 inch radius 3/4 inch 4130 thin wall tubing. It doesn't take much force. I think that Edwards is passing up big opportunities by thinking that this machine is limited to heavy iron. I am sure that there are lots of people who would sooner have a press that would bend and cut 10 gauge 16 inch wide material than there are cutting little pieces of 1/4 inch plate. Just my opinion.
Reply:I agree.  Most bandsaws will cut 5 inches. And you can gang cut walk away from the saw.  Thus, this thread. Looking for ways to make it useful.I been considered eliminating the ironworker head and using just the hydraulic.  The only accessory I have is the oversize cutting set up.It is convenient for punching holes in plate and 25 ton is a good capacity for what I do.  The ability to punch tube would be nice.
Reply:Originally Posted by tapwelderI agree.  Most bandsaws will cut 5 inches. And you can gang cut walk away from the saw.  It is convenient for punching holes in plate and 25 ton is a good capacity for what I do.  The ability to punch tube would be nice.
Reply:Thanks Dennis