5
Safe Operation
Observe the following guidelines when performing Press operations.
• Operator safety / Safe work zone Applying pressure to parts
or assemblies can cause failure of the part being worked, a part
adjacent to the work or the pressing tool. Failed parts can become
airborne projectiles with deadly force. Protect yourself with appro-
priate personal protective equipment when operating the press.
Protect others by defining a safe work zone for press use and
limiting access to the press operator.
• Press Inspection Press operations may generate concussive
failure to mechanical parts. Although Edwards press machinery is
fabricated with both bolted and welded construction, concussive
failure is a possibility over time or with extreme use. Prior to any
press operation, visually check all bolted and welded connections
for failure. All bolts must be tight and welds intact. Failure to verify
the structural integrity of the machinery may result in workpiece
shift, part ejection, operator injury or machinery damage.
• Workpiece Inspection Workpiece failure is the most common
source of injury during press operations. Take time to thoroughly
understand the workpiece. Never apply pressure to unstable
material, objects, round shapes, balls, springs or any item with
elastic, spring-back tendencies. Confirm the material properties
of the workpiece will withstand the pressure to be exerted by
the press. Confirm that workpiece items are stripped down to
their simplest form. Many components contain unseen items that
could fail during the press operation. Remove all sub components
known to the workpiece prior to a pressing operation. Workpiece
must be clean and free of substances at the pressing surface that
would allow the pressing surfaces to slip under load.
• Workpiece Support Workpiece failure may be a result of
improper or inadequate workpiece support. Adequate support
for the workpiece must be present through the entirety of the
press operation. Understand your workpiece and confirm that the
workpiece support system you employ will withstand the pressure
being exerted through the press operation.
• Safe use of tooling Edwards Mfg. Co. provides standard tooling
supplied with the HP20T. This tooling is designed to be safely
used with the arbor support. Custom tooling is available for
special applications. Care must be taken when selecting press
tooling. Select tooling that is designed and rated for the specific
application. Press with the shortest, most compact, tool length
available. Confirm that press tooling and workpiece are aligned
and follows a direct press path. Misaligned loads may fail the
press tooling or workpiece and cause operator injury or damage
to the machinery.
• Special Fits Not all parts were designed and engineered to be
removed or applied with a press. When inspecting your workpiece,
confirm any press tolerances, environmental, heating, cooling or
fixative requirements that require special care prior to initiating
the press operation. Do not proceed with a press operation with-
out acknowledgement that the workpiece is pressable.
• Do not force press Consider the rating of the press and the
work at hand. Gradually build pressure being applied to the work-
piece. Carefully observe the workpiece to avoid tooling misalign-
ment or workpiece failure. Observe the press as it reacts under
load. Do not overload the press. Take care to avoid parts falling
from the workpiece.
Operations
