Automating a press pneumatically - your thoughts?

[Dave L.]

I mentioned this idea briefly to tootall, but I think it's time to unleash it.

Back when I worked with the robotics team in school building battlebots (which, I found, I could use to drag immensely heavy loads around the room) I had a little experience with pneumatics. Granted this experience is not, by no stretch of the imagination, much, but it allows me to assemble something that works.

I was able to get a few parts for examination (I can't keep them, though) and I think I may be able to get this idea off the ground. Now - I have done something similar before, in the terms of building robotic limbs, but nothing of this sort of precision.

What I am going to try to do is try and find some spare parts that I can keep - and attempt to bypass the linkage and lever on an RCBS rockchucker (better yet a progressive press) and automate the ram so it can be controlled using a joystick. If I can't bypass the linkage I may just end up attaching the piston to the lever itself.

Granted, this would void the warranty on the press, I am sure, but it does sound like an interesting concept, and if I could only find the right parts, it would be absolutely feasible.

What do you guys think? Would any Toronto area Nutz be able to help me out on this?



Update: my bench is now under construction

- Dave.

 

[RR]

You should actually try reloading and see how easy it is to crush brass or pinch fingers without a power source that you can't feel. Do you even own a press or a gun????

RR

 

[CanAm]

I have heard of automation systems for Dillon presses.

 

[ssgp2]

Your idea is not new, Rem,Win and others been doing it for years.
To do it on a small press is not complicated and it has been done for years also.

It does not pose any safety issue that would be different to operate manually.

The advantage of having such a system is to do more ammo with less effort.

 

[stormbringer]

The problem with any "automatic" system is indeed a safety issue.

With most progressives there is a certain amount of "feel" that goes into loading a round.

This is particularly important with the priming stage.

I probably have enough parts laying around my house to automate my LNL but have never bothered to do it.

Some day maybe...

 

[CanAm]

I think the DL1050 is ideal for auto. There is virtually no feel used, just adjustable stops.