Machine press

Presses can be classified according to Typically consisting of a simple rectangular frame, often fabricated from C-channel or tubing, containing a bottle jack or hydraulic cylinder to apply pressure via a ram to a work-piece.

Typical shop presses are capable of applying between 1 and 30 tons pressure, depending on size and construction.

A straight-side press has vertical columns on either side of the machine and eliminates angular deflection.

A C-frame allows easy access to the die area on three sides and require less floor space.

In the mid 19th century, manual and rotary-cam hammers began to be replaced in industry by the steam hammer, which was first described in 1784 by James Watt, a British inventor and Mechanical Engineer who also contributed to the earliest steam engines and condensers, but not built until 1840 by British inventor James Nasmyth.

[9] Most modern machine presses typically use a combination of electric motors and hydraulics to achieve the necessary pressure.