February 2026 Volume 8

MAINTENANCE

Step 5 — Check Clutch and Brake Function • Is there evidence of excessive lining wear? • When you actuate the clutch, do you hear air blowing out of the clutch? • Measure clutch-plate travel and record the total travel on the inspection document. • Inspect brake and clutch reaction points for excessive wear and record findings.

Many press users consider clearance acceptable up to double the standard (0.036 in. for this diameter). This is where counterbalance cylinders become so important. If you have excessive clearance and adjust your counterbalance cylinders properly, you can mask excessive clearance during operation. However, it is critical to verify proper lubrication as well.

Figure 1: Mechanical stamping press layout

Step 3 — Check Die-Space Parallelism With the press at bottom dead center, measure from the face of the ram to the bolster plate at all four corners and record the readings. Next, measure and record on the centerline front to back. Then measure and record on the centerline left to right. Step 4 — Check Gib Clearances • Measure LH and RH gib clearances at the top and bottom of the gib/way surface. • Measure front-to-rear gib clearances at the top and bottom of the gib/way surfaces.

Step 6 — Inspect Bull Gear and Drive Pinion Remove the inspection covers over the gearing. Then check: • Are the gear teeth on the main gear or pinion excessively worn? • Is the wear even across the face of the tooth? • Are the gear teeth worn at the top of the tooth? • As the gears run, is there an excessive amount of gear noise? • Is there adequate lubrication for the gearing? Step 7 — Inspect Air Counterbalance Cylinders • Are there any air leaks in the counterbalance cylinder assembly? (Air leaks commonly develop at the piston-rod bore where the rod extends and connects to the ram.) • Does there appear to be adequate lubrication for the components? • Does the counterbalance regulator operate properly? • Is there an accurate air-pressure gauge?

Measure Left to Right Gib Clearance here at the top and bottom of the gib/way surface.

Measure Front to Rear Gib Clearance here at the top and bottom of the gib/way surfaces.

FIA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2026 18