Problems with a Kingsland 40 steelworker

[Jack]

hello everyone,

been having a few problems with my kingsland 40 steelworker (new shape one) and was wondering if anyone else had encountered them.

basically had the machine for about 6 months now, bought it reconditioned from kingsland direct. according to the specs it was perfect for what i needed capacity wise. however recently i have been having issues punching 20mm holes through 10 and 12mm plate (MS). the punch goes off with a right bang and after about 12 punching actions in a row, the machine overloads and switches off. It never used to do this and would breeze through 12mm plates with out a sound.

there should be plenty of pressure, and i'm aware of varying strengths of modern steel but ive been reading through some threads about punch clearances, i'm using a 21mm, should i try a 22mm? also wondering if the punch could have lost its cutting edge, but ive probably only punched 400ish holes with it.

any advise would be much appreciated

cheers, Jack

 

[Hitch]

Clearance wise, 20 punch and 21 die should be fine, using a 22 will give you a nasty burr on the underside.
As you say, you still have about 20% capacity in reserve.

Is the punch and die alligned? Does it look sharp, 400 holes should be nothing to one of them, do you use any oil on it?


Sometimes ours goes bang, sometimes the only noise is the motor running.
Have you tried it on a thinner material, or smaller punches?
Its normally variation in the material that makes the bang or not, flat bar doesnt seem to bang generally.


Plenty of oil?

 

[Jack]

yep alignment is fine, ive checked the fluid levels, fine, the motor is running the same speed as it used to, there is nothing obviously wrong with it.

yeah i had to make some 6mm packers the other day with a 20mm hole, same bang but no problem with the machine cutting out.

i use 12mm punches through 8, 10 and 12mm and thats like a knife through butter, no noise at all. Its always flats that i use in it as well, mainly use it for making foot and connection plates.

to look at the punch seems fine, no damage to it and it seems to still have an edge on it. but no, i dont tend to use oil on it, i grease the punches now and again but thats all. would you recommend a soluble oil, or a standard lubricating oil?

 

[astro_al]

I think it's boned. More trouble than it is worth to fix. Send me your address and I'll pop over to pick it up. No charge for getting it out of your way.

(can't help but good luck...)
Al

 

[Hitch]

We use a basic aerosol cutting oil, makes a lot of difference tbh. Suprising how hot the punch gets.

For the sake of £20, probably worth getting a new punch and die, and try it.

On ours, im pretty sure that if its too much for it, it just doesnt go through, doesnt normally cut out.....

Hmmm..... saying that, the Geka did have a spat where it would cut out, that was a bad conection on the main isolator. Lots of banging/vibration would put it out of place and stop the machine.....

 

[Jack]

ah good shout that man, maybe the isolator/wiring is dodgy, (i did wire it myself which would explain that) that would explain why it only happens when punching the bigger stuff. i shall have a look at it tomorrow. cheers

 

[Welderpaul]

We have a Geka. It seems to be with plate that it bangs when punching. Rarely happens with flat. Bright steel plate goes with a severe crack.

I think ours has a hydraulic limiter on it somewhere, if you try to punch a hole in something too thick the punch touches the material and the pump cuts out.

If the punch is fine it sounds like an issue with the machine. Any warranty from Kingsland? Worth getting them to look at it if you can't fathom it out yourself.

We tend to use either spray grease, standard lubricating oil, even anti spatter spray. Keeps the punch cool, and helps the punch in and out of the material.

 

[Hitch]

We only noticed it beceause the power light flickered..... the isolator on the switch panel,
Long shot, seeing as its a different machine, but only takes a few seconds to look.

 

[michael1703]

could you have lost a phase?

I use rocol cutting oil, just a 2 pence piece sized blob every punch

what you spend extra in cutting oil, you save in wear on the punch