Finetech Engineering

Hydraulic Press(Manual operation)

Overview

The Finetech Engineering Hydraulic Press (Manual Operation) is a heavy-duty hand-pump hydraulic press designed for two critical functions in a materials testing laboratory: specimen cutting and compression moulding. It delivers significantly higher downward force than a pneumatic or manual press, making it the right choice for cutting specimens from thick rubber sheets, hard engineering plastics, and multi-layer laminates.

For specimen cutting, the hydraulic press provides the controlled, high-tonnage force needed to drive precision cutting dies cleanly through tough materials. ASTM D412 specifies that dumbbell specimens should be die-cut from vulcanised rubber sheets — and for thick or hard compounds, a hydraulic press is the only practical tool for the job. The press accepts all standard Finetech specimen dies (dumbbell, tear, crescent, round, rectangular, notch) and delivers a clean, burr-free cut every time.

For compression moulding, the same press is used with heated platens and test specimen moulds to prepare vulcanised rubber sheets (per ASTM D3182), compression set buttons (per ASTM D395), hardness buttons (per ASTM D2240), DIN abrasion specimens, and thermoplastic test plaques (per ASTM D4703). The hydraulic mechanism provides the uniform clamping force required by these standards, while the heated platens maintain the curing temperature throughout the moulding cycle.

Two Functions, One Machine

Function 1: Specimen Cutting

Position any Finetech specimen cutting die on the rubber/plastic sheet, place the sheet on the press platen, and pump the hydraulic handle to drive the die through the material. The controlled hydraulic force produces a clean, perpendicular cut with no material distortion.

When to use the hydraulic press for cutting (instead of pneumatic or manual):

  • Rubber sheets thicker than 6 mm — requires more force than a pneumatic press typically delivers
  • Hard rubber compounds (above 80 Shore A) — resist cutting by lighter presses
  • Engineering plastics (polycarbonate, nylon, POM, PEEK) — hard materials need high force
  • Multi-layer laminates and reinforced rubber — fabric-reinforced materials resist punching
  • Any material where a pneumatic or manual press produces incomplete or distorted cuts

Function 2: Compression Moulding

Install heated platens and a test specimen mould, set the temperature, apply clamping force via the hydraulic pump, and hold at temperature for the vulcanisation or moulding time specified by your standard. The hydraulic press maintains even pressure across the entire mould surface.

Common moulding applications:

  • Vulcanised rubber test sheets (ASTM D3182, ISO 2393) — the standard slab from which all rubber test specimens are cut
  • Compression set buttons (ASTM D395, ISO 815) — cylindrical buttons for compression set testing
  • Hardness test buttons (ASTM D2240, ISO 868) — buttons for Shore A and Shore D testing
  • DIN abrasion specimens (DIN 53516, ISO 4649) — cylindrical specimens for abrasion testing
  • Demattia flex specimens (ASTM D430, ISO 132) — moulded specimens for flex crack testing
  • Thermoplastic test plaques (ASTM D4703) — flat plaques for injection moulding grade evaluation

Specifications

Parameter Specification
Product Name Hydraulic Press (Manual Operation)
Operation Manual hydraulic hand-pump
Pressing Force Up to 15–30 tonnes (model-dependent)
Platen Size Standard: 200 × 200 mm / 300 × 300 mm (model-dependent)
Daylight Opening Adjustable — accommodates moulds of various heights
Heated Platens (Optional) Electrically heated platens with PID temperature controller
Temperature Range (Heated) Ambient to 250°C (for rubber vulcanisation and plastic moulding)
Temperature Accuracy PID controlled, ±2°C
Frame Construction Heavy-duty mild steel, powder coated
Pressure Gauge Hydraulic pressure gauge for force monitoring
Pressure Release Manual release valve for controlled platen return
Power Supply No electrical power for basic (non-heated) model. 230V AC for heated platen model.
Compatible Cutting Dies All Finetech specimen dies: dumbbell, tear, crescent, round, rectangular, notch
Compatible Moulds All Finetech moulds: flat sheet (D3182), compression set (D395), hardness, DIN, Demattia, custom
Certification ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturing

Standards Supported

The hydraulic press supports specimen preparation and compression moulding for the following standards:
Standard Application
ASTM D3182 Mixing rubber compounds and preparing standard vulcanised test sheets
ASTM D4703 Compression moulding of thermoplastic test specimens, plaques, or sheets
ASTM D395 / ISO 815 Moulding compression set test buttons
ASTM D2240 / ISO 868 Moulding hardness test buttons
DIN 53516 / ISO 4649 Moulding DIN abrasion test specimens
ASTM D430 / ISO 132 Moulding Demattia flex test specimens
ASTM D412 / ISO 37 Cutting dumbbell specimens from moulded sheets
ASTM D624 / ISO 34-1 Cutting tear specimens from moulded sheets
ASTM D256 / ISO 179 Pressing notch cutters for impact test specimens

Why Choose the Finetech Hydraulic Press?

Dual-purpose: cutting + moulding. One machine handles both specimen cutting and compression moulding. No need to invest in separate equipment for each function — saving capital cost and lab floor space.

High force for tough materials. 15–30 tonnes of pressing force cuts cleanly through thick rubber, hard plastics, and multi-layer composites that pneumatic and manual presses cannot handle.

No compressed air required. The manual hydraulic pump operates independently of any external power source (for the non-heated model). Ideal for labs without compressed air lines, mobile testing setups, or locations with unreliable power supply.

Heated platens available. PID-controlled heated platens up to 250°C for vulcanisation of rubber test sheets (ASTM D3182) and compression moulding of thermoplastic plaques (ASTM D4703).

Compatible with all Finetech dies and moulds. Every specimen cutter and test mould we manufacture fits the hydraulic press. One press, complete specimen preparation capability.

Built to last. Heavy-duty steel frame, industrial-grade hydraulic cylinder, and powder-coated finish. Designed for years of daily use in demanding QC and R&D labs.

Related Products

Product Why Related
Pneumatic Press For high-volume, medium-force specimen cutting (air-powered, faster cycle)
Manual Press Budget-friendly option for low-volume, low-force cutting
Flat Sheet Mould (ASTM D3182) For moulding vulcanised rubber sheets — used with this press
Compression Set Mould (ASTM D395) For moulding compression set buttons — used with this press
Hardness Button Mould (ASTM D2240) For moulding Shore A/D test buttons — used with this press
Dumbbell Specimen Cutter Most commonly used die with this press
Specimen Cutters & Moulds (Full Range) Browse all cutting dies and moulds
Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

The hydraulic press uses hydraulic fluid and a hand pump to generate high force (15–30 tonnes). The pneumatic press uses compressed air (6–8 bar) for faster, lighter-force cutting. The hydraulic press is better for thick/hard materials and compression moulding. The pneumatic press is better for high-speed, high-volume cutting of standard-thickness materials. See the comparison table on our Pneumatic Press page for a detailed feature-by-feature comparison.

Yes — this is the key advantage of the hydraulic press. For cutting, place a cutting die and material on the platen and apply hydraulic pressure. For moulding, install heated platens, place a mould with rubber compound, set the temperature, and apply clamping pressure. The same press serves both functions.

If you only need the press for specimen cutting (driving dies through already-prepared rubber or plastic sheets), you do not need heated platens. If you also need to mould rubber test sheets (ASTM D3182), compression set buttons, or thermoplastic plaques, you need the heated platen option. Specify your requirement when ordering.

Vulcanised rubber (all hardnesses including hard compounds above 80 Shore A), thermoplastic elastomers, rigid and semi-rigid plastics, engineering plastics (nylon, polycarbonate, POM), multi-layer laminates, paper, paperboard, textile, leather, and foam. Essentially any flat sheet material up to the thickness the die can accommodate.

The basic (non-heated) model requires no electrical power — it operates entirely via the manual hydraulic hand pump. The heated platen model requires 230V AC single-phase electrical supply for the platen heaters and temperature controller.

Standard models offer 15 to 30 tonnes of pressing force, depending on the model selected. For most specimen cutting applications, 15 tonnes is sufficient. For compression moulding with large moulds or high-viscosity compounds, 25–30 tonnes may be required. Contact us and we will help you select the right tonnage for your application.

All Finetech test specimen moulds are designed to fit the hydraulic press: flat sheet moulds (ASTM D3182), compression set moulds (ASTM D395), hardness button moulds, DIN abrasion moulds, Demattia flex moulds, and custom moulds. The adjustable daylight opening accommodates moulds of various heights.

Yes. Finetech Engineering offers calibration services for the hydraulic pressure gauge and temperature controller (on heated models), ensuring your press delivers accurate and documented force and temperature for audit compliance.

Specifications