The top platen is supported on ground steel trunnions and is rotatable through 360°. It is moved vertically by four precision lead screws driven by alloy bronze nuts supported in precision ball bearings. Levers at each corner lock it rigidly and accurately in the 0° and 180° positions. The open construction of this platen gives maximum access to the top of the die set. A special gear change dial provides the ultimate in safety and ease of operation.

Three positions are provided:

“MANUAL,” where movement of the top platen is accomplished by hand crank

“TRY-OUT” which provides tremendous gear reduction to allow a 20-ton force to be exerted between platens by hand crank

“POWER” where an instantaneously reversible, 2 horsepower motor, controlled through a switch knob in the dial, raises a 3000-pound load at the rate of 13 inches per minute. A safety switch rod automatically stops the motor at the upper and lower limits of the top platen travel.

With the dial in the “POWER” position, the hand crankshaft is disengaged from the motor drive. With the dial in either the “MANUAL” or “TRY-OUT” position, the “POWER” switch is not operable.

The Hansford Model 1021 Die Handler is a versatile machine tool designed to meet today’s rigid requirements of extreme precision and absolute reliability. Eliminate the hazards of slipping and jamming and increase your productivity by enabling one person to separate, service, and try-out valuable dies. Using chain hoists, lead mallets, and two or three toolmakers is not an efficient way to separate and service dies. Dies pulled from storage are usually separated and the punches, dies, and strippers are inspected before the die set is put in use. If a die set has been in storage for several months, it may need relubrication. A die handler helps make die set inspection a fast and safe one-person operation. The rugged, cast upper platen and lead screws utilized in Hansford Die Handlers assure a positive, smooth vertical movement and the ability to withstand the forces involved without deflecting beyond acceptable limits. Today’s die sets are more complex and therefore, more care is needed to separate or close them without jamming. The rugged precision of the Hansford Die Handler eliminates problems of separation because the upper and lower platens are held parallel to each other within .003” T.l.R., and ground locks are provided on all four corners of the upper platen. All models have a rated try-out force which is exerted by hand crank in the “Try-Out” mode. This is a squeeze-type force, which allows some plants to shear in blanking dies. With a die separated and positioned, sharpening can be easily accomplished. Similarly, a forming die requires spotting in order to assure the proper match of the two halves, and this can be accomplished just as easily as shearing in or sharpening operations.