Repetablility problem

[tmaker]

I made a 3 ram press to form 5/16 SS wire. I am using prox. switches to sequence them, IE push the button ram 1 goes until it sees the prox. ram 2 goes, than ram 3, than all retract. I have no repeatability, the rams will stop at different places or not stop at all and brake the pin that they are supposed to see, ( my bad 1 hour to repair). I don't know if it is a hydraulics problem or a controller problem?

[trubleshtr]

I made a 3 ram press to form 5/16 SS wire. I am using prox. switches to sequence them, IE push the button ram 1 goes until it sees the prox. ram 2 goes, than ram 3, than all retract. I have no repeatability, the rams will stop at different places or not stop at all and brake the pin that they are supposed to see, ( my bad 1 hour to repair). I don't know if it is a hydraulics problem or a controller problem?

The rams will want to go full sroke everytime or until they encounter an opposing force of equal (or greater) force. How are the hoses connected to the Rams? Is there a manifold with 3 seperate valves, one for each ram?
Normally you would want to physically limit the rams travel to stop it exactely at the sametime every cycle. What ever you use to stop the ram has to be greater in force then the ram is capable of making or else it will bend/brake what it is pressing against.

[tmaker]

There are 3 separate valves on a manifold, if dead stops are the answerer I can do that, but have 5 different parts and wanted quick change over. It will take 15 different stops for someone that has a problem with 2. I guess it goes back to what my old boss told me, "make it as idiot proof as possible". Was wanting it to be in hydraulics that could be fixed with better equipment.

[EPAUTOWELDING]

If you make the ram come to a dead stop something is going to give(break). I would sugest an adjustable relief valve. Set the relief where you have enough pressure to bend the wire against a stop (physical like trubleshtr said) and then relieve sending the fluid back to the reservoir. You would need one on each ram but this would stop them at the right place every time and not break a thing. good luck EP