GEOSYNTHETIC INDUSTRIAL WORKS DOCUMENT

NO: WI-HQ1-039-1
WORK INSTRUCTION PAGE: 1 OF 3
TITLE: HYDRAULIC PRESS OPERATION DATE: 01/05

DEPARTMENT: Quality Control Laboratory

AUTHOR: MM

1. PURPOSE

1.1. To document the procedure for safely operating the hydraulic presses located in the
Quality Control Laboratory.

2. SCOPE

2.1. This document applies to Quality Control personnel.

3. EQUIPMENT

3.1. Steel dies of various dimensions

3.2. Polypropylene cutting board

3.3. China marker

4. BACKGROUND

4.1. The hydraulic press or “clicker press” is used in conjunction with steel dies to cut test
samples of known dimensions.

4.2. The steel die is positioned on the material to be cut into samples for testing. The
hydraulic press drives a rectangular “hammer” onto the steel die. The hammer
presses the die through the material and on to a soft polypropylene cutting board. The
resulting specimen is removed from the die by hand and tested.

4.3. There are two (2) hydraulic presses in the Quality Control Lab, identified as QC-DC-1
and QC-DC-2.

4.3.1. QC-DC-1 can be adjusted for stroke depth and initial distance between
hammer and table.

4.3.2. QC-DC-2 can be adjusted for hammer height and impact force.

5. HEALTH AND SAFETY

5.1. The clicker press can only be operated when the two (2) engagement buttons are
pressed with both hands simultaneously.

5.1.1. DO NOT insert any objects into either button to make the clicker press
operational by one (1) hand.

5.2. The clicker presses generate sufficient force to CRUSH BONES. Ensure that all
extremities are clear of the hammer’s path before engaging the press.

5.3. The depth of the hammer’s stroke should be just sufficient to cut the specimens.

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GEOSYNTHETIC INDUSTRIAL WORKS DOCUMENT
NO: WI-HQ1-039-1
WORK INSTRUCTION PAGE: 2 OF 3
TITLE: HYDRAULIC PRESS OPERATION DATE: 01/05

5.3.1. CAUTION: A deeper stroke will drive the die into the cutting board, which may
cause the die to become embedded and possibly shatter the board, which
could result in serious injuries from sharp shards of the board.

5.4. Exercise caution when handling the cutting dies. They are extremely sharp and can
cause severe lacerations.

5.5. ALL personnel are required to wear safety glasses and safety shoes while operating
the clicker presses.

6. PROCEDURES

6.1. Energize the clicker press.

6.1.1. QC-DC-1: Press the green start button

6.1.2. QC-DC-2: Turn the switch on the right side of the machine CLOCKWISE.

6.2. Lay the sample in the middle of the cutting board.

6.2.1. Samples longer than the cutting board should be draped over the sides of the
machine.

6.3. Place the cutting die on the sample.

6.3. Move the hammer over top of the die.

6.4. Engage the hammer by pressing the buttons on both hand controls simultaneously.
This will drive the hammer onto the die, cutting the sample.

6.5. Pick up the die and carefully remove the specimen.

6.6. Using a china marker, label the specimen with the Zone and the direction (machine or
cross).

6.7. Move the die to another location on the sample and repeat the steps from 6.3 to 6.5.

7. TROUBLESHOOTING

7.1. QC-DC-1:

7.1.1. If the stroke of the hammer was NOT sufficient to cut the sample, adjust the
depth of the stroke by rotating the three-spoke wheel on top of the hammer in
the INCREASE direction (CLOCKWISE).

7.1.2. If the stroke of the hammer WAS sufficient to cut the sample, but used too
much force (ie. the die is embedded in the cutting board), adjust the depth of
the stroke by rotating the three-spoke wheel on top of the hammer in the
DECREASE direction (COUNTER-CLOCKWISE).

7.2. QC-DC-2:

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GEOSYNTHETIC INDUSTRIAL WORKS DOCUMENT
NO: WI-HQ1-039-1
WORK INSTRUCTION PAGE: 3 OF 3
TITLE: HYDRAULIC PRESS OPERATION DATE: 01/05

7.2.1. If the stroke of the hammer was NOT sufficient to cut the sample, adjust the
impact force using the right-hand dial (has red button underneath) on the front
of the hammer by turning the dial CLOCKWISE. This will INCREASE the
impact force.

7.2.2. If the stroke of the hammer WAS sufficient to cut the sample, but used too
much force (ie. the die is embedded in the cutting board), adjust the impact
force using the right-hand dial (has red button underneath) on the front of the
hammer by turning the dial COUNTER-CLOCKWISE. This will DECREASE the
impact force.

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