Hydraulic aluminum chip briquetting machines are crucial environmental protection and resource recycling equipment in the metal processing industry, particularly in aluminum product processing and automotive parts manufacturing. They are primarily used to compress loose aluminum chips generated during turning, milling, and other processes into high-density aluminum cakes (aluminum chip cakes) under high pressure, facilitating transportation, storage, and direct remelting.

The following is a comprehensive introduction to the hydraulic aluminum chip pressing machine:

I. Main Functions and Advantages

Volume and Weight Reduction: Compresses the volume of loose aluminum shavings to 1/3 to 1/5 of their original size, significantly reducing transportation and storage costs.

Improved Smelting Efficiency: The compacted aluminum cakes have a uniform density, allowing them to sink into the molten pool more quickly during smelting, reducing oxidation loss (reducing the surface area of the aluminum shavings and thus reducing oxidation), and increasing the aluminum recovery rate (typically by 2%-5%).

Clean and Environmentally Friendly: The pressing process removes residual cutting fluid (oil or emulsion) from the aluminum shavings, reducing pollution, improving the workshop environment, and enabling the recycling of cutting fluid.

Automation and Safety: Modern pressing machines are highly automated, reducing manual labor intensity, and ensuring operator safety through safety interlocking devices.

Significant Economic Benefits: Although there is an initial investment, the savings in transportation costs, increased metal recovery rate, and the value of recovered cutting fluid allow for a rapid return on investment.

II. Main Structure and Working Principle

Structural Composition:

Main Frame: Welded from high-strength steel plates, it withstands the enormous pressure of the main hydraulic cylinder.

Hydraulic System: The core component, including the motor, oil pump, hydraulic valve assembly, main cylinder (providing pressure), and side cylinders (for ejecting the aluminum shavings or controlling the die). Pressure can reach hundreds of tons.

Feed Bin: Used to hold the loose aluminum shavings to be compressed.

Die (Cavity): Determines the shape (usually cylindrical or square) and size of the final aluminum shavings.

Control System: PLC control, enabling automatic/manual operation, setting parameters such as holding time and pressure.

Auxiliary System: Drainage system (collecting the compressed cutting fluid), safety doors, etc.

Workflow:

Feeding: Aluminum shavings are manually or via conveyor belt/elevator poured into the feed bin.

Compression: The main cylinder drives the pressure head downwards, applying extremely high pressure to the aluminum shavings in the feed bin.

Pressure Holding: Maintaining maximum pressure for several seconds allows the aluminum shavings to plastically deform and bind tightly, while simultaneously squeezing out the cutting fluid.

Drainage: The squeezed-out cutting fluid flows into the collection tank through a filter at the bottom of the feed bin.

Discharge: The side hydraulic cylinder actuates, pushing the pressed, hardened aluminum cake out of the mold cavity.

Circulation: The press head retracts, and the equipment prepares for the next work cycle.

III. Key Selection Parameters

When selecting a hydraulic aluminum chip briquetting machine, the following parameters need to be considered:

Nominal Pressure (tonns): Such as 200 tons, 315 tons, 500 tons, etc. Higher pressure means a larger volume of aluminum chips can be processed, resulting in a denser briquette. This is a core parameter.

Briquette Size and Weight: Determined by the size of your smelting furnace inlet and the amount of material fed per batch. Common briquette diameters are 200-500mm, and single briquette weights are 20-100kg.

Tank Capacity: Determines the amount of loose aluminum chips that can be processed per batch.

Automation Level: From manual push-button type to fully automatic configuration with conveyor belt and weighing system.

Drainage Method: An efficient filtration and collection system is crucial for recovering cutting fluid.

Brand and Quality: The brand of hydraulic components and electrical components, as well as the steel used in the machine body and the welding process, determine the durability and stability of the equipment.

IV. Precautions for Use

Aluminum Scrap Pretreatment: Avoid mixing aluminum scraps with iron filings, copper filings, or other metals, or excessive impurities, as this will affect the quality of the cake and subsequent smelting. Long, tangled scraps are best crushed first.

Moisture/Oil Content Control: Excessively wet aluminum scraps will affect cake pressing efficiency, but the equipment is designed to handle oily, wet scraps.

Equipment Maintenance: Regularly check the hydraulic oil quality and level, replace the filter element, tighten bolts, and ensure long-term stable operation of the equipment.

Safe Operation: Ensure protective devices are in good working order. Never put hands or tools into the pressing area while the equipment is running.

V. Market and Brands 

The market offers a variety of choices, ranging from domestic Chinese brands to international brands:

International Brands: Brands such as ARPN and ANDRITZ from Germany are known for their high reliability, high pressure, and automation, but are also more expensive.

Domestic Brands: Many excellent domestic manufacturers (such as those in Jiangsu, Shandong, and Guangdong) offer cost-effective products that meet the performance needs of most domestic users, making them the mainstream choice.

Summary The hydraulic aluminum scrap press is a crucial bridge connecting machining workshops and smelting workshops, providing a powerful tool for the immediate processing of aluminum scrap and turning waste into treasure. For companies that generate large amounts of aluminum scrap, investing in a suitable press is not only an environmental requirement but also an important measure to improve economic efficiency and achieve lean production.