Category: Troubleshooting the press
Later topic: Frisket for Columbian
Earlier topic: Heidelberg Windmill - disassembling gripper unit.

UK Oscillating Roller manufacture

Does anyone know or could recommend a UK engineering company that is able to manufacture an oscillating roller for my Soldan Proof press? – without breaking the bank!

The press is quite large and the roller will need to be 800mm long by roughly 100mm diameter.

Many thanks
Carl

image: Lock-up.jpg

Lock-up.jpg

Log in to reply   7 replies so far

Hi Carl,
I think I have used a Soldan proof press in my apprentice days
but cannot remember if the steel roller was solid or Hollow.
I suspect they were Hollow with a shaft centred in the ends.
I am in Dorset and there is a foundry in Bridport who make chases for one and do castings for Platens perhaps it’s worth a call. They are listed in the UK Yellow pages of Briar press site. Not too far from Somerset !!
Frank

Hi Frank - thanks for the tip - do you know the name of the foundry?

Many thanks
Carl

Hi Frank - thanks for the tip - do you know the name of the foundry?

Many thanks
Carl

Hi Carl,
The foundry is Bridport Foundry Ltd.

Tel: 01308 459040

Bridportfoundry.com

Good luck
Frank

  • Louie Dudas
  • on 13 Jun 16 (20:05)
  • Updated 3 Feb 17 (01:11)

Wouldn’t it be easier to use one of these from some duplicator press, and install it inside a plastic pipe of the right size for the proof press. These units already contain the oscillating mechanism. Since the oscillating roller is self aligning over the two form rollers, these could be installed on one side of the pipe and supported by one side of the shaft only. You can adapt the mechanism only to the new roller size. I picked up the used black metal one in the picture for $20.

Louie
http://eagleprint.ca

image: various_oscillating_rollerss.jpg

various_oscillating_rollerss.jpg

image: roller_end_view.jpg

roller_end_view.jpg

image: oscillator.jpg

oscillator.jpg

Hi Louie - thank you for your tip. I have not come across any for sale in the UK - that could be a cheaper option than commissioning to make new - I will scan Ebay and see if any are available in the UK.

Kind regards
Carl

  • Louie Dudas
  • on 15 Jun 16 (12:15)
  • Updated 3 Feb 17 (01:11)

Unless you are printing large posters, you might get away with a smaller roller than the original. The form you have locked up there in the picture does not seem to take up the whole width of the press. The black roller in my picture is from AB Dick 8820 ( I think, I will use it on my 10x15 Windmill ) and it measures 13.25” wide and about 100mm in diameter. This roller alone might do the job without any modifications. No need to worry much about the non inking part of the form rollers. Of course there are a number of different offset presses out there collecting dust with even larger oscillating rollers on them. I got mine from a press technician, it is the best to talk to them and explain what you want. Usually they have a number of presses ready to be stripped for spare parts.

Louie
http://eagleprint.ca