Alcoa Forging Division, Mesta 50, 000-Ton Closed Die Forging Press, 1600 Harvard Avenue, Cleveland

Source document Quoted word for word from HAER OHIO,18-CLEV,41-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

The Mesta 50,000-Ton Forging Press represents the culmination of many years' attempts to build heavy presses. Motivated by Cold War fears and the demand for new aircraft brought on by the Korean War, the Industrial Resources Division and Air Material Command of the United States Air Force instituted a "Heavy Press Program" during the early The program aimed to create presses large enough to make complex castings needed for new aircraft designs. The Mesta forging plants at West Homestead, Pennsylvania, cast the Forging Press. The total weight of the Press is about tons. The Press itself is eighty-seven feet high, extending thirty-six feet below ground level and fifty-one feet above.

It contains a die table twenty-six feet long and twelve feet wide, which is withdrawn only when the forging dies are changed. Maximum press stroke is six feet. With a working press stroke of one foot, the press is designed to operate at 30 cycles per hour. Press force is generated by a hydro-pneumatic pressure system consisting of four pre-filler bottles, two horizontal reciprocating pumps driven by motors, and four forged alloy steel pressure accumulator bottles. (The hydraulic fluid is water with a small amount of oil added.) A pressure of p.s.i. is built up in each accumulator and released to the eight pressure cylinders housed in the stationary crossheads at the top of the press. The combined effort of these cylinders produces tons of forging capacity.

At the end of the press cycle, the hydraulic force is reversed and directed to eight pull-back and balancing cylinders that return the moving crosshead assembly to its upper position. ALCOA FORGING DIVISION: MESTA TON CLOSED DIE FORGING PRESS (Air Force Plant 47: Mesta 50,000-Ton Closed Die Forging Press) HAER No. OH-64 (Page 2) The press was rebuilt in to provide a more advanced hydraulic valve system and provide more precision during the forging cycle. On September 24, the Press was declared a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Source: Dedication Program, Ton Closed Die Forging Press, United States Air Force Plant 47, Operated by Aluminum Company of America Forging Division, Cleveland, Ohio.

Thursday, September 24, Published by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.,

Source document Quoted word for word from HAER OHIO,18-CLEV,41-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Robert Buerglener, HABS/HAER, September, It is understood that access to this material rests on the condition that should any of it be used in any form or by any means, the author of such material and the Historic American Engineering Record of the Nation Park Service at all times be given credit. HAER No* QH-u . {!: % :) M/-ii . Ir> OHIO Ml- ' TRANSPARENCIES HISTORIC: AMERICAN! ENGINEERING National Park Service Depar hT>E-n r. of the- Interior Washinaton, O.C.