Overview
Pax Die Doors, which the manufacturer also calls Press Doors, are hard-barrier doors that mount to a stamping press, close off the die area, interlock with the press control circuit and help keep die lubricant where it belongs. They are made by Pax Products, Inc. of Celina, Ohio, and Production Resources, Inc. (PRI) supplies them in vertically sliding, swing-out, air-assist and acoustical versions.
To see where die doors fit in overall press-room safety and lubricant control, read our Pax die doors guide; this page covers door styles, hardware and ordering details.
Key Features
- Bolt-on mounting plates
- The door hangs from mounting plates that bolt to the press, and Pax supplies a template for locating the mounting holes.
- Machined guide channel with Delrin rollers
- Delrin rollers ride in a channel machined into the mounting plates. Holes in the channel accept safety pins that positively lock the door in place.
- Counterbalanced, lube-free lift
- Heavy-duty cables run over lightweight nylon pulleys with steel roller bearings to enclosed counterbalance weights. Nothing needs lubrication.
- Spring-loaded T-handle (manual doors)
- A low-tension, ergonomic T-handle turns 90 degrees to unlock; the operator moves the door, releases the handle near the desired height, and the door locks into position as it keeps moving. The handle works with a cable and pin as a backup if a counterbalance cable ever breaks.
- Safety interlock switch
- Ties the door into the press control circuit.
- Sealed polycarbonate windows
- Large windows give a clear view of the die area, and the window mount is designed for quick replacement.
- Lubricant troughs
- Troughs at the base of the door collect excess die lube so it can be reclaimed.
Product Line / Models
Pax builds its doors in these styles and options:
- Manual vertically sliding door – The standard, non-acoustical Pax door. It travels up and down, mounts either to the press gibs or to the press frame, and opens and closes with minimal effort.
- Powered vertically sliding door – The same vertical-sliding layout with powered operation.
- Air Assist option – A single air cylinder, run from a selector switch, raises and lowers the door. Working with the counterbalance weights, it needs only minimal air pressure. Air Assist doors include an emergency door stop in case a counterbalance cable fails. Pax recommends this option for larger presses or where the reach height keeps an operator from fully opening the door by hand.
- Swing-out style door – A door that swings out away from the press.
- Acoustical door – An option for plants working to reduce stamping-press noise. Pax shows it as a swing-out door on the back of a gap press.
Applications & Benefits
- Operators: Well-balanced doors are easy to open and close.
- Die setup: Doors sit close to the press, leaving room for die maintenance and changeover work.
- Plant maintenance: No lubrication points, and the doors are designed to come off easily when the press needs repair.
- Lubricant control: Excess die lube collects in the door troughs, where it can be reclaimed.
- Parts and scrap exit: A door can be built to stop at a set height above the bolster so parts and scrap can leave the die area. The gap under the closed door must be enclosed; Pax uses sheet metal held by its T-Slot Clamp.
- Large presses: Pax literature shows a die door on a 1,200-ton press with a 204" bed.
Technical Specifications
Pax does not publish a standard size chart; each door is built to fit its press. Construction details from Pax Bulletin 1000A:
- Windows: large, sealed polycarbonate
- Guidance: Delrin rollers in a machined channel, with safety-pin lock holes
- Lift: nylon pulleys with steel roller bearings, heavy-duty cables, enclosed counterbalance weights
- Mounting: bolt-on plates with a hole-locating template; gib or frame mounting
- Operation: manual T-handle or single-cylinder Air Assist with selector switch
Important: Pax designs these doors as a point-of-operation barrier. They are not intended to stop projectiles.
How to Choose the Right Pax Die Door
- Door style: Vertically sliding or swing-out.
- Operation: Manual for doors an operator can fully open by hand; Air Assist or powered for large presses and high reach heights.
- Mounting: Press gibs or press frame.
- Noise: Acoustical or standard non-acoustical construction.
- Part and scrap flow: Whether the door must stop above the bolster, and how that opening will be enclosed.
- Controls: How the interlock switch will connect to your press control circuit.
Why Pax Die Doors Are Trusted
- Designed for stampers by stampers: Pax's sister company, Pax Machine Works, is a high-volume metal stamper that runs Pax equipment, doors included, on its 27+ presses.
- Established maker: Pax Products has built pressroom equipment in Celina, Ohio, since 1980.
- Low upkeep: No lubrication, bearing-equipped pulleys and replaceable windows keep service simple.
Contact & Ordering
Need help picking the right model or getting a quote? Provide these details:
- Press make, model, type and tonnage
- Bed width and the height of the opening to be covered
- Door style (vertically sliding or swing-out) and mounting (gibs or frame)
- Manual, Air Assist or powered operation, and whether an acoustical door is needed
- Whether parts or scrap must exit under the door
- Press control type for interlock wiring
Contact PRI to discuss specs, lead times, and installation support.
