Sophie

assembly instructions for a manual

press for compressed earth bricks

betezé
open
architecture
systems

beteze.org
© 2017 BETEZÉ No rights reserved
About Betezé
30
0

205
820

We believe sharing knowledge is the best way of achieving an equitable 80

development in communities throughout the world and the cooperation between

humans is crucial for our growth as a society.

Project goals
36

We want to spread our knowledge on Compressed Earth Bricks (CEB) by distributing

assembling and usage manuals of different CEB machines. This distribution is to
be done for free! If you possess one of our manuals you will be able to assemble
your own proper press. Make sure you read carefully all our annotations and follow
the instructions to assure the best possible results and to prevent you from taking
any risks. 505

With this press, which we named Sophie, users will be able to make building bricks
300mm x 150mm x 90mm by compressing a mix of sand, clay and eventually 30
0
some stabilizing cement. 205
50
3

820

The technology and the

735

40
80

necessary tools
15
0

The reproduction of this machine requires some expertise in order to assure a

correct result. Despite our efforts to simplify and optimize the designs we strongly
recommend only professional blacksmiths and welders take part in the the
30

assembling of the various pieces.

14
1

The material required to reproduce one of our machines are:

- Band Saw
- Drill (up to 16mm)
00
- Welding Machine (or Electrode) 505
467
12

- Grinding Machine with cutting discs, stone discs.

159
30
0 1540 9
3 51
28

50 0
8
205 15
9
28
8

Elements to assemble
30
820 310
735
150

To reach the final objective of reproducing the press Sophie you will have to
0 0
14 14

ESCALA x2 ORIGINAL
40

40

80 40

produce 5 separate pieces to finally assemble them all together.

Sophie is composed by:
297

15

17

40 20
Ø
50
14

+ + + + =
194
467
505
46 00
172 15
0 300 5
290 25 294
820 310 640
735 21
0
30
0
159
9 14
0 150
14
0
20
Ø 15
3 15 51 15
50 0 9 40
77
40

205 15 4
40

9 15
0
80 40 40 15
9

10

10

structure earth hopper ESCALA

lever x2 ORIGINAL
piston lid

0
11
Ø Ø
5 20 20
28
0
31 20 Ø
00
12 0Ø 0 0 0
5 2 35 20 22
25 67
5
40
40
Ø
20 Ø
40 20

40
40 20
Ø 194
145
4
Measurements

In the following pages you will find detailed 3D images of all the elements that
conform the different parts of the machine with accurate measurements so you can
precisely reproduce them in your own atelier with simple blacksmith and welding
machinery.

We have decomposed the machine in order to make the assembling process easier
and more comprehensible. All measures are in millimeters (mm).

ALL PIECES MUST BE METICULOUSLY CUT IN ORDER TO ASSURE THE CORRECT

FUNCTIONING OF THE MACHINE
 A_Structure This piece is the machine’s skeleton and must be built with good
quality steel. Pieces should be amongst the thickest of the whole
machine in order to resist the weight of the various parts that will
rest on it and the heavy compression process for the conformation
of the bricks.

Pieces A1 and A2 should have a thickness

higher than 5mm 820

Rest of the pieces should NOT be thicker

40
than 5mm 80

A.1 x2 A.2 x4

820 820
735 735
40

40

40
80 80 40

505
A.3 x2 A.4 x2 A.5 x1
30
30
259 197 159
310 30
0 142
310312029 150 1 3
0 0 50
14 6 14
4 0 40 150150 8 4 0 40 205
20
1 1 1 1

A.6 x2 A.7 x2

3030
3030
252959 191797
229 22229 197 141242
9 161868 297
259 2020
168 297297
15 15
30 30 1 15
5

A.8 x2 A.9 x1

142 142 54
47 47 22 54 22
20 20 20
20 16 Ø
Ø 16 Ø 467 467
505 505 Ø
222929 191797 00
12
292797
2525
 820
310 297 73
0 150 0
14 14

40
40
40 Hopper
B_Soil 80
Since this element of the machine doesn’t have a
47 54 22 structural function, nor will it receive any additional
20
16 Ø efforts from other elements of the machine, it is
Ø
desirable that is made out of light materials so make
30 sure you use thin 3sheets
0 of steel (between 1mm/2,5mm)
30
30 259 except in specific 0 30
pieces. 197
2 3 197
22 259 59 1 142
29 168 97 505 1
142 42
467
22 29 1
168 68 20 0
9
2 0 2
Pieces B.1,
30 B.2, B.3, B.5 and B.6 can have a thickness
0
159
15 51
9 297
3
between 2mm and 3mm 50 0
205 15
9
Pieces B.7 should have enough thickness to bare the
weight of the hopper.

54 22
47 4 54 5 22 22
7 20 2 4
16 1Ø 0 Ø 194
B.1 x1 Ø6Ø B.2 x1
229 46 197
2 7 46
229 29505 1
197 97 15
0 300 7
7 259
2 168
259 59 1
15 5 168 68 6
5 1 30 0 30 0 40 21
1 3 3
30 3 0
159
30159
0 9
3 47
7 15 51
15 50 0
0 15
205 9
15
9
B.3 x2 B.4 x2 120
0
5
25

194
Ø
20
330 40
467
520150 40
46
7 0
15 300

640 21
159
30
0 9
3 15 51
15
9 50 0
370 205 22 77 15
15 46 9
20

0 43
20

20 0
20
B.5 x2 20 15
9 B.6 x2 B.7 x2 Ø

433
212924 4
0 9 1 1 433 33
15 1 140
3303294 4 15 1
20

21 1 15 1 1 1405
30 5 14201 240
20

1 0 10 1 5 20 0
20

20
Ø
145
2
20
290

B.8 x2 B.9 x2 B.10 x2150 150

22
21 6
20

0 43 22 2 194
3703 20 0 6 26
70 20 25
20
20

Ø 43 4
20

20 20 0 30
20

20 2
11
0 20 20 Ø 0Ø

5
B.1120 x2
Ø B.12
0 Ø x4
28 2
0
31 20 Ø
22 0 0
6 20 Ø 35 20
5 00
20

67 43 12 1494
0 48
20 0
20 5 25
5
40 Ø 25 12
Ø Ø
20 Ø
20
40
 0 0
15 15 300 300 297
434333 433 433 2222 22
373070 370 294 294 66 6 370
641

20
20

20
640 2151 14 1 1 141051 4343 15413
15 0 140 21 15 15
2020 0 20

20
20

20
20
20

20
1 00 0
C_Lever

20
20
2020 20 2020 20 20 20
This piece is in charge of transmitting
33 the33force
0330
applied to the handlebar to the0 piston. Therefore it 21
0
433
294 21 is designed to undergo heavy traction forces.
1 0 140 1
15 15

20
20

433 43343 should have a thickness higher than 5mm,

All pieces
3 3 0 37037 22
1 especially C.1 and C.2 which, if 7possible should 0 be 6
140114
140
15 0 15 151 22 12
00

20
20

20
20
6

20
10mm thick.

20
0 20 2109

20
20 43 2 20 20 4
20

20 0
20
20 Ø 25

40

194
C.1 x1 C.2 x2 C.3 x2
46 10
7 11
0
0 48481 4
11
0 15 300 55
Ø
5 20 2 85 2 0 Ø
28 5 6420
0Ø
28 3 10 21
00 0
31 20 Ø
12 0
20
0
55 20Ø
255 35 5
15 2 5 67
5 20
Ø 67350
9 25 67
5
7 40
15 47Ø Ø
20 4
0 20 Ø 0
40 20
Ø 40 20 Ø
15 40 20
9
40
194
20 25 48
Ø
5
12
Ø

C.4 x1 C.5 x1 C.6 x1 C.7 x1 C.8 x1

40 20
Ø
145
20 Ø 20 Ø 1Ø5ØØ
2020
ØØ Ø Ø1Ø5 Ø 5 Ø 2020Ø Ø 20 Ø Ø 20 Ø 15 Ø
2020 22000 0 1515 1 65 220 8020
Ø
15 02 0
70

808200 3030Ø Ø 6
70
70

20 0 30 Ø 0 0 5 8080
2 222290 22 1818 1
0 420222 22 22 22 1616 162 0
222 2 24 2 22
5
22 2145 22 24
5 5

15 Ø Ø Ø
20 20 15
70

65
2
22 24 15 Ø 22
10

C.9 x1 C.10 x1 C.11 x2

5 C.12 x1 C.13 x1
70

70
70

48
5 20 Ø
1212Ø Ø 12 Ø 20 Ø 130° 12 Ø
8 12
151Ø5 Ø 25 30 ØØ 25
15 Ø0 Ø
65 6 20
20
2Ø 20 2 0Ø 18
0
1 1 5 Ø5 Ø 2205 20 Ø
20
70

16 6 Ø
70

5 5 203030 30330 30 15 80 30 808300

70

22 22 22 22 16 6
22 22 2
2 2424 22 22 16 24Ø 1
24 5 5
5
15 Ø
25
20

12 Ø 26
20

15 Ø
10

12 Ø 1212
Ø Ø
30 30 0 65
11
40130°
25 225 25
0 20 20
20 ØØ 20 145 Ø 30 30 30 0
85 20
24

3 30 3
2
145 130° 0
0
24Ø 31 5 20 Ø
37
Ø 50 0
20
5 15 Ø 10 Ø 3 20
67 290 40
40 0 150 0
15 150 0 15
50 150 15 0
1 26 2 0Ø 15
20

3
 40

D_Piston This piece is in charge of compressing the soil

when the lever is activated. It will undergo high
Ø
20 Ø
compression and therefore it has to be built 15 Ø
20 0 0

70
20 according to all
22 this measurements.
40 20 Ø
0 0 0 22 24

70
35 20 22 5
40
All pieces should have a thickness higher than
5mm, especially D.1 and D.3, which should be thick
enough to resist heavy forces.

70

70
25
20

15 Ø Ø Ø
20 15
70

65 80
22 22 22 16
24
5
D.1 x2 D.2 x2

20
Ø
145
40 20
Ø
145 12 Ø
25
90 20
0 150 30 300
15 15
290
0 150
15

D.3 x2 D.4 x4

300
19

0 140 2
300 15 10

0 140 2
15 10

D.5 x1

20
Ø
19

196
2
10

45
Ø
20
Ø

35
 26
20 20 20

20
E_Lid
Ø
300 Ø Ø

19
19

19
196 196will automatically close with
This part, if well built, 196
140 0 2 140
2 15 0 2
10 1
the movement of the lever. It shall then be resistant1 0
enough
130° to bare hundreds and thousands of hits.

E.1 x1 E.2 x1

45
Ø
20
Ø
45
Ø
2

0 35 64
16 0
0 64
16

E.3 x2 E.4 x1 E.5 x1 E.6 x1

25 20
Ø
104 16 16 16
104 Ø Ø 104 Ø
46 45
14 8 14 14
8 2 2 8 2

45 Ø

20 Ø

Ø
35

46
Assemblage
Once you have faithfully reproduced the various elements that conform the
machine you will be able to start the assembling process detailed in the following
pages.

Dotted lines represent, schematically, the assembling movements and

assembling positions whilst grey ones indicate where the different pieces should
be welded. All measures are in millimeters (mm).

ALL PIECES MUST BE METICULOUSLY ASSEMBLED IN ORDER TO ASSURE THE

CORRECT FUNCTIONING OF THE MACHINE
1. Structure

820 310
735

40

40
80 40

1 Assemble pieces A.3 and A.4 as shown. 2 Make sure vertical elements (A.2) are
Take special care assuring that the resulting completely vertical and situated in the marked
element is completely straight and has no places. This is important to guarantee the
imperfections, describing a perfect rectangle. stability of the machine whilst in use.

467
505
4

159
30
0 9
3 15 51 15
50 0 9
205 15 4
9 15
0
15
9

Pay attention to how the pieces are disposed.

(The longer surfaces are meant to be in the
outer part of the rectangle). 11
0

20
Ø
5
28
31
00
12 5 20
Ø
25 67
5
40
Ø
20 Ø
40 20

40

NOTE: Make sure the finishing of

40 20
Ø
145

the coronation is smooth without

290
any sharp edges. This is very 15
0 150
15
0

important, otherwise the lid won’t

close correctly and could decrease
the bricks stability.
 3 Weld pieces A.6 and A.7 making
sure they describe a 90º angle. Do
that twice.

30

30
4 Weld piece conformed in
previous step to set of pieces
conformed in step 1.
398
14

NOTE: To assure the process is completed

correctly until now, make sure the surface
of all the pieces are completely in contact
with each other.
 5 Assemble the pieces A.5, A.8 and A.9
as shown, ensuring the resulting piece is
symmetrical.

3a 3b

36

6 Join piece assembled in the

step 3 with the structure. Weld
it symmetrically, ensuring the
opening of the lid afterwards.

36
2. Soil Hopper This element of the machine is very important if you
wish to optimize your production rate. It increases
considerably the process of reloading the mould
generated within the structure. It reduces both effort
and time during the brick conformation process.
467
505

159
30
0 9
3 15 51
50 0
205 15
9

00
12 5
25

Ø
20
40

40

1 Assemble the soil tank making 2 Be careful to reproduce this element

sure the bottom hole has the same faithfully by assuring all faces within the
measures as the soil deposit assembled poligon are parallel.
in the structure.

10 10
0 0

B.8

50 50

40 20
Ø
145

100 290
B.8 15
0 150

100

3 Pay attention to the order in which 4 Make sure piece B.7 has a thickness of
elements are welded. Pieces B.8 shall between 2.5mm / 5mm and assemble
go first. it ensuring it will resist heavy weight.
 36
36

5 Weld piece B.10 in the middle point 6 Weld pieces reproduced on previous
of piece B.11. Do this twice. step with B.4. Make sure to keep the
orientation described on images.

7 Join these two parts. Make sure 8 Do not weld. Just place on top.
the welding is done on the edges that
won’t be in contact with the soil.
15
0
 36

9 Place the soil tank on top of the

tray so that it fits right on top of the
rectangular hole. But do not weld it!
Make sure you lift the tank about 2mm
before taking the next step.

10 Weld pieces B.12 to soil tank and

screw them to the base you prepared
in step 4, as shown in the detail.

NOTE: Make sure you leave the tray

unwelded so it can maintain its required
freedom.
3. Lever Make sure the vertical elements are situated in the correct
places and that they are perfectly parallel and vertical. If
this elements aren’t properly positioned it will limit the
machine’s performance by not letting the piston move up 11
0

and down resulting in the machine not functioning at all.

Ø Ø
5 20 20
28
0
31
00
12 5 2 0Ø 350
25 67
5
40
Ø
20 Ø
40 20

40

100

1 Weld pieces C.2 on piece C.4.

40 20
Ø Weld C.13 too, in the middle of C.4.
145

290
0 150 0
15 15

45
Ø
20
Ø

350

0 64
16

2 Introduce C.7 inside of C.8 and weld 3 Assemble it all using both C.11 rods,
rod to rest of pieces making sure to ensuring the rotation between the two
let enough space for this piece to fit parts. Don’t forget adding the pieces
properly with the rest of the lever as C.9 and C.12 too!
shown on step 3.
4 The handlebar is one of the most
vulnerable parts of the lever so it should
be assembled with care.

4a Weld piece C.10

at the bottom.

4b Weld piece C.6 at

the distance shown.
15

15
0

4c
30 30

Weld piece C.12

as shown.
14

14
1

NOTE: Distances must be respected as if it

isn’t built properly the machine won’t work at
its best and some elements might not even
work at all.
5 Weld the rod C.5 to the
lever C.1 so that they rotate
together.
NOTE: Reinforce this union, since it is the one
that will bare most of the forces. The example
shown is just one of the many ways you can
do that. The stronger you make it, the less
problems you will have afterwards!
 4. Piston Make sure all the different parts of the element are
faithfully reproduced and polished before being
0
assembled together. You are about to start probably 4the
most critical stage of the process so be warned to follow
the instructions with extra care. The most delicate step is

ISTÓ
ensuring all opposite sides are parallel to each other. 290

MP020400)

1 Join pieces D.1 (x2) with D.2 (x2) and

put piece D.3 on top. Welding shall be
done in the interior of the resulting box.
Be careful and take note that holes must
be aligned so rods can be put through.

NOTE: This element will be in contact

with the structure of the machine so it
has to be very carefuly cut and assembled
with all the edges describing perfect
perpendicular angles.

APA
MP020500)
2 Weld all four D.4 pieces to the
remaining D.3 piece.

28

40

95
28
 28

28
8

ESCALA x2 ORIGINAL

3 Basically weld these pieces aligned. 28

Follow the measures if needed. 8

28
8

10

10

ESCALA x2 ORIGINAL

4 Do not pass the D.5 rod through

yet! You will do that when assembling
the whole machine.
8

28
8
 28

5. Lid Make sure all the different parts are faithfully

reproduced and polished before being
assembled together. You are about to start
probably the most critical stage of the process 35
so be warned to follow the instructions with
extra care.

1 Join the pieces without welding

them yet.

2 Weld and allow the cylindrical

piece (E.2) to move within its 158
37
position.
64
37
 37

15
0
10

10
30

3
14

Ensure you place E.4 it in the

1

right position and completely

straight.
128
30
64
30

NOTE: If not done properly, lid

won’t open automatically and
will machine will lose some
production rate.

28

28
8

ESCALA x2 ORIGINAL

17
10 4 Weld piece E.6 to rest of the
1lid,
0 ensuring that it will close
well when joined with the rest ESCALA x2 ORIGINAL
of the structure (A).
50
Assembling Now that you have assembled all the different
elements that conform the Sophie press it is time to
put them all together in order to be done with the
process. The hard work is almost done so take care
during the following steps as they are still important
for the machine to function.

1 Weld the pieces assuring

the hopper is leveled with the
structure’s coronation and than
the tray will easily move back and
forth.

2 Place the lid on the structure.

Make sure it closes properly and
then pass the rod through.
 285
3 Open the lid and insert the
piston inside the structure. To
stop the piston from moving
far too down, weld a metal
chip around all 4 corners of the
structure as shown in detail.

285

4 Close the lid and carefully

introduce the lever in the
position shown and pass the rod
through afterwards ensuring its
rotation.
285
 Enjoy your Sophie press!

NOTE: Before adding any sand, make

sure all sliding and rotating elements are
greased and check if the machine moves
correctly. If any of the movements shows
some difficulties, check the machine
manuals to find the error.

If problems persist, do not hesitate to

contact us on our website.

www.beteze.org