SSQA fork build

[Jim Timber]

Does your welder run off single or 3 phase?

Yes. :laughing:

It's old enough they didn't cripple the single phase performance and it's still rated to 425A on 240v/1ph :hot: but the duty cycle is down around 10% where it'd be more like 30 or 40% on 3ph. I think they call it auto-line or some such. When I got it I pulled the pigtail the original owner had (3ph) and ran SOOJ to a 50A plug and never looked back.

I run .035 solid with c25, but I do have a bottle of 98/2 that someday I want to play around with for pulsed spray. I haven't done spray since I had the thermal arc Fabricator 250 before this machine, but I have run pulsed on a similar power supply before (Access 300).

 

[Jim Timber]

What's the benefits of 3 phase welders?

There's 30% more electrical potential with 3ph vs 1ph. So you get more power with less overall current consumption. Similar to how a 1hp motor draws half the amperage on twice the voltage when you hook it up to 240v - only with 3ph, your voltage is still 240, but you have extra power capacity available.

If you don't have 3ph power already, it's not cost effective to bring it in for nearly all circumstances.

Older transformer based 3ph welders might not work at all on single phase, and that's why they're virtually worthless after they're removed from industrial service. You need to be sure a welder you get can be run on single phase if you're going to try to buy one.

 

[joefromga]

I have 3ph service. It's 208y. I was just curious as to what the benefits were but I see that you get less current - per leg - which gives you a better duty cycle and if course smaller ga wire if you need to add receptacles or cords.

Maybe I should hunt for a used 3ph welder since I won't be using it anywhere else. I have a small mig /fcaw for that.

 

[Jim Timber]

I wish I could get 3ph! There's a TON of used machines out there that most people have trouble giving away because they don't know how to power them. Welders, grinders, mills, lathes - lots of stuff with motors too big to run off a phase converter for less than the price of a decent car - so it goes for scrap price. It's tragic.

 

[Mysfyt]

I'm really curios too what the finished set of forks weigh, looks like the specs show about 855 lbs at 19.6" from the pins. May just be a good reason to upgrade the tractor to match the forks. Very nice work.

I do like the way you think, country!

 

[Mysfyt]

Like this:

View attachment 454284

I changed the design from the two cylinder to the single with chains that will synchronize the forks. Along the same as your idea with the cable and pulleys.

 

[4570Man]

Do you think it would have been better to use a flat bar at the top like a real forklift instead of the round bar?

 

[Mysfyt]

Do you think it would have been better to use a flat bar at the top like a real forklift instead of the round bar?

View attachment 454333

I looked at a forklift with adjustable forks, and they had a substructure that was guided by 'V' strips that I guess were some sort of bearing material, maybe bronze. The upper flat bar is there but the fork doesn't rest on it until a load is applied. I did see a huge forklift on a construction site that was using the round bar and an Acme screw system for adjustment. I'm just trying to keep it as simple as possible. I figure if the hydraulic adjust is a total flop, disconnect the cylinder and do it by hand and chalk it up as a loss. In the mean time, I'm having a blast building this thing.

 

[joefromga]

You can also use electric 12v actuators instead of hydraulic. They are cheaper but still strong and you could have 2 of them with a 2 way switch for easy use.

 

[Mysfyt]

You can also use electric 12v actuators instead of hydraulic. They are cheaper but still strong and you could have 2 of them with a 2 way switch for easy use.

View attachment 454336

Not a bad idea. I always wanted to build something using those.