BX25 GrappleOmatic

[jim_wilson]

Alot of members here have done their systems buying from Surplus Center.... a site sponsor.

I was actually searching thru Surplus Center's site the other day - I didn't see the Fasse stuff anywhere in there.

 

[jim_wilson]

I was able to get my valve directly from Fasse. They were willing to do it as I "didn't have a dealer" in my area. Beats me if that is true, but many of these places need to come up with a way to sell direct better than through dealers for these kinds of things that are never stocked.

My valve, switch to put on the joystick and a few minor fittings were $350, direct.

Thanks - that at least gives me some idea of the price range.

 

[dstig1]

Mind you, I got a diverter which is one of several ways to skin this cat. Some run a separate system, some run off rear remotes, etc... Mine diverts the Curl/dump circuit to the grapple open/close circuit when the button is pressed.

I think the surplus center comment was about using general components from there, not Fasse.

 

[Ductape]

I was actually searching thru Surplus Center's site the other day - I didn't see the Fasse stuff anywhere in there.

Not Fasse brand, but equivalent.

Surplus Center - 12 VDC 10 GPM OC DA SOLENOID VALVE

Surplus Center - 1 STATION DO3 SUBPLATE OPEN CENTER

Surplus Center - HIRSCHMANN CONNECTOR

 

[Artisan]

I didn't look at all of ductapes links but what I had found that really sets the
Fasse apart from the others is all 4 outlet ports on the Fasse are all on
one face of the valve, not on 2 different faces as in most other valves
I saw. It really makes for a nice clean install...

Want to buy a Fasse? Call 308-233-3039 and ask for Kurt, tell him you want
a set up for a BX25 like Artisans GrappleOmatic...

 

[dstig1]

I dunno. I think coming out the side works just fine. Here is the shot of mine from above. Inputs on left, outputs on right and top. It would get a bit crowded all on one side, methinks. It was hard enough to get wrenches in there as it was...

BTW the valve is just a Bosch valve. Fasse is doing nothing there other than acting as a dealer for Bosch there. What they added to mine was the wiring harness and switch, and getting that all assembled together and neatly bundled with the right connectors and such. No complaints, but I probably could have picked up the valve and switch components on my own had I known better at the time.

 

[jim_wilson]

Artisan,

Somewhere in this thread ( can't find the post right now) - you mentioned that you learned some CAD software and had found a metal house you could send the drawings out to - to have stuff cut.

I'm curious what CAD program you used (was it easy?) - and also what info you had on places where drawings can be sent to have pieces cut out.

 

[Artisan]

Jim I am now recommending folks get SHETCH-UP, it, I believe, is made by
the folks at Google and it is FREE. Do not be fooled, it is POWERFUL.

If you attend college with your College ID you can buy a seat into Solidworks or AutoCAD. I used AutoCAD myself.

You can send your drawings for cutting and pricing to;

Monrovia WaterJet
Attn: John Thompson
john.thomson@carousel-usa.com

His pricing is more than fair.

You must be sure you specify the material needed and thickness and quantities.

 

[jim_wilson]

Jim I am now recommending folks get SHETCH-UP, it, I believe, is made by
the folks at Google and it is FREE. Do not be fooled, it is POWERFUL.

If you attend college with your College ID you can buy a seat into Solidworks or AutoCAD. I used AutoCAD myself.

You can send your drawings for cutting and pricing to;

Monrovia WaterJet
Attn: John Thompson
john.thomson@carousel-usa.com

His pricing is more than fair.

You must be sure you specify the material needed and thickness and quantities.

Thanks for the info Artisan.

I've downloaded Google's SketchUp and been playing with it - but I think I have a steep learning curve ahead of me.

What kind of drawing are these water cutting services going to be looking for? Just a very basic 1 dimensional SketchUp drawing with the dimensions and a note about what material to use and what thickness? Or are they looking for a "real" CAD drawing they can just plug into their machine and churn out parts?

I've got some ideas for a few things I would like to build - and I've toyed in the past with the idea of getting a plasma cutting table - but it's just not in the cards at the moment. For right now I think I just need to get a better handle on what I need to learn to do - to be able to give some of these cutting services sufficient drawings that I can get some parts made.

 

[Artisan]

You should contact the jetter you want to use and ask what they want.
I am not sure what SketchUp's default file save extension is, no matter
I bet there is a convertor. I "think" they look for .DXF & .DWG files.

Look into tutorials on UTube perhaps.