FEL Grapple from Scratch W/ Lots-O-Pics

[GuglioLS]

Hi Bill,

Thanks for asking -

How many amp is that plasma cutter? Clean cut in 1/2" And what did the lightning fry?

Up to 55 amps, think they had it set on 45 for the 1/2" plate. ~40 amp for the 3/8" & ~35 for the 1/4". In the Plasma cutter, The lightning fried 2 high current diodes & a variable resistor (the one that sets the current). In the computer that controls the X-Y-Z table the power supply was totaly cooked.



As a bonus to further enhance this thread, I took a few video clips of the plasma cutter in action. This one is cutting the outline of a jaw:




In this clip, the last cut is completed, the torch raises and the table goes to the home position so we could remove the work piece and tap out all the parts:



I need to cut a few more basic parts out in my home shop on the band saw, then bore out a few holes on the plasma cut parts so as to get a little closer tolerance. Other than that, assembly, clamping and test fitting should be pretty straight forward.

So what does everyone think so far?

That's all for now, I'll post a little more later after I get some machining done.

Larry

 

[Ductape]

Since i know he will read this thread, i'm formally insisting Rob fly east to New Hampshire for a visit. Larry, you are welcome to come along too !!!!

 

[GuglioLS]

Since i know he will read this thread, I'm formally insisting Rob fly east to New Hampshire for a visit. Larry, you are welcome to come along too !!!!

Ductape - Yep, Rob (3RRL) will catch up on this soon, Right now He's up at his three rivers camp checking out his new home build & installing chain guards on his rotary cutter. I imagine we should hear from him late Sunday evening. I appreciate the invite to tag along with him to visit you, it would be a lot of fun. When are you going to buy us the tickets?

Larry

 

[curly]

Wow, that is so cool.

 

[glmf]

Nice job, keep us posted on your project please. If Rob makes a visit to New Hampshire, I am just across the way in Maine and feel a visit to Vacationland is in order! Thanks for the posts

 

[shaley]

I've got a couple of extra switch housing left over if you want one. I'ts just 1x1x0.070 tube cut and folded and welded and zinc palted. I needed a switch I could use with work gloves on. I don't have any of the PB switches but they are available from ITW about 5.00/ea.

 

[Ductape]

Ductape - Yep, Rob (3RRL) will catch up on this soon, Right now He's up at his three rivers camp checking out his new home build & installing chain guards on his rotary cutter. I imagine we should hear from him late Sunday evening. I appreciate the invite to tag along with him to visit you, it would be a lot of fun. When are you going to buy us the tickets?

Larry

Larry,
I have been saving up change in a big jar for a special occaision..... this may be it ! All that knowledge and ingenuity (myself excluded) in one room, i'm not sure my house could contain it. Airfare would be a bargain for that. In fact, i'd throw in a lobster dinner (perhaps that would be the trip to Maine?). We can start with a grapple for my tractor.... but there are plenty of other projects i could come up with when you two get bored. I can see by reading threads by both of you that niether of you sits still for long ! Looking forward to more pics of your grapple project.... BTW, if that plasma were mine, i'd have gladly cut your steel for free !


Scott

 

[GuglioLS]

Steve (shaley),

Thats a mighty fine switch assembly you fabricated. Thanks for the generous offer. I ordered that two button joystick handle on page one of this thread, so I should be all set. Thank you much!

Scott (Ductape):

I have been saving up change in a big jar for a special occaision.......

HaHaHa - I hope it's a really BIG jar! LOL, a Maine Lobster dinner sounds mighty fine too.

Larry

 

[GuglioLS]

Latest progress report:

After stacking similar brackets four at a time, I went through them with a 1" drill bit. The plasma cuts have a taper, so this had to be done to true up the holes.



After completing the 1" holes, it was time to stack the jaws, then index them to center. The holes in the jaws are 1.5" dia so that a piece of 1.0" ID x 1.5" OD, DOM - Drawn Over Mandrel (seamless tubing) can be inserted then welded in place. This is a feature that Rob engineered into the jaw hinges to improve strength.




The 1.5" holes in the jaws will be bored out with a ....boring bar. I've never done this before, I consulted Rob about this he said to "index" on the center - whatever that means, then go as slow as possible, so here goes:



Well not too bad they came out all right and nothing broke, so I guess I done good?



It took several passes, increasing the cut diameter a little at a time for each cut till I got close to test fit the DOM:



It fits, I was hoping for a press fit but will have to settle for a slip fit. Not a problem as I have an idea how to clamp them into position for welding.



Larry

 

[GuglioLS]

Next was to cut two pieces of 2" x 2" x 1/4" wall square tubing @ 24" long to span the jaws for support & to attach the cylinder clevis brackets:



Then I needed two pieces of DOM seamless tubing @ 2.395" long for the jaws. Turns out the 3/8" plate is really .395 think vs a nominal .375 so that's cool, the plate is thicker and a little stronger.




After finishing the DOM band saw cuts it was time to insert them into the jaw, clamp then weld. I made the DOM 2.395 long - this was a variation from the Rob's design - I cleared it with him so it's OK. I did this because I knew I had to clamp that DOM and wanted it to be good a square to the surface of the Jaw plates.
Since the plate is .395 thick I went with 2.395 on the DOM that way there was exactly 1" of DOM protrusion on either side of the Jaw which made it very easy to clamp.



I used 1" thick scrap on the both sides of the DOM and some 1/4" scrap to span the face of the DOM like this to make it perfectly square for welding into position:




Larry

After welding, they came nice and square:



I test fit the jaws to see how the brackets are going to work out:



Not to shabby, in fact perfect fit, Between Rob's great design and the decent plasma cuts, It's actually going to work out quite nice




Larry