hydraulic circuit

[Rgillard]

well,

I have a double acting hydraulic cylinder off a massey ferguson 80 front end loader. I want to use it to build a stick splitting machine. what sort of circuit will i need .i.e what size pump ,engine and how big a resevoir will i need. Im fairly new to this crack so any help at all would be very appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Gilly

 

[JerryG]

I guess that you are wanting to build a wood splitter? The ram off of the loader will not be large enough, in diameter to supply enough power to split wood.

 

[khd]

4 x 24 cylinder, 11 gpm pump and a 5.5 hp motor will give about a 20k splitter. 5 gal tank will give enough to keep the fluid cool.

Good luck,
Kevin

 

[Rgillard]

Well what I am actually splitting is the timber off pallets. I cut the pallets up with a chainsaw and want to split each lat into 4 or 5 thin sections,we use them to light fires and currently i am splitting them with a hatchet but its just a pain in the swiss roll.Its the tilting ram off the loader i think its about 40 x 2 (rough guess).what sort of force do u think i would need???

 

[JerryG]

If you are just going to be splitting 2x4 boards, your cylinder would be all right. For sections of trees you would need at least a 4" diameter cylinder.

 

[khd]

Go here......some real useful hydro calculators and information.

hydro info

 

[SPIKER]

to split that pallet lumber you wouldn't need much extra force. that cylinder will work well, a small hyd pump will be good something like a 3~4 gpm will be fine on a 3~4hp engine, with a small 1/2 npt valve, you will need an open center valve and the tank. tank of 3+ gallons will be plenty... enough 3/8" hose to run from the valve to the cylinder and some 1/2" hose feeding the pump to resiviour and to the valve to resivour return line should be 1/2" too. get a return line filter too if you plan on keeping the system running smoothly for years.

NOW if you already have a log splitter then you can run it from that one by buying soem QD fittings and simply shanging the cylinder from one to the other. and use the same frame work... just a thought.

Mark M /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Rgillard]

thanks guys its unreal how helpful this website is.. I was just wondering if you's would know what type of machine to get a pump of this kind from or where u would pick it up cheap. Being a student means that the cash is pretty tight and Im going to try keep the cost of it down as much as possible. thanks for all the advise.

Gilly.

 

[beenthere]

There are ways to get your hyd. cylinder to work. Old power steering pumps may be something that would work.

However, it sounds like a cheaper way to go would be to get an air cylinder, and use an air compressor to provide the power. I'm thinking of something that would have a short burst of energy (like a strike with a hatchet) and a short stroke. Quicker than oil hydraulics. An air compressor is something you may already have at hand.

One source that I use often is
Surplus Center

 

[Rgillard]

yeah i did think of using pneumatics but I dont think there is enough pressure as the design i am thinking of means pushing the timber through a row of blades which will split it into 3 r 4 different strips.. Im not even sure whether the cylinder i have will be up for it or even if the timber will just jam in the blades but there is only one way to find out.also i have an engine to run the pump. Does anyone have any idea of what sort of money a 3-4 GPM pump would cost and would it be difficult to couple to the engine?