MODIFY BRUSH HOG SOME MORE

[3RRL]

Hi Larry,
Of course I don't mind. With your kind offer to have the parts plasma cut, I was able to design some free shapes that fit the linkage much better. As you saw before your offer, I had the linkage made out of 2" x 4" steel tubing. It would have worked but would be awful bulky and not nearly as nice looking as plasma cut parts will be. I will show you what the brackets and linkage will look like now with the plasma cut parts.



The reason I did not opt for the plasma cut parts in the first place was to build with only materials I had. This was driven by my desire for keeping the cost down to a minimum. But with your kind offer, it's allowed me come up with a much nicer looking linkage.
Thanks Larry
(I guess I will be in debt to you again)

Oh and those fastners ...hahaha... I think I've made some of those when I used to drink.

 

[GuglioLS]

Rob the new design looks good. No doubt you can be more creative and use more of your imagination when getting parts plasma cut.

Rob called last night, he said there is no rush to get the parts, but that if somehow I could get them soon he would really appreciate it. I got the feeling he needed something to do other than golfing all day everyday so I chanced going to the plasma cutter shop a day early. I figured I better get something to bribe the plasma cutting crew, so a quick stop to Krispy Kream was in order. Amazing how far a donut will go for a friend in need.
After I showed up with the goodies they took a little break, then got right to work. This is the Crew, The gal in the center is the owner of the metal shop that I frequent to get everything for all my projects.



First was to copy & paste Robs parts then duplicate the multiple quantities, then lay out everything for best fit on the 3/8 plate.

Here is the layout with all the parts ready to cut:


Larry

 

[GuglioLS]

Here are a couple videos cutting out the parts:

Larry

 

[GuglioLS]

Two More Videos:



Larry

 

[GuglioLS]

Here are the wheel brackets and a picture of overall progress. The cutter is working great the edges are crisp & clean:
Wheel Bracket: Overall progress
Larry

 

[GuglioLS]

Total cutting time was 33 minutes, not bad, I wonder how long it took Rob to draw these? I know it took me longer to pack them up for shipping to Rob than it did to cut them out.
Here are all the finished parts ready to be packed and shipped. I had to let them cool off, But most were still a little warm when packed up.
They look just like Rob's drawing:......

Here is the negative: 48" x 21" -




Rob,
You should be getting them on Monday. Thanks for the opportunity to let me do this little favor for you, it was my pleasure.

Larry

 

[3RRL]

GEEZ Larry,
I had no idea you were going to get those guys to do that today. I thought you said they were busier than heck so I assumed I'd have to wait at least a week or so. Man, you are something else. Hey, now I know how Ken must feel!
I guess that means you already packaged them up and got it under way too?

I'll be busy next week boring out all those holes for the pins and bushing I'm putting in the pivots. My goal is to get this stuff ready for our vacation up at the property starting the 24th of September. With all that steel here, all I need is the hydraulic stuff and I'll be ready to go. I've still got some machining for the other parts, but I'm hoping to do the final assembly up there.

Those pictures and videos are just awesome.
Thank you for getting all that done and shipped already!

 

[MJPetersen]

Larry, thanks for the videos. I have heard LOTS about Plasma, but have never seen one in action. Now I have! That makes really nice clean parts, and FAST!

Rob, What program do you use to make your sketches and then the parts layout? I really like the way your plans come to fruition.

Mike

 

[GuglioLS]

I had no idea you were going to get those guys to do that today. I thought you said they were busier than heck....

I had no idea it was going to happen today either. I took a chance, and headed over there with a 12 pack of Krispy Kream donuts. Seems to work wonders in many situations. I told them I wanted to bribe them to put your job ahead in line and they said, OK. So that was that and it got done ahead of schedule. Now this frees up my Saturday for mowing, wood cutting, chipping, and 360* rotating back-blading for Renze, AND a machining project for another TBN member - DullPain. Whew, my only hope is I find something to do that afternoon.

Rob,
They shipped out today, I'll e-mail you the tracking#'s

Larry

 

[GuglioLS]

Larry, thanks for the videos. I have heard LOTS about Plasma, but have never seen one in action. Now I have! That makes really nice clean parts, and FAST!.....snip.......Mike

Mike,

Thanks - the videos are pretty cool, I only wish my camera had sound and a little better resolution. You should hear the noise the plasma cutter and all those flames make.

Like you, I was impressed the first time I saw this in action when making my grapple jaws. I never realized just how precise and reproducible those cutters are. Believe it or not, plasma cutters have already been out dated by laser cutters and high pressure water jet cutters. They can hold even tighter tolerances, and make the Plasma cutter look stone age by comparison.

Larry