Skid Steer adapter plate build w/ boom pole

[suncoast]

Larry! Another epic. As I told you before, you don't do projects, you go on adventures. Who else would find a vehicle buried in the brush and use part of it, or end up running a plasma torch. (Just by chance the guy quit when you were there and just when you needed something and you of course could MacGyver the day for another customer).

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

did you guys buy used plasma cams?

those are pretty nice, they send their brochure though about 3 times a year and i can see a lot of possibilities ........

 

[GuglioLS]

Larry! Another epic. As I told you before, you don't do projects, you go on adventures. Who else would find a vehicle buried in the brush and use part of it, or end up running a plasma torch. (Just by chance the guy quit when you were there and just when you needed something and you of course could MacGyver the day for another customer).

Hi Glen,
HaHaHa sounding too good to be true? I guess I'm really lucky and should count my blessings. Long time no here, hoes your palm tree farm going? Did you get a chance to use that metal bending anvil?

The Plasma cutting luck out? I have always been fascinated and amazed whenever I saw it in action. Whenever visiting that shop to get "stuff" I would hang out with the plasma cutter dude to pick his brain and watch over his shoulder, he was really good at drawing and operating that thing. Now after some stick time of my own, I have a true appreciation for what it takes to turn out quality plasma cut parts, especially art-work. The owner is more of an artesian, whereas I am more of a functional parts freak. She wants plasma cut artwork, I on the other hand are not geared toward that artsy fartsy crafty stuff. So there is a bit of a clash. On wise days I bite my tong to keep quite. Now I understand why my plasma cutting buddy quit!

A plasma cut Rose was needed for a sign "Rose Springs Timber" It took me all day to draw a simple rose, I was humiliated What I wound up doing was downloading a stick outline of a rose flower from the net, converting it to a bitmap, then import into plasma cam then cleaning it up after all that. Can you say "The thrill is gone"?


Attached is that sign. It is 9 feet long and 6 inches wide. The plasma cutting table is 4 feet long so there is another challenge of it's own. Only half the sign could be be cut at a time, placement of the letters had to be such that the space between them wound up at the 4 foot mark. Then rotate the part and the drawing to the other side of the table to complete the letters. After all that, move the part and drawing again to cut the rose flower.

Larry

 

[GuglioLS]

did you guys buy used plasma cams?

those are pretty nice, they send their brochure though about 3 times a year and i can see a lot of possibilities ........

Flathead,

I do not own the plasma cam.
I'm just an innocent bystander who got roped into trying to figure out how to operate it. The operator who worked for my metal supplier one day up and quit. I showed up needed some plasma cut parts for a FEL upgrade project and was given permission to give it a try. Now I cut parts in my spare time in trade for metal or plasma cut parts of my own. This particular table is 3 years old, was heavily used for commercial work and is now just about worn past it's limits. Shes looking to trade it in on a 10 foot by 5 foot model, with trade in she's looking at about 9K + shipping just for the new CNC table with motors and electronics. (The Plasma cutters are separate).

Larry

 

[tommu56]

are these plasma machine cnc ends home brewed?

I was thinking of semi automating my wife's quilt machine.
It is a machine on 2 coordinates and I ever though of using plasma actuators system till this thread.

tom

 

[GuglioLS]

Hi Tom,

These are commercially available machines made by an outfit near Denver, CO. It's three axis with the Z axis for height control of the torch.
Just get your wife one of these.

YouTube - High speed Quilting Machine USA

And a couple of these:

YouTube - robo quilter.wmv

Be careful you might not see her again.

Larry

 

[tlbuser]

. After all that, move the part and drawing again to cut the rose flower.[/FONT][/COLOR]

Larry

One thing i may have forgotten, the grid dots represent the actual "points" on the table. As much as possible, you're supposed to rotate the drawing around these points so you don't burn out the table.

 

[wedge40]

Larry could you post a photo or two with the cable installed. I'm having problems visualizing it.

Wedge

 

[GE222]

Nice job on the boom pole. I have been wanting to build one for some time, but I have too many higher priority projects, most of which are NOT mine.

I like all the fab photos as well as some action shots.

Mine will probable be very similar, with the ability to extend or retract it.

 

[GuglioLS]

One thing i may have forgotten, the grid dots represent the actual "points" on the table. As much as possible, you're supposed to rotate the drawing around these points so you don't burn out the table.

TLB,
Exactly - thanks for the tip.
When drawing I show the grid with 1" spacing, when ready to cut I show the table points and do the best fit for the part while at the same time considering waste of material. Many times the material on the table is worth more than the table slats so we try and make the most out of every sheet. Keeping the edge alignment slots in the table slats from getting burned is the highest priority. Doing that allows repeated alignment of new stock and allows using the factory edge of the material for large square or rectangular parts.

Larry

 

[GuglioLS]

Larry could you post a photo or two with the cable installed. I'm having problems visualizing it.

Wedge

Well I suppose so It's gonna cost you an arm and a leg though !

Don't get a Wedgie if I use chain instead of cable alright? After installing all the QA clap trap on my FEL, I found that my come along cable is now too short . So I used a chain instead. I suppose you can see chain better than cable anyway, so that's a good thing right?

Here, Visualize this:
First I had to battle this spider and web, it's been what? two days since I last used the tractor? He got a new home in a nearby tree.






My Personal favorite because the colors are so striking:




Larry

 

[GuglioLS]

Nice job on the boom pole. I have been wanting to build one for some time, but I have too many higher priority projects, most of which are NOT mine.

I like all the fab photos as well as some action shots.

Mine will probable be very similar, with the ability to extend or retract it.

GE,
Thanks for your comment. When you build your boom with that feature it will be more sophisticated for sure . When I have to extend mine I have to drive forward, to retract I go back-wards.

Larry

 

[J_J]

Larry,

Just from my casual observation, I can see potential danger from a chain hook breaking or coming off and coming back at you with a heavy load. I think I would would have done it a little differently, by putting a 12 in support in the middle of the boom, and running the chain from the tip of the boom, on top of the support, and back to the top of the skidsteer plate. Something like this, on the top of the boom.

 

[wedge40]

Thanks for photos.. Now where am I suppose to send that arm and leg. (I've got a buddy who works for the morgue )
I have to agree with JJ. The way it's set up now if you pivot the boom the chain will be get slack. I would have attached the chain/cable to the skid steer mount. A really nice set up though.
I'm guessing the barrel on the front of the tractor is for your hydraulic pump?

Wedge

 

[J_J]

Nice job on the boom pole. I have been wanting to build one for some time, but I have too many higher priority projects, most of which are NOT mine.

I like all the fab photos as well as some action shots.

Mine will probable be very similar, with the ability to extend or retract it.

You mean something like these.

 

[mjncad]

GENIUS!

Larry, that blue sky reminds me of an autumn sky up here in Colorado...my favorite time of the year.

I like the yellow paint for visibility.

 

[mjncad]

Larry:

Where did you get the shackle? I'm noticing the big ones are quite pricey, even for the ones not rated to lifting.

Thanks,

 

[GuglioLS]

Larry:

Where did you get the shackle? I'm noticing the big ones are quite pricey, even for the ones not rated to lifting.
Thanks,

MJ,

I was lucky and found that shackle in a scrap / dump pile out in the middle of nowhere. Sorry I can't steer you towards getting one on the cheap.

Larry

 

[mjncad]

Larry:

You did get lucky finding that one. I was picking up some steel yesterday and the biggest Chinese shackle the surplus place I go to was 1-3/4" at the opening. The price was fine at $15; but I wanted something to go around 2" square tubing. Oh well, I have a work-around in mind.

Yep, you've inspired me to build a boom pole.