my normal design process, is to see what is out there, look at pictures and videos, see what features I think I need and what makes it work
many of my builds I have never been around a working machine,
on this I had originally considered a different tilt system, it would have been more complication and most likely weaker, and limited the extending mast idea,
I had actually bought or accumulated most of the materials when I saw the design, I went with my sliding one of the lower three point arms, for side tilt and the top link adjustable, (most top links are adjustable manually), and had considered using manual adjustments for the tilt sides to side and tilt back and forth, but got figuring if one was having to manually adjust, if I had hired help the chances of it being adjusted would most likely be minimal, especially if I was not helping, and at first I did not figure that it would not be much of an issue as most of my ground is what most would call flat, until I talked to friend who use one, and he made the statement, what ever you do get one that has a good tilt system,
so I altered my design and ordered two more valves and cylinders for the tilt system,
I used through bolt stacked valves, (so if I need to add to it I could, and I did, only losing a bolt kit, in the change,
in this process that helped as I did not have a pivot point that would interfere with the extending mast,
one of the problems one drivers that do not have extending masts is that taller posts still need a hole dug to get them to fit under the driver, so I made the unit so I could get in the shop, and under a few gates that have a wire over the top, and yet could easily drive a 10 foot tall post if wanted,
the weight is about 350 pounds, at one time it was a ripper shank for a old Cat dozer,
I made the cage around the post follower, to help keep ones hand off the impact area, I could see a absent minded moment or if two persons were working, how an accident, cold happen, thus the guard, on the follower.
I usably blend a number of ideas, for my final product, and some times it is drive by what I can find for materials to use,
in this build 60% or more was new, (I have found that getting what you need is many times better than trying to make some thing work just because you have it),
the Hydraulics were bought from surplus center, in Lincoln Nebraska,
the cost of the unit was.. guessing about $16 to $1700. new manufacture would have been $4500 to $7000 depending on manufacturer and features, and that is with out shipping,
About $225 for each hydraulic cylinder used, (valve hoses and cylinder and fitting), there were four cylinders total,
the steel was $600
EBay (pulleys, and nylon rope, and a few other parts) about $125
$900 hydraulics
$600 steel,
$125 other,
$1625 is a close guess,
on the shop, most all the equipment is old, and reasonable wore out,
98% of the welding was done on a old century welder with a external DC conversion unit, I used about 20 pounds od rod on the project, most was 7018, a few beads were done with my portable welder after assembly.
the lathe is a pre WW2, and the Bridgeport is probably the most expensive machine ad I payed about $2500, for it when I bought it, close to 1 years ago at least, it is well worn as well, but more than usable for my needs, (my opinion, if your going to get a mill get a full size machine), I considered the drill mills when I bough mine but glad I got what I got, when I did,
and I am basically self taught on the shop, work, besides some high school shop classes, 40+ years ago, most all has been by trial and error and books,
normally on my "Plans", just a basic over all dimensions are posted, and if there are critical dimensions there posted and then the drawings are usually drawn and reasonably proportional,
I had three basic measurements I need to work with,
One was the spread and height of a category 2 three point,
the second was 10' as that was length of tube I had for the mast,
and third was, the extension cylinder, I bought from surplus center, Diameter and length, (the size of tube it would fit into, and how much extension I could get and then how to make it work, from the height of the weight. and post follower gave me the length of weigh drop I cold get, then the arm to raise the weight was designed, then how much room did I have to make the arm work, the length of cylinder was chosen,
I was happy to find the cylinder I did for the extension, as it had a bottom poet and was mounted near the top, so the mast I made a plate that would let the cylinder go through and a top push plate, and welded the cylinder mount to the mast and then a extension, so if it bottomed out it would not leave the weight on the cylinder, and since that was all enclosed, it should be well protected,
on the extension it self it rides on the mast,
and the weight system is operated by a cylinder, single action, it dumps the oil out to drop, not really much more to tell, if you have any questions I will try to answer,
