linear actuator ?'s to make pallet forks adjustable

[disney]

It seems I am constantly adjusting my forks in and out. Was going to go hydraulic (fast, strong, and maybe less $) but linear motors should be much easier to independently adjust, and should be easier to hook up an electrical connector instead of dealing with hydraulics. Was trying not to spend a fortune, (aren't we all) but I need some speed (at least half inch a sec, or about that..some cheap ones are as slow as 3mm/s) and would like approx 500lb lb pull strength. The next requirement is the motor should be parallel with the shaft (this eliminates a # of actuators), and would like the motor end fitting to not be the kind the is held in place by four screws (neighbor had powered recliner, and that would break the screws/damage the motor housing about every 12-18 months) I know of surplus, and zoro/grainger, and know northern tool has some that would work, but wondering if anyone knows of any other good places to buy. Flea bay does not seem to help because above requirements seem to eliminate all the very cheap options. Thanks in advance.

 

[jdom84]

It seems I am constantly adjusting my forks in and out. Was going to go hydraulic (fast, strong, and maybe less $) but linear motors should be much easier to independently adjust, and should be easier to hook up an electrical connector instead of dealing with hydraulics. Was trying not to spend a fortune, (aren't we all) but I need some speed (at least half inch a sec, or about that..some cheap ones are as slow as 3mm/s) and would like approx 500lb lb pull strength. The next requirement is the motor should be parallel with the shaft (this eliminates a # of actuators), and would like the motor end fitting to not be the kind the is held in place by four screws (neighbor had powered recliner, and that would break the screws/damage the motor housing about every 12-18 months) I know of surplus, and zoro/grainger, and know northern tool has some that would work, but wondering if anyone knows of any other good places to buy. Flea bay does not seem to help because above requirements seem to eliminate all the very cheap options. Thanks in advance.

I have a bunch of these actuators rated at 900#, I don't think they are strong enough to hold the forks in place when you accidentally bump into something. If you have a way to lock the forks once they are moved, they could work. I worked in a warehouse driving all different types of forklifts for a few years... jumping off and changing the fork position was just part of the job.

Good idea though

 

[disney]

Good point, but depending upon what I bump into, I might be more worried about the 'bumped' item. I have never actually 'locked' the spring loaded tab on my forks, and they dont seem to move, but then I do not drive like the crazy fork lift drivers on youtube videos. I have considered paying more to get a ball screw design, and just removing the braking function from it, that way if a fork wants to move some, it should be able to. I may just try this idea with one actuator/fork, and if it is still working after a year add the other one.

Being as these are tractor forks, used outside, I doubt they slide anywhere near as easy as they would on a fork lift that is used daily inside a warehouse.

 

[Fallon]

I built a power SSQA with linear actuators... For adjusting forks they are going to be way to weak & fradgile. Slow as well. You can get some that are stronger, but at that point, hydraulics would be cheaper & WAY faster.

 

[disney]

I built a power SSQA with linear actuators... For adjusting forks they are going to be way to weak & fradgile. Slow as well. You can get some that are stronger, but at that point, hydraulics would be cheaper & WAY faster.

Hydraulics might be cheaper, but by the time you add: the many (likely) custom length hoses, f/f couplers, and either manual, or electronic solenoid valve (to be able to adjust one fork/cylinder separately than the other, tee's, elbows, and fittings, to the cost of the cylinders; i'm not sure it would be much cheaper.

Too fast could be an issue also.

Hydraulic would also require me to shut the tractor off to connect the lines every time I hooked up to forks after dropping bucket. And then I still might end up fighting the darn connectors.

'real' actuators (that have motors that draw 20+ amps) are often faster than 1/2" per second fully loaded, and about an inch/sec under no/light load. So going from max out to max in w/12" stroke actuator would be max of only 24 seconds, quicker than I can get off the tractor, unless an angry swarm of bees are after me. 'Real' actuators seem to have the same push/pull ratings instead of weaker pull/stronger push ratings. Surplus has 500lb 12+ stroke units for lower end of $200's and 1000lb units for just under 300$, All I would need would be two switches, some wire and fuses (all of which I have) So unless I went crazy and got a programmable controller with memory positions; i'm in for mid fours to low 600's for the pair, Half that for a Single fork.

Before I threw it out, I took one of my neighbors broken actuators rated for more than 300lbs, but can remember by how much, and it did not seem to have an issue pushing the forks out.

 

[disney]

I do want to tip my hat to you, Fallon for your ssqa actuator job. I wish I could do that, but my lever design is completely different, and not conducive to adapting to a powered option. I am truly envious.

 

[Industrial Toys]

View attachment 535776

I bought these positioning forks from a scrapped lift truck. Cheap! I could not have even started to build anything for that money. My moto: Never build something you can buy better and cheaper. They are awesome! I even use them to pinch things like stumps but probably shouldn't. I agree, an electric actuator probably isn't up to the task.

 

[disney]

View attachment 535776 View attachment 535777

I bought these positioning forks from a scrapped lift truck. Cheap! I could not have even started to build anything for that money. My moto: Never build something you can buy better and cheaper.

Ill agree, but unless you want to sell them to me (cheap), I'm just not lucky enough to find a deal like that.

 

[Industrial Toys]

You just have to look and sometimes not be in a hurry. A lot of awesome stuff out there just not on Amazon! lol

 

[Villengineer]

Hydraulics might be cheaper, but by the time you add: the many (likely) custom length hoses, f/f couplers, and either manual, or electronic solenoid valve (to be able to adjust one fork/cylinder separately than the other, tee's, elbows, and fittings, to the cost of the cylinders; i'm not sure it would be much cheaper.

Too fast could be an issue also.

Hydraulic would also require me to shut the tractor off to connect the lines every time I hooked up to forks after dropping bucket. And then I still might end up fighting the darn connectors.

'real' actuators (that have motors that draw 20+ amps) are often faster than 1/2" per second fully loaded, and about an inch/sec under no/light load. So going from max out to max in w/12" stroke actuator would be max of only 24 seconds, quicker than I can get off the tractor, unless an angry swarm of bees are after me. 'Real' actuators seem to have the same push/pull ratings instead of weaker pull/stronger push ratings. Surplus has 500lb 12+ stroke units for lower end of $200's and 1000lb units for just under 300$, All I would need would be two switches, some wire and fuses (all of which I have) So unless I went crazy and got a programmable controller with memory positions; i'm in for mid fours to low 600's for the pair, Half that for a Single fork.

Before I threw it out, I took one of my neighbors broken actuators rated for more than 300lbs, but can remember by how much, and it did not seem to have an issue pushing the forks out.

I work in the industry and we've never been able to get linear actuators, or for that matter similar actuators using hydraulic motors, to last. If you hardly ever use them, you might be OK. Cylinders are a very efficient method to move forks and can take a lot more abuse than most linear actuators.

 

[MossRoad]

Couldn't hurt to call around to some forklift repair/sales companies in your area and ask.

As for hooking it up, with either hydraulic or electric, you're sill going to have to get off and connect or disconnect either two hydraulic quick connects or a wire plug. And I'll guess the wires/plug will get damaged or break before the hydraulic quick connects and hoses do.

You could get a 10" or 12" stroke cylinder for under a hundred bucks. Put two of them opposing and get 20-24" of adjustment if needed for under two hundred. Some hoses, fittings and a manual selector valve at the operators station (or cough up some more money for electric selector valve) and you'd be looking at $3-400-500+

Unless you have health issues, or just plain need it because it happens so often, for that kind of money, I'd either get off the machine and adjust them manually, or, just continue to leave your latches unhooked as you mentioned, and practice bumping things like a tree to move the forks in our out. Don't know how hard it would be to do on your machine, as mine's articulated, and I can swing the forks 4-5 feet from one side to the other by just turning the wheel without driving forward or backwards.

Good luck in your search. Maybe get a cheap actuator out of a car seat at a junk yard to practice on?

 

[bdhsfz6]

I'm spending your money here but if you have hydraulics available, you might be better off going for something like this:

Titan Adjustable Hydraulic Skid Steer Pallet Fork Frame

You can always piecemeal the parts and cobble something together but what is your time worth? If you did go electric, wouldn't you still have to get off the machine to connect the actuators?

 

[mopardude318]

I, for one, would also like hydraulic adjustable tines. If I hadn't already spent the $1000 bucks for my current forks, I would have ponied up the $1500 for the hydraulic adjustable forks...

 

[mikester]

Go hydraulic. Avoid the hydraulic motor and chain drive style fork positioners unless you like replacing sheared key way keys.