Motorized Dirt Soil Screening Machine

[RedDirt]

and then have some sort of screw clamp (like a C-clamp) that would clamp it down tight. This is probably just a dream in the pursuit of a truly "quick change" and "no tools" method to change a screen.

Maybe a cam action clamp or one of the over-the-center lever type clamp would work.

 

[SkunkWerX]

Redirt,
Actually leaving the shocks tubes in would keep it from springing "up" initially, as unloaded shocks are bottomed UP (opposite of bottomed Out). What you are seeing in there is a free floating piece of 1.5" PVC pipe inserted to keep the coils from being too wobbly in a lateral direction.
The shock tube was cut out for the reason you stated. It was like a shockectomoy.

Akpilot, yes the wheels are helpful. But they are way too small. I may try a set of cheapo HarborFreight wheel barrow style wheels later.

Larry,
Great idea! Mine has several holes in it, but I ended up using the "closest" one, so, it defeated further adjustment. I like the slot idea, with a weight that could be moved up and down the slot, to find the sweep spot.

*I need approx. a 5 or 6 inch round disk, 1/4" or 3/8" thickness, anyone???
Maybe with a slot cut in it?

I think a disk with a slot in it would be very nice for adjustments and fine tuning.

 

[GuglioLS]

*I need approx. a 5 or 6 inch round disk, 1/4" or 3/8" thickness, anyone???
Maybe with a slot cut in it?

I think a disk with a slot in it would be very nice for adjustments and fine tuning.

What is the thickness and length of the blunt force trauma "flywheel" that you have now? I am thinking at least a 3/8" thick disk.
What size slot do you need? i.e. what is the diameter of the stud used to bold on the off balance flywheel?

Larry

 

[SkunkWerX]

3/8th" is what it is now, 2" wide, and agree with your thoughts on the disc being similar thickness.

I like "Flywheel -o- Death" as it reminds me of a Medieval spinning torture device. "I'll tell you anything!! Just get that thing away from my face!!"

PM sent.

 

[chickenman]

McMaster-Carr

page 1350

is what i used for flex mounts much easier than springs

its the shake speed not the distance that makes a difference

 

[SkunkWerX]

McMaster-Carr

page 1350

is what i used for flex mounts much easier than springs

its the shake speed not the distance that makes a difference

Thanks Chickenman.
Mine doesn't "move" a lot, in fact, as you look at it, you don't really see it, but place your hand on the screen and you feel it.

 

[GuglioLS]

SkunkWerX

Got your PM - OK here is my version of the flywheel-o-death...



Two 1/4" thick disks with a fancy plasma cutout, bolt the two disks together on the shaft, then rotate one in relation to the other as needed to get the amount of imbalance required. This design requires zero machining. All you would have to do is take the file to a plasma cutter and have them cut out. Do you have a metal shop nearby with a CNC plasma cutter? If not, I could take it to my plasma cutter buddy. This part is only 6" dia and shouldn't cost more than 20 - 30 bucks maybe even less. Will the shaft accommodate a 1/2" thick disk?

Let me know what do you think.

Larry

 

[chickenman]

SkunkWerX

Got your PM - OK here is my version of the flywheel-o-death...



Two 1/4" thick disks with a fancy plasma cutout, bolt the two disks together on the shaft, then rotate one in relation to the other as needed to get the amount of imbalance required. This design requires zero machining. All you would have to do is take the file to a plasma cutter and have them cut out. Do you have a metal shop nearby with a CNC plasma cutter? If not, I could take it to my plasma cutter buddy. This part is only 6" dia and shouldn't cost more than 20 - 30 bucks maybe even less. Will the shaft accommodate a 1/2" thick disk?

Let me know what do you think.

Larry

or you could use a surpluss large sproket with a hole drilled near the edge and weight bolted on

 

[SkunkWerX]

Larry that desgin is ingenius!!!

I will have to check my clearances to make sure there is room for both 1/4" thicknesses, plus my stop collars to keep it from rotating freely.

But, that is certainly a very clever way for infinite adjustment of the weight!

I like it, I like it!

 

[SkunkWerX]

Here are the internal clearances I am dealing with between the bearings:

 

[tlbuser]

SkunkWerX

Got your PM - OK here is my version of the flywheel-o-death...

Let me know what do you think.

Larry

Maybe I'm missing something in your design. How do you bolt it and keep it from slipping?

SkunkWerX,
I like the new addition to the family. Found a tidbit here, that may help EZ Screen Screening Equipment with Efficient Kinetic Drive Outperforms Other Screen Machines with Larger Engines.

 

[GuglioLS]

TLBuser-

My thinking is to replace the shaft with a 1/2" bolt or threaded rod. The disks would be pinched together between two serrated flange nuts. To adjust amount of imbalance, loosen one nut, slip one disk in relation to the other, then re-tighten the nut up against the disk. That would allow for infinite adjustment up to ~ 50% mass of the two disks.

Larry


Larry

 

[SkunkWerX]

SkunkWerX,
I like the new addition to the family. Found a tidbit here, that may help EZ Screen Screening Equipment with Efficient Kinetic Drive Outperforms Other Screen Machines with Larger Engines.

tlbuser, thanks. I poured over a lot of websites for these machines when building, but most are fairly guarded about the specifics of their systems.
They show some coil springs in pics, sometimes, but that is about it.
EZscreen does make some nice looking equipment.

I grew up in Brandywine MD, how far South are you in MD?
My cousin lives in Mechanicsville.

 

[akpilot]

GuglioLS
Your solution to adjusting the viberations is awesome!! I'm not that smart I cut a lawn mower blade off and that wasn't enough viberation so I welded a chunk of metal on the end of it.

EZscreen makes very nice products, another company that I looked at before building mine was Innovative Loader Accessories - Portable Soil Screeners, Skid Steer Attachments, and Equipment they make a simple, portable screening plant

 

[chickenman]

my solution was to make a crank with 1" shaft with a 3/4" bolt welded to the end offset for the crank

i took two 3/4" pillow block bearings and bolted them to a bar of steel between the crank and the screen.

two 1" pillow block bearings for the shaft

the advantage is that you control the amount of movement and you vary the rate of shake with pullys.

it works well on my setup

 

[SkunkWerX]

my solution was to make a crank with 1" shaft with a 3/4" bolt welded to the end offset for the crank

i took two 3/4" pillow block bearings and bolted them to a bar of steel between the crank and the screen.

two 1" pillow block bearings for the shaft

the advantage is that you control the amount of movement and you vary the rate of shake with pullys.

it works well on my setup

Can you post a picture of this?

.

 

[chickenman]

Can you post a picture of this?

.

somehow my reply got posted to a seperate thread

"reciprocating shaft and pitman arm"

 

[tlbuser]

tlbuser, thanks. I poured over a lot of websites for these machines when building, but most are fairly guarded about the specifics of their systems.
They show some coil springs in pics, sometimes, but that is about it.
EZscreen does make some nice looking equipment.

I grew up in Brandywine MD, how far South are you in MD?
My cousin lives in Mechanicsville.

Actually, what I noticed was theirs turns the screen box counterweighted shaft at 1150 RPMs. What's special about that number?

Right now, I'm located on the west side of La Plata.

 

[SkunkWerX]

Actually, what I noticed was theirs turns the screen box counterweighted shaft at 1150 RPMs. What's special about that number?

Right now, I'm located on the west side of La Plata.

I'm not sure about that number, or how they are accomplishing the final "shake". They are using higher HP, Diesel, which tells me they are using brute force (torque) to accomplish the task.

I think a lot of the RPMs and configuring is also highly dependant on the amount of materail being placed on it. Those larger units are having 2 or 3 yards dumped on them all at once. And they still have a realtively small screen area, so, the weight per square inch is quite high when compared to my puny machine.

 

[GuglioLS]

Hi SkunkWerX,

I am very curious how the adjustable off balance flywheel design would perform under real life conditions. I hope you don't mind I had them plasma cut. If you don't want, that's OK, I can use them as coasters or something.





My theory is the new flywheel vibration characteristics will be similar to that of a gaussian sine wave. I believe the behavior of the flywheel that's on there now is more of a square-wave. The theory is the round flywheel would be more like shaking the machine up and down as opposed to hitting it rapidly with a hammer. If your willing to give it a try that would be great and a good experiment in the interest of science. If they do not work, feel free to use them as Frisbee's.


Larry