Motorized Dirt Soil Screening Machine

[GuglioLS]

After the parts cooled I removed the slag with a chisel. There is quite a bit of taper in the Plasma cutting so I undersized the axle shaft hole that it could be accurately drilled to 1/2" ID.





The OD of the disks also had quite a bit of taper to them. My lathe does not have enough HP to turn them down using a carbide cutting bit, so I fashioned a "redneck surface grinder" using a Harbor freight 4" angle grinder bolted to the cross slide (last two pics). That setup worked better than expected. I've always wanted to try that, but never had the need till now.


Here is a short video of how that worked out:




All that's left is to powder coat and ship them off, maybe I can get that done this weekend?

Larry

 

[SkunkWerX]

YEEHAW!!
They look fantastic Larry!

Those are probably the most balanced Unbalancers around!
Much appreciated!


I think there is a pending Patent floating around here somewhere.

 

[UP855]

most big screen plants use a offset weight that runs the with of the screen mounted centered end to end with springs supporting it on all four corners then on the end of the shaft there is a place where you can fine tune it with small amounts of weight

 

[SkunkWerX]

most big screen plants use a offset weight that runs the with of the screen mounted centered end to end with springs supporting it on all four corners then on the end of the shaft there is a place where you can fine tune it with small amounts of weight

UP855 thanks for that explanation, that makes sense. Running a weight all the way across the screens length makes perfect sense.

I had thought about running the shaft across and mounting a second weight on the other side, as well.

So is the weight like a long cylinder that is offset?

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

Well after wrestling with to build or not to build and trying to find a contractor who offers onsite screening this was my answer.http://www.tractorbynet.com/photos/data/549/30163misc_036_Desktop_Resolution_-med.JPG
http://www.tractorbynet.com/photos/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/30163
Matt T.

 

[SkunkWerX]

I received the YinYang weighted flywheel discs from GuglioLS.
A big public THANK YOU to Larry for having these cut, prepped and shipped.
Thanks Larry!

They look great. They are each 8" in diameter, 3/16" thick with a 1/2" hole bored to fit the shaft.

Gave them a quick shot of primer, then some constrasting paint colors.

Will use the serrated flanged locking nuts to tighten them at a given adjustment. Having universal weight adjustment should allow for some real experimenting. I can also adjust RPM using the engine throttle.

here they are , after paint:
Weighted Disc Flywheels

 

[GuglioLS]

SkunkWerX,

Glad to see you received the adjustable off balance flywheels. Yin-Yang flywheels, LOL that seems to be an appropriate name. I see you painted them to match your dirt screener and tractor and that you picked up some serrated flange nuts. I Hope they work out for you. In hind sight, I think I should have made the plasma cutout a little larger and closer to the outside perimeter so as to have removed more material. Doing it that way would have allowed a larger range of off balance adjustment. It will be interesting to read your findings after you try them out, provided they fit.


Larry

 

[SkunkWerX]

They fit! THEY FIT!!
(I had no doubts)

After installing and checking clearances, the discs are set at approx. 1/2 maximum off-balance. Started the machine. As the beach Boys said, "good, good, good, Good Vibrations"

It appears to be shaking just as much at 1/2 YinYang (Disc Weights) as it did with the blunt-force-trauma flywheel.

I think it is a success! I did not screen any material, but, on first observation, it appears we have 'Lift Off'. I am confident it will screen just fine. (with a fine screen).

Here is what the discs look like installed:

.

 

[GuglioLS]

Hey SkunkWerX,

That flywheel fits like a glove and looks custom made to order. What an amazing fit for an off the cuff idea like that, and without any real accurate measurements. I'd say go with it. How many adjustment attempts did it take to find the sweet spot? And where's the video of it in action? Maybe run a long shaft to the other side and install another set to equalize the vibrational forces across the entire assembly. Just a thought maybe worth considering one day.

Looks Cool


Larry

 

[Defective]

I suspect he found the sweet spot by accident...

If he put another set on the other side of the screen and inadvertently got them set 180 degrees out of phase with the first set, would the whole machine try to hula dance on him? hhhmmm...

 

[SkunkWerX]

Defective is correct, I cannot verify I found any sweet spot.
I was in a hurry, in the evening, just to get it installed.

Rather than drag the screener back to the shop, I removed the old assembly and mounted the new discs while out in the woods, using a hammer, duct tape, screwdriver, and bubblegum.

Just eyeballed what looked like 1/2 way, tightened it down, and started it up (at low RPMs) and viola, it vibrated pretty good. Quite similarly to the old flywheel.
No luck involved, just coincidence.

Larry, I don't see these discs "slipping" out of the set adjutsment.
After hitting them with the wire wheel they were pretty slick, but now that they are painted, the painted surface is providing plenty of friction between the plates.

It will probably take some sort of measureable testing to actually find the sweet spot, if there is one. We may find it just vibrates in proportion to how far it is adjusted toward off balance in conjunction with engine RPMs.

More news to follow.

 

[SkunkWerX]

The VIDEO IS HERE!
............ ...........

Grab some popcorn and milkduds.

Settings: Disc Weights are adjusted at about 1/3rd Full Off-balance.
RPMs: Approx. 3/4 throttle
Material: Compost containing clumps ,rocks, sticks and woodchips.

You be the judge.

The SkunkWerx Dirt Screener Movie: featuring the YinYang disc weights


.

 

[Defective]

Certainly seems to be doing the intended job.

I suspect you made it a little too tall tho...unless your FEL can reach higher, you're going to eventually bend the poor thing.

 

[texasjohn]

Wow.... truly a wonderful tool..... now can I get one?? Thanks for posting the details... am saving this thread for when I feel creative

 

[SkunkWerX]

Certainly seems to be doing the intended job.

I suspect you made it a little too tall tho...unless your FEL can reach higher, you're going to eventually bend the poor thing.

Not too tall, that is actaully it's highest rear setting. The FEL can go a bit higher, I was running between video cam and joystick lever to do the dump.

When/if the FEL hits the screener, it depresses and rebounds on the coil springs.

 

[radioman]

very nice video. It seems to work the way you have intended. You have done very good work. only downsize i see is its a tad too tall ? or was this intentional ?

 

[SkunkWerX]

very nice video. It seems to work the way you have intended. You have done very good work. only downsize i see is its a tad too tall ? or was this intentional ?

It's fully adjustable for height, front and rear.

it's not too tall.

I could have adjusted it lower, but then it would not have shown up as well for the video. I adjusted it close to it's highest setting to make it easier to see the debris falling down the screen.

 

[GuglioLS]

SkunkWerX,
Your dirt screener works pretty darn good. Especially impressive is the speed at which the rejected material travels down the ramp. OK now what in the world are you going to do with the good screened material and the spoil? Could it be modified to pan for Gold? Oh and the spring action provided by the shock absorbers at the top end seem to absorb the energy from bucket contact, that part WerX good too, very nice. What's next?

Larry

 

[SkunkWerX]

SkunkWerX,
Your dirt screener works pretty darn good. Especially impressive is the speed at which the rejected material travels down the ramp. OK now what in the world are you going to do with the good screened material and the spoil? Could it be modified to pan for Gold? Oh and the spring action provided by the shock absorbers at the top end seem to absorb the energy from bucket contact, that part WerX good too, very nice. What's next?

Larry

Actually, in searching the web about screening and sifting, I did see info relating to gold panning, gardening (of course) and archeology. Even here on TBN I think someone mentioned sifting for arrowheads? here on the east coast we might find Civil War mini-balls and such.
I'll just be making clean soil/compost for gardening and landscaping, unless I lose my car keys, if i know the area, I can "sift for the keys".

Next up? funny you ask, I was just pondering.
Workshop clean-up is high on the list. Still have the hydraulic adjustable hieght for Tiller Project to look into.
Keep pushing that one back as I am still not 100% sure of the design.

How about you? Rake is complete and working, what's next?
(Besides chopping monsoon weeds?)

 

[akpilot]

Very nice!! Around here making your own topsoil is like finding gold

When I built mine it was a little higher than I like so I simply put the first couple buckets down as a front wheel ramp and then it's about right.

Again good job and thanks for the video!!