PTO Band MIll

[patrickg]

I wasn't sure where this belonged...

Anyone ever hear of powering a band mill either from the tractor's PTO, accessory hydraulics, or both?

I was wondering about the efficacy of using the tractor's rear remote hydraulics to power a couple reversible hydraulic motors to 1. raise/lower the cutting head and 2. drive the cutting head down the cant (and back.)

AND... use the PTO to power the blade. My Kubota (L-4610) runs up near redline to make 540 RPM. Since I don't need the full HP (or like to run high revs if I don't have to) I thought I could run a jack shaft as a speed increaser and maybe get 540 RPM out of the PTO connection at something like 1800 RPM.

I think you'd want to be on the high side of the peak torque RPM so it would "stiffen" when loaded. I think I would only need to develop about 10 HP to do OK. The largest engine I have seen on a hobby size mill is a 20 HP Kohler twin. Since I have 40 HP available at the PTO I won't be straining the tractor.

Comments?

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gifPat /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[ScottAR]

Don't know of any band sawmills that are pto powered, but you might look into an ecosaw sawmill. I believe they have a hydrostatic model that could be pto powered. D&L double cut makes these under license from the NZ company.

Other options are a small Meadow's headrig or a company called Kera saw but I don't know much about either of these.

Someone on the FF may have better answers than me...

 

[Harleymsn]

My father in law in Michigan giult a small bandsaw mill that he operates off the pto from his ford 600. He has several antique tractors and why he uses the ford for this I'm not sure. He does not have any of the hydraulics hooked up like you are considering, but I'm sure it is because he has a larger saw mill in the other barn. That one is a circular with about a 60" blade. That entire sawmill is powered by a large Detroit Diesel powerplant. Just a hobby for a retired iron worker!

 

[RonL]

Pat

Tractors are designed to be in their highest efficiency range at PTO speed. Getting at least 5000 hours out of a diesel tractor is no big deal. I think the issue of running the tractor at lower than PTO speed is really a non-issue. If you expect to run the mill enough hours were it would be a concern, you should probably consider a seperate engine to power it.
Hydraulic output is usually given at PTO speed. Using the formula: PSI X GPM divided by 1714 = HP will give the the hydraulic HP available. Hydraulic motors are usually in the area of 90% efficient.

RonL