A home brewed conveyor

[Izzy]

Had been looking to buy a small conveyor for my gravity box I built some time ago. Best (size wise) I could find was $800

So started thinking and then some ideas formulated and then bought some parts on Monday and worked a good bit last night. Here is how far I hot

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii94/Isleifr/052fdc83.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii94/Isleifr/d095c61d.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii94/Isleifr/9658b7e2.jpg

What do ya think? Is it worthy for Indy? Hoping to have it ready for paint before dinner.......

[Dreamweaver]

What ya going to use as a belt Izzy? A serpentine belt for a engine would work.

~Mike~

[Tamiya Cowboy]

Dang nice.. You are the idea guy for sure looks like you got everything from old elcheepo "Home Depo" I like the PVC gutter nice idea!! But i too am wondering about the belt and motor..

[Izzy]

I made a belt today - 2 layers of heavy cotton cloth (much like denim) sewn together and a third layer where I made packets across for pieces of wood deck to fit in. Then sewed it all up nice. My cuts and sewing are a little crocker at times

For a motor I was using an old AC 1/20 hp from an air brush setup I got at a garage sale - pump was shot - but it was too small. Now I'm trying a 1/15hp and larger pulley but it's still weak. I think a Gear reduction would be best. But I'm trying to have it running for Indy.

Izzy

[Izzy]

A short vid

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii94/Isleifr/8bb5afe7.mp4

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii94/Isleifr/132ee02a.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii94/Isleifr/f6ded8e4.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii94/Isleifr/d48de8b2.jpg

Cowboy - the intent was low cost - many of the aluminum parts are from flat bed kits - I don't throw much away

[ihbuilder]

Chris thats :cool: :eek:

[Lil Giants]

That looks like it should work pretty good with granulated rubber... ;)

How long do you suppose the cloth belting material would last with dirt?

That has always been my hang up with trying to build a small conveyer like this one, finding the right endless belt that is soft enough to roll up on the edges to keep the material in the middle, will grip a 1" drive roller well & be durable enough to last moving abrasive materials - like dirt & sand. :confused:

I ordered some 2" width belting material from McMaster that was 060 thick, it was too stiff! Had to tighten the belt alot to get it to grip on the drive roller, which then made the 180rpm spur gearhead motor too weak to propel it. And sometimes the "stapled" splice would stop on the drive b/c it would not grip the metal surface.

I've seen a few european scale minature conveyers that seem to function perfectly, But I can't find any information on what materials were used, nor what right angled gear motors at what rpm.

The Bruder conveyers work pretty good, but they are a bit short to do much of anything with. I have a couple of them, I may try stacking two or three together & using one or two continuous servos to propel them.

[Tamiya Cowboy]

Chris that is great you did a outstanding job your insight and ability is something else for sure. Great Job it is Great looking keep up the great work!!

And you use of left overs is a proving fact to never clean out and throw away scraps I have a big plastic tote for plastic sheet scrap and body scraps and metal and I keep it all you would be amazed at what you will find in the scrap that is perfect for something..

[Izzy]

Thanks Paul

Joe - 3 layers of blue jeans should hold up pretty good - probably depends more on the vinyl than the dirt as it's moving in the trough. Many large scale conveyors use rollers rather than a trough - I did come across neoprene belting - fairly pliable but they still call for a 3" roller

How about leather? Belts of old were either leather or cloth that was treated.

For extra grab without tension I used 220 grit sandpaper with glue back on the drive - as you said fine for rubber but I doubt for dirt

[Lil Giants]

Sticky back sandpaper, another ingenous idea Izzy. :D I knurled my drive rollers, it helped, but not all that much.

The belting material I got was "something"prene, can't recall... 030 thickness might be the ticket for flexibility... but then what to do about splicing it together? :confused: 3" roller kinda takes away from the scaled appearance, and would that larger dia impact on the power needed to propel it?

Well used leather would certainly work, new stuff would be pretty stiff!

My 21'L x 4"W conveyer, the belt ran in a trough like this. I didn't really see any notable wear to the backside of the rubber belt, the fine clay dirt seem to have a lubricating quality to it.

McMaster won't ship to Canada! ...unless they've changed their rules in last two yrs, since I tried last. After harvest, I'll scowl McMaster & DPSI for possible ideas to try & maybe you & I can come up with an any length functional conveyer system for market. ;)

[doodlebug]

Hey Joe, does United Parcel Service, or Fed Ex deliver up there? do you need a
"go between"? for getting the good stuff delivered?

Hey Chris, great start, keep it up!

Later, Neil#2 aka doodlebug.

[Claus]

Chris, that would look great with square chain, I'm thinking corn drag or bale elevator! Nice job!

[dirtpusher9]

Nice job Chris. I wonder if a small inner tube cut in half would work? It would strech pretty bad, but that may help on the sliping issue.

Nothing wrong with keeping every thing you find. I built almost my whole dozer with stuff I had laying around.

[SonoranWraith]

I think it looks great. I have seen a bunch of the bruder's converted on german sites and they work well but like Joe said they are short. Scale belt material is hard to come by.

[Izzy]

It kinda ran at Indy - under full load the motor just couldn't move it - it was a fan motor hardly any torque - so we ran tomlocal junk shop and bought a cheap china 1/2 drill on clearance for way too much - torque out the watoosee but then had to tighten uP the belt Slipping too much - that drill was really loud and annoying - had pulled it altogether but then pitbulls power unit gave out on his sand master - I figured we wouldn't survive on scotts alone.

Check out the pics foe Indy as they show up - might get a glimpse of this unit in action

Izzy


Chris

[doodlebug]

Hey Izzy, Pigeonfarmboy had some good video of the conveyor, I thought the drill was kicking butt! As for slippage? have you considered a 2nd spring loaded roller, pressing against the conveyor belt and drive pulley? just my .02$ worth.
http://rctruckandconstruction.com/showthread.php?t=2673&highlight=Indy+2011+Video
Later, Neil#2 aka doodlebug.

[farmer2978]

a timing belt from a over head cam engine would work well for a trough style.

[Izzy]

re posting pics ..... someone took an interest ..... thanks

last one is a vid

BTW - I have removed that small motor and went to a gear reduction DC drive motor - with a remote power supply and controls.

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii94/Isleifr/conveyors/132ee02a.jpg (http://s262.photobucket.com/user/Isleifr/media/conveyors/132ee02a.jpg.html)

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii94/Isleifr/conveyors/462b3f8e.jpg (http://s262.photobucket.com/user/Isleifr/media/conveyors/462b3f8e.jpg.html)

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii94/Isleifr/conveyors/f6ded8e4.jpg (http://s262.photobucket.com/user/Isleifr/media/conveyors/f6ded8e4.jpg.html)

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii94/Isleifr/conveyors/d48de8b2.jpg (http://s262.photobucket.com/user/Isleifr/media/conveyors/d48de8b2.jpg.html)

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii94/Isleifr/conveyors/9658b7e2.jpg (http://s262.photobucket.com/user/Isleifr/media/conveyors/9658b7e2.jpg.html)

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii94/Isleifr/conveyors/d095c61d.jpg (http://s262.photobucket.com/user/Isleifr/media/conveyors/d095c61d.jpg.html)

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii94/Isleifr/conveyors/052fdc83.jpg (http://s262.photobucket.com/user/Isleifr/media/conveyors/052fdc83.jpg.html)

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii94/Isleifr/conveyors/th_8bb5afe7.jpg (http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii94/Isleifr/conveyors/8bb5afe7.mp4)

[doodlebug]

Wow, Izzy, I'm seeing some serious creativity here:D:D:D:cool:
Keep it up!

Cheer's, Neil.

[Rvjimd]

Izzy,

Thanks for the pics! Several good ideas there. I like the tensioner eye bolt idea.

Jim.

[Dieselchopper]

I have bought recently from McMaster and had delivered c/o the welding shop I manage. Trouble free, 3 day shipping.

Shawn

[Izzy]

Hello everyone - a couple updates to the home built conveyor - getting to be more of a professional grade these days

So after during the first year the main drive motor and pulley set up just couldn't handle the loads against it so I went down to the local Wal Mart and picked up a 1/2 drill and some electric cord. Removed the main drive pulley and mounted the drill with duct tape. Noisy as all get out but was effective. For year 2 I removed the drill and installed a screw drive 90degree angled drive unit (windshield wiper motor) from robot market place. And a 110 to 12V power convertor. Worked fantastic. So now after about 3 year of use the blue jean material "belt" has given up. I had to install some sand paper around the main drive hub in year one to get traction and well - it just simply ate the material up. Early last year I had picked up a used belt form a check out register stand (hard to find, but make friends wherever you can). Got lucky and the belt happened to be a good length. Cut it to width and mounted paddles with flat head screws.
As for the Gravity box. Started out with a manual handle on a swash plate (think air damper on a grill). That worked OK but was a pain when the hopper was in the middle of the city layout at Indy. So for year 2 I installed a cable system and remote handle - used a bicycle brake cable sheath (purchased in bulk length from a local bike shop) and a good length of 1/8" aircraft cable (sturdy enough to push as well as pull). Big issue has always been the opening of the swash plate. Rubber would clog the opening and debris would collect and catch. So for this year I have installed a system off one of my bottom dump trailers using a firgelli. Opened up the swash plate and wow, we have a full 4" diameter opening to fill trucks. I don't see this clogging up anytime soon.

Other improvements are holes int eh upper support trough to let out any debris that finds its way under the belt before it gets tot he idler pulley. A bottom support to lift the feed end off the floor and keep the paddles from binding on the under trough. And adjusting the upper trough to be just under the belt and supporting it (limiting the gap under the belt to keep debris out.

We still have the over flow chute added for Year #2 - this is so that after so much the conveyor can stay running and the overflow exits the box and doesn't compromise the conveyor.

Some pics

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii94/Isleifr/conveyors/IMG_1829_zpsd5a7bcd7.jpg (http://s262.photobucket.com/user/Isleifr/media/conveyors/IMG_1829_zpsd5a7bcd7.jpg.html)

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii94/Isleifr/conveyors/IMG_1830_zpsac939394.jpg (http://s262.photobucket.com/user/Isleifr/media/conveyors/IMG_1830_zpsac939394.jpg.html)

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii94/Isleifr/conveyors/IMG_1831_zps91dac2c6.jpg (http://s262.photobucket.com/user/Isleifr/media/conveyors/IMG_1831_zps91dac2c6.jpg.html)

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii94/Isleifr/conveyors/IMG_1832_zpsa3ead1eb.jpg (http://s262.photobucket.com/user/Isleifr/media/conveyors/IMG_1832_zpsa3ead1eb.jpg.html)

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii94/Isleifr/conveyors/IMG_1834_zps0e86028b.jpg (http://s262.photobucket.com/user/Isleifr/media/conveyors/IMG_1834_zps0e86028b.jpg.html)

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii94/Isleifr/conveyors/IMG_1827_zps446f42e1.jpg (http://s262.photobucket.com/user/Isleifr/media/conveyors/IMG_1827_zps446f42e1.jpg.html)

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii94/Isleifr/conveyors/IMG_1825_zps6d64a44b.jpg (http://s262.photobucket.com/user/Isleifr/media/conveyors/IMG_1825_zps6d64a44b.jpg.html)

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii94/Isleifr/conveyors/IMG_1826_zps76b8a23a.jpg (http://s262.photobucket.com/user/Isleifr/media/conveyors/IMG_1826_zps76b8a23a.jpg.html)