Shovel mechanics

[jerry56]

Yes a lot !!!
I've watched videos of them working and it looked like they were powered in various ways but you really couldn't see how.... Then some looked like it was just gravity ... I was hoping for gravity cause that would simplify things....now I have to figure out something small that will fit in a boom... I'll check out that site...
I like that Northwest Model 6.... and the Bucyrus-Erie 10B....
I don't have any machining capabilities so I'll have to do it all by hand or 3d printing so I have to keep it simple....

[Krewmember]

You are probably right about gravity being used to let the boom down. But the dipper handle needs side back to start a cut. I'm not claiming to be a expert on cable shovels, just trying to share what I have observed.

A rack and pinion mechanism would probably be easiest to 3d print and the most straight forward as you can have a motor direct drive the pinion.


-Shawn-