Homemade Tiltrotator - How hard can it be ??

V8Druid

V8Druid

do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
This lot doesn’t really compare with the complexity of the parts you have produced but does go with the machining theme. This was my over Christmas job x 2.

The wheels start out life as a solid billet of EN24T round bar 320 diameter and 150mm deep. End up with an OD of 305mm. ID is stepped the biggest being 140mm. Only just clears the cross slide. First cut is 5mm depth so I can get it to clear. Feeding at 0.30mm/revolution.


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what're you doing the broaching with JD?
 
V8Druid

V8Druid

do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
occasionally you see decent machines come up , ideally stuff that comes out of colleges tends to be alright as it hasn't really be used that much.
Unfortunately we don't have 3 phase at home currently which is a bit of a limiting factor
find your self a nice gennie ... can burn a lot of red for the cost of 3ph installation ;):giggle:
wanted over £20-25k to bring it up my drive from my 11KVA pole beside it (including the transformer) - 'bout 150-ish yards :( ... with me trenching it :(
gennie cost me 10% of that with 170 hrs on it - ex standby Wessex Water - fully automated. (which I obviously have no need for) Cummins 34KVA :giggle:
 
jd6820

jd6820

Well-known member
what're you doing the broaching with JD?
I didn't to be fair but it was done I believe with a gear hobbler and gear broach. Sent out as I've yet to purchase such machines. The hobby machine shop is currently filled or certainly will be when I install the CNC lathe. I'm not ready to give up the main workshop for what is currently a sideline....
 
Will_c

Will_c

Active member
Few more parts have been machined now to continue on with the tiltrotator build.
Next parts to make are the base mounts for the trunnion supports to bolt onto.

IMG_7424.jpeg
 
Will_c

Will_c

Active member
Flippin Eck. That's looking like some serious quality your producing there😍
Cheers , starting to come together now. Unfortunately progress is going to be slowed up as I've headed back to uni .
Looking for suggestions on where's best to purchased material to make pins from ?
 
Gecko

Gecko

Well-known member
Pin material is probably the easiest.
When I needed (non-standard) pins, I visited a guy who makes /referbs buckets.
He had suitable grade steel rod on hand, so was able to cut to length, chamfer and cross-drill (to my drawing) very efficiently.
 
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V8Druid

V8Druid

do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
Cheers , starting to come together now. Unfortunately progress is going to be slowed up as I've headed back to uni .
Looking for suggestions on where's best to purchased material to make pins from ?
where are you based?
alternatively - lots of ppl flogging BDMS rounds on Fleabay - admittedly not the cheapest way to buy, but for the quantities you're gonna be after - convenient

Few more parts have been machined now to continue on with the tiltrotator build.
Next parts to make are the base mounts for the trunnion supports to bolt onto.

View attachment 78832

assume you used the angle plate idea ;)
 
Will_c

Will_c

Active member
where are you based?
alternatively - lots of ppl flogging BDMS rounds on Fleabay - admittedly not the cheapest way to buy, but for the quantities you're gonna be after - convenient



assume you used the angle plate idea ;)
Based at Newport Shropshire
When building a hydraulic thumb last year I purchased some bright bar off eBay which turned out good just a bit pricey.
I will definitely have of cuts of yiu know what yiu need
I am after some 35mm bright bar but will probably go down the ebay route again.
 
V8Druid

V8Druid

do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
When building a hydraulic thumb last year I purchased some bright bar off eBay which turned out good just a bit pricey.
'xactly
alternatively - lots of ppl flogging BDMS rounds on Fleabay - admittedly not the cheapest way to buy, but for the quantities you're gonna be after - convenient
 
Will_c

Will_c

Active member
Feel free to do a separate thread on the build of the cnc mill. Ballpark cost?
Did you source a slew ring yet?
Yes might start another thread for of projects if people are interested.
I have quotes or getting quotes currently from
Neilson hydraulics
Jas p Willson
Approved hydraulics
ATH techniik
Price wise they tend to be In the region of £1400-1800 by far the most expensive part of the build
 
K

kato512

Well-known member
Yes might start another thread for of projects if people are interested.
I have quotes or getting quotes currently from
Neilson hydraulics
Jas p Willson
Approved hydraulics
ATH techniik
Price wise they tend to be In the region of £1400-1800 by far the most expensive part of the build

Did you try on Alibaba/China? Search solar array slew drive seems to bring up more.
RSL used to sell wd9 slew drives maybe the smaller wd7 would suit your application. Sunslewdrive.com
 
Will_c

Will_c

Active member
Did you try on Alibaba/China? Search solar array slew drive seems to bring up more.
RSL used to sell wd9 slew drives maybe the smaller wd7 would suit your application. Sunslewdrive.com
I have looked into the Chinese suppliers , biggest issue for me is the timeframe. Ideally I need my build complete within the next 5-6 weeks to be able to complete my write up in time and allow for some testing.
 
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