MecaPerf® Post/Rail Splitter

[jerlands]

MecaPerf Post/Rail YouTube video
MecaPerf Post/Rail Brochure
I like the design of this splitter and am wondering about how the blade is driven and supported?  I'm pretty sure it's not using cylinders but rather likely a geared down hydraulic motor turning a screw or something and that would produce about 40 ton of force (6" bore X 3000psi.)  I've contacted the company requesting pricing and availability in the States but have not yet gotten a reply and am unable to find a user manual for the machine anywhere.   I'm looking at this because I'm interested in building a splitter capable of handling up to as large as possible (30" X 10'?) under about 50hp or 38kW.  

[Chuck White]

Welcome to the Forestry Forum, jerlands!

[Haleiwa]

If I had to guess, it has a jack screw that runs under the bed.  As fast as the wedge moves, it is either a coarse thread or spins quite fast.  Either way, I would expect it to be a high wear item, especially with the chips raining down on it.  A more durable system would be two opposing cylinders, but that would require a much larger footprint for the machine.

[waynorthmountie]

By the pause it takes as it touches the wood i would say it hydraulic ram driven. The ram has to build pressure to start its way through the wood. But when looking at the unit it doest have enough overhang out each end to allow for a full length piston. 

Love the idea though. Those are some long splits 

[Hilltop366]

It looks like there is a rubber cover on the bottom of the wedge to keep the chips out.

At the beginning of the video to the right of the screen I can see a what looks like a hydraulic tank and large filter. Looks like a two stage pump the way the wedge slows at the beginning of the split and then speeds up.

Not sure what drives the wedge, could be a screw as mentioned or other options may be a chain with a large hydraulic rotary drive or a hydraulic cylinder with chain over the end (think fork lift), where it is powered in both directions it would require two hydraulic cylinders? By using the chain over the cylinder the cylinders stroke is only ½ the travel length of the wedge, ½ the power and twice the speed.

[Hilltop366]

Certainly not light duty, at 6400 lbs and 40 gal per min at 2900 psi !!

MecaPerf® HD260

[Woodpecker52]

It is using a hydraulic motor into a gear sprocker system and is using the roller chain to bring the axe wedge back and forth.  I would think if the motor is not powerful enough you could just run it into a gear reducer which would give it enough power.  It looks like the only hydraulics off the tractor is for the motor not a cylinder system.

[Woodpecker52]

I was looking at a utube of what looks like their first model.  I am sure they just adapted it for the larger model you are looking at.

[jerlands]

It looks like there is a rubber cover on the bottom of the wedge to keep the chips out.

At the beginning of the video to the right of the screen I can see a what looks like a hydraulic tank and large filter. Looks like a two stage pump the way the wedge slows at the beginning of the split and then speeds up.

Not sure what drives the wedge, could be a screw as mentioned or other options may be a chain with a large hydraulic rotary drive or a hydraulic cylinder with chain over the end (think fork lift), where it is powered in both directions it would require two hydraulic cylinders? By using the chain over the cylinder the cylinders stroke is only ½ the travel length of the wedge, ½ the power and twice the speed.

I think you may have hit on something there with the forklift concept of stepped lifts... utilizing multiple cylinders to achieve the run rather than a single cylinder...  hmmm _ 

[jerlands]

I was looking at a utube of what looks like their first model.  I am sure they just adapted it for the larger model you are looking at.

MecaPerf HD210VT

Yes... in this video it shows the wedge being moved along with pulley and cable.

[dustintheblood]

Hey that's what my sawing looks like on a bad day !!!

[HarryGreene]

Hey all,

Anyone know what one of these costs? And is there a similar machine I can get in the U.S.?

HPG