Is there an industrial swing saw ?

[Firebass]

Also added a knob on the front of the mill and connected it with some shafting and some miter gears that operate the carriage lock for right to left. Originally I was reaching right past the belts with no guards. This new knob and gear setup is faster and safer.

Hey DD Glad to here your thinking about safety. ;D 

Do you have a scale on the mill for your side to side reference?  I put a sort of set works that I use to Set  board size.  In this photo the right hand clamp #3 lever locks the carriage.  The left clamp lever #1 sets a stop for the the carriage when moving and the middle clamp device #2 is on a scale that Is divided into board sizes.  includes kerf.  If you haven't already done this I highly recommend it.  If you would like I'll get you a better photo.  I never use a tape for side to side measurement and it is very accurate.  I'm able to cut boards that are with-in 1/16". 


As for a industrial production swingmill I would have to say Peterson has the closest thing. 

Firebass

[Dangerous_Dan]

Mine has a homemade scale that is pushed to the right till it stops. Next release the carrage lock and move over to the size you want. Lock the carrage and start cutting. The scale has a magnet on it that holds it in place while the carrage moves. The scale also deducts the kerf of the blade each time each time it is reset.



To answer some PM's-
The blade is spinning at aprox 1900 rpm with my current gearing.

[Firebass]

My 2 cents, ;)

For those who are considering a electric motor for they're mills.  I think it is important to note that the use of a electric motor is a bit differant than the use of a gas engine.  Mainly because the torque of a electric motor has a much broader range.  In short you can extract more hp from a electric motor than the motor can continusly handle.  DD You are using a amp meter to control how hard you can push the motor without blowing fuses or burning up the motor.    With a gas engine you can only get so much and theres no more.  Which is why a gas engine must be bigger than a electric engine to do the same work.

Danger Dan is getting by with 10Hp electric
Firebass is using 25 kohler with same basic saw and RPM.

For what its worth :P
Firebass

[sawdust]

A question,, 10 hp single phase and 10 hp 3 phase. I suspect that the power characteristics may be different. The power output is essentially the same?

sawdust

[slowzuki]

First, has there been any updates Dan?

Second, the 10 hp single and 3 phase have the same output by definition.  The 3 phase should start easier with a lower amp draw.  My 10 hp single phased needed clutched to start at full line voltage.  It is a split wound motor so I can start it unclutched wired as a 480 single phase then switch the windings to 240 configuration.  There is some funky back current issues when doing this and I burned up 2 capacitors.

[Nate Surveyor]

I am very impressed!

This is the kind of innovation that makes me

Ponderificate! :D

Thanks for sharing your story.

Nate

[Dangerous_Dan]

No real updates to the machine.
We did move the mill about 400 feet from directly behind my shop to a more remote spot on my farm with more room for log storage and out of sight from the road.
My buddie Chris has been running the mill all summer. Whendee and I have been tailing and stacking the boards.
Also working on a shed for next to the mill to store tools and keep warm in the winter while milling but it's not done yet. I'll keep everyone updated with pics when any changes are made.
DD

[woodsteach]

I am still looking for a saw. I happen to like the band mills, but the Brand X swing mill looks interesting. Well built as well.
I sent away and received an information packet that included a DVD.
They are not inexpensive, however
Perhaps someone on this forum has experience with this mill and could share.

here is the link:

http://www.brandxsawmills.com/

Uncle John, I have a Brand X that is 2 years old and have had no problems what so ever. 

Let me know if you have any questions or come to SE Nebraska and I'll show you around.

Paul

[Dangerous_Dan]

Here are some action shots milling oak. Chris is running the mill and Mike is pulling boards. I'm running the camera.  ;D
We needed 10 1x6's.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nCtm03txaY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6BVAGDqCTo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9tYOIeYYEY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFhnY2A0C-M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLEiKbqB2KA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5vWcg9_8vk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwq8AAw3cZY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cR5nz7H9_OY

[Firebass]

Nice Dan,

It's a great thing to run a piece of equipment you built yourself...   The guy that can buy a brand new mill is in envy because he can't buy one ;D...  or can he?

It looks like my feed rate is about the same as yours. 

Keep up the good work.

Firebass

[StorminN]

Dangerous_Dan,

Now I know where you get your name... I would never stand where you were while filming videos #5 and #6!!... At least you don't have inserted teeth in that saw blade! I've had inserted teeth, shanks, etc. fly out while cutting, never to be found again!

-Norm.

[LOGDOG]

Dan,

   Great videos. Love that stuff. Couple of things though. Do you hear that twang at the end of your horizontal cut and the end of the vertical cut ? Your saw is kissing off - twanggg. It sounds like the back side of the saw is low in the horizontal and in the vertical the leading edge of the saw needs to be adjusted to the right. One more thing ... Brother PLEASE put a guard on those drive belts and over that saw (especially in it's vertical position). We want to make sure you stay around for a long time.

   Great stuff though. Looking forward to seeing your creations evolve.


LOGDOG

[Nate Surveyor]

When adjusted properly, you should be able to BACK into a finished cut (Assuming the cut pc has not fallen into the cut, as it would do on the last cut), and NOT make a new path.

It is critical to get it adjusted this way, so that all cuts are uniform in width.

I got mine with no instructions. I figgered this out the long way!

N

[newday89]

dan, is there a way to make a fixed large sawblade to run on tracks? i dont need it to swing. what about a 15 hp gas engine at 3600 rpm? can you put a large blade like ur swing saw? im cutting about !5 in diameter logs and if i can double cut them it would be better than the bandmill i have. i cant afford a 15k dollar swingmill.. any help you can give is appreciated . thanks, dan

[bandmiller2]

Dan 89,why don't you find a handset circular mill they can be had quite cheap now.You could make a mini sawmill using a swingmill blade and a light duty carriage but you would be limited as to the size log you could mill. Frank C.

[Dangerous_Dan]

http://youtu.be/ioOJiqJ-LIE

[rbhunter]

Nice video. Looks like it is working good. I like the ride along on the swing mill.

[Satamax]

Way cool Dan.

[Ironwood]

As I always tell people if it were Planet of the Apes and I could only pick ONE person to be left with it would be Dan, he could build a lunar rocket from scraps at Conca (scrap yard near by) he would figure out how to launch our sorry butts off th planet.

Ironwood

[Okrafarmer]

As I always tell people if it were Planet of the Apes and I could only pick ONE person to be left with it would be Dan, he could build a lunar rocket from scraps at Conca (scrap yard near by) he would figure out how to launch our sorry butts off the planet.

Ironwood

Yeah, I suppose, but only if it had to be a MAN I had to be stuck with. In which case it would be paramount to return to civ ASAP. Otherwise, I think most of us guys would be trying to think if there was any girl who had those same skills! 

But I'm so glad it isn't POTA.

[scsmith42]

Dan, that's very cool!  You're the kind of guy that I wish were my neighbor, as it would be fun to bounce ideas about different ways to build things. 

Matter of fact, quite a few members of the FF are folks that I wouldn't mind having as neighbors!

[Okrafarmer]

We're all Forum neighbors!  8)

[tyb525]

It's nice to see an update after a couple years :)

[thecfarm]

Dan,it's nice to see you back.  ;D  I always enjoy your ideas and the way you make them come to life.  8)  Don't be such a stranger.

[gunracer1]

nice work dan, you make me want to get off my butt and build one.