Building my mill...

[Kbeitz]

Rain rain rain... You can sure tell that it's April around here.
This is to big to work on in my shop so not much done.
I got the shafts on each end that the chain will run on.



 




 

[Peter Drouin]

How long is that doing to be?
No snow over there?

[Kbeitz]

How long is that doing to be?
No snow over there?

I think I can put a 10 foot log on it with no problem.
I want it to do at least 8 foot for porch post.
I will also use it for shorter post for table legs.

[78NHTFY]

Kbeitz--very interesting project! You are an amazing fabricator.  Question: as that log turns, have you calculated the twisting effect on your saw blade? I would think there would be all kinds of pressure on the teeth, perhaps requiring different tooth and set configurations, not to mention blade guides.  For example, on my LT40, if I have a log that even slightly turns when I haven't set the log clamp tightly, the blade pinches and pops off the wheels.  I say this from the perspective of someone with ZERO fabrication skills, :-[ sitting with a cup of coffee at the computer, trying to get his brain running :D ;D :D.  All the best, Rob.

[gww]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVdolzAW4eU
gww

[Kbeitz]

Kbeitz--very interesting project! You are an amazing fabricator.  Question: as that log turns, have you calculated the twisting effect on your saw blade? I would think there would be all kinds of pressure on the teeth, perhaps requiring different tooth and set configurations, not to mention blade guides.  For example, on my LT40, if I have a log that even slightly turns when I haven't set the log clamp tightly, the blade pinches and pops off the wheels.  I say this from the perspective of someone with ZERO fabrication skills, :-[ sitting with a cup of coffee at the computer, trying to get his brain running :D ;D :D.  All the best, Rob.

Oh yes I thought about it a lot. I'm sure hoping it works. The way i'm
looking at it is table top bandsaws are made to make curved cuts. So
I think that a 1/4 turn in a 10 foot long log should br doable . I guess
we will find out.

[Joe Hillmann]

Kbeitz--very interesting project! You are an amazing fabricator.  Question: as that log turns, have you calculated the twisting effect on your saw blade? I would think there would be all kinds of pressure on the teeth, perhaps requiring different tooth and set configurations, not to mention blade guides.  For example, on my LT40, if I have a log that even slightly turns when I haven't set the log clamp tightly, the blade pinches and pops off the wheels.  I say this from the perspective of someone with ZERO fabrication skills, :-[ sitting with a cup of coffee at the computer, trying to get his brain running :D ;D :D.  All the best, Rob.

Oh yes I thought about it a lot. I'm sure hoping it works. The way i'm
looking at it is table top bandsaws are made to make curved cuts. So
I think that a 1/4 turn in a 10 foot long log should br doable . I guess
we will find out.

If it is a problem you could always put a larger set in the blade and if that isn't enough you could put a bottom jaw on your blade guides or put two more blade guides below the blade in addition to the two that are already on top.

[gww]

K
I am thinking that your bigest problim when making the type of post that you showed you want to make is going to be securing the slab that you are also making to the log while you cut so it does not hang.  If I am even clear in my description.
Good luck
gww

[Kbeitz]

K
I am thinking that your bigest problim when making the type of post that you showed you want to make is going to be securing the slab that you are also making to the log while you cut so it does not hang.  If I am even clear in my description.
Good luck
gww

It's going to moving so slow that I guess I could drive a screw in after the
cut is started or maybe a zip tie. I'm open for ideas.

[Hilltop366]

One difference with this and a woodworking bandsaw is with the woodworking bandsaw you cut the curve 90° to the blade and the radius is limited by the width of the blade (1¼") where here you will be making a curve cut in the same direction as the blade (width of desired post plus waste maybe 8").

(I can see it in my head but not sure if this describes my thought well)

As mentioned before extra set may help?  Blade guides far apart to allow blade to twist?  And perhaps cutting it down to size with multiple cuts so the slab is thin enough that you can lift it away to let "upper side" of the cut rise without binding.

It will be interesting to see.

A planer head might work better than a band blade? Kind of like this only turning the log much less.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73hu9FXaUtU

[gww]

K

It's going to moving so slow that I guess I could drive a screw in after the
cut is started or maybe a zip tie. I'm open for ideas.

I think either would work, I just mentioned it to keep you thinking.
I think if the turning has a good solid speed with no play that if you go slow enough, it would probly work.  I doubt you get best use of your blade as I have read that slow cutting dulls the blade faster.

I am waiting to see how it goes.
Cheers
gww

[Kbeitz]

Tomorow I should be mounting my gear boxes. My right angle box is
24 to one ratio. There is just so many things to do in the spring.



 



 



 



 



 

[Kbeitz]

The shafts with the chain wont be that long when it's finished.
I want to set the lathe on the mill to see where I want to cut
them to fit.

[Kbeitz]

I got a lot done today. I need to change out one sprocket.
It's turning to slow. That's not going to happen today...



 



 



 



 

[Ljohnsaw]

You do have a few extra sprockets there and not one the correct size?  Well, you sure put old Rube Goldberg to shame ;) :D

Mighty impressive - can't wait to see the end result! 8)

[fishfighter]

K, looks like you broke the sprocket bank. :D Can't wait to see your project in action. You're the man.

[Kbeitz]

After supper I went back out in my shop and found the sprocket that I need.
I will have to bore it out to 1".  I'm hoping to get it on tomorrow.
Then all I have to do is make guards and paint it.
I also need to make the arm that bolts to the head and to the chain.
I'm thinking that I will also need to make a drag brake for the face
plate shaft. The zero-max can freewheel in the forward direction. So if the
log is heavy on one side it will rotate on its own.

[fishfighter]

Sir, do you ever sleep? :D

[Kbeitz]

Sir, do you ever sleep? :D

Sleep will come a little easier tonight. The designing part is all done.
Thanks to all.

[Kbeitz]

You do have a few extra sprockets there and not one the correct size?  Well, you sure put old Rube Goldberg to shame ;) :D

Mighty impressive - can't wait to see the end result! 8)

I got so many sprockets but it will take me time to put them in one
spot. I'm building a wall rack to hold them all. They are now in 5 gal.
bucks and boxes so I'm not sure I have what I need. E-bay is just
around the corner. Right now I'm getting around 1/8 of a full turn
with one full pull of the long chain. I would like to get around 2 full
turns with a full pull with the zero-max at top speed. Then I could
adjust the zero-max down to 1/4 of a turn. I'm thinking 1/4 of a turn
is what I will be using the most.

[Ox]

So, with the drag brake concept you put the heaviest side of the log off to the freewheeling side then crank on the brake until it holds and start cutting? 

What happens if the weight and brake combination weight is too much for your drivetrain?  Will the zeromax slip or quit working when it reaches its max or can it break?  Do you have a shearpin somewhere?  Or is my thought just not possible for a worry?  Just trying to learn... 

[Kbeitz]

The Zero-max freewheels very easy in one direction.
The drag brake only needs to put enough drag on the
system to keep the log from turning on its own.
Here is a picture of something that I bet not many
people have seen. This is special drag brake rope made
just for this kind of work. It's a cotton rope with steel
cable inside. I got around 200 feet of this stuff.  The
brake is all mounted and work great.

I got my gears bored out and mounted today. Now I can
get 1/8 to 3/4 turn on the log with one pull of the chain.
Or 22.5 to 270 degrees of a circle. A 90 degree is what
I want.

Ready for some guards next.



 



 



 



 

[Kbeitz]

I started on the guards today but enough is enough. I'm taking a break...



 



 

[Ox]

Fantastic!  Are you still amazed at how much time all this fabricating takes?  Or is it easy for you and tough for me which makes me always be amazed at how long it takes?

I never knew about the brake rope stuff.  I learned my one thing for the day!

[brewdog]

tried to saw birch 3in sled runers/a friend got me some blades maybe 3/4 wide but couldn't get it to work