peterson engine option

[hansbaba]

I'm new here,
I was wondering if any swingmill owners have ever thought of a diesel engine option. I have an 8" wpf with a 27kohler. Would it be too heavy with all the extra cast iron and radiator, or would it be feasible. Id love to be able to run biodiesel in it. Frenchfries and sawdust!!
Any thoughts??

[Ga_Boy]

Good idea, but the frame is not designed to support the weight of a Diesel engine.

I think I had this conversation with Captian a few years back and Peterson tried this, but the weight was too much for the existing design.  To design a frame to support the weight made the mill too heavy to be reasonably protable.




Mark

[Captain]

I'm not really in the know any longer, but they are exploring some of the smaller diesels for the larger, automated mills.  I'm considering a 32hp Kubota for a stationary swingmill build, myself.

Captain

[Nate Surveyor]

I personally think there is tremendous potential for a homebuilt swingmill, made of steel, and automated, with a 50-60 hp diesel. It could have a 8" blade, and a bandmill built in, and really be a cool tool.

Load the log onto a "ladder" (I'm refering to a log bed, with attachments with the term ladder) with a mechanism to hold it down, and so that the log could be attached to the ladder.

It could have also a tilt mechanism to compensate for log taper. Also, mount it to a double axle trailer, and be designed with a log loader, and such so that you could pull it anywhere, and be milling in less than 10 minutes, solo.

The trailer could also be designed to carry the cut lumber, after milling it.

Just dreaming.

N

[beenthere]

Nate
Take it one step further, and mount it under a helicopter. Then just fly in, set down over the log, saw it up, load the lumber and fly out.     : :

[BigTrev]

Diesel engines have a couple of hurdles for our R&D boys. The first is weight which has been mentioned above and the second is vibration (specialised engine mounts etc). We also needed to make a few new things like wider mounting area on the unit and a new clutch to handle the extra torque when powering down. But they are well on their way with a smaller diesel for the 10" models. Will keep you posted.

If you are planning on adding an engine like that give the support boys a call and see if they can help you out some.

[wtf]

Just a quick bit of info. Use a 3 cyclinder diesel, the power impulses are even and it is  smoother than a 2 or 4 cyclinder diesel engine.

What

[BigTrev]

I'll pass that along What  ;)

[Ga_Boy]

Trev,

Have the R&D folks gotten to considering how to raise and lower the frame with the electric winch?

I was thinking about this....Maybe using changing the sproket on the winch and frame my be an option.  You will also have to consider if the existing motor can supply the required toruque....Like you said, lots of technical issues to tackle.....but that is the fun part.




Mark

[BigTrev]

If your talking about running an Ewinch on a diesel theres no problem at all. THe winch we use is rated at about 2500# iirc and used to pull up our big old ASM mk1 and that was a DanG sight heavier than the diesel. ;D

Good thinking on the mod though, may have a use for that in the future ;)

[Nate Surveyor]

Big Trev,

What does Peterson think of BIG engines on swingmills?

I mean, assuming that the frame can handle it?

N

[Jeff]

They cant be over 450 pixles wide. ;D

[Tom]

engines Jeff!   Big Engines!    Not pictures.  :D

You big dummy.  :D :D :D

[Nate Surveyor]

I been in the dutch over this before !

I'm so glad that a 24 horse honda is not over 450 pixels wide!

:D :D :D

N

[Jeff]

 :D ;)

[woodbowl]

Just a quick bit of info. Use a 3 cyclinder diesel, the power impulses are even and it is  smoother than a 2 or 4 cyclinder diesel engine.

This is also true with ultralight aircraft. Odd cyl engines are not as availible so adding a 3 blade prop solves a lot of problems.

[BigTrev]

Well in our experience its a bit of a balancing act to get power, rpm, # of teeth, tooth angles and diameter of blade to work efficiently. Too fast and the blade heats and can lose its tension, too slow the machine judders as it cuts and causes the cariage to bounce.

Of course every wants a Tim Taylor More power sawmill  smiley_monkeyfight

More power/ bigger engines don't always mean a faster cut. What they do mean is a more consistent cut.A really good example of this is looking at 3phase vs gas engines.

The 3phase gives 100% power from the start to the finish every time resulting in a more even feed speed. The gas on the other hand may offer around 70%-80% at full throttle with no load and only give you 100% once the goveners open up in response to increasing load.

Consistent power or over power in the case of a larger engine means that you don't have to wait to 'spin up' if you hit a hard spot and you can do bigger cuts a bit faster.

In the end its important to weigh up the options, more hp is more cut speed but generally speaking a higher gas bill at the end of the day and a heavier mill to haul around.

Remember you can only saw as fast as your tailman clears the boards  :D  so if your solo, all the hp in the world might not be that big of an advantage.

[wtf]

Big Trev,
How about just getting a bigger generator and make the whole mill electic? I know they power the Skill mill with a portable generator. That way you could get both 1 and 3 phase.

What

[wtf]

Nate,
Nice dream, let's make it a little bigger and install a chipper to finish off the waste and put a bigger engine with either an all hydraulic drive or a generator and make it all electric drive!

What