Automated Twin blade sawmill build.

Ox · November 03, 2015, 10:10:32 AM

Would there be a way to have an adjustable speed motor instead of changing sprockets? I may have missed something in previous posts and it would overload my poor brain trying to find any pertinent info by re-reading everything. I apologize for my poor memory.

CaseyK · November 03, 2015, 12:39:53 PM

Got the indicator lamps replaced, input card wired, output card wired and the associated I/o points tested and about 1/2 of them added to the program. Jacked up one side of the frame and greased the wheels and made sure they were turning ok.

Ox, by changing the sprockets then when the drive is given a full speed reference then it's current draw will be below 35 amps.

Now to see what else I can get done today

Ox · November 03, 2015, 02:23:32 PM

Gotcha - thanks.

CaseyK · November 04, 2015, 09:20:06 PM

Today went well, i was able to fix a few things and get some experience cutting up a 24" pine log. Learning how to operate the controls and optimize them has been a learning experience. Added some additional programming that once the log center and top is identified then as a row of lumber is cut and the head lowered then once commanded the head will move to the left side of the log in position to cut its bark cut.

The shavings and chips are going everywhere so i built some metal guards that i will install tomorrow to better control them and also planning on adding some rubber or plastic strip sheets hanging down to deflect some of the chips. The vertical blade guard does a pretty good job of directing the chips out the front & possibly into a future dust collector system but i haven't been able to come up with a good way to collect the chips off of the horizontal blade.

Does anybody have any ideas to collect the chips off of the horizontal blade?

UPS just delivered the 2 new feed work sprockets to hopefully increase the feedrate up from 2.8"/sec to 4.2" but to stay below the current limit i may have to adjust the drives max speed & torque limit setting, but hoping to get at least 3.5"/sec.

Made a video but im not able to edit it to shorten it up so im still working on that so i can load it to youtube and link it to a post.

hackberry jake · November 04, 2015, 10:53:54 PM

pasbuild · November 04, 2015, 11:12:31 PM

I hope its not sideways, I'll have to lay down to view it and every time I do I end up falling asleep :-\

Ox · November 05, 2015, 11:41:01 AM

The only thing my poor brain can come up with to collect chips off the horizontal blade is to build a deflector/diverter where the most chips fly out. Aim it down to a rubber belt conveyor/elevator running full length of the mill underneath it and have that deposit outside to another elevator angling up in the air to drop the chips in a pile. It's a very simple idea and you've probably already thought of it, but you never know, right? I also know it's easy to spend someone else's money but unfortunately this idea is all I have. Hopefully it'll maybe spark a better idea for you at the very least. This idea comes from my farming days in the feed room with a TMR mixer.

Kbeitz · November 05, 2015, 06:59:06 PM

What you need is a pneumafil...

CaseyK · November 06, 2015, 09:17:06 PM

I never imagined a dust guard could take so long to fab up. Decided to make 2, one for between the blades and one for the right of the vertical blade and to deflect chips from the radiator. Got frame 1/2 way built. Hope to finish it in the morning and swap the feed work sprockets to see if the the new speed will stay below current limit.

If sucessful I promise to post the long awaited video.

Ox · November 07, 2015, 12:35:56 PM

With regards to fabricating things from scratch: It always seems to take at least twice as long as what you figured. At least for me. Can be quite aggravating at times. The sawmill I built from scratch took about 2 1/2 months. I figured 3 weeks. Of course I was quite anal about everything because I wanted as close to perfection as possible but most things don't need to be absolutely perfect. Close is usually good enough. Lessons learned! Good luck to you. May your cuts be accurate and your welds strong.

CaseyK · November 10, 2015, 07:28:34 PM

Was able to saw some timbers up for the closing in the saw deck and add some plastic flaps to direct the sawdust & also added some ductwork for the radiator infeed to cut down on chips blocking the radiator.

CaseyK · November 10, 2015, 07:35:19 PM

in the last photo you can see the new radiator duct work added to the right of the engine and also the plastic flaps i added to knock down the chips.

Tomorrow im hoping on decking in all the way to the other rail.

Ox · November 11, 2015, 10:58:20 AM

:laugh: Coming right along! Very cool.

CaseyK · November 12, 2015, 09:50:46 PM

Made a little more progress today.

Just got to finish decking it in tomorrow and figure out how to incorporate the roller beds with a drag chain & figure out what a barn sweeper looks like.

pineywoods · November 12, 2015, 10:05:32 PM

I see sawdust, I see mud.. Progress....Keep on plugging away, it's looking good.

Ox · November 13, 2015, 10:43:09 AM

You could make your own barn cleaner type drag chain yourself. Use 1/2" chain and every 10 to 15 links weld a piece of 2" or so angle iron for the scrapers or paddles. Make these around 1 or 2 feet long. Get some 1/2" link chain sprockets like what boats use for the windlass to help pull up anchors. Put the whole thing in a gutter and you have a smaller, lighter duty barn cleaner (or sawdust cleaner!). Most every barn cleaner I've ever seen has an inside corner which just drags around a thick metal guide. The outside corners are large steel wheels. The drive head is geared down usually 3 times. Motor with belt to sprocket with #60 chain to sprocket with #120 chain type idea. Of course in a barn the barn cleaner chain is a bit stronger and bigger than 1/2" chain. Hopefully this may give you some ideas.

CaseyK · November 24, 2015, 10:47:54 PM

Guess it time to get back to finishing the sawmill

Kbeitz · November 25, 2015, 01:43:43 AM

You can buy roller chain with paddle links.
You can buy just a box of paddle links and add to chain every so often.

larrydown60 · November 26, 2015, 10:18:09 PM

Hi, Casey Here is what a barn cleaner looks like.
https://youtu.be/1LvKmPZVwEU

CaseyK · December 03, 2015, 09:17:50 PM

I got the saw decks decked in so i could get control of the sawdust. I asked around to try to find some of those sawdust eating goats but everybody at the store said that they were all purchased by the guys around marion louisiana

So with it turning colder weather & the sawdust pile getting bigger i looked up on youtube and came up with a sawdust rocket stove. The first days burn went great and lasted for 8-10hrs and burned completly but 2nd days only burned for 6hrs before blocking off the air inlet, day 3 which was today burned good for 6hrs before we messed with it and the top collapsed on to the air inlet hole. hopefully next week i will get a chance to experiment with placing a metal plate on top of the sawdust mid way of the barrel and then another at the top of the sawdust pile instead of using 1" of red clay at the top .
here is some of the pics, note once you pack in the sadust & then pack in the 1" of clay on the top just twist the pvc pipe and gently remove it and light the fire.

Ox · December 04, 2015, 09:47:46 AM

Fantastic use for sawdust! How is the heat output? Maybe similar to a quite small wood stove?

CaseyK · February 10, 2016, 10:59:25 PM

Took 2 months off of the build to catch up on some stuff but i was able to finish decking in the saw decks and getting power and water ran from the house to the shop. In addition i wired the lights and receptacles in and around the control room. I finally fired up the mill and cut 2 white oak logs this evening for a project. I have to add some programming tomorrow some more functions but after that im hoping to get some more oak logs cut up & make a video of the mill running.

Casey K