Mechanical Linkage

Hi Babybear

Thank you for the support and interest.

Keynes said once - " Life is like a beauty competition where we are supposed to guess which Judge will make the right choice - not which model is best".... Its Sunday here so being a little light...

You ask what is the process - here's a link which I hope will help a little

http://RAFTLAB.4shared.com

Best wishes

Ben

To all Members of CR4

There have been several requests for a little more detail in respect of the project

This link will enable the down load of a PowerPoint slide show to explain more aspects of the project. This for for anyone on the CR4 forum.

Many thanks for the help and interest to date.

http://RAFTLAB.4shared.com

Ben

Hi ben,

I went to the download. Looks like you are automating things then?

Do you have any vids other than line drawings of these machines working. Or perhaps I should say, can you please post a link when you actually get the new versions of them going please?

Take care and the best of luck.

Snygolfgs,hi,

I joined this community 8 days ago - an amazing find -

There have been almost 100 exchanges - From Ca to Ch (K) with me and John in between. Every contribution - gratifying. Many thanks to all of CR4's Mechanical team.

I'm most indebted to you for the eminently professional design and solution.

As a matter of courtesy to JohnDG and Kyzine - I would like to let K and J have time to comment and ask if we can form a team on this project - K is 7 hours ahead of us .

Please may I get back to you shortly?

Again - many thanks - look forward to working with you.

Best wishes

BEN

Hi ben,

I know the original post I am answering was aimed at Snygolfgs, but your suggestion of forming a team is a great one and I wish you all luck! And please post a before and after pic if possible, OK?

I have to say from my and I am sure others points of view also, it is CR4's gain to have you as a Member!

Take care and good luck.

Right sort of thing - good drawings.

There are lots of ways of doing it - maybe this will be it. The optimised lifting mechanism will probably dictate which is most appropriate. But I'd say lose the springs! Use gravity - it'll never let you down .

[Your design would work as well with a counerbalance weight instead of the spring]

Cheers,
John

Hey John

Thanks for the comment. Snygolfgs was suggesting he liked your design as best - but you are right there are lots of ways to skin a cat.

Did you see the trim idea that Garthh sent in - absolutely brilliant - take a look at the link and leads you to ultrasonic knife - its the panasea !! not only for vertical trimming but horizontal too - to trim the PVC from the MDF .

Have a good night - and thanks - just awaiting K - he's probably sleeping 7 hours ahead -

BW's Ben

Hello JohnDG

Thanks for the critique. Always appreciated.

The reason I inserted the springs was to help depress the cylinder plunger in the case of sudden air loss so as to speed up engagement of the stops in that situation, also to smooth the operation and keep the assembly as compact as possible. The spring end could be rigidly clamped into one end of a clevis block and the clevis shoulder bolt/pin engaged through a small bearing in the lever. This would be used at both ends of the spring and virtually eliminate spring hook and eye wear.

The use of counterweights of sufficient heft to compress the cylinder plunger, either at the top or bottom of the levers, is also a good idea. I will take this into account and redraw as another option.

Then again, this may become moot if a completely different lid opening system is chosen such as one that uses locking cams or the like.

Anyway, I'm enjoying myself as I hope others are as well.

Kindest regards,

Jeff

Hi snygolfgs,

GA to you Sir, and sorry to have interrupted your thinking!

With regards to "enjoying themselves", I know I am!

This is actually one of those times when you really can understand and see whats happening and why? You can almost hear the thoughts ticking over.

Take care and congrats!

Hi snygolfgs,

GA to you Sir!

Take care and good drawing!

Happy holidays as well!

I'm a little late to the game, but since there seems to be so much interest in this project, here is a very simple solution, derived from a manually operated vacuum packing machine. Opening and closing is a single motion by the operator- and could be accomplished with a single hydraulic cylinder requiring no timing. Here's a picture showing three positions:

Lifting the handle initially rotates the cam, which lifts the platen vertically (springs on the guide pins assist lifting). Once the platen has reached its vertical limit (based on the cam design), continued lifting of the handle causes the entire platen assembly to rotate about the hinge point. Note that with the proper design of the cam and handle arrangement, the opening and closing of the system is a single motion. Further modification of the cam and handle arrangement, and the whole process could be achieved with a single hydraulic or pneumatic cyclinder...

Me in Salvador - in the green shirt - That's near your neck of the jungle

Thanks for the DXF - really appreciated. One Lever !! It looks excellent.

I hope its OK -I sent it on to Snygolfgs and JohnDG - on CR4 - as they are also very kindly contributing.

Note you do CNC - been into 3D routing, 3D Profiling and Tool making for a while - its an addiction...

Please keep in touch and thanks for the interest.

Best wishes

Ben