LifeTrac Questions: Difference between revisions

From Open Source Ecology
Jump to navigation Jump to search
m (Text replace - "\[http:\/\/openfarmtech\.org\/index\.php\?title=([^ ]*) ([^]]*)\]" to "$2")
m (Reverted edits by Elifarley (talk) to last revision by Tim Schmidt)
Line 31: Line 31:
*LifeTrac has the quick back-and-forth motion found in skid steers - to allow effective digging/moving functions with loader. At the same time, it has the speed and PTO/3-point hitch ability that makes it capable of any agricultural tasks, up to about a 40 acre scale (about 1 hp/acre figure of merit). One cannot do effective, accurate digging with a tractor, where one cannot make sharp turns and must change gears to change direction. All in all, using industrial equipment, one needs both a tractor and a skid loader to do all the functions of which LifeTrac is capable.
*LifeTrac has the quick back-and-forth motion found in skid steers - to allow effective digging/moving functions with loader. At the same time, it has the speed and PTO/3-point hitch ability that makes it capable of any agricultural tasks, up to about a 40 acre scale (about 1 hp/acre figure of merit). One cannot do effective, accurate digging with a tractor, where one cannot make sharp turns and must change gears to change direction. All in all, using industrial equipment, one needs both a tractor and a skid loader to do all the functions of which LifeTrac is capable.


*'''Does anyone know of any single device that has the functionality of both a standard agricultural tractor and a skid steer in one, as found in LifeTrac?''' See discussion - [[LifeTrac_Competitors]
*'''Does anyone know of any single device that has the functionality of both a standard agricultural tractor and a skid steer in one, as found in LifeTrac?''' See discussion - [http://openfarmtech.org/index.php?title=LifeTrac_Competitors]
[[Category:Red|Pages]]]
[[Category:Red Pages]]


== square tube construction techniques ==
== square tube construction techniques ==

Revision as of 21:09, 2 July 2013

Point: As far as we know, LifeTrac is the only device that includes the functionality of an agricultural tractor and skid-steer loader in one.

Skid Loader specialization:

  • Hydraulic drive allows immediate reversal of direction - allowing for rapid digging/moving tasks
  • Tight turning because the wheels skid on the ground (hence the name). A skid steer can essentially turn a circle in place
  • Hydraulic takeoff can power a variety of implements
  • Heavy duty tires, about $300 each
  • Quick attach plate is used for rapid interchange of implements

LifeTrac Comparison to Skid Loader:

  • Hydraulic drive just like in skid steers has identical performance.
  • Tight turning is achieved via articulation of the tractor up to about a 40 degree angle
  • Hydraulic takeoff can power a variety of implements
  • 16" truck tires with chains attain high performance at a cost of $30 per wheel (with used tires)
  • Quick attach plate is used for rapid interchange of implements


Tractor Specialization:

  • Faster speed and larger size allows large tracts of land to be worked
  • Power take off shaft can power a variety of implements
  • 3-point hitch allows the use of a wide range of agricultural implements on the back of the tractor
  • Large rear wheels provide effective traction; dually (doubled) wheel configuration may be used

LifeTrac Comparison to Tractor:

  • High speed can be achieved by going into 2 wheel drive mode, for large-scale agricultural tasks
  • Power take off (PTO) shaft can power a variety of implements; PTO is movable, and can be attached on rear, on quick attach plate, or anywhere else.
  • Movable 3-point hitch allows the use of a wide range of agricultural implements - either on the end of the tractor or on the front quick attach plate.
  • 4 wheel drive, inexpensive wheels with chains provide good traction; dually wheel configuration may be used

Discussion:

  • LifeTrac has the quick back-and-forth motion found in skid steers - to allow effective digging/moving functions with loader. At the same time, it has the speed and PTO/3-point hitch ability that makes it capable of any agricultural tasks, up to about a 40 acre scale (about 1 hp/acre figure of merit). One cannot do effective, accurate digging with a tractor, where one cannot make sharp turns and must change gears to change direction. All in all, using industrial equipment, one needs both a tractor and a skid loader to do all the functions of which LifeTrac is capable.
  • Does anyone know of any single device that has the functionality of both a standard agricultural tractor and a skid steer in one, as found in LifeTrac? See discussion - [1]

square tube construction techniques

The basic frame is bolted together from 4x4x1/4" square tubing. That basic frame looks very similar to the "grid beam" techniques.

  • Would it be possible to build the basic frame using standard grid beams? (2x2" square tubing?)
  • Since both LifeTrac and "grid beam" are open-source, is it possible to make a modular construction system that combines the best parts of both systems?

More about grid beam:

Retrieved from "https://wiki.opensourceecology.org/index.php?title=LifeTrac_Questions&oldid=99488"