Sawmill

• HABITAT: CEB Press - Sawmill - Living Machines - Modular Housing Units
  
• AGROECOLOGY: LifeTrac Multi Purpose Tractor - MicroTrac - Power Cube - Agricultural Spader - Agricultural Microcombine - Hammer Mill - Well Drilling Rig - Organoponic Raised Bed Gardening - Orchard and Nursery - Modular Greenhouse Units - Bakery - Dairy - Energy Food Bars - Freeze Dried Fruit Powders
  
• ENERGY: Pyrolysis Oil - Babington Burner - Solar Combined Heat Power System - Steam Engine Construction Set - Solar Turbine - Electric Motors/Generators - Inverters & Grid Intertie - Batteries
  
• FLEXIBLE INDUSTRY: Lathe - Torch Table - Multimachine & Flex Fab - Plastic Extrusion & Molding - Metal Casting and Extrusion
  
• TRANSPORT: Open Source Car
  
• MATERIALS: Bioplastics

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Introduction

Sawmill - highly versatile and valuable lumber if woodlot is available - or lumber may be bought from neighbors. Decentralized sawmilling may obviate clear-cut lumber companies in a new economy. Many uses. Flex fab opportunity. Lends itself highly to the type of modular structures proposed by the Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems - look for GreenForms at http://cmpbs.org/flash/download.htm . Lends itself highly for flex fab production, especially kits. Fabrication is absolutely simple - after metal is cut - only a drill press is required. Zero welds in structure, with minor welding for motor attachments. DfD, lifetime design. Driven by a hydraulic motor powered from tractor hydraulics.

As a first attempt at a robust and replicable sawmill, we are proposing a chainsaw mill, like a Logosol, with a 25 hp hydraulic motor.

Update Dec. 2, 2008: Based on a comment from our blog, we decided to pursue a circular blade mill, one like the Mobile Dimensions Saw.

Collaboration

Review of Project Status

Nov. 2008: Robert Todd is entering as project manager. Dec. 2008: Jeremy Mason is entering the project onsite, until Robert returns to Factor e Farm. At that point, Jeremy and Robert will work together.

Local Sawmills

1. http://simpsons-nativehardwoods.com/page7.html - St. Joseph, MO
2. Watkins Sawmill - Stewartsville, MO - (816) 669-3218

Sawmill - Current Work

We have a hydraulically-driven PTO motor as a start. It will be powered by LifeTrac. All hoses are already available - it is part of our flexible open source tractor infrastructure. Here are the motor specifications, from Surpluscenter.com:

Here is the hookup diagram:

Note: Since we have 3600 PSI available, we can run 2 of these motors in series to match available power more closely.

Sawmill - Developments Needed

Sawmill - General

Oct 2008: We are still narrowing down an option for the sawmill. We are considering a chainsaw mill, and here are some comments on multipurpose sawmills

Jan 2009 developments: Jan. 2, 09: We decided that the MDS design looks pretty straightforward and that it should be used as the base for the OS sawmill. http://www.mobilemfg.com/ Looked into space frames like the MDS frame. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_frame Read about trusses. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truss We need to get inkscape to make drawings. Need to learn the calculations for materials. Need to contact Ben and ask questions about the MDS and sawmill. How much does the MDS cost? How much do the blades cost? (30") Where can blades be bought from?

Jan. 4, 09: We have narrowed down the design to something similar to the MDS space frame (for stability) on two 'I' beams for x and y axis movements, a chassis surrounding the space frame with bearings to grip it on all sides, a vertical plate or beams on the chassis with another plate attached with bearings and adjusted vertically with a pulley for the z axis, the MDS like saws are mounted on the vertically moving plate and powered with hydraulic motors and pulleys to get the correct RPMs.

Could the saw assembly use a swing blade system for reduced cost? It would have to be stable though. http://www.skillmill.com/index.htm http://www.petersonsawmills.com/products_asm.htm

Dimension sawmills appear to have the highest output: http://forestry.about.com/cs/portamills/a/portamill_inter_3.htm

Circular saw blades appear to be easy to manufacture, repair, and have a good lifetime. http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Sawmill_recovery_rate.html

30" blades seem too expensive for most opearations, a 20" blade might work and be much more affordable currently. Cheapest 30" $1200: http://www.amazon.com/Lackmond-CW1301751-Walk-Behind-Concrete-Blades/dp/B00112W9L4/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1231132591&sr=1-10

Cheapest 20" $150: http://www.amazon.com/Amana-720360-Heavy-Duty-Ripping-Blades/dp/B000P4HN2Y/ref=sr_1_29?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1231132318&sr=1-29

Development Work Template

1. Sawmill - Product Definition
   1. Sawmill - General
   2. Sawmill - General Scope
   3. Sawmill - Product Ecology
      1. Sawmill - Localization
      2. Sawmill - Scaleability
      3. Sawmill - Analysis of Scale
      4. Sawmill - Lifecycle Analysis
   4. Sawmill - Enterprise Options
   5. Sawmill - Development Approach
      1. Sawmill - Timeline
      2. Sawmill - Development Budget
         1. Sawmill - Value Spent
         2. Sawmill - Value available
         3. Sawmill - Value needed
   6. Sawmill - Deliverables and Product Specifications
   7. Sawmill - Industry Standards
   8. Sawmill - Market and Market Segmentation
   9. Sawmill - Salient Features and Keys to Success
2. Sawmill - Design Evolution
3. Sawmill - Technical Design
   1. Sawmill - Product System Design
      1. Sawmill - Diagrams and Conceptual Drawings
         1. Sawmill - Pattern Language Icons
         2. Sawmill - Structural Diagram
         3. Sawmill - Funcional or Process Diagram
         4. Sawmill - Workflow
      2. Sawmill - Technical Issues
      3. Sawmill - Deployment Strategy
      4. Sawmill - Performance specifications
      5. Sawmill - Calculations
         1. Sawmill - Design Calculations
         2. Sawmill - Yields
         3. Sawmill - Rates
         4. Sawmill - Structural Calculations
         5. Sawmill - Power Requirements
         6. Sawmill - Ergonomics of Production
         7. Sawmill -Time Requirements
         8. Sawmill - Economic Breakeven Analysis
         9. Sawmill - Scaleability Calculations
         10. Sawmill - Growth Calculations
      6. Sawmill - Technical Drawings and CAD
      7. Sawmill - CAM Files
   2. Sawmill - Component Design
      1. Sawmill - Diagrams
      2. Sawmill - Conceptual drawings
      3. Sawmill - Performance specifications
      4. Sawmill - Performance calculations
      5. Sawmill - Technical drawings and CAD
      6. Sawmill - CAM files whenever available
   3. Sawmill - Subcomponents
4. Sawmill - Deployment and Results
   1. Sawmill - Production steps
   2. Sawmill - Flexible Fabrication or Production
   3. Sawmill - Bill of materials
   4. Sawmill - Pictures and Video
   5. Sawmill - Data
5. Sawmill - Documentation and Education
   1. Sawmill - Documentation
   2. Sawmill - Enterprise Plans
6. Sawmill - Resource Development
   1. Sawmill - Identifying Stakeholders
      1. Sawmill - Information Collaboration
         1. Sawmill - Wiki Markup
         2. Sawmill - Addition of Supporting References
         3. Sawmill - Production of diagrams, flowcharts, 3D computer models, and other qualitative information architecture
         4. Sawmill - Technical Calculations, Drawings, CAD, CAM, other
      2. Sawmill - Prototyping
      3. Sawmill - Funding
      4. Sawmill - Preordering working products
      5. Sawmill - Grantwriting
      6. Sawmill - Publicity
      7. Sawmill - User/Fabricator Training and Accreditation
      8. Sawmill - Standards and Certification Developmen
      9. CEB - Other
   2. Sawmill - Grantwriting
      1. Sawmill - Volunteer grantwriters
      2. Sawmill - Professional, Outcome-Based Grantwriters
   3. Sawmill - Collaborative Stakeholder Funding
   4. Sawmill - Tool and Material Donations
   5. Sawmill - Charitable Contributions