Tom Log
Tom Griffing's Log
June 1, 2014
Updated MediaWiki to enable ReCaptcha. Still having some issues with bogus user registration.
January 17, 2015
Power cube arrived this week (Yahoo!). After the shipment, the shipping company charged me an additional $84.60 for a "limited access fee". They claimed the fee is standard across the shipping industry when delivering to schools/universities.
January 13, 2015
Power cube shipment delayed to avoid holiday shipping maddness. Shipped Power Cube kit (ie: Power Cube, less engine & battery).
October 26, 2014
Received an order for a Power Cube, Version 7, less the engine. I've been updating the Sketchup model to include the pressure relief valve and the updated BOM for current pricing. Now to complete the model & BOM and start ordering parts tomorrow. I've also begun inquiries about information about sensors for the hydraulic flow, pressure and temperature - to accommodate new power cube certification requirements.
MicroHouse 4 Workshop
Attended this workshop to get better acquainted with MicroHouse design and CEB construction techniques.
Tue Sep 30, 2014
Back to Dallas.
Mon Sep 29, 2014
Met the electrician from the power company with connectors and tools. Replaced connectors and added MicroHouse wiring. Installed electrical conduit, elbows and ran wiring from the electric panel to the MicroHouse for all lights, sockets, stove and dryer. Other crews completed the roof and began installing windows.
Sun Sep 28, 2014
Painted initial coat on the plywood side of lower roof modules to save time later. Upper roof module construction using screws, 2" x 6" x 16' boards and struts. Other crews installed the roof modules. Dug trench and set conduit into ground for incoming and outgoing cables. Connected the incoming cables to the box main power and prepared connections for the cables to the MicroHouse 3. Secured the electrical connections on the MicroHouse, as it is to "go live" in the morning.
Sat Sep 27, 2014
Lower roof module construction using screws, 3/8" plywood, 2" x 6" x 16' boards and struts.
Fri Sep 26, 2014
Completed digging the trench for the electric cable. Met the electrician from the power company, who opened up the panel only to find that we would need replacement connectors to continue. Closed the panel and informed Marcin of the situation. Worked with several teams to set the CEB blocks for the walls and to make additional blocks from soil and lime. Walls mostly completed today.
Thu Sep 25, 2014
Worked on Micro House misc tasks - including preparing landings and placing the hydronic stove. Checked out the electric panel at the MicroHouse and prepared it to "go live". Drove to Menard's to get supplies for wiring the electric cables from the Micro House to the panel on the workshop.
Wed Sep 24, 2014
Caught a ride to OSE, Missouri with Marshall (from Austin). Checked out the progress made on the Structural Frame Power Cubes and gave a few suggestions for completing one kit.
Sat Sep 14, 2013: 50 HP Power Cube Design
We've had a lot of discussion about the new PowerCube and the new LifeTrac designs and I think I have wrapped my mind around the new frame design. Here is a screenshot:
Latest 50 hp Power Cube Suggestion: File:PowerCube 35 Tom.zip
Thursday, July 8, 2013
Drove up to Missouri and to Factor E Farm for the Power Cube / LifeTrac build for Blair Grocery in New Orleans. Spent time designing the new Power Cube with the Kubota diesel engine. Drove to secure the engine, radiator and other parts necessary for the build. Used Sketchup to update the design according to the newly secured Kubota engine. Cut steel for the new 36" frame and began gathering other necessary parts - such as the fan and oil cooler.
James Slade arrived and received instructions to assist with Power Cube development. The crew from Blair Grocery arrived and were oriented for assisting in the build of the LifeTrac. The LifeTrac and Power Cube development proceeded at the same time.
I headed back to Dallas and a few days later, the LifeTrac was functioning and was loaded onto the trailer for transport to New Orleans with the 27 hp Power Cube and the unfinished Kubota Power Cube. The transport stopped at my farm in East Texas, where the Kubota Power Cube was completed, loaded in the LifeTrac, tested and then loaded for shipping to New Orleans - where it was tested successfully.
Latest Kubota Power Cube Design: File:PowerCube Kubota.zip
Thursday, May 25 2013 (Date needs verification)
It's been some time since my last update. The latest activity concerns the new Power Cube design - using a Volkswagen engine. I expect to meet with Jay early this next week to complete the rebuild of the engine and secure the engine. I still have a few more parts to get - especially for mounting the shaft coupling and engine mounts. I have been working on the component layout for the new Power Cube - it will be quite different from before, as the engine/pump mounting is horizontal rather than vertical. Also, the plumbing and engine are larger and heavier and I will be adding a pressure relief valve. The sizing of the hydraulic pump has been a big issue and is documented here:
http://opensourceecology.org/wiki/Hydraulic_Hose_Sizing