LifeTrac
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LifeTrac is a low-cost, multipurpose open source tractor.
LifeTrac Concept
LifeTrac is an open source tractor/ loader. It is an articulated tractor that steers by bending in the middle. It also has a flexible coupling between the front and back, so that the wheels stay on the ground at all times.
The concept was inspired initially by CADTrac, a set of plans that you can buy:
But it is redesigned thoroughly by enlarging the size and making construction simpler, to fulfill OSE Specifications for Post-Scarcity Economics.
Goals
- Lifetime design
- Scalable
- Modular
- Easy to maintain
Features
It has a number of features that set it apart from skid loaders and make these vehicles suitable for agriculture. The main features for agriculture are a 3-point hitch, power takeoff, and high-flow hydraulic takeoff. These features make the LifeTrac capable of using any agricultural implements.
LifeTrac is also designed with a winch, and is designed to be equipped with well-drilling equipment with 10-foot drilling pipe sections.
As such, the design is one of highest utility and versatility, combining the power of skid loaders with agricultural tractors and construction tractors. A Compressed Earth Block press CEB Press is designed for use as an implement with LifeTrac, and a backhoe as well.
The unique feature is the modularity and design for dis-assembly. Priority one is lifetime design, where any problem can be troubleshooted and fixed readily. Bye-bye to $1-2,000 transmission jobs at the shop. No transmission is required - it's built-in to the hydraulic drive.
Components are designed to be standard steel as much as possible. The goal is to have the user-owner fully capable of maintenance. By design, no issue in LifeTrac should be more expensive than $250 to fix. Standard steel components (sheet, tubing, shaft, etc.) is used, with no forming or machining outside of minor welding and lathing, for repair and construction of OSTrac.
General design goals
- Skid loader concept
- Articulated steering
- 4 wheel drive
- 2 wheel drive for doubled speed
- Front-end loader
- Backhoe attachment available
- Well-drilling attachment available
- CEB attachment available
- Hybrid between a skid loader, agricultural tractor, and construction tractor
Specifications
- 5-10 mph in 4 wheel drive
- 29 gpm auxiliary hydraulics, 3 channels
- Weight: 3000 lb
- Modular: 2 OSTracs may be mounted together for double traction power
- 3500 lb winch
- 55 hp Deutz diesel engine
- Four 32 cubic inch hydraulic motors
- 3-point hitch
- Power take off, hydraulic - 0-700 rpm
Maintenance
- Yearly maintenance costs designed to be no more than $100 with heavy duty usage
- What are the key points in a maintenance check?
- What are the skill sets required to perform a systems check accurately?
Evolution
- Flash-steam bladeless turbine drive being explored
- Flash-steam electric hybrid drive being developed
Bill of Materials
- Wheels
- Shaft collars, 1-7/8", double split - 4 of them - [1] - $6.75 each
- Tires
- Tire chain quick links, 18 per wheel - 1/4" - [2] - 60 cents each
- Wheel control
- 50/50 divider to allow equal flow to front and back wheels when front wheels come off the ground while doing earth digging with loader - [3] - $88
Bill of Materials for Industrial Counterparts
- One tire and rim - a flat proof one - costs $500 for skid loaders - [4]. Compare to $5 used truck tires with $35 for open source chains - under $50 for a tire. The latter affords the same traction, at 10-100 times less cost, depending if you count the chains or not.
- Which is more cost effective over a lifetime?
- I've heard that you can fill a tire with insulation foam - as a dirt-cheap alternative to professional puncture-proofing gels. Has anyone done this?
I tried this with a small garden cart. My experience was that because insulation foams are non-elastic, once they are compressed, they stay compressed. This would cause a flat spot on your tire each time you hit a rock.
- That makes lots of sense. Similar foams are available with some rubberiness, for e.g. upholstery.
The tyres of most Elevated work platforms are foam filled. Brand names Genie, JLG. They are sealed with a 3/8 (10mm) bolt. I presume the tyre needs to be sealed while the foam goes off
Attachments on Other Machines
- Dingo attachments - [5]
Cost Comparisons to Industrial Counterparts
- NOTE: Industrial prices are taken largely from Northern Tool catologue - [6] - your local, global supply chain.
- Commercial hydraulic rotary well drilling rig quote - [7]
- Note: Tractor and Bulldozer add up to $9k, for an infrastructure that shares wheel motors, controls, and Power Cubes. Power Cubes are $1750 each for 27 hp using off-shelf components. For about 100 hp of drive, this is $7k.
- Note: Since Power Cubes are not included here, the real cost of the package should be closer to $40k for the GVCS implementation prior to the ability to melt steel into virgin metal. This ability, combined with advanced CNC machining, will bring the cost down to about $5000 for 50,000 lbs of steel obtained from scrap sources.
- Note: Each device takes on average 1 week to fabricate after optimization to digital fabrication. This implies a total labor time of about 20 weeks for the devices above, or only $15/hour at the labor cost given. This may be acceptable for DIY value, but is a low rate for market production.