Tom: Dallas Log
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September 21 - Wednesday
- Updated CEB BOM with electronic parts for building the Arduino Breakout board.
- This Printed Circuit Board is no longer available completely built. It comes as a bare board and parts must be ordered separately and the board must be assembled.
- Proposed higher capacity fuel tank for Power Cube - 5.5 gallons and added the info the to R&D section.
Notes on My Objective
- If not already apparent, after returning from the OSE Project Visit, I decided to get into OSE production by building a Power Cube and a LifeTrac. My objective is to get a "hands on" understanding of the fabrication process.
- Following that, I plan to do some OSE promotion in the Dallas area and test the market for demand for OSE products.
- If demand is sufficient, set up shop to fabricate and refine OSE machines as kits or turnkey machines.
- Of course, this would require "giving back" to OSE in the form of improvements in design, documentation and parts sourcing. This is part of the Open Source model.
- Toward that end, I have continued documenting the Power Cube, LifeTrac and CEB press as well as corresponding with Marcin about design changes. I have also shared ideas with a friend who is interested in helping in this endeavor. We've amassed most of the tools and equipment we'll need for production. We're both ready to go full time with it if we find sufficient demand.
- The necessary parts have either arrived or are on order for a Power Cube.
- I continue to work with the LifeTrac CAD designer toward completing the documentation necessary to order and build a LifeTrac, as this will be necessary after completion of the Power Cube.
- I have been looking for "an appropriate" place to set up shop for fabrication. Initially, we will use my friend's garage, but that will quickly change for security, privacy and personal reasons.
September 20 - Tuesday
- Logging will likely slow to a crawl, as I will be starting a full-time job as a Linux administrator with a national telecom company. Of course, my side jobs of teaching Tai Chi, Kung Fu and teaching a class at Richland College are already having that effect.
- Worked on resolving which oil cooler to order - Talked twice with a Dallas supplier who has coolers, but they have not given a price as yet.
September 19 - Monday
- Took a few days' break from logging.
- Reorganized BOM Steel sheet to match the order of the 2D Fab document and sent the author questions about discrepancies.
- Surplus Center called and said they only have 5.5' of the 6' hydraulic suction hose I ordered - they said they would send it all, but only charge for 5'.
- Spoke with Sweiger Shop about coolers and coupling and they are responsive. Here is their reply:
The oil cooler is $208.00 plus freight for 1 unit. If you order 10 at a time the price goes down.
We don't know exactly what the freight will be yet to us or to your zip code.
The cooling fan for this unit is $133.64 each. You can put 2 fans on this if you want.
The adjustable control is $30.54 each.
The coupling: 5/8 hub--$6.45
1 1/8 hub--$6.45
connector--$8.86
offset keystock-- $5 each
labor to weld together= $6
total= $32.76
I am checking on a local Dallas-based supplier for coolers and will make a decision when I hear from them. BTW: Sweiger Shop is a great outfit that supplies steel and other items for OSE. They can take orders over the phone and ship light items (not steel). Here is their contact info:
Sweiger Shop, Inc. 5502 N.E. Dallas Rd. Weatherby, MO 64497 Phone: 816-449-2292 E-Mail: mocop1120@yahoo.com
- Corresponded with Marcin about a new engine/pump support design. Objectives were to retain engine shaft for warranty and to permanently weld nuts in place to simplify pump mounting. Here is the proposed design:
September 16 - Friday
- Continued documenting and digging out details about the best procedure for building the engine/coupling/pump assembly.
- Got copy of E-Mail from Andrew, who will be building a Power Cube and LifeTrac. How exciting! Sent message with links to log and manufacturing directions.
- UPS delivered the engine today and it had some damage to the plastic housing, but otherwise looks OK. Contacted the sender asked how to proceed.
- Good news: This engine has an "Electronic Fuel Management System" and does not have a manual choke. This will simplify things.
- Composing list of Misc things to get to test engine:
- 12 V Battery
- Gas container and gasoline
- Oil - 2 quarts 10W-30
- 3 feet: 1 Gauge wire & ring connectors (or copper tubing)
- 2 feet: 1/4" rubber fuel line
September 15 - Thursday
- Spent more time reviewing the BOM lists and found many more updates. Called Surplus Center and they changed several items in the order before it was released for shipping.
I'll submit an updated order list when I receive it.Already updated.
- While on the phone with SurplusCenter, I asked them about couplings and gave them the shaft sizes for the Power Cube - they said it would come in 3 pieces and cost $52 total, so I added this to the order as well.
- Our experience with spider couplings and hytrel showed that they don't last more than 40-100 hours, so we went to solid couplings. The plastic wears out.-MJ
- OK - With that information, I cancelled the coupling from the order and will be going with a custom fixed coupling instead.
- Called a local vendor for hydraulic coolers and found a company here in Dallas that sells with or without fan and thermostatic switch. Looking at the photo made me think that if we used their fan, we could do without the expanded steel protecting the oil cooler fins - but at what cost? Waiting on reply from vendor . . .
September 14
- Spent time studying the documentation and design drawings for the LifeTrac tractor and compared them against the old BOM for steel parts. Did lots of updating and send requests for revision to the current maintainer - Will. Last correspondence said he is packing up in England and soon traveling to Factory-E-Farm in Missouri.
- Spent hours analyzing discrepancies between the BOM part list and the actual parts for the Power Cube - found lots of differences and made some adjustments for design updates and parts available from the vendor. Will update BOM tomorrow accordingly. Finally, got the first round ordered. Here is the order:
1 9-1788-B 0.976 cu in PRINCE SP20B16A9H2R HYD 187.95
1 9-7290-100 1-1/2" NPTM TO 1" NPTF 14 GPM TANK S 19.95
3 9-5500-12-12 3/4 NPTM TO 3/4 NPTM 90 ELBOW 15.00
1 928-C 3/4" QUICK COUPLER S40-6 F/F 25.95
1 9-7843-24 1-1/2" NPT FORGED WELD-IN TANK FLANG 4.50
1 9-7843-4 1/4" NPT FORGED WELD-IN TANK FLANGE 2.40
1 455-AA HOSE BARB 1/4" X 1/4" NPTM 4244-4-4 1.25
6 9-1279 1" HYD SUCTION/RETUN HOSE (SOLD BY T 30.00
1 951-2212 3/4" X 12" JIC 12F X JIC 12F 3000 PS 15.00
1 9-059 3/4" NPT 20 GPM FA1200-10 RETURN FIL 17.95
1 9-4404-16-16 1 HOSEBARB TO 1 NPTM ADAPTER 4404-16 6.00
4 9-5404-12-12 3/4 NPT HEX NIPPLE 10.60
1 9-7957-12 3/4" NPT PLASTIC TANK BREATHER 4.49
1 9-5605-12-12-12 3/4 X 3/4 X 3/4 NPTF TEE 7.00
1 9-5404-4-4 1/4 NPT HEX NIPPLE 0.95
1 9-6314 1/4" NPT QUICK COUPLER S40-2 17.95
2 9-7843-12 3/4" NPT FORGED WELD-IN TANK FLANGE 5.50
1 9-4604-16-12 1 HOSEBARB TO SAE 12M ADAPTER 4604-1 7.89
1 9-2501-12-12 JIC 12M x 3/4 NPTM 90 ELBOW 5.59
1 9-2403-12-12 JIC 12M x JIC 12M UNION 2.75
1 9-6505-12-12 JIC 12F TO 3/4 NPTM SWIVEL 6.00
Total $: 394.67
____________________________________________________________________________
Order Recap:
Total Product $: 394.67
Net Product$: 394.67
Shipping: 15.81
Sales Tax: 0.00
Insurance : 2.00
Grand Total: 412.48
____________________________________________________________________________
- Note that when searching for items, you must be creative. For example, a "Hose Barb" is sometimes spelled "HOSEBARB" and isn't found by searching for "hose" or "barb". Try multiple ways of searching or just call the vendor.
- Immediately after pressing the confirm button, I realized that I was missing a part or two, but that they should be easy to find in Dallas, but it will mean another trip to a vendor.
September 13
Since my return from the Dedicated Project Visit, I have been continuing my documentation efforts on the Power Cube. The documentation is critical when ordering parts and steel, as I want to have everything necessary, but not be short either.
I have also collected a set of tools for building Power Cubes. This video shows some of the tools:
- Tools collected so far
- Oxy-Acetylene cutting torch, tanks, hose, regulators, cart (Used: $400)
- Heavy Duty Metal cutting chop saw (Used: $125 + $20 to re-sharpen carbide blade)
- 1/2" Hand Drill
- 7" Angle Grinder ($70 at Northern Tool - 5 Yr in-store warranty)
- 4" Angle Grinder (Used: $30)
- Shop Vacuum (Used: $15)
- 3 pair Vise Grip pliers - to clamp metal for welding
- Socket Set
- 2 Crescent wrenches
- Face shield for grinding
- Eye protection
- Other tools not shown in the video include:
- TIG Welder
- Safety Equipment (steel toe boots, welding hood, welding jacket, hearing protection)
- Drill press
- Paint sprayer
Ordered Engine
Scoured the web for sources on engines and finally came across Small Engine Suppliers and ordered a suitable 28 HP model:
- Briggs & Stratton 49M777-various 28 HP Professional Series
- Order:
--PRODUCT INFORMATION-- Quantity: 1 Product: Briggs & Stratton 49M777-various 28 HP Professional Series ($ 699.95 ea.) Options: Cost (each): $ 699.95 Item Subtotal: $ 699.95 Wt. each: 100 Total Wt.: 100 Product ID: 04390 Whse: sed SUBTOTAL: $ 699.95 SHIPPING: $ 74.95 Agreed to terms TOTAL: $ 774.90
- Next step: Order Power Cube parts and steel