Re: CAT 374D L
 

:D

Good zone Joe !

Dont know what to say in front of such skills.....congrats on a fine build. Hope to see more videos of it please.

Re: CAT 374D L
 

That's beautiful! Your builds just keep getting better and better with every update. I never grow tired of seeing all the details. Very impressive!

Re: CAT 374D L
 

You're an artist ....

Re: CAT 374D L
 

I finally got the TIG:), still need to get the argon bottle and then start practicing:eek:


http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k...psdde31b75.jpg

Re: CAT 374D L
 

Woohoo right on! Looks like it has a lot of adjustments. Now hurry up and weld that cab together.

Re: CAT 374D L
 

Hey! I thought Kemppi was Finland! ;-)

Re: CAT 374D L
 

It is, but it's over my price range:mad:

Re: CAT 374D L
 

this is a beautiful work of art

thanks perry

Re: CAT 374D L
 

Not much to report here:( I've been disassembling the excavator for easier painting.
I also have been practicing tig welding with varying success:eek:
I can weld aluminium over 2mm thick, but I'm struggling with thinner materials when welding corner and but joints. Especially when the other part is narrow and other is bigger I tend to melt the narrow part through :mad:
I was trying to weld the cab side to the front window frame which is about 6mm wide and it melt through:(

Re: CAT 374D L
 

I've definitely been there! The only difference is my pieces weren't as pretty as yours before I ruined them.lol You would think that it would be easy but it's really not. I think I have improved with time(you will too) but I've also learned that there are some things that "I" just don't have the ability to weld. I often weld pieces together before cutting out windows or drilling holes. This often makes the welding possible but the hole cutting a pain in the a$$. I also sometimes make small parts oversize and trim them to the proper shape or size after welding. All that makes the job more time consuming but there is nothing worse than spending hours on a part only to melt a big hole in it and having to start again!

Reg

Re: CAT 374D L
 

Thanks Reg, you gave me several good advices there. I actually went through your Volvo thread yesterday to see how you did your cab. I will try to make the window frame oversize, that might make the welding easier:)

Re: CAT 374D L
 

Excavator parts degreased and ready for painting:)
Here's everything except the hydraulic lines.

http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k...psd91e5a2d.jpg

Re: CAT 374D L
 

Truly a masterpiece!

Re: CAT 374D L
 

Darn this paint needs to speed up lol cant wait to see the finished product been watching this awesome build since post#1

Re: CAT 374D L
 

With your parts all cleaned and degreased, laying out on the bench.....it gets me wishing this was a kit, and it was laying on my workbench! :D

Re: CAT 374D L
 

Yea that sounds like a good Idea you should turn it into a kit (reasonablly priced)

Re: CAT 374D L
 

Looks like you got that cab welded up. How do you like the welder?

Re: CAT 374D L
 

The cab is not done:mad:, what you see in the picture are just some cross members that I welded between the sides to help welding the actual outer surface, that I haven't even done yet.
The welding machine is ok but I still have a lot to learn:o

Re: CAT 374D L
 

You'll get it. Does the welder have a pulse setting? I find it helps to use it on the thin stuff sometimes especially with longer beads. I am using .050 5052 aluminum on the boat that I'm working on and it seems to weld OK but I definitely have to be more careful than with the .063 that I'm used to. How thick is the cabs sheet metal?

Reg

Re: CAT 374D L
 

Beautiful job, can't wait to see the final product!

Ari, when you make parts with your BF20l, what tolerances do you get usually on the parts?

Re: CAT 374D L
 

I can get under ±0,02mm tolerances when everything goes perfect;)

Re: CAT 374D L
 

Wow, that is really tight:cool:

Do you have so perfectly configured/modificated machine or you have some trade secrets that you use to get that tolerance? I can get something about 0.05mm usually on my parts, if all goes well it is sometimes even 0.01mm, but it really varies on part to part.

Re: CAT 374D L
 

I have ball screws in all axis and the cross table dovetail guides relatively tight to have minimum play.
I also make several final passes to compensate tool flex.
But like you said it won't always go so well in every parts:(

Re: CAT 374D L
 

Some painted parts:)

http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k...pscb84ef78.jpg

Re: CAT 374D L
 

Well done!

Re: CAT 374D L
 

Ahhh Eurika you nailed it all around well done

Re: CAT 374D L
 

Those freshly painted parts look delicious! I can almost smell the paint.

Re: CAT 374D L
 

An absolutely unbelievable build, you are one skilled individual sir! And the pics of all the parts laid out and painted looks like the perfect kit! <hint, hint> :jaw:

Re: CAT 374D L
 

KIT,KIT,KIT,KIT lol and the crowd chants

Re: CAT 374D L
 

KIT,KIT,KIT, KIT,KIT...oh so we're not getting a kit :(? OUTSTANDING JOB!!

Re: CAT 374D L
 

Kit,kit,kit,kit,kit,kit,kit,kit,kit,kit,kit,kit,ki t,kit,kit,kit

Re: CAT 374D L
 

Got the undercarriage painted and assembled:)

http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k...ps5c64cd0a.jpg

http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k...psd064419a.jpg

Re: CAT 374D L
 

Hemi... Very nice work - as always! The paint looks flawless. Impressive work.
-MPE

Re: CAT 374D L
 

That's beautiful Ari!!

If I had to choose I would have narrowed the tracks a little more, but that's just my personal view of it! :)

Amazing work, can't wait to see it all painted!

Re: CAT 374D L
 

wow them tracks look amazing

Re: CAT 374D L
 

Where do you get these blueprints?

Re: CAT 374D L
 

Looks very good Ari nice work..Using the scale fasteners really makes a difference and gives the model an extra touch of realizm..Do you buy yours local or have them imported from micro fasteners..You sure have alot on this build with the tracks ..

Re: CAT 374D L
 

I have no official blueprints, just those measurement drawings from the 374 brochure. The Norscot 1/50 die cast model has also been helpful.
I also been studied hundreds of photos of the machine.

Re: CAT 374D L
 

I get most of my screws from Germany at Knupfer http://www.knupfershop.de/shop/

Re: CAT 374D L
 

Here's the upper frame:)

http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k...ps6d2110a5.jpg

http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k...pseae7e5a5.jpg

http://i327.photobucket.com/albums/k...ps51053ca6.jpg