Re: Bruder Cat Excavator Conversion
 

Thanks for the compliment.

Hey Rob. I have seen your idea that you are talking about done before but that just will not sufice to my likings. I have to build this excavator over kill because I just don't want to have any weak spots. I will have some pics of my boom up soon from my afternoon progress.:rolleyes:

Thanks for the compliment bud. I know you can build your's up and have it operatable in no time. The worst part of the build is the beginning of tearing apart an $80 toy. :eek: After you get that out of the way thats when things definitely start to change. Just don't look back and take a whack at it.

Re: Bruder Cat Excavator Conversion
 

Well I have some progress from this weekend. I still have some time left to work so I will be working like a mad man to get some things started on the arm but thought I'd take a break and post up some progress for you guys to look at. Hope you enjoy the pics and I should have another update later this evening if possible. Now onto the pics.

First was the start of mocking up my drives. Here are a couple quick shots.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...r/100_2105.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...r/100_2106.jpg

Now onto the boom.

Swiss cheese sides.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...r/100_2107.jpg

Starting on the supports.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...r/100_2108.jpg

Sides and bottom brazed up.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...r/100_2110.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...r/100_2111.jpg

How the ram will sit.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...r/100_2112.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...r/100_2113.jpg

Some comparisons with the stock and my newly designed boom.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...r/100_2114.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...r/100_2115.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...r/100_2116.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...r/100_2117.jpg

Final stages of the upper and lower supports of the boom on with the ram.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...r/100_2118.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...r/100_2119.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...r/100_2121.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...r/100_2120.jpg

And a final look down the front of the boom.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...r/100_2122.jpg

That is all the progress I have from today and hope to get the arm close to this stage this evening if all goes well. :D

Thanks for looking.

Re: Bruder Cat Excavator Conversion
 

Well I have a little more progress for this afternoon so far. I got the sides cut out and drilled for the arm so I can start brazing it up tomorrow after work. I am in the process of turning down all the cross braces and getting it aligned and it will be operatable hopefully soon.

Here's some more pics.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...r/100_2124.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...r/100_2125.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...r/100_2126.jpg

Thanks for looking. :D

Re: Bruder Cat Excavator Conversion
 

Looks good Tyler:cool:

Re: Bruder Cat Excavator Conversion
 

SWEET!!! I'm liking this build!

Re: Bruder Cat Excavator Conversion
 

Thanks for the compliments guys. Here are just a couple shots to see what it will kinda look like once it's together.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...r/100_2127.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...r/100_2128.jpg

Re: Bruder Cat Excavator Conversion
 

Re: Bruder Cat Excavator Conversion
 

Looks fantastic. Are you using soft solder or silver solder on the arms. Look like you'll be digging in no time.
Rob

Re: Bruder Cat Excavator Conversion
 

Hey Paul. Nothing special here that I am doing that I'm sure you couldn't accomplish. Thanks for the compliment. I'm still thinking I need to see a build for your's though. I'm sure I could rummage some help up for you if ya needed it lol. :rolleyes:

Thanks for the compliment Rob. I am using silver solder as it is a little better flowing and stronger I've come to realize than simple solder. I hope if all keeps going well that I will be digging by the end of June. I still have a ways to go and this thing is moving slowly.

Re: Bruder Cat Excavator Conversion
 

Boy it's really coming along!
I have a question. I see that the bolt holding the servo in place seems to go right through the case. Is there room in side the servo for it to clear all the electronics or have you moved stuff to make it work?

Re: Bruder Cat Excavator Conversion
 

The servo is only drilled through just behind the pot on it where the casing is hollow. I chose it directly center of the ram and just behind there for the best center pivot point to the actual ram. There is no modification other than what I have done for full rotation to the electronics. I will be using a piece of brass tubing running through with a wrist pin to pivot on like a normal cylinder would so everything will be encased. The screws are just temporary holders and work great. :rolleyes:

Re: Bruder Cat Excavator Conversion
 

Thanks
I'll have to make note of that modification to be able to use it on some upcoming projects.
The excavator is really coming along and looking good doing it:cool:
Jordy

Re: Bruder Cat Excavator Conversion
 

Wow, i'm very impressed with your fabrication, simply amazing.

I bet Bruder never thought their toys would transform into "working" models such as this ;)

Big John

Re: Bruder Cat Excavator Conversion
 

Thanks John, I apriciate the compliment and I would assume that Bruder had no idea that us "big kids" would be turning their products into working machines meant to do work. I think it would be kinda interesting to take a video and some pictures of it when it's done and send to them to show what all can be accomplished by their work..... Hmm now I have got myself to thinking. :D

Re: Bruder Cat Excavator Conversion
 

Very nice - your servo-cylinders look really great!

BTW, Bruder know quite well that their toys are used by big boys ;) (they told me when I submitted a product suggestion).

Re: Bruder Cat Excavator Conversion
 

Tyler, that is looking great! What an ambitious build!

Brian

Re: Bruder Cat Excavator Conversion
 

Well time for an update on this little guy. I got some work done the last couple days to with the weekend off so I thought I'd show some progress. Not a whole lot but its starting to take shape and I can see that this thing is going to need some more power I believe. I was running it back and forth on the arm yesterday with a 10lb weight attatched to it and "SNAP" goes the pot in the servo for the arm. I couldn't believe it but the pot actually snapped apart and the servo went crazy. I shut it down and checked it out and low and behold the tiny fingers inside were all mangled and crossed contacts. So now I'm going to be ordering a stronger servo for the bucket movement seeings as how the 645 didn't really wanna take all the abuse.

Any ways here are some pics of my weekend progress. Hope you like.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...r/100_2137.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...r/100_2136.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...r/100_2135.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...r/100_2134.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...r/100_2132.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...r/100_2133.jpg

Thanks for looking guys. :D

Re: Bruder Cat Excavator Conversion
 

Looking really good!
I like the way the servos are hidden inside the boom.
Are you putting the brass booms back inside the plastic ones for looks?

Re: Bruder Cat Excavator Conversion
 

No, the brass boom will get some more detail and will be all that is seen. I hope to scale it as close the the full size as possible. :D

Re: Bruder Cat Excavator Conversion
 

nice stuff....really nice stuff... being new and poor to this hobby and lurking for a few weeks on this forum i was trying to find another way of moving the arms of an excavator and what you seem to have seems to be the ticket... hydraulics seem out of the question.... way out of my range of know how and cost.... my question is where did you pick up those screw type cylinders, if thats what they even are, and how do they work radio wise, do you need a speed control or just reciever.... and while i'm asking questions, how do you make a servo go around and around acting like a drill, i thought they had limits to how far they could turn...

thanks Joe ...i'm really green to all this stuff