Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

Finally had some time handy and was cleaning the shed out to get to the MDF I was needing to start my dragline project. I want to build an all custom dragline, so it looks and acts like the real thing.( before anyone ever comments that this isn't as detailed and such, I'm building this as a fun project and one I can make last years, not one that as detailed as some as I have seen amazing! But I will be trying to put in as much detail as I can without making it a model more then less a working toy ;P . Im going to need some help along the way, so any comments or idea's are welcomed! Please and thank you!

This is a progress thread as I will update it as I go, so keep checking back on progress and give me your input. I work in a coal mine and we have 4 Draglines, I am basing this build of of our Marion 8750 " Lady Of the Lake" second biggest dragline we have and one of my favourite draglines to be around!
http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...8-1024x835.jpg

Start:

Starting with MDF, I have a simple plan for the house, to just build a box with the curves I need to build the main part of what will be the house.
http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...izeRender2.jpg
http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...SizeRender.jpg
http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...izeRender3.jpg
http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...izeRender4.jpg
http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...izeRender5.jpg
http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...izeRender6.jpg

I picked up some Aluminium to start building the boom. Im going to be using an angle bar for the outside of the boom and thin tubing to give it structure and bracing it all together. Have a plan in my head, just have to cut it all out and lay it out. Now I'm not a welder, but i have done a fair amount of fooling around. Playing around on the Tig the other day on scraps I found this is going to be quite the challenge to get this all tac together without melting any of it. So before I decide to Tig it all together, i might look into other ways to put it all together.

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

Hello,

So in the past I was going to make this dragline RC cause I have a ton of speed controllers, motors, servos, ect... But there was two big reasons that made me push away from the idea. 1) battery supply, to do what I need to do I'm going to have to run acoiple good size lipos and always worrying about charging them. 2) controls, I do not have the know how to take apart these controls and build my own controls out of them ( as I have to have joystick type controls for realism as I am currently working toward dragline oiler trainning)

Now I've seen builds and a lot people seem to be running these off a 110v power source, so I came up with the idea of maybe using a power supply of 110v and decreasing it to a 12v for the motors and such. ( this would be my switch shack) from there I would run my power to controls and to my dragline. That way the dragline has a power cable like real life and no worry about battery's.

Now the question is, where can I get a 4 position momentary switch type joy stick that won't kill the bank that I can wire to this dragline? If you have any thoughts on power supplies, wiring or any input I'm all ears on doing it a better way!

Here are the "joy stick " type controls I have found so far the best thing in my mind, but idk about the voltage and amps ect..

http://www.amazon.com/Position-Momen.../dp/B009IUMG78
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B009IM...PBYDRSRKDFTPMY

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

What scale are you building in? Its gonna be awsomely huge!

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

Nice to see another cable machine here. My favorite.
Look over my 9W build and you will see just about all you need to know on how to power one. Look towards ebay for motors drives master switches slip rings ect. I would have spent way more if I couldn't have obtained my parts from ebay. There was lots of time and money spent with trial and error too. My system for 90VDC motors works very well and never gives any problems. I really like the 4 quadrant regenerative drive system. Read up on that. I don't know much about the smaller voltage motors. I think the 4Q drives can be bought from one of the robot parts suppliers but may cost more than the 90V ones listed practically a dime a dozen on ebay. There is tons of cheap motor drives out there for that. But remember, the smaller voltages draw more current so a heavy duty slip-ring will be needed. You may need to add flywheels on the smaller motors too to duplicate the dynamics of the motions so you don't end up with a big pendulum swinging back and forth.
I get some time, I'll take some pictures of my collection of master switches that will work.

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

TYLERDSAudi-nice to see someone building a dragline. From your explanation I'm not sure what you are trying to do with the controls. R/C controlled or hard wired? These joysticks claim to be radio ready-
https://www.servocity.com/html/joystick_modules.html
I haven't heard of anyone using these but they might work. Post lot's of pictures.

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

The scale I haven't worked out just yet. When i started building this dragline i looked all over the internet for the 8750 specs for all the measurement to go off, but all the webpages I had problems loading. Was browsing the other day and found all the info i needed..... :mad: SO now, i will be using those as references and will compare those measurements to my machine to have a scale for it. I just built it the size i felt good about.

9W Monighan, I have looked over your build many times over and over and I don't even know what to say because Im so impressed with the type of work you do! Your machining and attention to detail is amazing! Im going to need a lot of help on these electronics as i do not know anything at all about this stuff. I just want to be able to run a joy stick type for operational controls and run it off 110v power so I'm not worried about battery power constantly. If you help me out with that it would save me a lot of time and money like you said then playing around with stuff that won't work in the end.

Got to dragline, only way to clear material :P. I was going to build this dragline as an RC operated unit with speed controllers, batterys, remote and such, but after thinking about batterys dying and always charging them it turned me away from it a bit. Mostly i wanted realistic joystick controls as well and an RC remote isn't going to cut it for me. I just posted those 2 joysticks as an example, as they are the only thing i found so far that are 4 position like i need, joystick type and can be hard wired too. My plan is to run 110v plug in.

Those joystick you posted look really nice in position, they are little more pricey but whatever works I guess.

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

You said you work at a mine as an oiler. You should be able to get all the dimensions you need from your company's engineering or maintenance dept. IF THEY WILL LET YOU. maybe you can say it's advertising to the company.:rolleyes:

I see the joysticks Tom linked. Like I said earlier; I don't know much about this stuff. I do know there is lots more available these days than when I started out. Maybe this stuff is heavy duty enough to handle a large duty cycle. Depending on how big you're machine will be, remember it's going to have to work very hard handling a bucket full of dirt swinging 10feet way. Thats the case for me. Each bucket weighs about 12-15lbs and with my overkill in my electrics, there is never any overheating whatsoever.

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

Yeah i wish it was that easy, I would have had to go through all the lawyers first, then civil departments ect... I have them looking into me using the colours, name and they want their company on it if i do, which I am totally fine with. One of my fav draglines of all time!

Yeah, I just need a lot of help on the electronics end. I do know anything on these subjects of all these haha. I do want to make it as simple as I can. AS little stuff i need to make it all work, that makes less go wrong in my mind.

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

This sounds like a good approach to the project. I think you indicated something between toy and scale model? I like to try and keep stuff simple when I can and if it doesn't over complicate things I do stuff so it looks "sort of scale". I think there are some projects that stall during construction because of over optimistic ideas at the start. I know this from experience and even my current crawler project which I don't claim to be very scale or detailed is just complicated enough to make me groan and nearly give up at least once a day!;)

So, keep at it, I like it already! I have all kinds of MDF, never thought of making something that big and using MDF for part of the project.

Take lots of pictures and keep em coming!

Jim

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

Thank you! Yeah mine has done that to me I'm always over thinking everything and changing designs and how I want to do steps in the build, but that's why we do this cause we're crazy people ;). I'm building this as a working model and toy to play with. Once it works how I want it, then I can start adding detail for the model scale side like railings, vents ect..

MDF is my favourite wood to work with for things like this, as you can shape it how ever you want! Great wood to do things like this and the house so far isn't too bad for weight either!

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

I have had these on order for a bit and was looking to use them for my build. They are a bigger brushed motor like a 550 with built down stepped gear boxes. I was thinking of using these and building drums onto the shafts or mounting a big gear and building a big drum with a gear on it to rotate it.

These were ordered when I wanted to build it RC and hook these up to a speed controller, but i do want to change plans with your guys help. But without the know how or parts I need to buy I will be lost.

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

You can still run the model with radio control but use shore power. You can use many different units to get AC to DC, like an old computer power supply or search ebay and there are a lot of choices. You could mount inside if you have room (there never is) or have the DC conversion on the shore side and run the line to the model. Wired works too just more cable. :D

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

see I was thinking of using a computer power supply cause that plugs into 110v and then you'll have to convert it to whatever voltage you need. I would like to mount the power supply and such in a box ( switch shack ) like a real drag and run a cable to the shovel! Maybe I convert a small backhoe to move cable around ;)

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

This looks interesting but as far as the guys commenting on "Realness" & "functionality" they aren't cruel like that but what they actually do is give good advice and help so I hope this build meet your expectations cause you are the critic on this project but keep up the good work look like its gonna be great

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

TYLERDSAudi-I would NOT use a computer p.s.. I did that on my dragline and it worked for a while but only after adding chokes, capacitors, etc. but then it finally quite. The computer p.s. does not like electrical noise and you will have plenty of that with your electric motors. The p.s. will shutdown when you try to start a motor. Just my opinion but my experience with this was BAD!!! Another suggestion-you can get cheap AC to DC power supplies at radio shak in a lot of different voltages.

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

Good to know! Thank you! I have been looking over your build as well! I'll look into those at radio shack for sure!

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

Update:

Today started on the Brazing process of the boom. Cool little process as easy as soldering, very similar to ox welding. You can do it with a propane torch, just heat your metal up for a couple minutes and every now and again drag the filler rod through what your trying to fill. If it doesn't melt its not ready, when it does your good to go. Went by every easy and way better then trying to rig tac all this tiny metal that wants to melt away so fast! It will easily hold for what I'm doing.
http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...2/IMG_5887.jpghttp://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...2/IMG_5889.jpghttp://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...2/IMG_5890.jpghttp://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...2/IMG_5892.jpghttp://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...2/IMG_5893.jpg

Next will come figuring out what i want the middle brace to be which will be the max height between the two sections of boom. I then will work my way up towards the tip of the boom making the bracing ever so smaller. After i will try to do the same thing, but if there isn't as much leeway I would rather the boom go from thin at the top and wider at the bottom if i can't go from thin to thick to think because of they way to metal wants to bend. Should be a fun little project at least 2 hour min.

Im looking for little metal wheels *point shives* to use for the top of the boom, bottom to weave the drag rope through and a set in the A frame area for the hoisting rope. I will need 8 in total. Let me know link, cheapest is always the best :)

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

TYLERDSAudi-why don't you try to reduce the size of your pictures. I don't think there is a link for the pulleys you need. Those you will have to make or have made. If you are looking to build cheap, this may not be the best project for you. Even modeling is very expensive these days. Some of your parts will have to be custom made-($$$$). Motors and electronics-($$$$)-I wish you luck-maybe it can be done.

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

That is the size that they get uploaded up as, I tried to downsize them with no luck. There's a difference in building cheap and building cheap with no money. One of my talents in sourcing stuff from big names to the little guys, with half the price and sometimes better quality. The pulleys have had no luck in finding as the closet thing I have found with a grove in the middle for the rope is tank wheels, but very slim pickings at best. I have found a set of plastic wheels that I'm using for mock up, but over time I would like to replace them with metal sets. I'm hoping to mostly be able to buy everything I need to speed up the build and if I can't buy it then I will make it over time.

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

You can have photobucket resize your pics when you upload them. Are you going make a jig?

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

Ok I'll try again cause I use photobucket. A jig for what?

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

Great start to the build! I don't think there is anything wrong with the size of your pictures. They are just not being spaced apart. Load each one as if it were it's own paragraph if that makes any sense and it will be fine. The same thing happened to me when I first started posting pics here from photobucket and Joe fixed it up for me by separating them.

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

Why thank you! It's a good start I'm happy with. I'll try to space them out

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

*Update*

Boom is slowly coming along, got all my cross members in on each boom, next will be all the vertical supports to attach the two boom halfs together. After i have these tac down on one boom section I will then add the lacing for extra support side to side, with then putting the other boom half to make it one piece.

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...2/IMG_5910.jpg

Test fitting, checking angles and pre bending the boom sections.

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...2/IMG_5947.jpg

I finally did it! Over years of looking at them, videos and wanting one I went out and got a mini lathe at a wicked deal! Order a bunch of tooling for it, can't wait to start learning to run this machine. Got a good book thats got lots of insight and lessons. Its slowly coming along and a lot of fun!

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...2/IMG_5908.jpg

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

Ahhhh , now the real fun and satisfaction begins!:D

As a very new and still learning hobby machinist, here is my advice.

Practice as much as you can, I can do things on the lathe now that I initially had trouble doing.

Make your own high speed steel tool bits to learn about cutter geometry. The only carbide tip tools I have are two parting blades.

Start collecting various bit of stock so when you have an idea for something you are not stuck waiting on an order for material or for the local supplier to open Monday morning.

Start saving for a mini mill to go with that lathe, you're going to want it pretty soon!:cool:

Jim

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

Thanks for the advice! I will look into all of what you mentioned and start practicing! I like it already a lot and I'm sure when I actually know what I'm doing I will love it even more!

The mini Mill is next to come in due time, I'm sure this will be addicting little hobby!

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

Update

Finally got the boom all together and brazed, Very happy how it came out and it has that big 8750 boom thin to big to thin curve i wanted to replicate. I have to just add all my cross supports, make some plates for the bottom for mounting and tops for the point shives. Then do the prep work and paint it up.

Once thats done I'm going to start on my tub for under the dragline and plan my rotation of the swing.

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...zeRender-3.jpg

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...zeRender-4.jpg

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...zeRender-2.jpg

Also was playing around on the lathe, made some motor axels for my mini D6 Bruder conversion. They work great, not bad for a beginner Im thinking!

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...zeRender_1.jpg

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/t...zeRender-1.jpg

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

I find it a little strange that you decided to build the boom first, but it's your build and your rules. You said you were not going to build by a scale but I would suggest you re-think that. It doesn't have to be highly detailed to be a great model but if you pick a scale and use that for all your measurements then everything will be in proportion and the model will look realistic. How do you know what size to make the boom point sheaves? Just an example of how things get complicated without a scale. Looking at the house I would say you are building a large model. Maybe you should try to figure a scale from that and see how it goes. Good Luck

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

I didn't build the boom first, I built the house first and the boom second. I just didn't completely finish the whole house like tub ect.. Im building this model in two ways to figure out the size of it. One is going off how i feel size wise fits me and what i want to build to work for me. Second I'm going off pictures and documents to get other measurements to compare. Like i have said many times Im not building this model to be a perfect scale model, I'm building this for fun and to play with with a lot of function.

When it comes to the point sheaves I'm going to go off what looks realistic to the boom. My model is a very large scale the boom measures from tip to tip just over 4 ft. But i know what your talking about, I'm going to figure out a scale soon cause a lot of people want to know what scale it is and to build certain parts as well.

Thanks for the input please always give more is always welcome!

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

UPDATE GUYS:

I've been just super busy with work and camping, my dragline project is in limbo at my fathers house as his work working shop has way more room in it then my garage, but I'm thinking I might need to bring it home soon so I can work on it when I get time.

Couple things, I have to get some welding done in the A frame so I can finally mount the boom to the house. I have been looking over motors for this project but am having a hard time sizing them, how would one go along doing this to determine the rpm needed to have a decent amount of torque but speed as well.

Thanks guys updates very soon!

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

Couple questions is people don’t mind giving me a hand. I’m looking to operator this machine off of 110v power. I will have a convertor to downsize the power to 12v or lower. I want to use 4 position joysticks I’ve seen online on other robotic websites. Now I want to have this thing wired on a cord from the motors, to speed controls into a wiring harness to the main controller with the joy sticks.

Is anyone able to help me with finding the right motors and speed controllers for this project? Thanks!

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

I wish I could offer some insight, but 110V stuff is out of my wheel house.

Re: Progress Thread - 8750 Marion Dragline
 

Well if you know anything to do with 12v or lower systems that what I need help with. It will be 110v in, but that plug will be attached to a transformer that will be 12v it lower.

So if you have ideas on motors, joy sticks or speed controllers for the project in that area that would be great