Crawler Track Build - American HC230

[modelman]

Pricer-the blue mold you have pictured for your track pads looks simple enough and should work just fine. The tumbler is the nightmare to me. I would not ever try to cast a part like that. And yes, air is always a problem with a pour mold. Vent holes will only do so much. You may need a shaker table but with a part that complex I think injection molding is the only way. This is a very interesting project and I wish you good luck. And like you said, trying things is how you learn so I say go for it!!

[Pricer]

Originally Posted by modelman

Pricer-the blue mold you have pictured for your track pads looks simple enough and should work just fine. The tumbler is the nightmare to me. I would not ever try to cast a part like that. And yes, air is always a problem with a pour mold. Vent holes will only do so much. You may need a shaker table but with a part that complex I think injection molding is the only way. This is a very interesting project and I wish you good luck. And like you said, trying things is how you learn so I say go for it!!

Thank you very much for the encouragement. I am thinking this will be difficult to say the least. The only information I have found so far had to do with pouring a sculpture over a much simpler wire frame. Maybe the inner frame will need to be made thinner or, maybe the tumbler can be made in the same overall finished state by making the part by casting thinner slices or sections of the part and also done in such a way to index one slice to the other. Maybe even doing it in a one piece open top mold. Something new to think about any way. Maybe even cast in some threaded holes too and use a long set screww or threaded rod to hold the slices together.

[modelman]

Pricer-I just noticed you are in mobile Al. I am just up the road a few hundred miles in north Al. Unless you just want a challenge, why don't you consider re-designing your tumblers. I don't know what scale you are building but why not just make-2-flat tumblers for each end-maybe 1/4" thick and make any kind of design on it you want and pour them in a flat-2- pc. mold. The double tumblers would drive the double drive dogs like you have pictured in your mold. I don't know the weight of your model but the tumblers cast from epoxy should be strong enough. Keep it simple. Just my opinion.

[speedy8305]

hey Pricer I made a mistake when I responded to your question the scale of my crane is set to be 1/14 not 1/16

[Pricer]

Originally Posted by modelman

Pricer-I just noticed you are in mobile Al. I am just up the road a few hundred miles in north Al. Unless you just want a challenge, why don't you consider re-designing your tumblers. I don't know what scale you are building but why not just make-2-flat tumblers for each end-maybe 1/4" thick and make any kind of design on it you want and pour them in a flat-2- pc. mold. The double tumblers would drive the double drive dogs like you have pictured in your mold. I don't know the weight of your model but the tumblers cast from epoxy should be strong enough. Keep it simple. Just my opinion.

I like that idea. I am curious as to how strong epoxy is and I look forward to testing it. Simple is good.

[Pricer]

Originally Posted by speedy8305

hey Pricer I made a mistake when I responded to your question the scale of my crane is set to be 1/14 not 1/16

1:14 scale sounds good. It will certainly be a big one when you get it completed. Will it be a static model or are you going to power it up?

[speedy8305]

the idea is to power it up got the drive, turntable motors and have extra motors possibly for the drums

[Pricer]

Do you have any ideas on how to put the motor in the drum?

[speedy8305]

Trial and error lol

[Pricer]

Originally Posted by speedy8305

Trial and error lol

When you get to that point let me know. I spent a few months experimenting of a boom mounted hoist for a Manitowoc MLC 650 model I wanted to build and may get back to some day. Hiding the motor in the drum can be tricky as I am sure you know.

[speedy8305]

yea there is another forum where I was watching a gentleman build a 1/14 scale liehberr 540 and he hid the motor in the drums.

[Pricer]

Which forum was this?

[speedy8305]

http://www.modell-baustelle.de look for the liebherr 540 post