Taken for a ride

[feral air]

When I ordered the wheels for the vawt I'm attempting to build I triple checked that I was ordering 'solid tire' wheelbarrow wheels -- so of course the box in the living room has 4 regular (tubeless) wheels in it. I didn't pay more than retail for 'em so I'm not too worked up over it but that's not what the site said I was buying..grr....and then...

I found better wheels for the project here. Just like me to rush out and spend money before I've found what I really want. Oh well, it's just a matter of waiting longer to get those I guess. Hopefully I can get almost as much for the wheelbarrow wheels as I paid for 'em.

I think I'll make a wooden carriage for the rotor to sit on, that seems like the path of least resistance to me. Maybe an 8x8' square instead of 6x6 like I was thinking. Anyway...

Here's the start of the first 48sqft rotor frame, it's just over 6' tall, 10' diameter...





Hopefully you can see the basic shape 'cause I used my kid's camera. The t-posts were relatively cheap and I had some hog panels laying around - I need half of another 7' long piece to finish. I'll probably use fiberglass sheets for the skin unless someone's got a better idea - thats one of those 'we'll see' kind of things for now.

The plan is to make another one of those frames (the smart way this time , and offset 'em 90°. That'd make it 96sqft and just over 12' tall. I might put the plastic barrel rotor on top just for kicks. Even if all I end up making is a self propelled merry-go-round, I'll be happy. It'll probably be a death trap in action but it ought to be cool.

All that and whatever else, I'll get there eventually. take it easy

[Boss]

"...a self propelled merry-go-round, I'll be happy"

This is a great attitude. I am sure it will work.

Keep us posted.

[dinges]

You may be interested in this thread, especially the post by Bart Hermans. Your projects look very similar to me (at a first glance).

http://www.thebackshed.com/windmill/FORUM1/forum_posts.asp?TID=689&PN=1&TPN=2

Peter.

[electrondady1]

those big casters should work great.

[feral air]

Cool link. Pretty similar, yeah.

My rotor will be over twice as big though, and when it's done there'll be 2...that's the big difference. And the materials, I like his better. fun stuff. take it easy

[feral air]

My brother and I got most of the first rotor frame welded together last night. I just need to finish tacking the hog panels down.

I noticed that the frame has some flex to it but it's not too bad. I figure I can add a couple braces later if it looks like it really needs it.

It's progress. take it easy

[ZooT]

Balsa model airplane wings have quite a bit of flex to them too until you skin them....

[Capt Slog]

I'm not sure about this, just thinking aloud really...

But have you thought about setting the wheels at a bit of an angle to vertical (is it called camber?) so that they like to go around the contiuous corner more easily?.  It should stop the scrub on the tires and so cut your losses by quite a bit.

.

[feral air]

I'm not too worried about tire wear yet. Once I can order those wheels and put them on the carriage then we'll see.

I made a 6x6' square test carriage yesterday afternoon. My boss had some 6" plastic caster wheels that he's letting me borrow for a bit. And today I clamped some metal siding to the rotor frame and took the whole thing out in the driveway for a bit.

Even though it was on gravel it was sort of trying to get away from me. I only let it move a few inches on its own and then the wheels got stuck and the rotor started sliding off the carriage because I forgot to clamp it down.

Test done, back inside. Looks like it ought to work ok to me.