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Dang Chris..............with these tracks, you've gone from a wood carver to a metal carver! The bigger hand wheels came out great! I just added some 2 1/2" 6061 to my next Speedy Metals order. There really is a difference in the feel of 2 1/2" hand wheels vs 2". I like the custom handle as well. Of course the downside is............. now all the plastic handles are going to look like the devil, so you've got to make all new handles! Jim
Hi Chris, very nice. Jigs and fixtures seems to be a must for this job. The result is fantastic.
ChrisHere is a pretty complete discussion of modern crawler tractor tracks. It is from Dresser Industries but applies to the tracks used on almost all earthmoving equipment. This track type has a chain link structure with track shoes that bolt to the chain and is the type used where traction and travel are a major factor. It is a descendent of the Lombard track but it is one of two branches in crawler track design.http://www.tractorparts.com/PDFs/undrcarguide.pdfThe other branch, which is used primarily on large cranes, more closely resembles the Lombard style in that the track shoes are pined together with no separate link. This type of track is primarily used to provide a stable, low ground pressure base for a rotating platform. Traction and wear are not a factors because the work site is carefully leveled and dressed and the machine is actually moved slowly, carefully, and rarely.Here are a couple of pictures of modern crawler crane tracks and you can see how much more closely they resemble the Lombard track. Notice the prominent drive lug on the inner face of the shoe. It provides the drive face as well as the track allignment.
Those tracks looks fantastic !
Tracks look great. You are really moving along. Those rollers are called "bushings" in trackspeak.
The tracks are looking very nice Chris!I was going to comment on the tumbler or vibratory bowl (not sure which you have)? There is a wide variety of ceramic media usually in the form of cones or stars; these are used with a surfactant to vibrate around and deburr your parts. If you are using a vibratory bowl the media and parts need to roll; if there is no rolling action the parts will just wear against each other and you will not be happy with the results. I have had mixed results with my small Burr King vibratory bowl using the ceramic media. It is tricky getting the right amount of liquid to achieve the rolling action.If you have a tumbler I can't offer much insight to how well it will work. I have a friend who used to make Llama pack frames and he band sawed the parts out of 1/2" aluminum plate then threw them into a home made tumbler that used a 55 gallon plastic drum with sand and gravel for the media. The parts were just fine for the intended purpose. you may need to experiment a little to obtain the finish you are after.Dave