My Wooden 8 Frame Extractor

[ralph]

Yea I thought about putting this pile in the diy forum but considering it pertained to plans and stuff. I have none.

Figured somebody may gather a thimble full of entertainment out of this anywho.

I've yet to use it but it's one of those things that I know will work (bit of confidence <!-- s:) --><!-- s:) --> ). It's been almost a year since I built it and since staring at it for nearly 365 days. This drill has gotta go. I have a 1/4 horse motor that turns 1725 rpm that i'm gearing down to 287.5 if my math is worth a flying hoot (i'm no engineer, just play with bees apparently <!-- s:) --><!-- s:) --> ). The motor runs nicely with the router speed controller too. So with the lower gearing that babeh should run smooth as silk from 0-288rpm.

Here's the video i made of it when i first made it. Over the next few days (what time i'm not dressing deer and smoking jerky). I'm gonna rig this motor up underneath it. Then another video shall follow.

The motor will go under it much like the motor on a washing machine. that way no moving electrical stuff and belts/pulleys will be on top in the way. I'll mount a wax sealed block inside where the honey will run around it and run the center shaft through it.

[Perry]

Necessity is the mother of invention. That is cool.  :mrgreen:
(I agree about losing the drill though, that is one noisy rig).
Thanks for posting that, you do some nice work.

[blueblood]

I like it! Human ingenuity at its best.  The wax coated walls are a great idea.  Would it be too difficult to line the inside with stainless steel?

[riverbee]

"Figured somebody may gather a thimble full of entertainment out of this anywho."

yes i did and then some!.....very cool!

[G3farms]

Looks pretty good.

have you extracted any honey with it yet?

[LazyBkpr]

I like it!!!

   "Figured somebody may gather a thimble full of entertainment out of this anywho."

   Two and a half thimbles full here!!!

[Bakersdozen]

 I applaud your creativity.  Seems like some of you guys can make anything out of lumber.    Do you think the centrifuge will spend that fast when it is loaded down with heavy honey filled frames?

[robo]

I love it when folks use their own ingenuity and hands to built something.   My favorite home built extractor is one made from a garbage can and outboard motor, though it is a hand crank.

[ralph]

Well I think this completes that little venture. If ya get sick of the ratchet jawin just skip to the last minute or so of the clip to see it run now. 

[G3farms]

That motor will not last very long. That loud hum you hear is the start windings trying to make the motor start spinning.
When you had it running fast and then slow it down you can hear a "click", that is a mechanical switch that is for disengaging (turning off) the start windings after the motor gets up to a certain speed. You are working the motor kind of backwards, when the motor is first energized and starting up under a load this is when the start windings come into play, after the load is started and up to a certain speed the start winding kicks out. When the motor is de-energized and the load is slowing down, at that certain speed the start windings kick back in, but there is no power to them, it is just reset waiting to be energized again.
A much better option for the belt drive with no clutch would be a DC motor and speed controller, think tread mill. They have a strong little motor (usually a "c" face frame) and the speed controller too. Check around on craigslist for freebees.

[ralph]

Cool Well the motor is basically junk anyway so. We will see how many extractions I can get out of it. If the high speed isn't fast enough to blow out combs. that's where it will run anyway most the time.

The treadmill sounds like a perfect option. the speed controller on the treadmill even would work too.

[minz]

Oh that is sweet! I put the apple scratter on my press this year (grinder). Maybe see about how to post a video on this forum or link it.  I have an offset from my pulley to my grinder so it does not run as smooth as your bearings.  This was my next years project except I have my eye on a food grade water barrel for $15 at a feed store that I was going to use for the sides and white oak for the frame rests.  I have a bunch of all thread laying  around but have been toying with either stainless or spraying it with a food grade paint.

[apisbees]

The AC motor will Cook it self if not run at full speed will create extra heat in the windings and the temp will melt the plastic coating off the wire and it will short out out. DC motors are designed to run at variable speeds. and as Q3 stated they can be salvaged from treadmills. A multi speed furnace motor would work but the hi motor speed needs to be geared to top extractor speed and the lower start speeds would be what ever the motor speed reduction was.

[ralph]

The AC motor will Cook it self if not run at full speed will create extra heat in the windings and the temp will melt the plastic coating off the wire and it will short out out. DC motors are designed to run at variable speeds. and as Q3 stated they can be salvaged from treadmills.

Yep that's what I'm working on now. Gutting a treadmill and looks like the speed controller and everything will work perfect. Just put the motor in the same place as this one same belt everything.

[minz]

The new AC drives will get a motor to full torque at zero RPM. There is an external fan (electric) where the mechanical one was. A real freq drive will monitor what is going to the motor though , not exactly what you have.

[ralph]

The new AC drives will get a motor to full torque at zero RPM. There is an external fan (electric) where the mechanical one was. A real freq drive will monitor what is going to the motor though , not exactly what you have.

Here's how I have it rigged now. I'm happy with it. Nothing gets warm. It could sit there and run at what I have it at for full speed (approx 300 rpm) or lowest speed all day long and never get warm.

[Perry]

Yessir, you 'd put Red Green to shame with that right there. Quiet as all get out. I wish I was as handy and creative as that.
I can't wait to see you post a video of it extracting some frames!

[Slowmodem]

Yessir, you 'd put Red Green to shame with that right there. Quiet as all get out. I wish I was as handy and creative as that.
I can't wait to see you post a video of it extracting some frames!

I didn't watch the video (slow internet today).   Was there duct tape involved?

(I love Red Green!)

[G3farms]

NICE JOB!!
Thanks for posting that up.
I told you the treadmill motor and controller would work like a charm.

The buzzing thing is the transformer, changes AC to DC power. That motor set up will last you for a long time.