Bad Ast Astro van designs

[astroracer]

I haven't posted anything in a while. I took a new job last fall and have been working overtime ever since. It's great for the money situation but leaves me lacking in time and energy for my projects.
If you were following my "gettin' jiggy with it" http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1118 thread in the chassis design forum you saw some early pics of the front and rear subframes I am designing for my Bad Ast Astro van. This is a pic of the latest front sub design along with a shot of the van as it sits at ride height.
http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/d...t_gifs_004.jpg
http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/d...mlasm_0003.jpg
Thanks for looking
Mark

[rkilgore29]

Hi Mark,

It has been a while. The design is looking good. When do you think you'll start the fabrication?

[astroracer]

Hey Rick, how're things going? You still using that bowl for cereal in the morning?
I am getting set-up to start the fab work by the end of the month. Cleaning out the shop is a major hurdle and I got started on that last weekend. I need to move my truck into the garage for the summer and I'll do that this week sometime.

I rebuilt an old woodworking bandsaw over the winter and modified it to slow it down for cutting metal. Works like a champ and I have less then 200 bucks into it.

We should holler at Les and plan another get together for this summer. That was a good time and I learned a lot.
Mark

[rkilgore29]

HI Mark,

I am doing well. I haven't used the bowl, but I have done some more work on it. I'll post some pictures when I'm done. I've been sidetracked by some need to do jobs.

I am curious about your revamped bandsaw. What method did you use to slow it down? What is your low speed? I have one in the process too, I am using an old lawn tractor transmission for the speed reduction. The low speed should give me around 170 fpm.

It would be good to have another get together. I imagine there will be plenty of interest.

[astroracer]

Rick,
I found the saw on Ebay. $132.00 dollars. It was in Dexter, MI. which is 40min south of me so there was no shipping charge. It is a 1985 Tiawan wood/metal style saw with a gearbox on the side of it. It ran fine but the gearbox was a little growly so I rebuilt it with new bearings and grease. I also set it up on casters so it is more portable.
The gearbox was a very pleasant surprise when I picked it up. I was expecting to build a jackshaft system to slow it down but all I needed to do was put a larger pulley on the input shaft of the box. I have a 7" dia. on it currently and the blade speed calculates out to about 90 SFPM. I also have 6", 4" & 3" pulleys which run the blade at 105, 180 & 210 SFPM respectively.
Being that the saw is metric I had to buy pulleys with 1/2" bores and then drill and ream them to fit the 15.00mm dia. shaft. Not a big job and seeing as I have less then 200 bucks into it I am very happy with the performance. I still have to do a little tuning but it runs smooth and quiet and speed changes are easy enough that I can do it in about two minutes...


Talk to you later.
Mark