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  1. #1
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    Default Question about getting steel plate components laser cut

    By way of background to my question...I've just completed an extensive rebuild and modification on my tractor front-end loader and now I need to build a 'grapple' attachment for it. This goes on the loader in place of the bucket and is for moving tree branches and debris, I have a row of cypress trees to remove and I also get most of my firewood off my own property and am getting too old to be spending all my days off dragging branches to a burn pile. These grapples are just the ticket for the work I do with the tractor but they are priced beyond what I can justify spending so I plan to build one.

    This is the kind of thing I have in mind to build (perhaps not this exactly, but this is fairly representative)



    I think the best way to make the tines will be to have them cut by someone who does that kind of thing. I have never had this sort of work done for me before and am hoping you guys can point me in the right direction.

    Q1; What sort of company should I be looking for? Anyone know somewhere around Dandenong way?

    Q2; Would I need to have a CAD drawing to have the parts cut, or could I hand them a template or paper drawing? (I have no CAD skills)

    Q3; Do these companies provide the material or would I have to source that myself?

    Q4; Is there some other process I should be considering?

    Thanks in anticipation
    Pete

  2. #2
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    Dec 2005
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    South Australia
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    Default

    They could be LASER cut Plasma cut, Water cut, Profile cut (oxy/Acet ) Plasma cut LASER cutting would give a very clean cut, if you supply a template it will still need to be converted into some form of CAD
    Look up profile cutting services and you will find many choices, I'm sure someone will be along with recommendation.

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Pete O View Post
    Q2; Would I need to have a CAD drawing to have the parts cut, or could I hand them a template or paper drawing? (I have no CAD skills)
    A CAD file (DXF would be preferable) but most can work from a good paper drawing.

    Quote Originally Posted by Pete O View Post
    Q3; Do these companies provide the material or would I have to source that myself?
    Most cutting companies can supply material. You will pay a premium on it though.

    Quote Originally Posted by Pete O View Post
    Q4; Is there some other process I should be considering?
    Laser, plasma, water jet, oxy-act. will all cut out the same thing.

    One that should not be discounted is doing it yourself. If you have a plasma cutter and a wooden template (say 3mm MDF) it is not hard to drag the torch around that and get a result. From your photo, it does not look like you would need more than 3 or 4 templates, as several parts are repeated. Given the prices that these guys charge (understandable - it's expensive gear that needs to be paid for), you might find that it is cheaper to buy a cutter and do it yourself. Plus at the end, sell the cutter if you have no more use for it and recoup some money.

    Michael

  4. #4
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    Apr 2012
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    Healesville
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    Pete if you could find someone that has a plotter then they could be cut from your drawings, problem is that they went out with wind up gramaphones 😁
    I think that those bits would be fairly simple for a profile cutting mob to program into cad.
    Personally i would have them flame cut, my BIL does this work but is in Bayswater.

  5. #5
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    The local mob I use for laser cutting can do up to about 25mm at a push and nice clean cuts at 20mm. They normally provide the material but will cut yours if you provide it (I've always just got them to provide it).
    Usually they will work off a sketch, but they will charge you for drawing time.
    I've never had any done, but a friend who gets a lot of cutting done tells me that water jet works out quite a bit more expensive than laser, and price increases depending on the level of finish you want. I don't have any experience with CNC plasma but probably more economical than laser, just not quite as clean/precise (not that that's an issue for this application.

    If you want to knock up some sketches to start from I'll draw them up for you if you like. I'm no CAD expert but since its pretty simple I should be able to handle it
    Once they are drawn up its easier to get quotes as you can just email the files.

    I've got oxy-lpg setup here if you felt like a drive and want to have a crack at cutting them yourself. I've got a plasma cutter, but its only a cheap Aldi 35A one so might struggle depending on thickness.

    Steve

  6. #6
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    Lots of good info there thanks fellas, the term 'profile cutting' was unfamiliar to me so probably a good search starter.
    I had not considered the possibility of buying a plasma cutter and doing it myself. Might me difficult to convince the wife that that is a legit financial consideration! At least I would only need plywood templates to work with then too.
    Quite correct that there is a lot of repetition in the patterns, essentially four different templates for the tines, the outer top and bottom differ only from the intermediate ones in that they go on the ends of the cross members rather than the members passing through them. I'll probably actually use tubular cross members and have them pass through the tines rather than the SHS as in the one pictured. This is another example of a commercial grapple,
    https://www.rataequipment.com/produc...rapple-compact
    the tines are 10mm high-tensile. This one comes in around $6k. Hard to justify when I've already invested in a shed full of equipment for making stuff.
    Steve your offer of converting a sketch to CAD for me is probably too good to pass up. I'll need to mock up a plywood tine to get the dimensions and then reverse-engineer to a paper drawing.

    Shed, I might chase up your BIL's work details, Bayswater is not out of the question from my location.

  7. #7
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    Mar 2014
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    South of Adelaide
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    We have made or modified a few attachments like that at work, we just get the parts oxy profile cut, laser and water jet is way over kill and $$$ for what you are making.

  8. #8
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    Oct 2007
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    As a side note, while the style shown in your initial post works, a better option is to have two upper closing elements located close to the ends of the grapple, with twin rams on on the same circuit. This ensures that you can more securely clamp material that is not of uniform thickness/bulk. It costs more due to extra steel, an extra ram and some extra hose and fittings, but pays back when you need to move something with solid trunk and a bushy tip etc or stump and trunk, as both sections are properly clamped and secured. Ensures a secure load and bits are less inclined to sag and drag when being moved. Example of a commercial unit here on YouTube.
    I used to be an engineer, I'm not an engineer any more, but on the really good days I can remember when I was.

  9. #9
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    Sep 2012
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    Hi Pete, Guys,

    Not really anything to add to what others have said, my experience with laser cutting, particularly with thick materials 25 mm, is that the edges are often far too hard to file a lump or bump off ! An angle grinder is great for that job. As far as material goes, the laser cutting people will happily supply and cut any steel that you specify including Bisplate. But depending upon whether you use the whole sheet or multiple customers jobs can be cut at the same time will affect the price considerably.

    When I've had Laser parts cut, I let them add my stuff to other jobs as and when the right material is been cut ! It makes the job a lot cheaper, because my stuff tends to be small it can get placed in areas that would otherwise be scrap, and the scrap often is not worth trying to put back on the cutting table. I've picked up some very useful bits of scrap that way.

    HTH.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Pete O View Post
    Shed, I might chase up your BIL's work details, Bayswater is not out of the question from my location.
    https://bobhaslam.com.au/

  11. #11
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    Drouin Vic
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    Quote Originally Posted by malb View Post
    As a side note, while the style shown in your initial post works, a better option is to have two upper closing elements located close to the ends of the grapple, with twin rams on on the same circuit. This ensures that you can more securely clamp material that is not of uniform thickness/bulk. It costs more due to extra steel, an extra ram and some extra hose and fittings, but pays back when you need to move something with solid trunk and a bushy tip etc or stump and trunk, as both sections are properly clamped and secured. Ensures a secure load and bits are less inclined to sag and drag when being moved. Example of a commercial unit here on YouTube.

    Yeah there are a heap of variations on the theme, twin lid or single, root rake or fork, I'll probably go with a twin lid design but still undecided on the root rake or fork base. Everything has it's pros and cons, just a matter of figuring out what best suits my use.

    Shed, thanks heaps for the link. I'll give them a call in the new year.

  12. #12
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    I normally use a company in Dandenong called Pro Tech Laser. The owner is a guy called Sunny Singh (0431 807 473). Admittedly I normally provide him with a .dxf drawing of what I need so I am not sure whether they can work of a sketch. Quotes normally take less than 24 hours and jobs are cut within a day or 2. They can also provide the metal (much cheaper than I can buy it for!!) What I like is that small jobs are no issue. No affiliation - just a satisfied customer.

  13. #13
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    Thanks very much for that Grunto. I work in the Dandenong area so that might be very handy. I'm back at work Monday week and will look them up.

  14. #14
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    Pro Tech Laser are in Rhur St. What you are after doesn't look to complex - I can knock up a drawing if you sketch up what you need (might help with other companies if you are getting some quotes).

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by Pete O View Post
    Yeah there are a heap of variations on the theme, twin lid or single, root rake or fork, I'll probably go with a twin lid design but still undecided on the root rake or fork base.
    I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard, to make it so that tines can be added or removed easily, so that you end up with both root rake and forks.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

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