Hydraulic briquette machine questions?

[Ollie78]

Hi

I have been meaning to build a briquette machine for some time to use up my shavings in my woodburner in the winter.
My initial plan was to use a log splitter and modify it as I have seen several versions of on youtube, been looking for a local cheap log splitter for a while to no avail.

However, today I have aquired a large 3 phase hydraulic pump from a 4 post car lift, it is basically a large (and incredibly heavy) steel box which houses the resevoir and the motor /pump etc.
The in and out hydraulic lines are cut off as they were inside the casting of the lift but I should be able to tap the holes and put on a suitable hydrailic fitting.

Its a long shot I realise but does anyone know what valving/ switching would be required to make this run a ram to compact sawdust/ shavings into briquettes, or even know where else to ask.
I guess it will need a sensor to know the end of travel (or one at both ends of travel) which will need to actuate the valving to the appropriate direction.

I am reasonably confident in designing the mechanical bit, its the electro/ hydraulic bit that I don`t know much about.

Ollie

 

[dzj]

These machines usually need more than 20 Mpa of pressure to work properly.
Can your car lift pump generate such pressure?
The smaller units I've seen all have ~10 KW 3 phase motors. Do you have enough power supply for that?

 

[TRITON]

What are you intending to use as a binding agent ?.

 

[yetloh]

Saw one working the other day at a commercial joiners shop. It was built on to the extraction set up and turned out one about every three seconds, They were about 50 mm dia. x 30mm. Fairly sure it just relied on compressing the material with no binding agent. Can't imagine these would have included many shavings - mostly dust and planer chips.

Jim

 

[Fidget]

Doesn't need to be too complicated

 

[johnnyb]

I buy some from a big joiners that have a really good set up. the bags are filled on a carousel. they have four sider which generates huge amounts of stuff. the moulders generate a fair bit as well. those ones are 30mm dia by 30mm length

 

[Ollie78]

Well, I have had a look at the motor plate and it is a Gryphon Brooks motor 415v, 2hp, 2850 rpm, 2 minute rating.
Has a Brooks switching unit as well.
@dzj I have no idea presently what pressure it will generate, I am not looking to get a machine equivalent to a £15k unit that will run all day in a production sutuation.
My initial plan of using a log splitter would have used a 2.2kw motor and I have seen these used very successfully.

The motor/pump might not be suitable but its worth trying to find out. I have seen kits for building a log splitter that come with a valve block and hoses, but no auto switching method.

My use case is no more than one or two bags a week of planer and spindle shavings, mostly hardwoods. (Though I have about 20 bags waiting for me to build something) .
I was going to buy one but a cheapo one is £5k and I can't afford it.

I don't think a binding agent is required, friction in the pipe generates a good bit of heat and the pressure binds them well enough.
@Fidget I watched that new Yorkshire video a while back, he does a superb job and I think I will pinch the method he uses with the threaded rods between plates for the cylinder mounting.
I am aiming for a slightly portable unit I can wheel out and use then roll it away again.

Much research to be done I think.

Ollie

 

[Cabinetman]

Yes you’re correct no binding agent the lignin in the wood melts under the pressure and sets as it cools, from the ones I burn the travel after compression is about an inch, ie the sawdust etc compresses to an inch thick.
Also it looks as though the pushing plate has 4 pointed dimples on it these help the segments of wood stay together.
Ian
Ps. Sorry I resurrected an old thread.