New project for Xmas completion (hopefully!)

Wendelspanswick · Dec 4, 2015

What about cutting a coarse wide groove with the screwcutting engaged, the same width as your hoist cable?

Fazerruss · Dec 4, 2015

Good idea, I'll try that if it doesn't wind on the drum nicely

Robotstar5 · Dec 4, 2015

Winch drums are normally cylindrical.

Fazerruss · Apr 6, 2016

Hi all, you were all probably thinking I'd dropped off the face of the earth but no I'm still here and finally back on with the crane.
The part I'm currently working on is the winch assembly. I started this 4 months ago and when I sat it in front of me tonight I couldn't remember what design had in my head!
So after a nice cup of tea and a bit of head scratching it came back to me.

These are the brackets for microswitches on the limit mechanism

Fazerruss · Apr 6, 2016

cumbriasteve · Apr 6, 2016

Nice to see you back at it.

Fazerruss · Apr 6, 2016

Now as usual this is designed in my head as I go along but the idea is the centre brass block will move up and down when the winch drum rotates. As it reaches the end of the rope then the limit microswitch will be activated so stopping the motor.
There will be a switch for each direction so to avoid any potential damage from the rope tangling up when fully unwound. Plus it will stop when the winch is fully wound in.
I've milled slots in the switch brackets to give me a bit of adjustment of the stop points.
In theory it should all work as I worked out how many rotations of the winch are required to fully wind and unwind and made the thread length to suit.

Fazerruss · Apr 6, 2016

cumbriasteve said:
Nice to see you back at it.

Yes it's been hard to find the motivation with recent events. I think the lighter nights are helping and it been so long since I had a play in the garage doing something other than sorting out either my mum's estate or the inlaws house.

Fazerruss · Apr 12, 2016

Bit more progress with the winch. ...

The winch is now finished and seems to work perfectly. The microswitches can be set so they will knock off just before the actuator thingy mabob reaches the end of the thread.

Done a rough trial test for position and it will just fit within the enclosure. Due to the length of the winch assembly it will need to be mounted at right angles to the gib ( I think that's what you call it?!) But with a few guide rollers hopefully it shouldn't cause any problems winding and unwinding.