Automated Star Sizer

[bstone5]

The attached movie is of the automated Star Sizer I completed over the weekend.

http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/bstone5706/media/AutomatedStar_zpsb4138283.mp4.html?sort=3&o=0

A PDF file of the wiring diagram is also attached.

The automation was not to difficult, I should have used a box about twice the size I had so the wiring internal to the box would be neater.

I used the work from others to get the concept of the automation.

Thanks to all who have supplied information with regard to the parts and operation of the unit.

bstone5

[Tazza]

That is very fancy, nice job!

I need to build a collator so i can setup some automated sizing.

[evil5826]

How much did it end up costing ya?

[bstone5]

The control box and the components cost about $200.00 dollars.

Some of the air system I had from other work but the air cylinder and control valve cost about $125.00 dollars.

i have the dies on order with Lathe Smith.

[dragon813gt]

Where did you get the mounting plate?

[bstone5]

I had a sheet metal shop shear and bend the plate, total cost $20.00.

I do a lot of work with this sheet metal shop.

To mount the bullet feeder I had to TIG weld a small piece out past the edge of the bend.

All of the mounting holes for the equipment are taped into the 1/4" thick angle plate.

[Tom_Highway]

Please, can you say the model (and shop) of air cylinder and control valve????
Thank you!.
:-)

[bstone5]

The air cylinder is from this thread from Hatch. Look at the other post I made with regard to automating the Star Sizer a little further down.




there is another thread with a parts breakdown on the automation part of it.

It looks like this is based on Wyman's Air Assisted Star design -> http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?151658 (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?151658)

Added a 'smart' relay and a pneumatic air valve.

Neat design. Never thought of adding a manual button as I would be afraid of punching my finger off.

The smart relay used is about $100 give or take.
I did basically the same design but used 2 smart relays. One to deal with the cycle time then one to deal with the run time.
I don't have a collator so I feed my star using 3 foot long plastic tubes.
They hold about 50 boolits give or take depending on design.
So what I do is count the boolits in the 1st tube and then multiply that time 2 and thats how many seconds the run timer is set.
I run a 2 second cycle timer. Thats still 1800 boolits a hr and is PLENTY fast enough


The control part number is on the PDF file of the wiring diagram.
I got the control valve from Automation Direct.

[Tom_Highway]

Thank you very much!!! [emoji122][emoji122][emoji122][emoji122][emoji4][emoji106]