Balanced material handler

One problem when you design and build something, is the vicious circle « Too heavy -> Need more power -> Add structure and equipment -> Heavier -> Need more power -> Add structure and equipment -> Heavier etc.
Except if you have a balanced system. Sennebogen, for example, build material handler that uses massive counterweight to balance the two main arms, so it only need few power to move. Video here (in german).

 

This MOC is firstly a will to re-use the maximum on system from my previous MOC, in particular the track to ensure that they are really modular and can be fitted on any crane.

This MOC is in two independent parts.

02_balanced_material_handlerThe full album Is available on FlickR.

The upper part is totally inspired from the Sennebogen 8130. It is composed of two arms balanced by two battery boxes.
The lower part is made of two legs and independent tracks (yes, the same as the harbour crane).
Each part has its own battery box and SBrick Controller.

01_balanced_material_handler03_range_of_movement

The upper part:
The main structure is actually very simple. It is a link between the turntable and the mobile structure which is the most important part. There is two PF-M hidden inside, one that open/close the tool, the second one moves the two battery boxes (linked to the secondary arm) thanks to a tandem of mini-linear actuator.
Thanks to the counterweight, only one Linear Actuator is required to move all the mobile structure.
The cabin is a re-use of the previous MOC, and some details such as handrail or light have been added. Behind the cab the “powerstation” hide the first SBrick controller and one PF-L motor.

See also  Snow Groomer #1

07_la_main_mast
11_integrated_motor06_handrail
08_double_mini_la05_powerstation

Just a word about the tools, you may have recognize the one from set 42006, the second one is just a clamshell used for testing while I didn’t have the part to build the other.

13_claw14_clamshell

The lower parts are legs and tracks. That’s all. It is stiffened thanks to the use of panel and contain the second Sbrick and a PF-XL motor for the rotation of the turntable.
The tracks are, as said earlier, a re-use of the harbour crane, so independent with integrated motor. They support all the weight without any problem.

15_tracks16_tracks