Bale Cat Tractor Implement -
Designed and fabricated during my Senior Capstone Project obtaining a B.S. Mechanical Engineering Degree. My role was to serve as Chief Engineer and Team Manager for my group of 5 young engineers.
Deliverables -
a 500lb functional prototype of the Bale Cat was fabricated and shown to improve feeding cycles times by %27. As well as significant reductions in RMD and hazard exposure by tractor operators.
170 page technical report outlining design methodologies, working principles, CAD and FEA simulations, decision matrix, embodiment design, future iterations and improvements.
Professional presentations - PDR, CDR, ORR etc.
CAD model of entire assembly
Welding Stoke! - I am a self taught welder and this was my first project that involved a very significant amount of welding.
CAD illustration of the folding arms mechanism our team designed.
Members of the team posing with the Bale Cat
Stoked
A closer look at the custom fork rake that was fabricated.
Bale Cat making engagement with the hay bale from the flat face of the bale
Me - laying it down baby!
chain drive mechanism we assembled.
Testing the electric chain track with an axillary 12V power supply to simulate the power coming from the tractor battery
one of the significant joints that are structurally essential for hay bale engagement
Engagement of hay bale from the round face
Heat gun manipulation to function off of switch
Heat gun testing and rewiring.
hay bale engagement - round face - isometric view
discussing working principle actualization with the team - mid fabrication
Teamwork!