Michael Cochran Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 I had someone tell me about a video on YouTube showing a guy using a cam hammer and how easy it looked to build so I did some looking and decided to try. It may be a spectacular failure but I'm gonna give it my all. For those who don't know, the cam hammer was designed by Leonardo da Vinci around about 1500. It works by using a cam turning on a shaft pushing a rod that is attached at the far end of a sledge hammer perpendicular to the face. The rod rides around pushing the hammer up until it reaches a spot on the cam where it cuts back sharply towards the center. The cam looks almost like a snail shell as viewed from above or another example would be a nautilus shell or the golden ratio. Feel free to do some more reading and follow along if you want. On to the build. Today I started with the frame work for the hammer. Before anyone asks, no I don't have a set of plans other than what I'm seeing in my head as I go. I know it's not the best way to do a build like this but it helps my creative process to not be tied to any specifics. I'm using only scrap/reclaimed materials, I don't plan on buying anything for this build unless I can't find what I need in my collection of resources I have. I built a box with a base from 3/4" plywood and sides made from 2x4 lumber. I divided the box so that I could mount the anvil on one side and collect the scale around the base and the other side will be where the motor mounts. For the uprights I again used 2x4s and I added some lintels I got from a house remodel I did a couple months ago. The anvil is pieces of 3/8" mild steel plate that I drilled 4 holes in each corner and used a 16d nail for a countersunk rivet, I then came back and welded them together around the sides. I still need some more welding and the some grinding to level out the face of the anvil. I might even use a scrap piece of hard enable steel for a face if some presents itself before I finish this project. The anvil measures roughly 3.25x4x7" and is supported by 2x4 and plywood and I have 2x8s on the outsides providing a spot to set the anvil down in. I'm sure that I didn't answer all the questions that you guys will come up with so fire away and let's see what happens. This will probably be a slow build because I'm using only reclaimed materials so please be patient with me. Anyway, here's a couple pictures showing what I managed today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 Tilt hammers have been around at least 500 years before Leonardo if you decide to do a variation on the cam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 6 hours ago, ThomasPowers said: Tilt hammers have been around at least 500 years before Leonardo if you decide to do a variation on the cam. Oh at least that old. Weren't the Chinese using tilts to: pump water, pulp paper and felt wool a couple thousand years ago? I think they were in use in Rome too but I'm foggy on that one so don't quote me. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 I saw a video on you tube once where they used a tilt hammer and I thought it was pretty cool but my shop isn't big enough to put one of those in it right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 You could build a tilt hammer in the same foot print as the cam hammer so I don't see your point? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 If you built a tilt with a proper crank shaft that is mechanically connected to the arm or hammer weight you have a mechanical power hammer that isn't just a falling weight on the blow but motor driven for a lot more force. Smaller and not really any harder to build. I wouldn't build a tilt unless I had a stream within flue distance and needed a big HEAVY slow hammer say for refining bloom. Were I running a bloomery and forge I'd use the water falling off the pen stock to drive an induction air blast and lastly run a generator. Lights, compressed air, line shop ACTION! Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 What's this "running water" stuff you are talking about? Rivers are full of dry sand like they are supposed to be! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 Except when they are not.... sad when desert rats are telling folks not to drive in the water! Wind mills... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted March 1, 2016 Author Share Posted March 1, 2016 I planned on making some modifications for a stronger hit. I know that gravity alone will not make for a very useful hammer so I will be attaching some springs to help pull the hammer down. I'll do some more reading on a trip hammer and how to implement it in small scale. I do appreciate the suggestion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 All depends on how much mass and how long the fall... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 Gravity hammers have been in use for over 1000 years so someone found them useful. I have seen variants that use a wooden "spring" to give it the starting acceleration for the down stroke---using a board mounted securely at one end (sort of horizontally), the other is pushed up by the helve. Might look at some of the water powered hammers used in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted March 1, 2016 Author Share Posted March 1, 2016 I guess I should clarify my statement. I didn't mean gravity only was useless just that it is on such a small scale as I'm going with. I'm probably gonna be using an 8lb sledge hammer which is really too big for the anvil I made. That said gravity only on 8 pounds isn't gonna be much if any more effective than me using a 2.5lb hand hammer. Granted I don't have a background in physics so I haven't run any calculations or run any simulations, I'm just going on observations I've made by simply dropping the head of the sledge. Ive watched some videos the last couple days of a couple different trip hammers one of which I know was water powered (you could see glimpses of the waterwheel through the siding of the old building). I actually like the simple nature of those hammers but I don't think the motor I'm planning on using could provide enough power to do what I need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eseemann Posted May 29, 2016 Share Posted May 29, 2016 Did you ever complete your hammer? if so do you have any photos posted? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted May 29, 2016 Author Share Posted May 29, 2016 No I haven't finished. Truth is it looks just the same as the pictures above. I've been busy looking into Thomas' suggestion and dealing with some other things. I hope to get back to it in the next few weeks. I'll definitely post pictures when I get done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eseemann Posted May 29, 2016 Share Posted May 29, 2016 Thanks, looking forward to seeing it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted May 29, 2016 Share Posted May 29, 2016 Maybe a bit squirrel cage, I have a buck who needs a day job... then again a ground driven sweep with a team of Oxen... its just so hard to find good thrauls these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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