Pneumatic Log Splitter... Need your guys help!

[spudkpi]

Hey guys I am looking to build a pneumatic log splitter that is run on regulated co2. What I need to know is whether or not the pneumatic ram would have enough force to split a log? And what would be the best way to achieve this if i want to be able to split the log? My idea was to have some sort of galvanized steel chamber that would just dump air into a cylinder that has a piston driven arm attached to the wedge that would be built into a frame and would explode dowwn and split the log. I have the angle iron frame built I just can't figure out how to make the arm to where it could split it and then reload itself or something. I know you guys have the knowledge and experience to help me here. I appreciate it!

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Some ideas here you might want to look at.

[jrrdw]

Yea, it could be done but honestly hydraulic is the way to go.

[ammosmoke]

Oh dang... That's an interesting idea for sure. Have you ever seen a gas engine powered hydraulic splitter? They are horizontal and have a ram that splits the round lengthwise. If you were to duplicate that design you could probably do it with pneumatics. The arm thing could work too. My only concern, no matter what design, would be wood pieces flying everywhere. Pneumatic devices move *very* fast.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

What the heck, piston valved launcher with a chisel on equipped with a return spring, pop-off valve for actuation, a log "magazine" and you have a full auto splitter

[spudkpi]

Haha guys this is great! Well my dad is working on a hydraulic bottle jack splitter and eventually I would like to compete with him with my pneumatic one.... the hydraulic is too slow and we need to split this stuff faster! What kind of pressure you do you think this will need to run at? I'm basing the idea more on the momentum of the wedge as apposed to the power that a hydraulic jack would provide. If you think about the way an axe works it is the same concept. I guess I just need to calculate the amount of force one would generate when splitting a log and transfer that into the psi and volume of my chamber. Man this is shaping up to be a good idea....

[spudkpi]

And JSR... what program do you use to draw your cross sections?

[ammosmoke]

What the heck, piston valved launcher with a chisel on equipped with a return spring, pop-off valve for actuation, a log "magazine" and you have a full auto splitter

LOL!!! That is awesome JSR. I'd say if you could make the mag adjustable for width and length, you could have a winner. For instance, after you chop all the rounds, you make the mag narrower and funnel in the halves.

[MountainousDew]

Be careful with log splitters... my cousin chopped (kinda smashed) off the tip of her finger with one. She got really lucky (for someone who gets the finger cut off by a log splitter) because it hit her in the middle of her fingernail instead of taking her whole digit.

[POLAND_SPUD]

I am afraid it's MS paint....

uhhmmm well how much force do you need?

for example, an aircylinder with 50mm diam. piston has piston area of 19.63 square cm(3.04 square inches) so if fed with air at 10 atm (150 psi) it can lift a 190 kg object

but with 80mm diam. piston you could achieve the same result with just 4 atm

[psycix]

Would you really need a piston valve to actuate the cylinder?
You do not necessarily need speed here, just force.

[spudkpi]

Would you really need a piston valve to actuate the cylinder?
You do not necessarily need speed here, just force.

That's the thing... if you think about what the force is like for an average man to swing an axe and split a log, you could just imitate it with pneumatics. I don't want something slow and crushing; I want some fast and choppy! Splitty time!

[Solar]

Or you could build a launcher that shoots the logs onto a target that is a wedge. Just saying...

[Davidvaini]

Or you could build a launcher that shoots the logs onto a target that is a wedge. Just saying...

or you could build a small launcher that shoots a small projectile with tanneriite to cause an explosion, im sure that would split the log. Just saying...

[twizi]

what about a giant pistion valve gun with a wedge in the end of the barrel so it gets up to say 300mph than bam hit this axe wedhe and split and flys in to to piles of wood