Matt Hamilton
RE: https://noauthority.social/@billybon3s/116706055910976507
You were right.
After yanking on it, even when wired up, the thin wall of EMT is just too flexible to support the panels without warp. Minor flexing of the structure's base is acceptable, but I don't want the panels to crack.
Time to put in an order at the electrical supply store I guess.
Matt Hamilton
If I accept this design (give me a few days to kick it), I'll post a full parts, cut, and tool list (incl. total cost per).
Doing it this way is arguably more work than doing it with wood and screws, but given that this will hold up much longer, amortize the costs and it's probably about the same. Hollow steel is *way* lighter than an equivalent wood frame would be and I don't have to worry about it until I'm old enough to utilize child labor to the fullest.
Matt Hamilton
This is also a dual-use design:
My intent is to build a very similar design (with a taller deck/platform) for a pair of breeding chickens we will keep separate from the rest of the flock.
Matt Hamilton
Start of v2: no fittings on the sleds.
I increased the height so the bunnies can stand fully upright once they’re grown.
The additional height creates more of a wind (sail) hazard, but I’ll screw in temporary anchors to chain it down to whenever we’re slated for more than 25mph of wind.
The verticals are the front (low) part of the panel and connect with 90deg structural fittings. The rear (absent) verticals can be replaced seasonally to change panel angle.
Matt Hamilton
Nearly complete v2 frame.
Needs the center support installed in the back (you can see it sagging a bit, heh), a partial plywood sheet to fill the rest of the storage deck, and water-resistant “curtains” to keep things dry without adding too much weight.
I’ll redo the wire bracing to use turnbuckles (which I don’t have on hand) so the rear supports can be replaced with shorter verticals, adjusting the panels between two angles, winter and summer.
+ a host of other misc little things.
Matt Hamilton
Unfortunately even with the reduced friction design, my wife still cannot pull it without some kind of mechanical advantage. I'm able to pull it no problem (unlike v1), could add another 80-120lbs before it starts becoming tough.
This isn't a huge problem since I'm the only one moving it, but it means that I'll have to strategically not mow certain areas prior to leaving the house for an extended period (4-7 days) in the care of a sitter since I can't expect anyone but myself move it.
Matt Hamilton
Wire is up, but as expected this is a lot more difficult to move than my first iteration.
Going to have to figure something out.
Oh well.
Tomorrow I have to figure out how we’re going to get the first litter out of here and into the tractor.
Matt Hamilton
Two down, ten to go.
Only wanted to pull a few at a time as not to panic those remaining.
Matt Hamilton
I have a new design (that works in my head) for v2, the second tractor, which brings back the (almost) zero-fitting sleds from v0, hopefully making it easier to move. If this doesn't work, I have a plan for adding wheels to v1(.1)
Also, why do people call these things "tractors"? Chicken tractor, bunny tractor, etc.
I don't know a better word, but I don't think "tractor" is fitting.
Matt Hamilton
A 5 gal bucket of water and a battery + charge controller will be attached to the base of the tallest corners to mitigate typical wind.
When a hurricane or strong storm is coming I'll be moving these under tree cover and/or using earth screw anchors and chain to affix it to the ground so it doesn't blow away.
Matt Hamilton
Still need to add one more rigid brace before the frame is “done” (red). It started storming.
But after looking at it, I might cut the frame-attached poles flush with the frame and then put the vertical supports inside so it appears more square and the roof provides an overhang.
I thought using more bends would let me get away with fewer fittings, but I think it needs work.
Good news is the single-piece skids make pulling it (~115lb) easy.
Matt Hamilton
Given it a bit more thought, and the other problem with the bends vs 90 deg. fittings is breaking strength under load.
The back (the part not pictured) will have one, maybe two vertical supports which should help, but having those bends means it would take a lot less load (snow) to push them to the critical point where the metal creases and then snaps.
If I lived somewhere down South, using bends like this would probably be fine.
Matt Hamilton
God demands I finish this project to a habitable standard by the end of the day. (There are more baby bunnies in the condo, a new litter, heh.)
“Like rabbits”
🐇
Matt Hamilton
Just about finished the conversion.
As I suspected, the extra fittings on the sled make it much more difficult to move. For the first “production” unit (which will get paint and I’ll actually measure stuff instead of eyeballing it), I may weld the bottom six joints to the sled. That, or be lazy and use two EMT runs at the bottom and bolt the top one to the bottom using bolts inside the tube.
I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.
I’ll strap wire to the bottom after dinner.
Matt Hamilton
The start of the bunny grow-out tractor(s).
EMT, one-hole straps, and cage wire (all to be etched and painted black) for the structure. I’ll inset a 8” wire/slat lip on the inside to discourage digging out, but we’ll be moving these at least once a day.
Solar panels will run fans to keep the buns cool (since I’m not letting them dig to retreat from the heat), and in the colder months will run heat strips to keep the water tank/nipples from freezing.
I’ll be brushing snow off in winter.
Matt Hamilton
EMT rails attached and bent. Roof is mostly finished. Will caulk between the panels at the end.
I’ll bend identical conduits for the “sleds” so there are no fittings on the ground inhibiting dragging it.
The (small) vertical struts will vary in length to give me the appropriate winter angle.
I will use T fittings to add horizontal members to create a box. Once they’re on I’ll use steel cable and turnbuckles to make it rigid, followed by welded wire screen attached using steel cable ties.
Matt Hamilton
@PNS that's not the issue, it's that they can come out of square in the Z axis and warp (which would happen even with diagonal bracing) which probably creates micro-fractures in the glass that can't be seen by the eye.
The much sturdier and flat surface offered by the unistrut (with a lot less play than the EMT clips I'm currently using) should prevent Z axis warping.
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