manual press
Posted June 9th, 2009 by vmpolesov
Have you thought of manual press? Like this one maybe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHfSd1Lkgss
I think they did a good job and this is well within my welding/fabrication skills. But I don't think they have open source plans. They seem to be a different project than you people. But I wouldn't be surprised if both groups were burning man types.
Comments
I don't know if Marcin ever considered a manual one, since it's so much effort. Manual loading is a ton of effort, literally, actually about 2 tons for a 6x10 foot wall section, and that's just for stacking once the automatic machine is tractor loaded and presses them. Double it for manual loading/pressing. If you have a whole bunch of people it could be effective.
I am interested in a manual press or something very simple as a way to get started.
Let's say I want to perform some simple project like make some bricks for a raised bed garden, etc. Of course I could just go to Homer's and buy them for $1/brick but I am cheap and I like making vs buying as a symbolic act to deprive the parasitic government of a tiny amount of tax revenue.
To start I want to try making a couple tiny test bricks. What is the smallest I could go as a proof of concept? Like say a 2x2x4 inch brick. I figure if I start small then smaller forces are required I can press whatever fiixture I make it in a vise. If this proof of concept works and my soil seems usable then I would proceed to make a big production out of this and weld/fabricate a press capable of thousands of pouds of fource for 'full size' bricks for garden use.
As a rough guideline how many psi or GPa do I need to press your average sand plus clay plus stabilizer (lime or cement) into a brick?
For a manual test version, you can make a wood frame box and tamp the soil mixture from the top piece of wood with something heavy. Look up tamped earth or rammed earth: http://www.google.com/search?q=earth+tamp+brick&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&r...
Also we did our raised beds using pallets cut up with a chainsaw. Ben says that the deep dug beds are better though.
I would like to make one manual cinva ram block press. Can anybody provide with the plans and constructional details ?
Thanks.
hey guys,
here @ cohabitat.net (english version in late 2009) we are going to release a CEB manual press plans on open source licence this year. Stay tuned.
http://openfarmtech.org/index.php?title=Open_Source_Manual_CEB_Press/
The plans for the block press were to be released in 2009. We are approaching the middle of 2010. How much longer shal I have towait for the plans?
yeah, manual is good for areas outside of the first world... ie the rest of us. Why would we spend $1,000 to build a machine to build a house that requires fuel and other machines (tractor, digger, etc) to make it work out? That is just not realistic for a developing world housing solution.
I mean, the CEB press is an awesome idea if you want to build a village, but if you want to build a house, and do it cheaply, you really need a manual press. Otherwise, it is back to good ol' adobe blocks, because a simple wooden form costs... well nothing.
But seriously, I think a manual press is an important necessity. The CINVA ram was a huge success in that regard, and something along those lines, but open source, would be great. I may have to do this one myself! It would have to also be adjustable for different sizes, and have inserts for foundation, lintel,a nd bond beam blocks, like the Auroville press.
G'day Velacreations,
Might just point out that stabilized earth and rammed earth construction are methods that can be adopted in many regions. The technique is well developed and acceptable to council (in Australia anyway) with many licensed builders specialising in this area.
Have a look at these Australian Builders websites and galleries for an idea:
http://www.rammedearthnational.com.au/
http://www.stabilisedearth.com.au/
Nurries,
Otto
good point velacreations. keep it simple wherever possible. for a small project the expensve of a motorized press may not be worth it or may turn into a mega-project of its own.
Has anyone considered what happens when it rains on a building made of pressed earth bricks, or am I just not finding one of the missing steps in the construction?
I'm interested in the progress of this project, but questioning how to make such a structure weather-proof...
Thanks,
Allen
Its their fatal flaw really. Like the Wicked Witch of the West they melt when they get rained on.
To overcome this limitation you basically protect the bricks from ever getting wet, by providing a solid roof, including binding material thats water proof, coating them with something like tar to make them water proof, etc...
You'll notice I'm sure that like all things labled "water proof" that there isn't really such a thing. The only perminate solution is to fire the silica in the bricks to make them stronger and bind better. Unfortunately this requires high temperatures, fuel, and a kiln to direct the heat. Luckly, with good CEBs you can build a good high temperature kiln and with an ample supply of biomass, you can fire your own bricks. The key is to find a way to make the kiln less of a one time construction, which I've got a few ideas on.
Actually, 5-10% lime or cement is the best this to combat water damage, but in reality, they don't "melt" very fast. I have seen adobe buildings in fairly wet climates last decades without any sort of protection, even without roofs, so it is not as big of a deal as you might think.
We have blocks that are stablised with 5% cement, and you can leave them in a bucket of water for 2 months, and nothing will happen ( I know, I have done it!). A little stabilization goes a long way, and lime is probably the best, as far as expense and durability are concerned.
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