Welding cable reels (SWIVEL)??

[quinq]

HI, Just wondering what kind of swivels have been home made for cable reels? I'd like to fabricate a couple. I'd need the swivel to pack 400-450 amps.Is there any manufactures out there at a reasonable price? Thanks, any help would be help full. quinq

[Robin Hood]

It better be a good reel....450amp.. will make a line jump 2" OFF THE GROUND....

[quinq]

Ya, Robin H, It's gotta to be a very good connection in the swivel so you don't get any resistance! I may even like to push 500 amps @ times for gouging. Anyone out there know of a commutator system w/ brushes that may work??

[lotechman]

You can purchase commercially made clamps that swivel. They are often used on pressure tanks and such like when they are being rotated during the welding process. They are pricey. I was involved with some sub arc welding on some cans that had a machined surface. Two brass shoes about three inches in diameter pressed against the surface. We were running up to 900 amps ... no burning marks occurred

[digr]

This is for ideas only, nothing to scale. I think this would work or something like it. Always wanted a set but never got around to it.

[lotechman]

What is drawn is almost exactly what I saw done on this submerged arc production unit. The isolation of the unit is really important. I saw all kinds of problems when the brass contact failed. Current would run through drive motors and bearings. The result was exciting at such high amperages! I would isolate both reels. A tool or metal bucket touching the unit would short out.... With both reels isolated you need a shorting problem to occur twice.

[Tinker]

Hey DIGR, nice design and drawing. What software did you use?

I agree with Lotechman on the isolating both of the reels, could get very exciting if something shorted out. Perhaps there is a way to limit the amount of hardware that's electrically live without making the design too complex? Maybe isolate the power "brush" from the base, isolate the rotor from the spool and axle, connect the cable directly to the rotor?

Anyway, looks like a great idea for cable management.

[digr]

Thank's The program is "smartdraw" It is very simple and easy to use. I then used "printkey" to make a j-peg and post the pic.

[quinq]

Not to bad of idea's there guys. I think it would have to be covered to keep dust/dirt out. Still thinking about a brush system. Do you guys know how brushes are rated,size/type/compisition ect.? We'll keep refining and defining. Thanks again, quinq