Rolling test stand

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Chris Hollands
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Location: Vancouver ,Canada

Rolling test stand

Post by Chris Hollands »

I'm looking at making a roller test stand for the challenger and want to know as some people have used plastic/Teflon strips to run their engines .
Is there a weight that would be too much for plastic - too much friction as the challenger has approx 200lbs per driver axle - 1200 lbs .
Yes I could go roller bearings but plastic is way simpler if it would work just a thought .
My thought is it's too much weight and resistance for plastic and would wear holes in the material .
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gwrdriver
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Re: Rolling test stand

Post by gwrdriver »

Some years ago (for an unrelated project) I bought some adhesive-backed plastic strip which is .380"± wide, 068"± thick, clear, very dense, and very slippery, but not "soapy "slippery (like Teflon.) I have no idea now what plastic the material is, but if you'd like to give it a try I'll be glad to send you a sample. I can't imagine that it wouldn't eventually wear through, but I'd say it would take many miles of running to do that.

It's paper-backed and had contact adhesive applied, which has some holding power but probably not enough to stay put while your loco is running on it, and that condition would not have improved with age, so a fresh adhesive of some kind would probably be needed.
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RONALD
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Re: Rolling test stand

Post by RONALD »

I made my test stand and used DU bearings.

You would have to look at the literature for weight loading.

I drilled the holes needed for 6 and 8 wheels configuration.

The holes location I know from the drawings for the locomotives I intend to build.

I think I may have posted this info back in 2009?

DU Bearings are sold by many companies.

https://www.ggbearings.com/en/our-produ ... gIAuPD_BwE


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cbrew
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Re: Rolling test stand

Post by cbrew »

I used to oil the rails on the stand but it was still hard on the wheels etc. this is the latest version test cart, I can adjust the rollers for different wheel arrangement.


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Bill Shields
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Re: Rolling test stand

Post by Bill Shields »

I do what you describe with my 2-8-0 which has 700# on drivers.

The loading ability is a nice way to test that it that is tough to get on bearings unless you run against the brakes.

I used uhmw strips, bolted down to the stand rails, but needed a careful hand on the throttle and a dab of lube to keep things cool...I was afraid of burning through (maybe unjustifiably).

Supporting the weight is not a problem
Too many things going on to bother listing them.
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NP317
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Re: Rolling test stand

Post by NP317 »

You just have to make sure to remove the lube from the driver tires before running the locomotive on tracks...
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hanermo
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Re: Rolling test stand

Post by hanermo »

The plastic will easily work if you have enough surface area.
Plastic will float a 1000 kg mass, easily, around 1 m2 of area, on drag.

Igus has calcs on this, and free engineering support.
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makinsmoke
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Re: Rolling test stand

Post by makinsmoke »

Yes, but isn’t the actual contact surface of a driver pretty dang small?
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Bill Shields
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Re: Rolling test stand

Post by Bill Shields »

I was worried about that, but it turned out to be a non issue. UHMW is really tough stuff.

You could always get creative and cut an engagement sector into it and cause more of the tread to contact.
Too many things going on to bother listing them.
Rich_Carlstedt
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Re: Rolling test stand

Post by Rich_Carlstedt »

UHMW is terrific stuff, but even stronger wear resistance even under high temps (400+) is PEEK
We used it a work for very high strength/wear applications
We used round bar and i have no ideas of what other shapes there are available , but there should be lots
Good luck
Rich
Kimball McGinley
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Re: Rolling test stand

Post by Kimball McGinley »

Having experience with both, I would go with the Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) over the Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) UHMW is very low friction and so wear-resistant it is used to line dump truck beds, conveyor chutes, etc.
PEEK is also way expensive. About $20 at McMaster-Carr will get you a 12" X 12" sheet of 1/4" UHMWPE, but the same size sheet of PEEK would cost you $360.
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Chris Hollands
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Re: Rolling test stand

Post by Chris Hollands »

Thanks for the help - looks like the plastic is going to get a work out in the near future .
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