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Tell us about yourself: “I am semi-retired and work with my son at our manufacturing facility where we manufacture solar chemical injection systems for the Oil and Gas Industry. On my off days I like to farm, garden and look after a few hives of bees.”
Planting a field of spuds goes a lot quicker and easier when you work with a planter like this. Just wait for the light to come on, and drop a piece down… it doesn’t get easier than that!
Nice project, Jim! Thanks for sharing it with us!
What is it? A single row electronic spacing potato planter on a tractor with 3-point hitch.
How do you control your project? (e.g. hydraulic control valve(s), electric switches etc.) Raises and lowers with tractor 3-point hitch. Spacing of potatoes is done electronically with use of a proximity switch, which is activated with a printed spacer plate and flat head screws. The plate is made to space potatoes from 1-12 equal divisions of the packer wheel circumference. We have it set at 5 divisions which gives us a spacing of 11.5 inches. When the cap screw breaks the plane of the proximity switch (2) red lights flash on the control panel and the operator drops a potato in the opener chute. The two wheels are spaced so that they push soil over top of the potatoes. The amount of soil compaction is controlled with the top link. We plant about 4 inches deep and potatoes are covered with about 2.5 inches of soil.
What components are used to perform the work for your project? (e.g. hydraulic cylinder(s), hydraulic motor(s), sprockets, pulleys etc.) Components are as follows:
• Proximity switch • (2) red led lights • (2) packer wheels • (2) outrigger stabilizer wheels • Opener which is made of (1) 4-inch Flat at and (2) 6-inch flat bars welded together to form a triangular opener.
What design/build challenges did you overcome? The only real challenge was to come up with an indexing wheel. We finally 3D printed it in 2 pieces so it can clamp onto the wheel hub. It works well.
If you had to build it again, what would you do differently? My wife is the operator when we are planting and she prefers to stand. If it were up to me, I would install a seat. It takes about 49 minutes to plant 1,500 potatoes.
Which Princess Auto location do you visit most? Grande Prairie, Alberta