Pneumatic Can Crusher (Automatic)

This is a can crusher I built over the summer break for the fun of it. I have wanted to build one since 10th grade but it took a few years to acquire the parts. Mostly everything was designed and built by me, I had some help from my dad getting the parts made. It uses Bimba cylinders, IDEC relays, a series one PLC, and random switches that I had. The PLC uses ultra primitive Ladder logic, it would have been 10 times easier to write the code on a TI-83. This machine could be redesigned to crush tall energy drink cans, it would just need a new can chute. I would have liked to design a better method of removing the crushed can but I ran out of ambition. It is timed right now to complete a crush cycle in 2.0 seconds. The main crusher cylinder is severely limited by the air solenoids. They do not allow for enough air flow which prevents the cylinder from getting a good snap into the can. I was considering possibly using a 1/2 inch dia. Bimba with a 1 inch stroke to toggle a manual air switch. Since the toggle switch would let much more air through, the cylinder would snap onto the can, instead of pushing slowly. Please leave design suggestions.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Pneumatic
• Can
• Crusher
• PLC
• Programmable
• Logic
• Controller
• Homemade
• Aluminum

[dumle29]

use an arduino insted of that big thing :D

[Harpmaster9000]

@dumle29 Yes would have been a lot better. However, I built it before I knew what an arduino was or that something like that existed for that cheap!

[TheAngelgg123]

@Harpmaster9000 hey man i need some help in building my can crusher ,, i need to know how to use a relay and all the cables ,, please can yuo help me ???????????/ thanks man

[Harpmaster9000]

@TheAngelgg123 Sorry that would take too much of my time! Just start researching it.

[ADB20101]

Why you use 4 solenoid valves, if I dare to ask.

I am working in my can crusher feeder and I am trying to use one more cylinder

[Harpmaster9000]

@ADB20101

1 valve pushes the main cylinder and 1 retracts it

1 valve turns the can feeder and 1 turns it back

Good Luck! Send me the link to your vid when you are done!

[yetilikesbeer]

Nice. If you haven't sped up your crushing stroke yet you could throw in a Amot 4057 or equivalent to send more air, directly from the supply to your cylinder and control it with the solenoid. The Amots are expensive though.

I had to put in a needle valve in to restrict my flow. Wrecks to much shit. I am trying to make a fully mechanical automatic pneumatic can crusher out of junk, she is a pain in the ass.

[Cr3ater]

whats funny is my daughter and I can smash cans faster than that, and its free

[kollak01]

damn you removed that cover so fast.

[AJ4775]

Good job very nicely done

[cowboy820]

this thing is bad ass i wanna make one! 

[Soaks07]

Your name must be Rube Goldberg....

[89lhy]

hello~i also had built an automatic pneumatic can crusher. Its concept almost similar like yours. And i having some problems on the PLC ladder diagram. A lot of corrections i had done on my PLC ladder diagram, but still cannot function. Overhere i wanted to ask how to design a perfect ladder diagram like yours so that i can make my project work? Your help will be very appreciated.

[hobbyguy]

It takes a technician to design the hardest and most non-understandable way to do things...

I crush my cans with my hands... yawnnn...