Ok everyone, I've been working back through the engineering math and I am pretty sure we can do this with the more common 100 gal vertical tanks so we can use the cheaper 3" pillow block bearings. What we would lack in diameter we can make up through length so the residence time of the ore is longer thus being exposed to the crushing forces longer.
Unfortunately, in going this way, if you cannot weld, your going to have to learn. You don't need a high welder for this either. A simple buzz box from Home Depot would work.
Lincoln Electric AC/DC 225/125 Stick Welder-K1297 - The Home Depot Nice thing about this one is the fact that with a few simple things it can be used as a TIG welder as your skills develop. The 7018 rod is the easiest to learn with and would be an excellent fit for this project.
Also, with the cost of the pipe flanges being through the roof now, tools will have to be bought. Nothing fancy, mostly from Harbor Freight as they will need to be modified to suit our needs. Here's one that would be modified:
Tubing Roller
All the parts to modify the tubing roller along with additional dies are available here:
Tubing Roller, Dies & Accessories Good way to practice your welding skills in modifying the tubing roller.
Now back to the original design. The 100 pound tanks can typically had cheap and with a diameter of 22.9" and a wall thickness of .321", they would fit our needs quite nicely I think. Three tanks could be bought and one cut and welded over the over to increase wall thickness and the other used as a liner to protect the others. I checked here at the local propane place and they sell "scrapped" 100 gal cylinders for around $75 each. I think it might also be possible to use the 120 gallon tanks also but that would be right at the edge of what the pillow blocks could handle.
The modified tubing roller would be needed to roll the flanges from flat stock. Unfortunately, the flat stock has to be rolled the hard way, so that will take awhile even with a powered roller. The roller will handle up to 1/2" thick material (good thing it is powered).
So we are well on our way to getting this done. Progress on this is going to be slow for awhile due to the fact that I need to go to Harbor Freight and do some shopping for the very same tools I posted. Nearest one is three and a half hours away or it's mail order for me. I usually buy and use high end tools but that will do no good here as I want to use tools that are within everyone's budget.
Sorry I didn't get this up sooner but I've taken a beating at work the last few days. Seems they consider me something of an expert now on things mechanical.
