Members Colt W Knight Posted May 2, 2017 Members Report Posted May 2, 2017 I make GPS tracking collars for livestock as part a part of my research interests ( I am a livestock specialist for the University of Maine). When I was a PhD student, I developed a way to make inexpensive GPS tracking collars for cattle, and that project has snowballed quit a bit, and now multiple Universities are using my collars. I got so many requests to build collars, I setup a Grazing Behavior Lab on campus where I can manufacture and sell tracking collars to other institutions. This provides my lab with some income to help further my research and work related travel expenses. One of the largest time sinks was actually punching holes in the Biothane and riveting buckles on with #8 copper rivets by hand. Plus it was killing my hands ( I have essential tremors), and making a ton of noise. I searched around, and called Weaver leather and they recommended their new steel construction Press with their autofeed rivet hopper. Man, this thing works great. I was able to attach 40 buckles in less than an hour. Something, that I would probably have taken me 12 or more hours with the hole punching and rivet setting. The biggest plus, no banging, cutting, or peening, and the tube rivets are corrosion resistant, Stainless Steel. Quote
Members Gregspitz Posted May 2, 2017 Members Report Posted May 2, 2017 looks like an old machine gun...show a video of it in action! Quote Greg Spitz MD,FACS Custom Watch Straps 922Leather Gregspitz@922Leather.com
bikermutt07 Posted May 2, 2017 Report Posted May 2, 2017 That is really cool. I'm glad to hear it's saving time and your hands. Mine hurt all the time. And it's auto feed. Do you still have to punch a hole? Quote I'm not paying 80 bucks for a belt!!! It's a strip of leather. How hard could it be? 4 years and 3 grand later.... I have a belt I can finally live with. Stitching is like gravy, it's only great if you make it every day. From Texas but in Bossier City, Louisiana.
Members JaspaJami Posted May 2, 2017 Members Report Posted May 2, 2017 Selling those collars? Last summer i was trying to find some gps collar for the cattle (and for horses) because our field is quite far away from home. Quote
Members Colt W Knight Posted May 2, 2017 Author Members Report Posted May 2, 2017 That is really cool. I'm glad to hear it's saving time and your hands. Mine hurt all the time. And it's auto feed. Do you still have to punch a hole? No, it punches the hole and sets the rivet in one action. Selling those collars? Last summer i was trying to find some gps collar for the cattle (and for horses) because our field is quite far away from home. Yes, the collars are available through the University of Maine. However, these collars just store data, they are not real time tracking. looks like an old machine gun...show a video of it in action! I'll, try to get that done Quote
bikermutt07 Posted May 2, 2017 Report Posted May 2, 2017 Awesomeness Quote I'm not paying 80 bucks for a belt!!! It's a strip of leather. How hard could it be? 4 years and 3 grand later.... I have a belt I can finally live with. Stitching is like gravy, it's only great if you make it every day. From Texas but in Bossier City, Louisiana.
Trox Posted May 2, 2017 Report Posted May 2, 2017 Nice machine. But nobody makes a autofeed machine for those good old copper rivets. Quote Tor Workshop machines: TSC 441 clone/Efka DC1550, Dürkopp-Adler 267-373/Efka DC1600, Pfaff 345-H3/Cobra 600W, Singer 29K-72, Sandt 8 Ton clicking machine, Alpha SM skiving unit, Fortuna 620 band knife splitting machine. Old Irons: Adler 5-27, Adler 30-15, Singer 236W-100
Mark842 Posted May 2, 2017 Report Posted May 2, 2017 Yep, hands down one of the best time savers we ever purchased for our shop. What used to take 2-3 hours a day for two people is now done in less than one hour for the entire week. Quote
Members JaspaJami Posted May 4, 2017 Members Report Posted May 4, 2017 Yes, the collars are available through the University of Maine. However, these collars just store data, they are not real time tracking. Ok. I need real time one. Also one that is automatically alarming if limit border is breached. Quote
Members Colt W Knight Posted May 4, 2017 Author Members Report Posted May 4, 2017 Ok. I need real time one. Also one that is automatically alarming if limit border is breached. There are some RFID tag systems that will do that, but they are expensive. Real time GPS trackers require monthly subscriptions that make them unaffordable for research. Quote
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