what if a new gen knotter was made

tim s · Apr 5, 2019

I was thinking about Baler knotters and wondered how many sensors would be needed if our New generation engineers were to build a New Gen Knotter...It still boggles my mind when I think of all the complex issues that are incorporated in todays equipment.

Bob · Apr 5, 2019

First of all, it would need a "hemp detector" to verify the real thing vs. plastic!

Jaden · Apr 5, 2019

I work with industrial electronic controls and automation, but I still am amazed how a mechanical device can tie a knot. There were some mighty talented designers back then.

37chief · Apr 5, 2019

I'll bet there were a lot of bad days when the knotters were first made. Dad bailed with wire. There again it amazed me to see the machine twist the two ends together. The cutter of the wire always left a sharp pointed end, that would rip your clothes or skin, if you handled the bail the wrong way. Sure beats tying bales by hand. Stan

RBoots · Apr 5, 2019

Instead of looking at the old mechanical knotters, the new engineers would build something related to something that they know can already tie a knot, such as a hand. So they would build 2 robot hands on top of the baler, then program the 2 hands to see the twine at the end of the name, grasp it, then program the 2 robot hands to loop, swoop, and pull. Wala! Simple as that. Except when the robot hands went bad, you couldn't just go buy a part, you would have to go buy a new 50,000 pair of robot hands.

Mike(NEOhio) · Apr 5, 2019

Think what could go wrong if you were baling near a field of CBD hemp.

fastfarmall · Apr 5, 2019

That's the way they want it too, so you have to take it to them to have it fixed!

tim s · Apr 5, 2019

I can picture a 1- Twine supply sensor,2- twine tension sensor, 3-plunger time sensor, 4-bale tension sensor, 5- plunger speed indicator, 6- moisture sensor, 7- GPS guidance for windrow position... to name a few...

Johnnypopper · Apr 5, 2019

I would knot want to see what they came up with.

riveroadrat · Apr 5, 2019

Well I got my laugh for today visualizing that one. They could build the robot so he could make the knotters we use.

onefarmer · Apr 5, 2019

Boots would the said "hand" use the current style knot or a bowtie? lol

ss55 · Apr 6, 2019

Is there much demand for new small square balers anymore? It would be interesting to know what the total annual sales of small square balers is today compared to fifty years ago.

Sewing machines successfully switched from mechanical cams to multi axis servo motors in the 1980's to meet the demand for 20 to 100 plus different types of stitches and for lower machine costs. Machine tools switched to CNC (Computer Numerical Control) at about the same time. If you only need one type of knot on your new baler, a cam operated knotter would still do the job.

I wouldn't loose much sleep about the electronics and sensors on new equipment. Think how long it used to take to develop and fine tune the old mechanical mechanisms that could only do one thing well at only one setting. A bigger problem might be the low sales volumes of most farm equipment does not justify the cost of maintaining a parts supply for those machines after they become obsolete, too outdated, too expensive to maintain and repair, or too small for most farm operations.

tim s · Apr 6, 2019

No, there is not much demand for small square balers any more,my guess would be half of what was made in the 70's. Sensors do allow for more complex functions to take place, but they are a major fault for machine failures,one small sensor can cause a large machine to set idle for days till it can be sorted out. My neighbor got a new Deere round baler last year,it sat most of the hay season because they couldn't get the monitor to work, turned out to be a sensor on the machine causing the issue,,he went back to the dealer and got his old machine to get his hay made... He is hoping for the best this year,,but still kept his old machine.. This is the major glitch in New Gen equipment,, your ready to plant/harvest,,weather is great,the crop/ground is "ready",,and then a sensor "some where" will not let the machine go to work, I see this way too often. We have let this happen to ourselves in the tune of looking into the future,,,No I don't expect to see the new Gen equipment go back to the days of old dependable non-electronic models,,,but better dependability is going to have to be developed.

K Effective · Apr 6, 2019

What you don't hear often enough is the benefits of al the electronics we've allowed to be added to our equipment. How little black smoke we create as we till, plant and harvest our fields, the fuel we save lowering our costs, the ability to change population rates on the fly from the cab with no tools, how we save products and time with not overlaps, etc.

My first vehicle as a kid had a start routine- two gas pedal pumps and pull the choke cable full out, any other combination ended in no start, possibly flooding the engine. How much better to get in, sit down and turn the key today.

Bill VA · Apr 6, 2019

I?m thinking rather than tie a knot, the baler would use plastic twine and weld the ends together.

tim s · Apr 6, 2019

That make sense,,and would eliminate a lot of parts...

jacksun65 · Apr 6, 2019

better Question would be how many computers would it take to run the baler.

JD Dave · Apr 6, 2019

I'm way too old fashioned to ever believe sensors, welders and robots could work in a world of dust, dirt and oily grime.

what if a new gen knotter was made

tim s

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Bob

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Jaden

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37chief

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RBoots

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Mike(NEOhio)

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fastfarmall

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tim s

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Johnnypopper

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riveroadrat

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onefarmer

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ss55

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tim s

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K Effective

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Bill VA

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