a little bit of a struggle,” Childers said. Early durability tractor builds used air-set molding in the metalcasting facility prototype shop. Deere was also able to pare eight weeks from the product development time of each build via 3D printing. “We worked on a once or twice


weekly basis with engineering as the design was being developed because we had a core manufacturing strat- egy that we were pursuing and we asked for a myriad of changes in the casting design to accommodate that,” Childers said. “Plus we asked them to make changes in the casting design for directional solidifi cation and for the fl ow of stresses through the cast- ing. We made some design sugges- tions that made the casting stronger and stiff er.” After the fi rst durability build,


Deere asked for a reduction in mass. “With a tractor you want it heavy enough to be able to put all the power to the ground but not any heavier


“With a tractor you want it heavy enough to be able to put all the


power to the ground but not any heavier than that. Any extra


weight you’re carrying beyond what you need is just creating extra soil compaction and hindering the ability of the crop to grow.” —Pete Murfey, John Deere


than that,” Murfey said. “Any extra weight you’re carrying beyond what you need is just creating extra soil compaction and hindering the ability of the crop to grow.” Ultimately, Deere trimmed 211 pounds out of the casting while still meeting all of the finite element analysis and functional


requirements of the part. The Finished Product Eight cores are needed for each


casting, and they are automatically gantry-set at two stations on the line. T e castings are 100% machined at GMT Corporation, Waverly, Iowa, and delivered to Deere’s plant in Waterloo, Iowa, where internal components are assembled. T en they are sent to tractor cab and assembly operations in or the tractor builds.


cab and assembly operations in Water- loo floo for the tr ctor builds.


It off ers less soil compaction, a


better turning radius, no skidding and other benefi ts. T e 9RX is a very eff ec- tive puller, with its four large axles and undercarriages trans- ferring power from the engine to the ground. “T e component


With its cast drive housing that utilized 3D printed molds to save eight weeks on each build, the 9RX 4-Track hit the market in February.


28 | MODERN CASTING June 2016


the gear train. It s one of the largest parts we pour at our facility.”


arriage and basical supports the tractor, transfers the torque from the axle to the shaft and encloses all the gear train. It’s one of the largest parts we pour at our facilit


latiolation of the under- carriage and basically supports the tr ctor transfers the torque from the axle to the shaft and encloses al


carries the gear train and it supports the whole tractor, the undercarriage for the track system,” Lub- ben said. “It limits the articu- n of the under-


ater-


T e 9RX 4-Track hit the market in February and has brought what Deere wanted.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60