WaterWheel Factory

Your Waterwheel Solution

We talk a lot about the different kinds of waterwheels, but to build one is a whole story in itself. Below is the making of a Hubbshot waterwheel. It is 10.5 feet in dia. and has 32 inch wide buckets. Total weight is over 2500 lb. It has 8 buckets sections, being attached by side spokes to a pair of 20 inch dia. hub assembled on a 4 inch dia. bearing bar. When completed, it was so tuned the wind was turning the wheel and as far as we could detect, less then 1/16 in. out of round.

Steel stock is laser cut to 5 thousands of an inch tolerances against a master CAD drawing.

This is a stack of 12 inch wide side panels getting ready to be assembled with buckets.

Heavy gage steel is then bent in our 16 ton bucket press to within a degree of roundness. We can bend up to 42 inches wide buckets.

Because we can cut metal with such high tolerances, we have designed tabs in our buckets to fit inside slits in our side panels. This allows for precise placements of the buckets within each section.

The finished panel, one of eight for the waterwheel is then checked for quality control.

Some of the sections are assembled on the factory floor to make sure that all the components from the hubs, spokes and buckets section will fit together.

Before a custom waterwheel is shipped out, we fully assemble it at our factory.

Bracing is constructed and the 450 lb. hub bearing assembly is secured.

The panels are brought over to our staging area for assembly.

The first bucket section is bolted onto the spokes.

This is the tricky part as we go past the half way mark. Making sure the assemlby is secured, while bolting the 2500 lb. of steel together.

It's beginning to take shape as we get ready for the last 2 sections. The total assembly of the wheel will take less then a day.

The finished wheel

The wheel is disassembled and packed. It is then transported to the customer, in this case an old grist mill is being renovated and needs a new waterwheel.

	Steel stock is laser cut to 5 thousands of an inch tolerances against a master CAD drawing. This is a stack of 12 inch wide side panels getting ready to be assembled with buckets.
	Heavy gage steel is then bent in our 16 ton bucket press to within a degree of roundness. We can bend up to 42 inches wide buckets.
	Because we can cut metal with such high tolerances, we have designed tabs in our buckets to fit inside slits in our side panels. This allows for precise placements of the buckets within each section.
	The finished panel, one of eight for the waterwheel is then checked for quality control.
	Some of the sections are assembled on the factory floor to make sure that all the components from the hubs, spokes and buckets section will fit together.
	Before a custom waterwheel is shipped out, we fully assemble it at our factory. Bracing is constructed and the 450 lb. hub bearing assembly is secured.
	The panels are brought over to our staging area for assembly.
	The first bucket section is bolted onto the spokes.
	This is the tricky part as we go past the half way mark. Making sure the assemlby is secured, while bolting the 2500 lb. of steel together.
	It's beginning to take shape as we get ready for the last 2 sections. The total assembly of the wheel will take less then a day.
	The finished wheel The wheel is disassembled and packed. It is then transported to the customer, in this case an old grist mill is being renovated and needs a new waterwheel.