Design of a Telescoping Front End Loader

Situation: Design a telescoping front end loader to add three additional feet of reach to the Mahindra 5540 4WD tractor arm.

Task: Perform FEA analysis on a new telescoping boom attachment and propose a final design that can prove to be operable under maximum loading conditions.

Action: Using Solidworks and Ansys software, finite element analysis was applied to evaluate the strength, structural integrity, and geometric stability of the telescoping boom under the worst case loading conditions.

Result: Proposed a final design with a full bill of materials after FEA analysis.

Shows the Mahindra 5530 4WD tractor and ML 263 front loader attachment. The proposed telescoping boom would replace the mechanical component circled on the front loader. ×

SolidWorks model of the telescoping boom. Shows the lengths at which the boom can be extended and retracted ×

Shows a free body diagram of the tractor with a load on the bale spear and the tradeoff load at which the tractor tips. The load (P) at which the tractor tips when fully extended was determined to be 2,550 lb. ×

Shows the loading and boundary conditions on the boom at the tipping condition. ×

Convergence diagram for maximum Von Mises stress. ×

Maximum Von Mises stress occurs at the outer edge and middle of the 12 inch boom extension. ×

shows the vertical deflection of the 12 inch boom member at full extension. ×

Compares the yield strengths of common materials used by tractor manufacturers to the maximum Von Mises stress. ×

Proposed design with selected materials. ×