Seeding
1How is the seed metering system powered?
The Seed Spider seed metering system is electronic and operates from any 12 volt DC supply (ie: tractor battery), requiring no external mechanical drives.
2How is the seed metered?
The 12 volt DC geared motor drives a sponge rotor within a vertical cylindrical metering plate. This metering plate has multiple channels in its internal wall, along which seeds are gently separated by the rotating sponge and carried to individual outlets. The gentle nature of the sponge ensures seeds are never damaged.
3How is the calibration carried out?
The general steps for calibrating are as follows. Full instructions are given in the operators manual.
1. Establish the target weight that matches your seeding circumstances. This can be done for seed spacing down rows, rates for a given area for row crops or rates for a given area for field crops.
2. Achieve the target weight by running seed through the metering system for 60 seconds, collecting all the seeds leaving the system in the hopper lid. Weigh the total seed collected. Adjust the seeding rate on the electronic control unit and repeat until the target weight is achieved. Once the target weight is achieved, record the seeding rate so when sowing that type of seed in the future, all you need to do is enter the appropriate setting.
3. If GPS speed compensation is desired, turn on the GPS and enter the target travel speed.
4How long do the sponge rotors last?
or average use, the sponge rotors will last for several years if they are removed from the seed metering system after use and stored in their plastic container out of direct sunlight.
5Are larger size seed hoppers available?
In addition to the standard 7 litre (1.8 gallon) seed hopper, a 50 litre (13.2 gallon) opaque hopper is also available for larger seeds and higher rates.
6How long does it take to change between seed types?
The Seed Spider seed metering system allows you to change between seed types very quickly. The seed in individual metering systems can be changed in less than 60 seconds. Simply remove the hopper lid, unhitch the metering system using the quick release fitting, tip the seed into a container and then remove the sponge rotor and shake out any remaining seed. Replace the sponge, hitch the metering system back onto the seeder and fill with a different seed type.
7What if the seed I am sowing is coated or pelleted?
Seed Spider seed metering systems can sow a wide variety of seed types - raw coated or pelleted.
8What if the seed I am sowing is very small?
Seed Spider seed metering systems can accurately sow a wide range of seed types and sizes, from seed the size of a pea (eg: 10 seeds per gram) down to very small seed such as wild rocket (eg: 4,500 seeds per gram).
9What type of fittings do I need on my tractor to operate a SeedSpider seeder?
Your tractor will need to have a Cat 1 or Cat 2 three-point-linkage attachment.
10Do I have to travel at a certain speed to have accurate seed dispersal?
Best results are achieved when a constant travel speed is maintained. All seeders have an electronic control system with integrated GPS. The controller monitors travel speed and continually makes fine adjustments to the seeding rate, compensating for any changes in speed. As a guide growers should travel between 2 - 10 kph (1 - 6 mph), we recommend 4 kph (2.5 mph) as an ideal sowing speed.
11What if I have very light or sandy soil?
Seed Spider seeders travel very lightly on the bed as most of the weight is transferred to the tractor through the three-point-linkage attachment. If your soil is particularly light or sandy, we have a soft-soil kit available for use with the Roller Seeder to reduce the machine weight on the bed top. Sled Seeders perform exceptionally well in light and sandy soils as they are a very lightweight machine. A hydraulic top link can be used with this model to distribute weight between the front and rear skids.
12What if I have very heavy or wet soil?
Seed Spider Roller Seeders have a scraper on the rear roller to remove any soil that becomes stuck to the roller in wet conditions. The Seed Spider Sled Seeder performs exceptionally well in wet conditions as it uses a plastic skid rather than a roller to level the bed top and to cover placed seed. The Sled Seeder travels very lightly on the bed and the skid skims the surface so there is no motion that encourages the lifting of soil, hence the soil slides away underneath.
13What if the bed I am sowing on is lower on one angle or sloped at one end?
Seed Spider seeders are mounted to the tractor by a three-point-linkage attachment. All three-point-linkage attachment points join on to the pivoting arms of the seeder which allow the seeder to float independently of the tractor, ensuring accurate bed contour following for an accurate seeding depth. With Sled Seeders, if the soil is very undulating, a hydraulic top link can be used which allows the operator to continuously adjust the seeder to better follow the contour of the bed.
14Can the seeders be adjusted to sow a narrower bed width?
Seed Spider seeders provide infinite adjustment of row spacing across the individual toolbars, for exceptional versatility. Each soil opener is an individual assembly, and is attached to the toolbar by means of a specially designed clamp. The revolutionary soil opener attachment system lets you set row spacings precisely to suit the crop as individual soil openers can be positioned anywhere across the entire width of the toolbars.
15Can the number of rows be altered?
Seed Spider metering systems are modular, so extra rows can always be added if need be. The standard metering system has 6 outlets and multiple metering systems can be fitted to a seeder. Interchangeable metering plates are available which provide options from 1 - 6 outlets. Soil openers can be fitted or removed in seconds.
16What is the minimum possible row spacing?
The minimum possible row spacing is approximately 35mm (1.4 inches). In most cases this width is not practical, though some users have sown at a row spacing of as little as 45mm (1.8 inches).
Robotic Weeding
1What is the WeedSpider?
The WeedSpider is a fully autonomous robot capable of traversing a variety of crop rows whilst detecting and eliminating weeds.
2What types of weeds can the WeedSpider detect and remove?
The WeedSpider can detect and eliminate most major weeds across a variety of crops. As the Weedspider operates it's algorithms learn to identify new and different types of weeds. This means that the system will become more accurate and reliable as it works.
3How quickly does the WeedSpider work?
The WeedSpider will be able to weed up to 20 acres per day
4Where is the WeedSpider available
The WeedSpider will first be available in Salinas Valley, California and then throughout the U.S.
5How long can the WeedSpider work in a field?
The Weedspider can operate continuously in a field for approximately 10 hours
6When will the WeedSpider be available?
The WeedSpider is set to hit the fields in late 2021 subject to Covid-19 and travel resitrctions.
Harvesting
1What is the maximum height the harvester can cut at?
The Seed Spider Harvester is designed for harvesting babyleaf crops. The maximum cutting height is 300mm (12 inches).
2What type of metal is the harvester constructed of?
The Seed Spider Harvester is constructed from stainless steel to meet all food hygiene requirements and ensure durability.
3What size crop bins can be used with the harvester?
Most standard crop bins will fit in the harvester frame, however, as the frame is bolted on, modifications can be easily made to accommodate different sized bins.
4What type of fittings do I need on my tractor to operate a harvester?
Your tractor will need to have a Cat 1 or Cat 2 three-point-linkage attachment as well as an auxillary hydraulic supply as both the blade and the conveyor are hydraulically driven from one pressure and one return line off the tractor's external hydraulic circuit. The oil flow output requirement from the tractor is 8 litres per minute (2 gallons per minute).
5What if I frequently have very wet conditions?
The Seed Spider Harvester rides on the bed by way of a very sensitive mechanism that transfers most of the weight of the cutting head onto the lift-arms of the tractor. As the harvester travels very lightly, it can be operated even in very wet conditions, where hand harvesting is normally the only other option.
6What if I have an undulating bed?
The Seed Spider Harvester is mounted to the tractor by a three-point-linkage attachment. All three-point-linkage attachment points join on to the pivoting arms of the harvester which allow the harvester to float independently of the tractor, this combined with the front roller configuration and weight distribution mechanism allow the machine to float very lightly and sensitive to the bed contours, ensuring that undulations in the wheel ruts do not influence the cutting height.
7How is the cutting height adjusted?
The cutting height is quickly and easily adjusted by a lever on each side of the harvester.
8Can I take a second cut of the crop?
The Seed Spider Harvester rides on the bed by way of a very sensitive mechanism that transfers most of the weight of the cutting head onto the lift-arms of the tractor. The front roller configuration and weight distribution mechanism allow the machine to float very lightly and sensitive to the bed contours. The unique design means that the harvester is constantly kept at the correct cutting height, leaving the bed in such a good state that a second cut can be taken if required. Growers have commented that the bed is left remarkably clean and that their finished product is more uniform with much less wastage.
Miscellaneous
1How are the machines delivered?
All machines and parts orders are air freighted with delivery direct to your door.
2Do the machines come with a warranty?
All Seed Spider equipment comes with a one year warranty against defects in materials or workmanship.
3What is the availability of spare parts?
All spare parts are held in stock and can be delivered immediately.