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Post by jakesrocks on Dec 7, 2011 15:42:37 GMT -5
Hey Justin --- I'm going with my idea of using spring loaded fire door hinges. Got them the other day, and I think they're gonna work good. My flat bar is on a UPS truck, headed this way. Should get it tomorrow. Now if this damn flu doesn't come back and bite me again, I can get to building.
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Post by jakesrocks on Dec 8, 2011 0:26:30 GMT -5
Well, one step nearer to having this thing built. The machinist in town was giving me the run-a-round about when he would be able to make my cutter adapters. So, after half an hour on google I found a guy who makes them. He had some in stock, and they'll be here early next week. And even with shipping, the cost is about the same as having them made here.
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sampson
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2011
Posts: 222
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Post by sampson on Dec 9, 2011 0:51:28 GMT -5
I hope i can get started on my build this weekend. My motors should be here now so i'm gonna drive into town tomorrow and check the post office. The tracking number only worked until they got to the border on monday but they should have gotten up here by now. I've cut a few smaller (about 2") preforms of jade, jasper, and some mystery rock so i've got to get busy and get this built so i can start the fun stuff and make some spheres.
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Post by jakesrocks on Dec 9, 2011 10:19:49 GMT -5
You must live in the warm part of Canada. Too damn cold to cut preforms here in South Dakota. I'll get the machine built, but will have to wait until spring thaw to cut preforms.
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sampson
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2011
Posts: 222
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Post by sampson on Dec 9, 2011 12:03:28 GMT -5
Definitely not too warm up here. I'm too far north and too far inland for it to stay warm around here. It was about -15c this morning and is supposed to warm up to about -5c this afterneen. I just have a nice workshop area built on to the side of my house that i can get kinda warm with space heaters. The last cutting i did i had forgot to drain all the water from my little saws tray and it was frozen solid when i went to use it. It took a couple hours with the heaters going and a few jugs of warm water to get it melted out enough to start cutting. The colder it gets around here leaves less things i want to do outside so it gives me more time to work in the shop on projects like this.
My build is going to be pretty low tech compared to yours and will use a lot more wood and scavanged parts than aluminum but if my motors are here when i go to town today i hope to be able to start grinding and polishing within a week or so.
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Post by jakesrocks on Dec 9, 2011 12:24:07 GMT -5
No heated shop here. My big saw is in the garage, and has to be rolled outside to use it. Much to my wifes disgust, I have my Genie sitting on the counter in our kitchen, so at least I can cut cabs in the winter.
Went out to the garage this morning for a can of layout ink so I could get started marking hole locations on the motor mounts. Damn stuff was frozen solid, so I have it thawing by a heater vent. lol
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sampson
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2011
Posts: 222
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Post by sampson on Dec 9, 2011 16:23:47 GMT -5
Yea, isn't winter fun. I've got my tumblers out in the shop covered with a big cardboard box and a small space heater in it to make sure they dont freeze up. The shop isn't insulated so i don't heat it all the time, just crank the little space heaters for a bit before i do any work in there. It is usually cold enough that i still end up wearing a coat, toque, and gloves while i work.
I'm a little disappointed now since i just got back from town and my motors haven't come in yet. I ordered them 12 days ago so i hoped they would be here by now bit i guess i'll just have to check again next week some time. I think i'll have to go through town again mid week sometime next week so i guess i'll have to wait until then. Hopefully they aren't stuck at the border or something and will be here soon enough.
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Post by jakesrocks on Dec 9, 2011 17:10:04 GMT -5
Argh !! Gonna have to buy a new can of layout ink. Freezing caused it to form hard lumps that won't soften. Oh well, just another setback in this build.
My tumblers have been shut down for the winter. They're in an unheated breezeway, and freeze solid if I don't empty them.
Think I'll order a couple more of those motors, just in case one goes bad. Once they sell all of them, you may not be able to find replacements.
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 9, 2011 19:45:20 GMT -5
Don, the capacitors should not generate heat. Single phase AC compressors commonly had run and start capacitors crammed in a closed box with the start relay. Motors have metal covers that clamp the caps to the motor housing. Never a cool place. Unless there is a relay somewhere to disconnect the caps they are likely run caps that increase efficiency. I think the double terminals are for convenience when wiring multiple capacitors. Some start capacitors have a resistor across the extra terminal to bleed off the charge when not in use too.
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Post by jakesrocks on Dec 9, 2011 20:32:00 GMT -5
Ah John, where's the fun in bleeding off the charge ? We used to charge them up and throw them to unsuspecting people in HS electric shop.
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 9, 2011 21:59:51 GMT -5
I think it was to save the contacts on the relay or something not fun at all.
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Post by jakesrocks on Dec 9, 2011 22:34:37 GMT -5
LOL. I've been on the receiving end of a couple of them.
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 10, 2011 8:45:12 GMT -5
I've discharged a couple my self but not by someone helping.
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Post by jakesrocks on Dec 10, 2011 12:14:36 GMT -5
Yeeee Haaaaa !! The neighbor is a life saver. He has a paint shaker. Put 3 cans of DYKEM layout die in the shaker for half an hour, and they all work now. Won't have to buy a fresh can. This stuff has been on a shelf in my garage for 15 years of freezing and thawing cycles. Now I can get some die on my material and get started laying everything out for drilling and cutting.
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juzwuz
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2010
Posts: 526
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Post by juzwuz on Dec 10, 2011 13:59:55 GMT -5
Our electronics shop teacher had volunteers take turns discharging a good sized capacitor to remind us to be careful in the shop. Funny thing is I don't remember having a choice to volunteer or not. We still managed to give those circuit breakers a good workout with all the stupid things we would try....
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Post by jakesrocks on Dec 10, 2011 14:23:44 GMT -5
Our electric shop teacher was kind of stupid. Every time he'd get called to the office, we'd shut off the main breaker and plug 1/4 watt resistors in all of the outlets. He'd come back in the room and head straight for the breaker box. Sounded like a whole string of fire crackers going off.
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juzwuz
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2010
Posts: 526
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Post by juzwuz on Dec 10, 2011 22:51:50 GMT -5
Finally had a chance to clean up the wiring to the switch, motors, and capacitors. Still have to put everything into the plastic box I got for the project. I did install the chains, springs, and diamond core drill bits. I haven't attempted to make any sphere preforms yet but I found a geode/nodule in one of my rock boxes that is fairly spherical. I think this will work for my first attempt. How much tension should I put on the springs/chains?  |
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Post by jakesrocks on Dec 10, 2011 23:01:18 GMT -5
Clean looking setup. I think spring tension is going to be a matter of experimenting.
I'm going with plumbing bell reducers for cutters, to keep the price down a little, but Covington makes cutters with 3/4" NPT too. May buy a couple sets of those later.
I hope to have some pics up next week.
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juzwuz
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2010
Posts: 526
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Post by juzwuz on Dec 12, 2011 1:41:53 GMT -5
I tried the sphere machine this evening and quickly discovered I needed to install a hard stop to prevent the motors from collapsing inward when the rock pops out. The nodule is fairly spherical but its surface is very rough and it kept popping out. I installed a hard stop and played with the spring tension and motor angle but it was not meant to be. I was using two 1 3/8" diamond core drill bits for the nodule which is 2" at its widest and 1 3/4" at its most narrow point. I installed my other core drill bit which is 2" in diameter. With the combination of the 2" and 1 3/8" core drill bits, the rock did not pop out but all I managed to do was grind a groove into the rock because the rock wasn't rotating randomly. I wonder if I just need a more spherical preform? I might try the 3 head configuration to see if that will get better results.
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Post by jakesrocks on Dec 12, 2011 9:14:24 GMT -5
You need to grind it as close to a sphere as possible before putting it in the machine. I've chased a few around the room when using my little machine, because I didn't grind them round enough before starting. A little more spring tension may help too. I've posted this before, but here's a pic of my little sphere machine.  |
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