Scratch Build – In Progress The Mineral Oil PC - 3/24/2011 - More leaks :(

as you may have just discovered. acrylic is best cut using the slow setting on power tools.

 

Yeah slow and steady with acrylic. Drop the RPM down on the scroll saw and it will cut the plexi not melt it.

 

It has 2 settings, high and low. It melted the plexi on both

 

You have a very-cool (unique) project underway..

 

Then it looks like you may have to use a Dremel or a Jigsaw for the inside cuts.

 

What kind of blades are you using? Maybe try getting some specifically made for plastic. My scroll saw (Delta) worked great on plexi. But I used the wrong blades so the cuts were ugly.

 

Thanks.

Yarrrgg

It was probably a blade designed for wood. I didn't even think about it. There a quite a few other blades I can try; there's a whole container full next to the saw.

I was bored today so I messed around in the shop trying to come up with a decent design for the case feet. Here's what I came up with.









It was a lot of work making those 2 pieces of 1/4" aluminum perfectly round... But I think it turned out pretty well. I won't use this particular foot on the final case as it's not quite up to scratch. However I will probably use the design. Thoughts?

 

Very cool foot design! To reproduce them easier you could just buy aluminum round rod the right diameter and cut 1/4" slices off.

looks great!

 

wow. i like that foot, especially the lighting effect

 

Now they are cool case feet. I may need to ste...I mean borrow that design .

 

Foot Making Process

Here's the process by which I make the feet. It's a lot of work.


First I made a template so I don't have 4 slightly different feet on my case.


I traced the outline onto a big piece of 1/4" thick aluminum.




I do the rough cuts with a band saw.


Then I drill a hole in the center so I can stick a bolt through it.


I made a little jig on the belt sander so I can easily do the rough sanding. I just stick the bolt with the rough cuts into the wood and slowly spin it to a circle.


It gets hot enough that I often have to dunk the aluminum into water. You can see the water boiling in this pic.


All done on the belt sander....


...Now onto the drill press. I moved the belts around to get around 2000 RPM. On the press I use various grits of sandpaper to get the edges nice and smooth.


Then I put the template back on and drill the remaining two holes.


And tap them.


I use a bigger drill bit to countersink the screws.


I repeat the process with the piece of plexiglass and then sandwich it between the two discs of aluminum.


All done and polished. (Or at least as smooth as I care to make it.) 1 foot took about 1.5 hours to make.


Final product.

 

Excellent work, but please mount the discs much closer to the chuck in the drill press. I know it's a 1/4" bolt, but if it goes off balance the results are deadly!

The plexi you were working with was likely extruded plexi. Yeah, it sucks... Cell cast stuff can be cut with a scroll saw. You can cut this stuff with one if you add a little water to the process. It's tricky and a little dangerous, and it slows the cutting down a lot. Just don't get the motor or switches wet.

 

Interesting project, Ill follow your progress!
Anyway, for the sensor probe in the tubing, use a T junction, it's easy to work with!

 

Nice foot and with the red light it give a good effect

 

Looks good!

 

Good advice, I hadn't thought about it becoming unbalanced while spinning at 2000RPM. I made another foot last night and I pushed the bolt as far into the chuck as I could.

The plexi I ordered for the tank is all cast, not extruded. Hopefully should be easier to work with.

That's the plan!

Thanks!

 

PS, I need a better name. Start the suggestions.

 

Wet Tech? lol

 

+1

 

Yes but is oil considered wet?