Project Logs

Collapse

• Non chronological post!

  firebovine • 08/21/2015 at 04:51 • 0 comments

  I forgot to provide an update regarding my earlier endeavors. I received my super-beefy-for-no-reason-at-all DPDT switches. So I soldered up the electronics and now have a working forwards/backwards 1/35th HP DC motor. It already has a flat shaft, so that's nice. For now I will consider the electronics done, as I work on the mechanical aspects of the design.

  For the future:

  There is a feature in other high end electric spinners which allow a foot-pedal to be connected to act as a quick-stop. I am not entirely 100% sure how to do this circuit. I don't really want the current going to the motor to have to go through the foot-pedal. Connecting a Normally-Closed socket in-between the motor and switch seems like it would work, it doesn't seem like a great idea as the motor is quite powerful, and the foot-pedal will be hand-made. I would rather somehow manipulate the potentiometer on the motor controller when the foot-pedal is plugged in. I don't really know how to do that, but I'll probably wade through documentation and figure it out later. If you have an idea, please leave a comment.
  

• Finally, the first of many geared bearings.

  firebovine • 08/21/2015 at 04:41 • 0 comments

  Captain's Log:

  I've successfully printed a 10-planet/large star bearing. I've also printed a spool end. I have shoved the bearing into the spool end, applied copious amounts of thick silicone lubricant (I use this to reduce friction/prevent friction-welding of parts with the pullcopter, so I figure it'll do). I then spun it with my drill a bit. While it still has quite a bit of friction, I believe it'll do fine. If not, we'll replace it with a 608. I will try to keep this design easily adjustable to use 608s because I have noticed these geared bearings make quite a bit of noise, even at low RPM. Fortunately, it's a good plastic gear crunching sound, which everyone loves.

  I've also finished prototyping the shaft. It'll be comprised of two 70mm lengths that get glued. I will probably use epoxy. Although the spool end, and of course the bearing, were printed in PLA, I may print the shaft in ABS. The reason for this is so I can sand the top surface to be very smooth, to make a good joint surface. PLA can be iffy on the sanding, and my printer can be iffy on the precise calibration.

  I've also finished prototyping a simple coupler to join the spool to the shaft. This allows the outside of the bearing/spool to be affixed to the spool-shaft, while allowing the threaded rod to go through the center of the bearing and shaft. I believe it will require support when printing, but the ugly side will be hidden.
  

• It Begins....

  firebovine • 08/13/2015 at 05:11 • 0 comments

  At this point I only have ideas, drawings, and some roving.
  

View all 3 project logs