HB2 Milling Heat Sink
I spent the weekend getting the last of the CNC milling bugs out of making the stepper mounts/heat-sinks for the HB2. Here is a picture of the trial version. I finally have all the speeds and feeds correct for the fragile little 3/32 end mill I am using to cut the fins. This thing is beginning to look like the cylinder head on a lawnmower.
The oversize holes near the top were a mistake. I could also say they were an experiment.
I use mist cooling when doing the milling. The air compressor broke on Saturday that sprays the mist. Today with the new compressor everything went fine. The DeWalt is a good brand. I really like the lower noise level. It is not silent but a lot more bearable than the Kobalt.
Here is a link to a short video showing the milling of the heat sink above. There is actually a fine cooling mist coming out of the nozzle as well a good bit of air. The air compressor was NOT running in this video.
I have the four blanks cut today for the real parts. I feel confident in starting on the real product.
Bad Air
The blue compressed air system shown on the right is the Kobalt system I purchased at Lowes in January of this year. There is another posting in this blog when I made the purchase. It was the replacement for a very old compressor that was blowing oil. That compressor is show in the previous post.
I had some bad luck with this new machine. A few months ago the pressure switch failed and it wouldn’t let the compressor restart at the low pressure point. I disassembled the switch which was made from pot metal. The diaphragm plate had warped and was leaking air. Some work with a file flattened the plate and let the gasket seal the chamber again.
This picture is the Killer. These are parts of the reed style discharge valves from inside the compressor itself. The heavy metal at the left is the back-up plate and the object to the right is the reed valves. Only the middle two valves on my machine had ports behind them. The outside two were dummies. You can see the heat patterns are different between the inside and outside valves. Yep, that is a broken valve. The compressor stops pumping when that happens.
Readers here know I like to take things apart, especially my tools. I suspected this broken valve was the problem as I have worked with air conditioning compressors all my life and know the symptoms. I had to see for myself. I also discovered the cylinder wall is plastic and the piston is a flat plate with a rubber O-ring for a piston seal. No problem there. It seemed to work well enough. The intake valves are a different style reed valve.
I called the Lowes 800 number for warranty/repair information. I had a printed three year… Continue reading
North Texas Hobby Board (or Blog)
I sent emails to the posted contact persons for two (as they identify themselves) North Texas home machinist groups. Neither post that they have a web site, just a contact email. I offered to create a free message system (either a Blog or BBS) for North Texas home machinists to contact each other. I don’t intend to start another organization, just a common communication site, since they do not seem to have one. My involvement would be completely invisible other than top level administrator. The board activities would be controlled by others. In fact any group could have their own space if desired.
No feedback yet so it is as I suspected, probably old contact data or they are waiting for their next “meeting”. In any case, if you are located near Dallas (That includes Oklahoma or elsewhere) and would like to see a localized board for posting about home workshop activities let me know. Does anyone think a bigger “service” area should be included?
What I would like to see is a place where any creative hobby can be posted, metalworking, woodworking, boat building, quilting (huh!), etc.. A place to brag what you do or ask questions on how-to. Also a place to find out about something you need. Say a quilter is looking for someone local who could build a nice wooden storage case. Get the idea?
This Blog is too personal for this and TEDEX works well but is also too associated with my activities. I dislike commercial boards (Yahoo, etc.) as they are heavily marketing directed. Maybe people like the ads and the fact they are tracked.
The truth is the software is free and I have already paid for all the server cost in my other activities. Other than the time… Continue reading
Vectric Software Update
The Vectric Software that I use for 3D carving and engraving design with my CNC machines (and the main reason for HB2) has just published a new creative design program named ASPIRE. It is kind of a blend and update to their previous products with additional creative ability for 3D designs. For a look-see follow this LINK.
Getting Together HB2
Making Progress
The parts are going together for the HB2 assembly. At last is is starting to look like a router machine. I like the yellow but no one else has to agree.
The biggest problem has been the bolt sizing. The shopping list wasn’t exactly correct but close enough. I am using Alan cap screws where possible and some Phillips head. Almost all the nuts are nylon lock type.
The rails are extreamly nice and should prove to be very accurate. More pictures as I get it closer to finish.
10/28 – Update from this mess!
Follow this link: HB2 Section #3