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  #211  
Old Fri 05 September 2008, 10:32
domino11
Just call me: Heath
 
Cornwall, Ontario
Canada
Gerald,
No, have not run one yet. I guess I am merely falling back on design principles I use in my day job. 5 watts per unit does seem like it should be ok without thermal interface material. Sorry I just like to err on the side of caution.
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  #212  
Old Fri 05 September 2008, 11:23
J.R. Hatcher
Just call me: J.R. #4
 
Wilmington, North Carolina
United States of America
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I am with Heath on the thermal grease for the Geckos. I am only pulling 3 amps and mine got surprisingly hot until I installed a fan and I was using thermal grease between gecko and heat sink. I will admit it's not much of a heat sink but if memory serves me right it was getting over 130 F before adding the fan. I think it's just a good idea to get all the heat you can out of the box.
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  #213  
Old Fri 26 September 2008, 10:43
javeria
Just call me: Irfan #33
 
Bangalore
India
Hi Alan thanks for the pictures - these throw a lot on insight to the controller Box.

And even I think the thermal compound is necessary.

RGDS
Irfan
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  #214  
Old Tue 28 October 2008, 11:16
Alan_c
Just call me: Alan (#11)
 
Cape Town (Western Cape)
South Africa
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Hi Guys

No, I have not fallen off the earth, but as those who know, setting up ones own's business takes way more time than is available in the day....

Progress has been slow but steady (work interruptions seem to get in the way all the time) below is a shot of one job that has been taking some of my time, its a mixer for mixing polyethelene beads with colour pigment for a big injection moulding company here in Cape Town.


All the parts of the MechMate are now primered and I am now busy applying the top coat, cross supports are done, below are the side frames (without the main beams) with the first side sprayed blue. Picture taken in the metalwork shop at the family business, woodwork shop is through the door on the left of frame)


I hope to have all the spraying done by Thursday, with asembly starting on Friday.
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  #215  
Old Tue 28 October 2008, 11:40
Gerald D
Just call me: Gerald (retired)
 
Cape Town
South Africa
A Blue Bazooka Machine!
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  #216  
Old Tue 28 October 2008, 12:36
domino11
Just call me: Heath
 
Cornwall, Ontario
Canada
That Mechmate blue is spreading into your day job too.
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  #217  
Old Tue 28 October 2008, 15:22
William McGuire
Just call me: Bill
 
Weiser, Idaho
United States of America
Nice paint job...

Cool... looks like a prototype for a carnival ride!
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  #218  
Old Tue 28 October 2008, 22:36
Kobus_Joubert
Just call me: Kobus #6
 
Riversdale Western Cape
South Africa
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Could be used for the LOTTO draw as well.
Nice to see the progress Alan.
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  #219  
Old Tue 28 October 2008, 22:55
Lex
Just call me: Johan #56
 
Empangeni KwaZuluNatal
South Africa
Good workmanship
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  #220  
Old Wed 29 October 2008, 01:52
hennie
Just call me: Hennie #23
 
Roodepoort JHB
South Africa
bakgat vreemdeling!
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  #221  
Old Thu 30 October 2008, 10:33
Alan_c
Just call me: Alan (#11)
 
Cape Town (Western Cape)
South Africa
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Assembly is going well, albeit with some minor problems. This being a bolt together, I assembled the complete table, got it squared up and plumb then tacked in the lower cross supports and braces...I did not complete all the welds in place, but finished them after I had taken the whole thing apart - big mistake, everything moved (even areas where i did not weld) and not all of the threaded holes in the frame structure lined up with the holes in the bottom web of the main beams (if the first two bolts were inserted, the other end was off by as much as 15mm ) However there was enough flex in the side frames that I was able to pull the flanges into position with a ratchet load securing strap (the type used on big trucks to secure the load). My Father did not think I would be able to move it that much with only a strap and he was getting ready to start cutting and re-welding to get things to line up, but after some terse words best not repeated he let my try with the strap and was left speechless .

Here is the sequence of assembly:

assy 1.jpg assy 2.jpg assy 3.jpg assy 4.jpg assy 5.jpg assy 6.jpg assy 7.jpg
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  #222  
Old Thu 30 October 2008, 10:39
Alan_c
Just call me: Alan (#11)
 
Cape Town (Western Cape)
South Africa
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Table frame bolted, squared and plumb with the support board bolted into place...its starting to look like a MechMate now

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  #223  
Old Thu 30 October 2008, 12:43
Gerald D
Just call me: Gerald (retired)
 
Cape Town
South Africa
About a week or two away from cutting?
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  #224  
Old Thu 30 October 2008, 20:53
gmessler
Just call me: Greg #15
 
Chicago IL
United States of America
Looks Great Alan!!

I've had a similar experience with my bolt together.
I did complete most of the welds but touched up a few after I had taken it apart. That was all it took to have the same problem as you. I got most of the bolts in before I ran out of time. I'll have to use your method of ratchet straps for the other holes.
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  #225  
Old Thu 30 October 2008, 20:57
Greg J
Just call me: Greg #13
 
Hagerman, New Mexico
United States of America
Looking good Alan,

Both the BB and the pictures.
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  #226  
Old Fri 31 October 2008, 00:03
Lex
Just call me: Johan #56
 
Empangeni KwaZuluNatal
South Africa
I have been playing the assembly of my table in my head a couple of times. Handling and bolting each section together. Top channels must be the most akward and heavy to handle. It is a lot better to see it happening in photo sequence. Thanks Alan for showing it like that. Looks good!
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  #227  
Old Fri 31 October 2008, 00:31
javeria
Just call me: Irfan #33
 
Bangalore
India
Ah beautiful - hope to see it cutting soon!
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  #228  
Old Fri 07 November 2008, 06:33
Alan_c
Just call me: Alan (#11)
 
Cape Town (Western Cape)
South Africa
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Assembly done, and wires have been routed ready for connecting up, not long to go now...

wired 1.jpg

wired 2.jpg
I had some cable chain left, so I used it to support the cables running to the spindle/router
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  #229  
Old Fri 07 November 2008, 07:01
javeria
Just call me: Irfan #33
 
Bangalore
India
Looks Pretty Alan, hope to see it zip zap zoooom !

RGDS
IRfan
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  #230  
Old Fri 07 November 2008, 07:23
domino11
Just call me: Heath
 
Cornwall, Ontario
Canada
Alan,
In the first picture it looks as if your Mechmate had an accident on the floor. Bad Mechmate.
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  #231  
Old Fri 07 November 2008, 07:50
Gerald D
Just call me: Gerald (retired)
 
Cape Town
South Africa
When are you inviting me over for the wetting ceremony?
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  #232  
Old Fri 07 November 2008, 07:58
hennie
Just call me: Hennie #23
 
Roodepoort JHB
South Africa
Looks like it was done already
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  #233  
Old Fri 07 November 2008, 08:00
Gerald D
Just call me: Gerald (retired)
 
Cape Town
South Africa
That was Alan . . . . when he walked into the end of the x-rail . . .
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  #234  
Old Fri 07 November 2008, 09:09
gmessler
Just call me: Greg #15
 
Chicago IL
United States of America
Looks Great Alan!!

Nice idea for the z cable management.
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  #235  
Old Fri 07 November 2008, 09:17
gmessler
Just call me: Greg #15
 
Chicago IL
United States of America
Maybe he was just excited to see how far along his machine is.
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  #236  
Old Fri 07 November 2008, 12:22
domino11
Just call me: Heath
 
Cornwall, Ontario
Canada
OH OH,
Somehow I think I will be blamed for all of this.
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  #237  
Old Fri 07 November 2008, 14:40
Alan_c
Just call me: Alan (#11)
 
Cape Town (Western Cape)
South Africa
Send a message via Skype™ to Alan_c
You Guys are too sharp, thanks for that Heath , as can be seen by all the plastic sheeting in the background, the roof in this section of the factory is less than watertight so the machine gets covered at night and when it rains. (another chore to tackle before serious production starts)

Note also the black rails as suggested by J.R., thanks for the idea, they look cool.
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  #238  
Old Fri 07 November 2008, 16:12
Doug_Ford
Just call me: Doug #3
 
Conway (Arkansas)
United States of America
I know Gerald doesn't like background clutter in shops because it eats up bandwidth but I sure like looking at the stuff people have in their shops and drooling over the raw materials in racks. You've got some great stuff there Alan. Sure wish I could come over and poke around.

Oh yeah and your machine is first class just like your photography skills.
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  #239  
Old Fri 07 November 2008, 19:59
hennie
Just call me: Hennie #23
 
Roodepoort JHB
South Africa
Ok, everybody post pics of the side of your workshop that you don`t want to show

So close but o so far, Nice Alan get it cutting!
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  #240  
Old Sat 08 November 2008, 22:48
Kobus_Joubert
Just call me: Kobus #6
 
Riversdale Western Cape
South Africa
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Looking good Alan. That spot on the floor I would have called BLOOD, SWEAT and TEARS
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