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. :)

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.

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

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.

A Blue Bazooka Machine! :D

That Mechmate blue is spreading into your day job too. :)

Nice paint job...
 

Cool... looks like a prototype for a carnival ride!

Could be used for the LOTTO draw as well.
Nice to see the progress Alan.

Good workmanship:cool:

bakgat vreemdeling!:)

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 :eek:) 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:

Attachment 2422 Attachment 2423 Attachment 2424 Attachment 2425 Attachment 2426 Attachment 2427 Attachment 2428

Table frame bolted, squared and plumb with the support board bolted into place...its starting to look like a MechMate now

About a week or two away from cutting? :)

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. :)

Looking good Alan,

Both the BB and the pictures. :)

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!:cool:

Ah beautiful - hope to see it cutting soon!

Assembly done, and wires have been routed ready for connecting up, not long to go now...

Looks Pretty Alan, hope to see it zip zap zoooom ! :D

RGDS
IRfan

Alan,
In the first picture it looks as if your Mechmate had an accident on the floor. Bad Mechmate.

When are you inviting me over for the wetting ceremony? :)

Looks like it was done already:)

That was Alan . . . . when he walked into the end of the x-rail . . .

Looks Great Alan!!:)

Nice idea for the z cable management.

Maybe he was just excited to see how far along his machine is.:D

OH OH,
Somehow I think I will be blamed for all of this. :o :eek:

You Guys are too sharp, thanks for that Heath :D, 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.

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.

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!

Looking good Alan. That spot on the floor I would have called BLOOD, SWEAT and TEARS