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JimInOz
··Melbourne AustraliaWow, this is building into an Elma Solvex RM.
Firstly, I think we all need to be aware of the constraints GG faces.
• He's located in a country with very limited access to this type of equipment and associated parts.
• He resides in an apartment without a dedicated workshop/garage/mancave.
• He can't jump into his car and pop down to Harbourfreight et al for a quick fix thingy.
• He faces Customs challenges importing anything unusual or restricted (fluids etc).
The fact that he's overcome some of these obstacles has impressed me.
On to the Turbulator, I'll just do some comments off the top of my head based on suggestions above.
• Jars - I think the jars he has are suitable for fluid storage but only time will tell if they suffer degradation from fluids.
• Baskets - As Erich noted, mesh baskets may be better that printed ones. I've tested Elma mesh baskets in the GG 3D designed adapter and they fit well (see pic below). As to two or three baskets, I rarely use the open basket unless I'm cleaning a mainspring and can comfortably fit a movement into two divider baskets.
• 3D Print Parts - I'll get some spare PET-G parts I have and soak them for a week or so in cleaning fluid to see if there's any degradation. On an aside, I've been using GG designed PET-G baskets/adapters in cleaning fluid and rinse fluid and haven't noticed any issues.
• Ultrasonics - I agree it's a nice to have, but not essential. For really cruddy parts, a small dish, a few mils of cleaner and a soft artist brush/pegwood to do a pre-clean removes most of the crud a U/S would. I have a US bath and treat components before transferring them to my Elma. If GG does see a need for a US cleaner I think a basic one litre tank model would be sufficient to support the single jar cleaning machine concept.
• The splash cover on the Turbulator - The Elma has a cover that rests under it's own weight and there's no watertight seal. If GG is to adapt a cover (a good idea) it needen't be complex and must allow for travel rotation etc. I'll no doubt be discussing options with his as Turbulator matures.
Regarding US cleaning. This is my setup. Shown here with a two basket adapter and 600ml beaker with a silicone ring height restrictor. Cleaning fluid is filled to the bottom of the silicone ring. I also have a short shaft adapter so I can fit an Elma basket if I'm cleaning a mainspring/large object.
Here it in in operation configuration. When the US finishes I just lift the basket and tilt it to drain, then fit the basket to the Elma for normal cleaning.
Designing an item is often an incremental process based on a concept.
Too many times with aircraft/ship design I've seen "specification creep" happen when somebody in the chain says "wouldn't it be better if we had XXXXX etc".
I think the "Single jar, simple watch cleaning machine for amateur watchmakers" concept is sound, and what's been achieved so far is way beyond our original plans/thoughts/ideas from when we started (mostly due to GG, I just did the simple stuff).
Firstly, I think we all need to be aware of the constraints GG faces.
• He's located in a country with very limited access to this type of equipment and associated parts.
• He resides in an apartment without a dedicated workshop/garage/mancave.
• He can't jump into his car and pop down to Harbourfreight et al for a quick fix thingy.
• He faces Customs challenges importing anything unusual or restricted (fluids etc).
The fact that he's overcome some of these obstacles has impressed me.
On to the Turbulator, I'll just do some comments off the top of my head based on suggestions above.
• Jars - I think the jars he has are suitable for fluid storage but only time will tell if they suffer degradation from fluids.
• Baskets - As Erich noted, mesh baskets may be better that printed ones. I've tested Elma mesh baskets in the GG 3D designed adapter and they fit well (see pic below). As to two or three baskets, I rarely use the open basket unless I'm cleaning a mainspring and can comfortably fit a movement into two divider baskets.
• 3D Print Parts - I'll get some spare PET-G parts I have and soak them for a week or so in cleaning fluid to see if there's any degradation. On an aside, I've been using GG designed PET-G baskets/adapters in cleaning fluid and rinse fluid and haven't noticed any issues.
• Ultrasonics - I agree it's a nice to have, but not essential. For really cruddy parts, a small dish, a few mils of cleaner and a soft artist brush/pegwood to do a pre-clean removes most of the crud a U/S would. I have a US bath and treat components before transferring them to my Elma. If GG does see a need for a US cleaner I think a basic one litre tank model would be sufficient to support the single jar cleaning machine concept.
• The splash cover on the Turbulator - The Elma has a cover that rests under it's own weight and there's no watertight seal. If GG is to adapt a cover (a good idea) it needen't be complex and must allow for travel rotation etc. I'll no doubt be discussing options with his as Turbulator matures.
Regarding US cleaning. This is my setup. Shown here with a two basket adapter and 600ml beaker with a silicone ring height restrictor. Cleaning fluid is filled to the bottom of the silicone ring. I also have a short shaft adapter so I can fit an Elma basket if I'm cleaning a mainspring/large object.
Here it in in operation configuration. When the US finishes I just lift the basket and tilt it to drain, then fit the basket to the Elma for normal cleaning.
Designing an item is often an incremental process based on a concept.
Too many times with aircraft/ship design I've seen "specification creep" happen when somebody in the chain says "wouldn't it be better if we had XXXXX etc".
I think the "Single jar, simple watch cleaning machine for amateur watchmakers" concept is sound, and what's been achieved so far is way beyond our original plans/thoughts/ideas from when we started (mostly due to GG, I just did the simple stuff).
