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rendo
··faux legendI know nothing about PCB design, but that looks pretty cool to me. This is going to turn out to be a great tool. I look forward to building one.
Turbulator - DIY Watch Parts Cleaning Machine
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AHW
·This is a really well thought out design! Really impressive work and dedication. I am very close to committing to building a Kiwicleaner, but now wonder if I should wait for this instead. Getting a 3D printer has been on the wish list for a while anyway and the Bamboo X2D is probably going to push me towards the purchase as I would really like to try some other projects that would benefit from engineering filaments.
@GuiltyGear I do have one question about your product. Have you done anything to mitigate the EX risk associated with the use of the solvent based fluids? That in particular always makes me a little nervous with these vintage machines given the state of the wiring I have seen in some of them and presumably motors, heaters, cabling etc. designed long before this was really a safety consideration. Even worse when people are leaving solvents unsealed in a possibly poorly ventilated/confined space.
@GuiltyGear I do have one question about your product. Have you done anything to mitigate the EX risk associated with the use of the solvent based fluids? That in particular always makes me a little nervous with these vintage machines given the state of the wiring I have seen in some of them and presumably motors, heaters, cabling etc. designed long before this was really a safety consideration. Even worse when people are leaving solvents unsealed in a possibly poorly ventilated/confined space.
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GuiltyGear
·@AHW the KiwiCleaner is a different beast. It's a matter if you can justify the cost, space, and have the will to build it.
As for your safety concerns, totally valid. I'm a little paranoid in nature and that's been a recurring theme over the design process.
First off I'm using an external power brick. The machine receives 24v on the source and benefits from the supply's short and over current protection. Electronics are "sealed" inside the base. Plan is to use gaskets on control components and connectors, which also protect the machine itself.
There's 2 real points of concern:
Ideas are more than welcome here. I've tried to think about different points of failure, but I'm sure I haven't thought about everything.
As for your safety concerns, totally valid. I'm a little paranoid in nature and that's been a recurring theme over the design process.
First off I'm using an external power brick. The machine receives 24v on the source and benefits from the supply's short and over current protection. Electronics are "sealed" inside the base. Plan is to use gaskets on control components and connectors, which also protect the machine itself.
There's 2 real points of concern:
- Spin motor over the baskets where vapors could accumulate. Stepper motors don't have brushes so no arcs. The wiring won't have any stress points to rub or deteriorate. The lid over the jar will block some of the vapors from going up into the motor shaft.
- Heating module. Two things can happen. First is the connection shorting, which now are magnetic pogo pins and I'm looking into making a safer design (no magnets). Second is the MOSFET failing open, which would leave the heating circuit energized. I was thinking to add voltage sensing through a divider, so I can tell if there's voltage when it shouldn't, but I'm running out of IO pins on the pico and space on the board.
Ideas are more than welcome here. I've tried to think about different points of failure, but I'm sure I haven't thought about everything.
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AHW
·@AHW the KiwiCleaner is a different beast. It's a matter if you can justify the cost, space, and have the will to build it.
As for your safety concerns, totally valid. I'm a little paranoid in nature and that's been a recurring theme over the design process.
First off I'm using an external power brick. The machine receives 24v on the source and benefits from the supply's short and over current protection. Electronics are "sealed" inside the base. Plan is to use gaskets on control components and connectors, which also protect the machine itself.
There's 2 real points of concern:
- Spin motor over the baskets where vapors could accumulate. Stepper motors don't have brushes so no arcs. The wiring won't have any stress points to rub or deteriorate. The lid over the jar will block some of the vapors from going up into the motor shaft.
- Heating module. Two things can happen. First is the connection shorting, which now are magnetic pogo pins and I'm looking into making a safer design (no magnets). Second is the MOSFET failing open, which would leave the heating circuit energized. I was thinking to add voltage sensing through a divider, so I can tell if there's voltage when it shouldn't, but I'm running out of IO pins on the pico and space on the board.
Ideas are more than welcome here. I've tried to think about different points of failure, but I'm sure I haven't thought about everything.
It wasn’t safety concerns with your design specifically as it looks very professionally and well thought out. As I am not an electrical engineer I don’t really have any specific suggestions, I just work in engineering in an industry where EX risks from solvents etc. are a big concern (and yet fires still happen occasionally) which is why I was interested.
It is impossible to buy the solvent based cleaners where I live, unless you are an approved professional, so I have no choice but to use Elma Red anyway.
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GuiltyGear
·@AHW The X2D is great. The dual nozzle design is fantastic for multi material supports. Unfortunately I got the P2S just a few months before they announced it. I'd advice trying your hand in modelling, if you haven't already, as that's way more satisfying than just printing parts from MakerWorld.
I also have 2 young kids, and at this point it's a matter of becoming master of multitasking. Hence this project has developed at a slow pace. Learn, experiment, shelf it for 2 months, return again.
I also have 2 young kids, and at this point it's a matter of becoming master of multitasking. Hence this project has developed at a slow pace. Learn, experiment, shelf it for 2 months, return again.
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AHW
·@AHW The X2D is great. The dual nozzle design is fantastic for multi material supports. Unfortunately I got the P2S just a few months before they announced it. I'd advice trying your hand in modelling, if you haven't already, as that's way more satisfying than just printing parts from MakerWorld.
I also have 2 young kids, and at this point it's a matter of becoming master of multitasking. Hence this project has developed at a slow pace. Learn, experiment, shelf it for 2 months, return again.
Without diverting from your thread too much, which software do you recommend? I downloaded the free CAD Fusion a few weeks ago and haven’t got any further than that. I think Fusion has the steepest learning curve, but the most capability, so it is worth the effort in the long run?
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GuiltyGear
·Without diverting from your thread too much, which software do you recommend?
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JimInOz
··Melbourne AustraliaI have to agree about Fusion. I tried a few CAD apps but ended up going with Fusion.
Start with some simple items and learn how to do the basics.
I tried some designs that seemed too complex, so when I got stuck I went to @GuiltyGear for expert help 😁.
Start with some simple items and learn how to do the basics.
I tried some designs that seemed too complex, so when I got stuck I went to @GuiltyGear for expert help 😁.
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AHW
·Great! I will put some effort into learning Fusion then. It will definitely be very satisfying to be able to design parts. Having a 3D printer at home feels like something out of a sci-fi, even though they have been out a while, so I am excited to try it! Thanks for the help!
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neevo
·I've been playing around with Fusion for years, so that's what I would recommend. The learning curve is fine I think. The tools and operations aren't hard to learn, but you need to think in a certain way. Once you have that dialed in, through videos and practice, it's a smooth ride.
I find the modelling side is pretty easy to get your head around, but the electronics section was no where near as easy to get to grips with. Not sure if that is consistent with your thinking but getting working PCB’s was a significantly more frustrating exercise so I applaud your efforts on your design!
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sheepdoll
·getting working PCB’s was a significantly more frustrating exercise
The early cad stuff like expressPCB was a step up, but I still would manage to run via traces through the ground plane.
Got pretty good at reworking boards with bunged up traces.
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GuiltyGear
·I find the modelling side is pretty easy to get your head around, but the electronics section was no where near as easy to get to grips with. Not sure if that is consistent with your thinking but getting working PCB’s was a significantly more frustrating exercise so I applaud your efforts on your design!
The electronics side had its challenges. I knew the basics, but not enough to comfortably come up with a well designed schematic. So there was a lot of reading here and looking how other's do that stuff. AI (Claude and Gemini) was plenty of help to validate schematics, check spec sheets, etc.
PCB design too. Creating zones to minimize interference, pours, net width, clearance, etc. Things I had to read about and tweak the board over and over until it looked good to my eye.
