tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52833251829042259362024-03-12T19:06:43.058-04:00My Favorite StripperA blog about all of the crap I have built and projects I am working on. Electronics, metalworking, woodworking, gunsmithing, crafts, etc.Entomophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953584069626334847noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5283325182904225936.post-31674978026800839692015-12-15T08:24:00.002-05:002015-12-15T08:30:41.501-05:00Darts Sighting Aid<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgvZpGI7PHHlQ5ZXS_LkDL6MBMSH7XByJWIECmyKhLtcJzMxoMu5mDDneGeiLNYmq7FOP_cn-iNQjVYXxhJurxWQ6bLMVlWVgkF5tpCMAHX1hl3Nw1_yYPlVMZ5GehiW58odiZSafAckgl/s1600/20151214_203851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgvZpGI7PHHlQ5ZXS_LkDL6MBMSH7XByJWIECmyKhLtcJzMxoMu5mDDneGeiLNYmq7FOP_cn-iNQjVYXxhJurxWQ6bLMVlWVgkF5tpCMAHX1hl3Nw1_yYPlVMZ5GehiW58odiZSafAckgl/s400/20151214_203851.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It's been a while since I have posted. I've been making lots of stuff but unfortunately much of it is being patented so I can't give any details yet. Finally got some time to work on my stuff. Well last father's day my lovely wife got me a professional Winmau dart board. I've been slightly obsessed, playing any chance I get. Desperate to improve my game, I came across this <a href="http://www.winmau.com/det/909/sightright/" target="_blank">sighting aid</a>. It helps you ensure that your eyes are perfectly aligned with the center of the board. It looked like something that was easy enough to make. A little searching on the web yielded <a href="http://www.thedartsforum.co.uk/showthread.php?447-How-to-create-a-sighting-aid" target="_blank">these plans</a>. I grabbed some scrap wood and started cutting.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2YmS_oKosXUKLyaSLLK9axIMMIo3e17bFswCeH4LbMH48YVEofJPDZHqSl-xVYaUNPmu8FmiWc3YkMLWbVr3zmBpqQk9dLC3NuZOSVbqL9_whiclHVIk3vmBtr6NQiqHIYGV8malSub5/s1600/20151213_112714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2YmS_oKosXUKLyaSLLK9axIMMIo3e17bFswCeH4LbMH48YVEofJPDZHqSl-xVYaUNPmu8FmiWc3YkMLWbVr3zmBpqQk9dLC3NuZOSVbqL9_whiclHVIk3vmBtr6NQiqHIYGV8malSub5/s320/20151213_112714.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 3 pieces: 500 x 250 x 12 mm, 500 x 100 x 12 mm and 500 x 30 x 30 mm</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSiPwQl2vEkv2icQ2cyNfIvUFRv6XjocaU5xo0cWS7wIJU3V6kjqaylw287IzkOplfUWhW1EtzAxpmfPZ9uF5Sdh4ChwJQ2W7rKMpetT5aL3Jyg8eFbB5bjmvkUdSUi6TekXhtqPk1AA7P/s1600/20151213_114457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSiPwQl2vEkv2icQ2cyNfIvUFRv6XjocaU5xo0cWS7wIJU3V6kjqaylw287IzkOplfUWhW1EtzAxpmfPZ9uF5Sdh4ChwJQ2W7rKMpetT5aL3Jyg8eFbB5bjmvkUdSUi6TekXhtqPk1AA7P/s320/20151213_114457.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">glued and clamped the pieces together</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxJ6XJ8D_O6-QAgFFF4U_lR-L_qTs7_q9n7A7_pcPkXyFoFyyxVLu6Vm-KAsmY-93Yn4OR13B1Pfl2TVvpzh_4mVFGnFHaUd8IGCOO2V-X27iDlW3t_Gvmh28BaDvSb0nCDN_Il40JEou/s1600/20151213_115352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxJ6XJ8D_O6-QAgFFF4U_lR-L_qTs7_q9n7A7_pcPkXyFoFyyxVLu6Vm-KAsmY-93Yn4OR13B1Pfl2TVvpzh_4mVFGnFHaUd8IGCOO2V-X27iDlW3t_Gvmh28BaDvSb0nCDN_Il40JEou/s320/20151213_115352.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">spray painted white line down the center</td></tr>
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Next I sanded the edges and masked a 6 mm line down the center of the boards with painters tape. Then I spray painted everything flat black. When I removed the tape, I was left with a nice straight white line down the center. I used a plumb bob to find the center of the dart board on the floor and made a mark. Then I centered the line of the sighting aid on the mark.<br />
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When you are standing to one side of the board or the other, the line appears broken. When you are perfectly aligned with the bullseye, the line will look like one long line. Centering yourself with the board should improve consistency.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3c6nD1LO-QrtbXbxfSKjiho7aKhyid1m8G8KY9x_J-5zr9fnVRck8hMEHryoHK0fEciVcI59ZtY4YStpOAO3KHFbfXj6Z8bni0Iwz0Uv94KsaLeAkZm0RLgFN9JBSeN4e9mq7zQ7Xlvnf/s1600/20151214_174322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3c6nD1LO-QrtbXbxfSKjiho7aKhyid1m8G8KY9x_J-5zr9fnVRck8hMEHryoHK0fEciVcI59ZtY4YStpOAO3KHFbfXj6Z8bni0Iwz0Uv94KsaLeAkZm0RLgFN9JBSeN4e9mq7zQ7Xlvnf/s320/20151214_174322.jpg" width="139" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">off-center view</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_TyurfFOI6b-sNCqGjPJe77pk4TB2I7p2s9z2YRD00_-VnAjZO1c7cnQ3zuIOKDolN5nfBj3MGtzoAXQw3la1pedD6Ivj0L9cee68qdQMdijqC4ISZ08CsyGNWVFS4b3GBBf-KpkuhpG/s1600/20151214_174305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_TyurfFOI6b-sNCqGjPJe77pk4TB2I7p2s9z2YRD00_-VnAjZO1c7cnQ3zuIOKDolN5nfBj3MGtzoAXQw3la1pedD6Ivj0L9cee68qdQMdijqC4ISZ08CsyGNWVFS4b3GBBf-KpkuhpG/s320/20151214_174305.jpg" width="139" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">centered view</td></tr>
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Well the sighting aid works. Let's hope it helps my game.<br />
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<br />Entomophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953584069626334847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5283325182904225936.post-83094517584430995082015-11-17T10:25:00.000-05:002015-11-17T10:30:36.047-05:00Glock 17 Magazine Block<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZjPq1VdkdrReWPJSa0oCwT_V7G7TTxvk8JB_fOZ7ZlkH5eAq993NXUHNkW1lfWg09bMhogD-oaYSrw7fY5UZKYHCwrrxZcuBdqoI_blML6fyjvP12m-KP1Gb_RXiFEiceW7nNak5vlEB/s1600/P1190763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZjPq1VdkdrReWPJSa0oCwT_V7G7TTxvk8JB_fOZ7ZlkH5eAq993NXUHNkW1lfWg09bMhogD-oaYSrw7fY5UZKYHCwrrxZcuBdqoI_blML6fyjvP12m-KP1Gb_RXiFEiceW7nNak5vlEB/s400/P1190763.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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The Glock 17 usually comes with a 17 round magazine. Well, in New Jersey you are limited to a maximum of 15 rounds. Since NJ is the only state with that odd number as a limit, 15 round magazines are difficult to find for any firearm. As a result, the Glock 17 ships with 10 round magazines in NJ. Now I can live with giving up 2 rounds, but not 7! Nobody makes a 15 round magazine for the Glock 17 (and no, the 15 round Glock 19 magazine does not fit the Glock 17). So, I designed this magazine block to limit the standard 17 round magazine to a maximum of 15 rounds .<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEhQkuNN_ZXTJ22_9LR-bSp-1QEFEMdy7XPjnPN0xxcOHBArVibcrdkFgCOCQ5K0ZJq7GmANM9EQcqlCHomh6Ub21TD302LO8FCh9mitrOyABGwM5QSRnTnEOMKVvHayqCUrjeClnKrAw/s1600/P1190765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEhQkuNN_ZXTJ22_9LR-bSp-1QEFEMdy7XPjnPN0xxcOHBArVibcrdkFgCOCQ5K0ZJq7GmANM9EQcqlCHomh6Ub21TD302LO8FCh9mitrOyABGwM5QSRnTnEOMKVvHayqCUrjeClnKrAw/s320/P1190765.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magazine Block</td></tr>
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The block fits between the floor plate and the magazine insert; keeping the internal design of the magazine unchanged. Magazine function and reliability are completely unaffected.<br />
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Here is how to legally convert a 17 round Glock 17 magazine to hold 15 rounds. <b>All of this must take place in a state where 17 round magazines are legal.</b><br />
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1. Go to Shapeways and <a href="http://shpws.me/KOwB" target="_blank">order the magazine block</a>.<br />
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2. Get yourself some epoxy. I use JB Weld. Crazy Glue won't cut it; it is too easy to pull the pieces apart.<br />
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3. Drive to a free state and purchase a 17 round Glock 17 magazine. Bring the block and epoxy with you.<br />
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4. <u>While still in a free state</u>, disassemble the magazine. Check to make sure the block fits in your magazine. It should be a tight fit.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEUbZ3R-rQc0jKnMev68XCAlPcjnIROHmZh3XCfKnmXsHu0j48ucduEROErTc0k4LJZgEZB0h8R60nQGBRFBUlrplpzsdRfCmLzD-vLxGb_aNe2V3LONDwbV9Mwu_oatRhYJBpJv0pkSB/s1600/P1190769.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEUbZ3R-rQc0jKnMev68XCAlPcjnIROHmZh3XCfKnmXsHu0j48ucduEROErTc0k4LJZgEZB0h8R60nQGBRFBUlrplpzsdRfCmLzD-vLxGb_aNe2V3LONDwbV9Mwu_oatRhYJBpJv0pkSB/s320/P1190769.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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5. Swab the inside of the magazine, insert, base plate, and block with alcohol to remove any oil and/or dirt.<br />
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6. Apply epoxy to the bottom of the magazine insert and set it on the magazine block.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUam56Es0sX9o_fh2ILT6G3TkoWCzjPnhIav2cam3OhuTsAPMUB8u1MSjzvpLEeDk3a-Y9-zr8dj2KuMQ7mZRNc_RoetibzPOrh1-3AFDZVYSBiI8ZOZIIwO_dtYvDhRcla9oECUBPG8a/s1600/P1190771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUam56Es0sX9o_fh2ILT6G3TkoWCzjPnhIav2cam3OhuTsAPMUB8u1MSjzvpLEeDk3a-Y9-zr8dj2KuMQ7mZRNc_RoetibzPOrh1-3AFDZVYSBiI8ZOZIIwO_dtYvDhRcla9oECUBPG8a/s320/P1190771.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9spRBIR7-mDYH55DWi2kovcC4JuHerL2Lty3KMW429kTOupedq48dSdw_N7RQBRBVOJIpw325TuOD94a0lwDmAmghqFTuQyW5x0S1lxRZKSNvld__C-XuPRnzi3uEJAP_pdXeMp3fOOFV/s1600/P1190773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9spRBIR7-mDYH55DWi2kovcC4JuHerL2Lty3KMW429kTOupedq48dSdw_N7RQBRBVOJIpw325TuOD94a0lwDmAmghqFTuQyW5x0S1lxRZKSNvld__C-XuPRnzi3uEJAP_pdXeMp3fOOFV/s320/P1190773.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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7. Apply epoxy to the sides of the magazine block and slide it in place. Make sure not to insert it too far.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BYRPhQxafG4o-KmfiIOAYiUQfh-IqxacWE6qrx4-81ZvQYs7pLYpPZGsrtmEXO-u679NXB12b6PVA1W_6nzlzXRi5VcQgfGBXXEzVzgUc9mxDzdZoruqypZNPuXT1wy-K5MO24ZB0oQS/s1600/P1190774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BYRPhQxafG4o-KmfiIOAYiUQfh-IqxacWE6qrx4-81ZvQYs7pLYpPZGsrtmEXO-u679NXB12b6PVA1W_6nzlzXRi5VcQgfGBXXEzVzgUc9mxDzdZoruqypZNPuXT1wy-K5MO24ZB0oQS/s320/P1190774.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3d1YqfRI3k9rdOQJ9C4ZJINVSR0zAdtoirZZ5iR2lW9QL1Zgc68CGY7ywNMpjk-tnxFptXQXszg5fXINXpiOdsg77yWV-A-dWdKnqdBVDtURLnXhaRgyhTaYWXp6u290a42DeMe6wZQm/s1600/P1190777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3d1YqfRI3k9rdOQJ9C4ZJINVSR0zAdtoirZZ5iR2lW9QL1Zgc68CGY7ywNMpjk-tnxFptXQXszg5fXINXpiOdsg77yWV-A-dWdKnqdBVDtURLnXhaRgyhTaYWXp6u290a42DeMe6wZQm/s320/P1190777.JPG" width="274" /></a></div>
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8. Apply epoxy to the bottom of the magazine block and slide the base plate back on. (It may be necessary to load 15 rounds to fully seat the magazine block down against the base plate.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ572C07EK7Z-ysg8H6a9YRpqaQnwxMHq1q81yP_dowRvnz0l5nHfwPx1qllGUJIENwdwxb4r0mJA7unwYS-UkXZPoO2fwX7klpwRpp_ZTC3cW83xc_xNPhfZQJd3D2LXLxTyal5_MiW8X/s1600/P1190778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ572C07EK7Z-ysg8H6a9YRpqaQnwxMHq1q81yP_dowRvnz0l5nHfwPx1qllGUJIENwdwxb4r0mJA7unwYS-UkXZPoO2fwX7klpwRpp_ZTC3cW83xc_xNPhfZQJd3D2LXLxTyal5_MiW8X/s320/P1190778.JPG" width="316" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2psIBiySTHlEyYDR7rs3gl-7CQ2oyAWb_So4pGIzED3XKZvQOfpTsmhHSt838mcayDcMLbwlPeKhmaGsOHVU_CqRl_dxPltXENaNrFyitR2aQeCcjsKhmRFduDsQ5g0ftlXsUWT6PLdlX/s1600/P1190783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2psIBiySTHlEyYDR7rs3gl-7CQ2oyAWb_So4pGIzED3XKZvQOfpTsmhHSt838mcayDcMLbwlPeKhmaGsOHVU_CqRl_dxPltXENaNrFyitR2aQeCcjsKhmRFduDsQ5g0ftlXsUWT6PLdlX/s320/P1190783.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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9. Wipe off excess epoxy. Keep the magazine vertical so that any excess epoxy runs down towards the base plate, not into the magazine. <u>Stay in the free state until the epoxy sets</u>!<br />
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10. Return home and enjoy 50% more ammo in your Glock 17.<br />
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Now the magazine is permanently converted to 15 rounds. I am not an attorney, but according to attorney and firearms law expert Evan Nappen a blocked large capacity magazine is legal "as long as it is <u>permanently</u> blocked". By epoxying all of the parts together you cannot take the magazine apart and convert it back to 17 rounds without destroying it. <b>DO NOT INSERT THE BLOCK WITHOUT EPOXYING IT IN!!!</b> That is not permanent. You will be in possession of a banned magazine; committing a fourth degree crime punishable by up to 18 months in jail and a fine of $10,000.<br />
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<a href="http://shpws.me/KOwB" target="_blank">Click here to order.</a>Entomophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953584069626334847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5283325182904225936.post-1560876315767500002014-11-16T16:39:00.001-05:002014-11-16T16:39:27.738-05:00Crosman 1400 Repair<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPu8ddqtoiBP2MYx3k9SKVRIkdZ2mMDFudJbXsyvc3pUSQB9bGMK4RsiI-U8F9zBU7rQvn788pUlZLSdVfN9ZGPUbyuVOyNcuGlgo_IFmEjxsBdjGZ8hOpmDfLIzylXXfanZ7HTbk2enq/s1600/20141115_211912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPu8ddqtoiBP2MYx3k9SKVRIkdZ2mMDFudJbXsyvc3pUSQB9bGMK4RsiI-U8F9zBU7rQvn788pUlZLSdVfN9ZGPUbyuVOyNcuGlgo_IFmEjxsBdjGZ8hOpmDfLIzylXXfanZ7HTbk2enq/s1600/20141115_211912.jpg" height="148" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sears branded version of the Crosman 1400</td></tr>
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A few months back I purchased three vintage airguns for a great price. They were a Sears branded Crosman 600 with the original box and manual, a Daisy 1894 BB gun (the original version, not the re-issue), and this Sears branded Crosman 1400. The 1400 was the only one that worked. I took it out for the first time a few weeks ago and had a blast plinking in my back yard. That is until one of the seals failed and I heard a hiss come from the rifle after I pumped it up. Look like it's time to reseal it. I ordered a reseal kit from <a href="http://www.airgunbna.com/" target="_blank">Bryan and Associates</a>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHibnB7i6yrPZXuhfUms-wnHfHO6CxuYhJY77T2P5_f043SFy2sm5TELShjkbiQq19Bo2IVsYWHAWpMk9XjGG_f6NuSvmETx2xmPSgyYex8CxirZ1__V6ku3XWTvD5AgQZP2fsR3wfodpd/s1600/20141115_211959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHibnB7i6yrPZXuhfUms-wnHfHO6CxuYhJY77T2P5_f043SFy2sm5TELShjkbiQq19Bo2IVsYWHAWpMk9XjGG_f6NuSvmETx2xmPSgyYex8CxirZ1__V6ku3XWTvD5AgQZP2fsR3wfodpd/s1600/20141115_211959.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">nice walnut stock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTGvfGeuyvkZcPnF3evsXfFM8Clza7TkYIQCusLtbH3ce_b8JhyAzkaZaZ5kMQcvk7MUs_Cw4rzhHrMj8ojeoO1Q3_ry2i8rtmvTTYvxPLm1vH66OJkTN-LtK6uiQotjQY19FGgFYPHnx/s1600/20141115_211941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTGvfGeuyvkZcPnF3evsXfFM8Clza7TkYIQCusLtbH3ce_b8JhyAzkaZaZ5kMQcvk7MUs_Cw4rzhHrMj8ojeoO1Q3_ry2i8rtmvTTYvxPLm1vH66OJkTN-LtK6uiQotjQY19FGgFYPHnx/s1600/20141115_211941.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">someone must have dropped it, the trigger is broken and the guard is bent</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidq4SiSVhlWtWQainLTjYkuWo8_73oDc9ENrXt6k2uBf_0kDk9vCLsdqBHOgtMX2lDeFFGAIK42jPPspfE5CFyuWDeoBgDDpetAdOZ8luqmGGhjaP116h2ISyrkEzNQNKn2FH1SmV8cXZU/s1600/20141115_213257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidq4SiSVhlWtWQainLTjYkuWo8_73oDc9ENrXt6k2uBf_0kDk9vCLsdqBHOgtMX2lDeFFGAIK42jPPspfE5CFyuWDeoBgDDpetAdOZ8luqmGGhjaP116h2ISyrkEzNQNKn2FH1SmV8cXZU/s1600/20141115_213257.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">much nicer all steel front sight than the 140</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I want to give credit to Nick Carter of <a href="http://anotherairgunblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/crosman-model-140-disassembly-part-1.html" target="_blank">Another Airgun Blog</a> for the helpful instructions on the tear down. I think this is an early version from the early 1970's as evidenced by the sliding breech cover. The 1400 has a blow off valve meaning that the valve is held closed by the trigger. You cannot over pump this rifle like you can with a hammer-struck valve. It is an upgraded version of the Crosman 140 and the Sears branded version were usually of even higher quality. I thought about a complete restoration but the rifle is in pretty good condition and it is going to be a shooter, not a wall hanger. I'm just going to get it working, clean it up, and go shooting!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWH3oYTrUW2xXZU84VnZX2HgbXlhC8sQO_ScGH87T-meMrVGYX96Ze_LLTIoX9NGtwohH5WVRL5K6IFX0jgyBlkptndlndwcOc84FXaxwD2VTBsCzCnn4CjBTPQLlBaJRW4eKuurUKPrQq/s1600/20141115_212338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWH3oYTrUW2xXZU84VnZX2HgbXlhC8sQO_ScGH87T-meMrVGYX96Ze_LLTIoX9NGtwohH5WVRL5K6IFX0jgyBlkptndlndwcOc84FXaxwD2VTBsCzCnn4CjBTPQLlBaJRW4eKuurUKPrQq/s1600/20141115_212338.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">stock screw and safety removed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
First I removed the stock screw. The entire screw came out instead of just the nut. Then I drifted the the safety out with a punch. Then the action can then be removed from the stock. With the action removed, I wiped the stock down with Formby's Lemon Oil to bring some life back to the dry walnut. That stuff works miracles on old wood.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFR9s3vZn5jTakEjdgnTc5eYmIyd-H2OMPmud556TJ8VlZzFjEG5EpMsSjpjKDKdBDI7VAIDLYUM7h1Lm6er7NIuIAiIkjl3m3YagjJQlgc1mp2OsHmRxKw-DWRmoY80-8_ge2oTQ7fnWD/s1600/20141115_212641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFR9s3vZn5jTakEjdgnTc5eYmIyd-H2OMPmud556TJ8VlZzFjEG5EpMsSjpjKDKdBDI7VAIDLYUM7h1Lm6er7NIuIAiIkjl3m3YagjJQlgc1mp2OsHmRxKw-DWRmoY80-8_ge2oTQ7fnWD/s1600/20141115_212641.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">trigger group removed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYr_y08PrBCTyFxEpQ9U7Uy7ZZrL-vkigXbOb6-FzxK1XJpJLHuNDr80ViOv5kwwsEsDq2LdRcipr3dThMbj_bg_394PM33XgP5mk-Xp4WcGpV4tz9Iybu8vo4iMYpZ4nSrxwNseWYc1G/s1600/20141115_212715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYr_y08PrBCTyFxEpQ9U7Uy7ZZrL-vkigXbOb6-FzxK1XJpJLHuNDr80ViOv5kwwsEsDq2LdRcipr3dThMbj_bg_394PM33XgP5mk-Xp4WcGpV4tz9Iybu8vo4iMYpZ4nSrxwNseWYc1G/s1600/20141115_212715.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looks like heavy corrosion in the trigger group</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
With the action out, the trigger group is removed. Keep track of the screws, they are not the same. The small one goes in the rear. An offset screwdriver helps here.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3WRagynI6L4ytmhsZdiwCUm0vpBak5XH18-lWB2Ch708fTmXfRVNBDedweGnlCllTrU1oB95Z_UIyWGEi7jxGdvSMqbOCzX0mG6QWl0MOaupRtEBBaBcEiK-bBB7iU7cRgphiL-AOXAN/s1600/20141115_213125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3WRagynI6L4ytmhsZdiwCUm0vpBak5XH18-lWB2Ch708fTmXfRVNBDedweGnlCllTrU1oB95Z_UIyWGEi7jxGdvSMqbOCzX0mG6QWl0MOaupRtEBBaBcEiK-bBB7iU7cRgphiL-AOXAN/s1600/20141115_213125.jpg" height="210" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxpUUJ5bDE2Y_HW6IuLoXya2kLSnB7p3N44C35qmF-qb7PXolGVL8zLFz2egtJoxX7ILmdTXM8_I9piM8nuG62vRwBwNyvRpQWmGf9-AHIVlnmVG7MULwdfe7c1mihJtFhDRt1FmEWZse/s1600/20141115_213204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxpUUJ5bDE2Y_HW6IuLoXya2kLSnB7p3N44C35qmF-qb7PXolGVL8zLFz2egtJoxX7ILmdTXM8_I9piM8nuG62vRwBwNyvRpQWmGf9-AHIVlnmVG7MULwdfe7c1mihJtFhDRt1FmEWZse/s1600/20141115_213204.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pump cup looks good</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Next the front roll pin is drifted out with a punch. The end plug and the pump arm are removed from the pump tube. The pump cup looks good and had suction when I removed it. It is a pain to replace so I'm going to leave it unless I have problems.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8caVlldeszYFZ7mLBbzACxW2r0jhkUxSAOjKEY0NjFCXxQ6FB_M7Zl4txG44v97oziuayTwojQRbyVGYxqfLXV0knyAq14V0DdMZDUyBUthEZYUGIuhCH6hCbOweQ4Wm0VJdsYRqM5sb/s1600/20141115_213415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8caVlldeszYFZ7mLBbzACxW2r0jhkUxSAOjKEY0NjFCXxQ6FB_M7Zl4txG44v97oziuayTwojQRbyVGYxqfLXV0knyAq14V0DdMZDUyBUthEZYUGIuhCH6hCbOweQ4Wm0VJdsYRqM5sb/s1600/20141115_213415.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">breech cover removed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlV0rCymcvPrTHxylWLdopRPVbwGYVSvxij3w3BHVgTVSHLomlkYzMT2RUaLH76OaEDiU-Fdrx7R79vN47XtB0tmpPD45jPOZ3oAiZTjoCHuoPo5azym79lPoXy7FSIZZkY0gHX4oStuE/s1600/20141115_213527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlV0rCymcvPrTHxylWLdopRPVbwGYVSvxij3w3BHVgTVSHLomlkYzMT2RUaLH76OaEDiU-Fdrx7R79vN47XtB0tmpPD45jPOZ3oAiZTjoCHuoPo5azym79lPoXy7FSIZZkY0gHX4oStuE/s1600/20141115_213527.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rear screw (with spacer) and bolt removed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The sliding breech cover is removed by taking out the one screw. Then the rear screw is removed. It goes though a plastic spacer which must be removed before the rear plug can be removed. One the rear plug is removed, the bolt can be pulled out the back.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rCr6hlYAr4Qxep_zhwg1-7HwKRbGFujqARIxGAqDoN28jCGVFw7CvPq9jkwMTWkOTLaChXI_koGERLhDEYJAXJeOvLuyTSIuo4RG1_UB2JO69vJAtTMKlEDUIKXYvyE9x3itBpvUWl3g/s1600/20141115_213738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rCr6hlYAr4Qxep_zhwg1-7HwKRbGFujqARIxGAqDoN28jCGVFw7CvPq9jkwMTWkOTLaChXI_koGERLhDEYJAXJeOvLuyTSIuo4RG1_UB2JO69vJAtTMKlEDUIKXYvyE9x3itBpvUWl3g/s1600/20141115_213738.jpg" height="320" width="218" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">breech screw removed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Next the breech screw is removed and the barrel can be removed from the pump tube. At this point the plastic spacer and transfer port can also be separated.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkS8QJ6fmsoL8AHWfIczlM44Xxbn-Vpxc7egmVZ0km1WC11QRlsHO-8iQfOJLckgWojRhF1OWhza9Nczgq7hvbXrEP4sbSIA3GBKJG_tdKKsaoJqR4HpKmZIr-Etkdba66mpgFFdC8fDAP/s1600/20141115_213909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkS8QJ6fmsoL8AHWfIczlM44Xxbn-Vpxc7egmVZ0km1WC11QRlsHO-8iQfOJLckgWojRhF1OWhza9Nczgq7hvbXrEP4sbSIA3GBKJG_tdKKsaoJqR4HpKmZIr-Etkdba66mpgFFdC8fDAP/s1600/20141115_213909.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">threaded bushing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1RlWoeOSMKQBMiZTEAK5G5jI8nklWDn76DZYpitfVyGA1zYY3a7e9bMDqR-2MV_g_k-fd5cOVYFLK-LU_EesO5d9G5v9sSR8nxdiJSMx_rSVHnfbxakPA6j0wM4Ks9D3TFhELqRWG-VP/s1600/20141115_214044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1RlWoeOSMKQBMiZTEAK5G5jI8nklWDn76DZYpitfVyGA1zYY3a7e9bMDqR-2MV_g_k-fd5cOVYFLK-LU_EesO5d9G5v9sSR8nxdiJSMx_rSVHnfbxakPA6j0wM4Ks9D3TFhELqRWG-VP/s1600/20141115_214044.jpg" height="108" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">end plug and hammer pieces</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
A threaded bushing has to be removed to take the end plug out of the pump tube. I drifted it out from the top with a punch. Note the orientation of the bushing. Then the hammer pieces are removed from the rear. The end plug had a little bit of rust.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoRl2othxMF0AcMxR_oUnmBdzg8FCbGbRDo8pJKzxZ1YM4gdgRz_kl26mTQDQdCsU0dG-PMxA3h51jed29Y2vMLsImrGPla-lMBCoxyFgUvIL9Gz7vuoIe-VqMJAmdHQkl3-wp96eU1WiS/s1600/20141115_214449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoRl2othxMF0AcMxR_oUnmBdzg8FCbGbRDo8pJKzxZ1YM4gdgRz_kl26mTQDQdCsU0dG-PMxA3h51jed29Y2vMLsImrGPla-lMBCoxyFgUvIL9Gz7vuoIe-VqMJAmdHQkl3-wp96eU1WiS/s1600/20141115_214449.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">orientation of valve parts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6SHN_CAU4Xud_tBCjHynDYEIhnb0m-J7xDbvE3aZpiY6x6wlNKPmakeW9vs66wbjb3EIettHR4sHjIqk8gnk9HoxJrJL2uejgg6NeIYyKFvtSkmaUhz3E6V07MXY5kVuQlv8QNJQN0Ocu/s1600/20141115_214657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6SHN_CAU4Xud_tBCjHynDYEIhnb0m-J7xDbvE3aZpiY6x6wlNKPmakeW9vs66wbjb3EIettHR4sHjIqk8gnk9HoxJrJL2uejgg6NeIYyKFvtSkmaUhz3E6V07MXY5kVuQlv8QNJQN0Ocu/s1600/20141115_214657.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">valve disassembled</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The valve can then be pushed out of the front of the pump tube. The valve is unscrewed to get to the seals and spring. That's it for the disassembly. I cleaned each part with Break Free CLP, wiped them off, then coated them with Crosman Pelgun Oil. I scrubbed any rust with CLP and 0000 steel wool. The white spacer had some rust stains. Simple Green did nothing but CLP and a little elbow grease did the trick. I cleaned the barrel with CLP on a patch and jag. Maybe I'm crazy but it feels as if the barrel might be choked as the patch felt harder to push out of the end.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5oUv2-TMO_iguwK1kzEEDnOCKibT3qLtbMTZirz1x3MuZ-rkLyLkk6lxfZoaIySnxFkyBLtqSNuq4nxTZ7gI5KdA_1qsOVUsttnGTC895WyJ88-F4olRVT5cWwWv1ozCR1WrkBZWg5u6/s1600/20141115_214757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5oUv2-TMO_iguwK1kzEEDnOCKibT3qLtbMTZirz1x3MuZ-rkLyLkk6lxfZoaIySnxFkyBLtqSNuq4nxTZ7gI5KdA_1qsOVUsttnGTC895WyJ88-F4olRVT5cWwWv1ozCR1WrkBZWg5u6/s1600/20141115_214757.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">new seals</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNNtbL_08XxRXyEZb4XbGRp5UqPKX0ccJwdZs_ggtWFlmgm0df81NzDlwi-g67Il1ay8tSpaCFgswSLKZQydfU6rsHC8fnIT8fPUVzzkoBJbAc-wLiKaxDnYOzzh1rft0nZUCHAnYZiKr/s1600/20141116_095737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNNtbL_08XxRXyEZb4XbGRp5UqPKX0ccJwdZs_ggtWFlmgm0df81NzDlwi-g67Il1ay8tSpaCFgswSLKZQydfU6rsHC8fnIT8fPUVzzkoBJbAc-wLiKaxDnYOzzh1rft0nZUCHAnYZiKr/s1600/20141116_095737.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Match the new seals with the old. Start by replacing the valve seals. The valve then inserts from the front. Make sure the threaded hole in the valve lines up with the bottom hole in pump tube. The hole in the black part of the valve lines up with the transfer port in the top of the pump tube.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGrOTuJuLW3QEhgRmvQXjOj-GPLWysXxiw7RATY5J4NTXxW_lCJq_QEZIiAsKIui_SD8evwYaZhIG681gEyHdPFC5lc99SuSucy6Vs5SjO9uV3GTkxcGpRKRaMjjH9MFqIUOCOpH_uVc8/s1600/20141116_101049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGrOTuJuLW3QEhgRmvQXjOj-GPLWysXxiw7RATY5J4NTXxW_lCJq_QEZIiAsKIui_SD8evwYaZhIG681gEyHdPFC5lc99SuSucy6Vs5SjO9uV3GTkxcGpRKRaMjjH9MFqIUOCOpH_uVc8/s1600/20141116_101049.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The hammer pieces then install from the rear. The orientation of the rear valve piece is wrong in the picture. The hole should line up with the top hole in the pump tube.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0apFQyP9oIozJ6FP_2T9wm_5M2eRzveF53oMMie62y00YN5BiYU5ZR0q5OftTOQzPYcF4nNUimE0tgsjzUYhnqxnSqJLUiBHvxnybf4P1UNWzRjQohotKB4Zitv5_t0NeIBDZszXasbFv/s1600/20141116_102545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0apFQyP9oIozJ6FP_2T9wm_5M2eRzveF53oMMie62y00YN5BiYU5ZR0q5OftTOQzPYcF4nNUimE0tgsjzUYhnqxnSqJLUiBHvxnybf4P1UNWzRjQohotKB4Zitv5_t0NeIBDZszXasbFv/s1600/20141116_102545.jpg" height="320" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">transfer port cutting tool</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8xBlSMkUL7MkZRGqLgxxu7WDxZRHhVM_gWjvIQxBwEo0R6m3lvgORr6xQ1xgk0qOogbi8v-XGKBIM6AQAfGPihIdRvTADAnyUuQ_LMx_sb8_XyHx8e9-dDHL9mB0zuSmDsEeZLAj2T4O/s1600/20141116_102813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8xBlSMkUL7MkZRGqLgxxu7WDxZRHhVM_gWjvIQxBwEo0R6m3lvgORr6xQ1xgk0qOogbi8v-XGKBIM6AQAfGPihIdRvTADAnyUuQ_LMx_sb8_XyHx8e9-dDHL9mB0zuSmDsEeZLAj2T4O/s1600/20141116_102813.jpg" height="199" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">new transfer port (L) and old (R)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The new transfer port seal in the reseal kit was too short for the 1400. It looks like it was for the 140. The white spacer requires a longer transfer port seal. No worries, I made a new one from 1/4" nylon tubing. I used my transfer port cutting jig to cut the new piece. The tubing is inserted through the 1/4" hole and then a drill bit is inserted inside the tubing. Then a sharp razor blade is used to cut the tubing. The cutting jig ensures the the cuts are square and allows you to cut very small slices from the tubing for an exact fit. I measured the old transfer port seal at 5.26 mm. I cut the new one to 5.30 mm allowing some extra material for compression.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvawVPCf80qj-Hu1IMnXGERBVoCm9TdYJLIV3HS6UXivpL5HWCiL8Of4TA2xTs94oEpqwIXi5PVExdW210L_PwbCkGPhW9HPSuD7rgs4evZkPmMcgGHNDtifvFZ7Cez4VIhDz1iWAT0QS/s1600/20141116_104852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvawVPCf80qj-Hu1IMnXGERBVoCm9TdYJLIV3HS6UXivpL5HWCiL8Of4TA2xTs94oEpqwIXi5PVExdW210L_PwbCkGPhW9HPSuD7rgs4evZkPmMcgGHNDtifvFZ7Cez4VIhDz1iWAT0QS/s1600/20141116_104852.jpg" height="210" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bent trigger housing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9eGeu5OZ5ZHpmReCdohh4h6aoD9cjvpZO89NNTSkvMQrMdHLRvTinjKi4Bcq2Rg6ZhKIwQkuz7w7A5HZH7g19KjFLCbjdpXnvXSEg6M-LUOIgtIC0MBPkGrCAyoeMLYxthnPK1uLmZLm/s1600/20141116_105034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9eGeu5OZ5ZHpmReCdohh4h6aoD9cjvpZO89NNTSkvMQrMdHLRvTinjKi4Bcq2Rg6ZhKIwQkuz7w7A5HZH7g19KjFLCbjdpXnvXSEg6M-LUOIgtIC0MBPkGrCAyoeMLYxthnPK1uLmZLm/s1600/20141116_105034.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1400 trigger group</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Now for the trigger group. I had a nice adjustable 160 trigger group that I thought I could swap for the broken trigger. Unfortunately the sears are not the same. Guess I need to fix this one.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKOyt3vsWUOATcuDa3ddwCjBKkC8y_87SDy086qX2LXBvXo8eSf9GGnLYE1Le_7BEc_N3mmcm18xE7C3xInmDm-mslmU_0q9LqjQPmESX7IOa7Yci-3ei60-9cSC92AasVBF-_twMZrqH/s1600/20141116_110138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKOyt3vsWUOATcuDa3ddwCjBKkC8y_87SDy086qX2LXBvXo8eSf9GGnLYE1Le_7BEc_N3mmcm18xE7C3xInmDm-mslmU_0q9LqjQPmESX7IOa7Yci-3ei60-9cSC92AasVBF-_twMZrqH/s1600/20141116_110138.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">removing the dent</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
I used a piece of aluminum rod and a plastic mallet to tap out the bent trigger guard in my vise. It turned out pretty nice.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAT463BIGh-aAxCiBZ16sWOveisi8T0cDqijEZF9TF8sYjPZaMn2DsJMLRcgll0JnBrQpYxsT-bNw0Zo_-LaW6jXDbhMdfV_wnKkraWR47undXM9ih2VFYiG8hLUs1xaM8KBybadAk5ptX/s1600/20141116_105144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAT463BIGh-aAxCiBZ16sWOveisi8T0cDqijEZF9TF8sYjPZaMn2DsJMLRcgll0JnBrQpYxsT-bNw0Zo_-LaW6jXDbhMdfV_wnKkraWR47undXM9ih2VFYiG8hLUs1xaM8KBybadAk5ptX/s1600/20141116_105144.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lots of corrosion</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0cLg_wCWydPOUdkG891-SWCz2-3adJBCf7vqvsaX1GEIceKHSgP0QSl8GFj5p7pQEk00bh4VMmBk21rrDtRmkzJxMHIT2PLvMEguNPwxahE7kxJ1n8iBnT2j0yxSzJlGqCobNijTYTWu/s1600/20141116_110831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0cLg_wCWydPOUdkG891-SWCz2-3adJBCf7vqvsaX1GEIceKHSgP0QSl8GFj5p7pQEk00bh4VMmBk21rrDtRmkzJxMHIT2PLvMEguNPwxahE7kxJ1n8iBnT2j0yxSzJlGqCobNijTYTWu/s1600/20141116_110831.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">not bad!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
With the bend removed I attacked the corrosion with some CLP and a brass brush. It cleaned right up. I put the trigger group back together, adding some grease on any contact areas.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiumDIVdVxDC1X2XiszZF0klyComnjQBkgp7BVwmASkvAE-ftb1aST4SSmSqQNteSnDngZtiiOpmjKpMcvvp5Z7ASEYulyeumnprilzRUV4petjLAcmdeI2J1cy71ewfc8QZhbea_bxBRHn/s1600/20141116_112845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiumDIVdVxDC1X2XiszZF0klyComnjQBkgp7BVwmASkvAE-ftb1aST4SSmSqQNteSnDngZtiiOpmjKpMcvvp5Z7ASEYulyeumnprilzRUV4petjLAcmdeI2J1cy71ewfc8QZhbea_bxBRHn/s1600/20141116_112845.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ready to rock<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Lastly, I replaced the pump assembly tapping the roll pin back in. I oiled the pivot pins and greased the high wear areas. Put the action back in the stock and bolted it back together. Time to shoot.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PrRetvwqkxSkClDOIzBC1Vphref8fcfqhjQplZZ4CD8yuo7SrANbdYdVRjPevtNJ9f8_F9SQeFa15mUEmXYql4sNln6AYtGPGHh1JP4ZEgk-LEXHoTZ71K3dvmMYn3ACcM1_iyiHmu4C/s1600/20141116_131223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PrRetvwqkxSkClDOIzBC1Vphref8fcfqhjQplZZ4CD8yuo7SrANbdYdVRjPevtNJ9f8_F9SQeFa15mUEmXYql4sNln6AYtGPGHh1JP4ZEgk-LEXHoTZ71K3dvmMYn3ACcM1_iyiHmu4C/s1600/20141116_131223.jpg" height="263" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crosman Premiers at 10 m with 5 pumps</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I headed outside on a balmy 48° day and set up my chronograph. Here are the average velocities.<br />
<br />
Pumps Velocity (fps)<br />
2 339<br />
3 412<br />
4 474<br />
5 520<br />
6 556<br />
7 586<br />
8 605<br />
9 628<br />
10 639<br />
<br />
Ten pumps was tough and only gave a few more fps. I tested the accuracy at 5 and 6 pumps at 10 m with Crosman Premiers and JSB Exact Diablos. The Premiers edged out the Exacts. The best group of 5 was 15/16" with the Premiers at 5 pumps. Given the mediocre sights and my mediocre eyes, I'm pretty pleased. But targets be damned, this gun was made for plinking. I was able to destroy 2" Daisy Shatteblast targets without any problem at over 90 feet once I had a the elevation dialed in. The windage was spot on; pellets smacking the narrow stakes every shot. I think this may become one of my favorite airguns. Real steel, real wood, timeless style. Now to get the rest of those vintage airguns working.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Rhzi8ztHZ50YBKzsAtQcvSZuGUUIGT7eK3W3rB7VhBkALjUg9zroxUiGKeLZVcm5S05fiqT4Xk5WjyDQWr813fJb5UH_f7YTkBzJdN2PjrA7UJp0zI29QB4jBFr8z6JH_vkBXYURpNM4/s1600/20141116_135659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Rhzi8ztHZ50YBKzsAtQcvSZuGUUIGT7eK3W3rB7VhBkALjUg9zroxUiGKeLZVcm5S05fiqT4Xk5WjyDQWr813fJb5UH_f7YTkBzJdN2PjrA7UJp0zI29QB4jBFr8z6JH_vkBXYURpNM4/s1600/20141116_135659.jpg" height="210" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Entomophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953584069626334847noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5283325182904225936.post-66365903147286844672014-11-14T09:11:00.001-05:002014-11-14T09:11:17.702-05:003D PRINTER IN DA HOUSE!!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWUWcHzz43fHgdg8IXNHLUoW66-4Sub9eb7B8rdT79_NneF_Tt1KtHU3g1woKXjJIq6jbngg98IDSe31K34ue2LV6uLYOuOraHRvV9tzIAn0T7LbhbrYAqPddT6MBMosXv2Cz9eg56FYld/s1600/20141110_195626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWUWcHzz43fHgdg8IXNHLUoW66-4Sub9eb7B8rdT79_NneF_Tt1KtHU3g1woKXjJIq6jbngg98IDSe31K34ue2LV6uLYOuOraHRvV9tzIAn0T7LbhbrYAqPddT6MBMosXv2Cz9eg56FYld/s400/20141110_195626.jpg" width="313" /></a></div>
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<br />
I finally got a 3D printer. Well technically it's not mine, it belongs to my lab. But I have access to it! We decided to purchase one to make custom parts for our hexacopter. We could order a whole bunch of 3D printed parts online for what the printer cost us, but having one in-house allows us to prototype much faster and correct any problems with the designs quickly. Plus it's just fun!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EbDqcAweUvJekVmQcZoSfEzHIYMiIESNYMJOCS3dDR0YVRthkaPPyvyEfyhT2wSwE-80uBzhO3y_6K0zeD2VUpIfIg_o7D3QFy5XotHkO6mSZB8FUTNaX8__3qKGjUbWQ2urtGiH5Q4M/s1600/blog_image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EbDqcAweUvJekVmQcZoSfEzHIYMiIESNYMJOCS3dDR0YVRthkaPPyvyEfyhT2wSwE-80uBzhO3y_6K0zeD2VUpIfIg_o7D3QFy5XotHkO6mSZB8FUTNaX8__3qKGjUbWQ2urtGiH5Q4M/s1600/blog_image.png" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">results of Make magazine review</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I spent a lot of time selecting which 3D printer to purchase. I finally settled on the Ultimaker 2. It got excellent reviews, print quality appeared excellent, and the machines seemed to have a reputation for working well out of the box without too much fiddling around.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2qVzTnXQ4l-Ql2aDZg4UI74Wqld3rq0ghESgieOBo0xh__yx8_C6IIkUBtRgo3zA-rmiiyzs2IS0EP6VtRA0O2iOyhmdOzDNPHnL0RM3cIY3zVmQdTfXl0-_IatnYOtE6TZXvVn2F8Q-/s1600/3d_badges_2015_Ult2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2qVzTnXQ4l-Ql2aDZg4UI74Wqld3rq0ghESgieOBo0xh__yx8_C6IIkUBtRgo3zA-rmiiyzs2IS0EP6VtRA0O2iOyhmdOzDNPHnL0RM3cIY3zVmQdTfXl0-_IatnYOtE6TZXvVn2F8Q-/s1600/3d_badges_2015_Ult2.png" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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After unboxing I went through the setup process which basically just involves cutting some zip ties, snapping on a few pieces, loading the filament, and leveling the build plate. Most of the setup was pretty easy but leveling the build plate took a few tries. The process is straightforward: raise the plate to about 1 mm from nozzle, put a piece of paper between plate and nozzle, and adjust the leveling screws until you feel a little friction in the paper. The problem was my machine came with the build plate screws almost maxed out to their highest position so that I did not have enough adjustment to raise the plate to the nozzle. Once I realized what was wrong, I cranked the screws to bring the build plate down several millimeters and then repeated the process.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFoWQIw9dmLz4mzu5lNhHgi96ReG0AVD_K_L3uwsHfx1xfTy1l4PRARvptEc7XYZC1VjSnFUceIUp9hO5XeE68uBND1N5A-fSwI21M021Px4Y2EZjQqUXs12CEtLHu0JfYgkd-efFI4lZ/s1600/20141114_084132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFoWQIw9dmLz4mzu5lNhHgi96ReG0AVD_K_L3uwsHfx1xfTy1l4PRARvptEc7XYZC1VjSnFUceIUp9hO5XeE68uBND1N5A-fSwI21M021Px4Y2EZjQqUXs12CEtLHu0JfYgkd-efFI4lZ/s1600/20141114_084132.jpg" height="219" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">leveling screw</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As soon as the build plate was leveled I tried a test print. The Ultimaker 2 prints directly from an SD card. The card comes preloaded with several models. After telling the printer I was printing in PLA, I selected the UltimakerRobot file and hit print. About 45 minutes later the print was finished.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4v6MbqQodv0BlhDJdOuE6CfaxNq4lRima_E3LSzvOZa73ZQija8jY3Xo1ZsTsTvGh6Juk9JR80nHOldfy_c0BiJtbn0KgTDjvb67XSPUuHvtoAKAtx4GtunQL6nAHhy8tD6DyDGEQLsjB/s1600/20141110_211215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4v6MbqQodv0BlhDJdOuE6CfaxNq4lRima_E3LSzvOZa73ZQija8jY3Xo1ZsTsTvGh6Juk9JR80nHOldfy_c0BiJtbn0KgTDjvb67XSPUuHvtoAKAtx4GtunQL6nAHhy8tD6DyDGEQLsjB/s1600/20141110_211215.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">first print!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The first print came out pretty nice. The base printed with a major hole which I think is due to a gap in between the old test filament in the machine and the new filament I loaded. No big deal, I should have removed the old filament first. Some of the overhangs are a little messy. And there are tiny gaps in the layers which may be from slight under extrusion (not enough plastic coming out of nozzle). I'll adjust some settings and try again, but it looks like I'm not too far off from getting some excellent prints.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZN85-KfDunXWwiRP1r0iCNygHZPrLeefUT6GzlfKEM-fE2uORUXNOXF9B-n52_vH9HdbyMVMShh8Gc1X0WJoLBNsMIH33j7MRDg4kD_Zd5rQVrB_eBQagLziYzYSbeLzvOxJOZmTdAnAD/s1600/20141110_211524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZN85-KfDunXWwiRP1r0iCNygHZPrLeefUT6GzlfKEM-fE2uORUXNOXF9B-n52_vH9HdbyMVMShh8Gc1X0WJoLBNsMIH33j7MRDg4kD_Zd5rQVrB_eBQagLziYzYSbeLzvOxJOZmTdAnAD/s1600/20141110_211524.jpg" height="320" width="231" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqjefkupPvzHk7L0TqbcQgCfvuwmCThCwxmEsfCwowoMwV7OMC4sW3wMHBYROV3Xm5bkIUhcw7RgmIuMwOtV0015BbJNJ0A0xMshZjaCLqPU8DWnVzCGQj13yfGf1opydRlAOeXGybx3b/s1600/20141110_211402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqjefkupPvzHk7L0TqbcQgCfvuwmCThCwxmEsfCwowoMwV7OMC4sW3wMHBYROV3Xm5bkIUhcw7RgmIuMwOtV0015BbJNJ0A0xMshZjaCLqPU8DWnVzCGQj13yfGf1opydRlAOeXGybx3b/s1600/20141110_211402.jpg" height="278" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hole is my fault, not printer error</td></tr>
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So far I'm pretty impressed with this machine. I can't wait to get this thing dialed in and start printing some useful stuff. I want to document all of the prints that come out of this machine so I can keep track of the settings and help other people get their UM2's dialed in. I don't want to bog down this blog with boring printer settings so I have started a new blog just for that purpose at <a href="http://ultimaker2prints.blogspot.com/">Ultimaker2Prints.blogspot.com</a>. Check it out.Entomophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953584069626334847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5283325182904225936.post-70149223821245790172014-11-03T13:32:00.002-05:002014-11-03T13:32:39.772-05:00Dyeing 3D Prints<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisdBAyVlWDt8ckKMnI7UYDyWIuuBgtVLCDicvPufhm20Rd3EWCb3MeU76Cvr89gKI1LIisZwreumd1U4zckSYfAq3ICB9rp-ymm0W5tV6VshbCF5wlLb9aKt8-uF5yTDCU57iZlNltFrnA/s1600/20141102_191749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisdBAyVlWDt8ckKMnI7UYDyWIuuBgtVLCDicvPufhm20Rd3EWCb3MeU76Cvr89gKI1LIisZwreumd1U4zckSYfAq3ICB9rp-ymm0W5tV6VshbCF5wlLb9aKt8-uF5yTDCU57iZlNltFrnA/s1600/20141102_191749.jpg" height="323" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dyed parts</td></tr>
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Recently I designed some parts and had them printed by <a href="http://www.shapeways.com/">Shapeways</a>. For a few dollars more I could have had the parts dyed, but none of the colors piqued my interest. Then I remembered seeing <a href="http://makezine.com/2013/05/09/how-to-dye-your-3d-prints/">these </a><a href="http://makezine.com/2013/05/09/how-to-dye-your-3d-prints/">instructions</a> on how to dye printed parts at home. I figured I would give it a try.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTOeaE5v9zkUmwyAHoXVr0kn4sOySdu-g_2oLAC4R7wrADAZwYhhxCjqz7Pm5WKuUBzVuMtlVVwBDd6N3ZpqKCDHJ6TAv-OcE8iOwWFWQLLDB4pCS0fAJ8Y_O0rJpME3xWLJU6vT2B0NrF/s1600/20141101_100941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTOeaE5v9zkUmwyAHoXVr0kn4sOySdu-g_2oLAC4R7wrADAZwYhhxCjqz7Pm5WKuUBzVuMtlVVwBDd6N3ZpqKCDHJ6TAv-OcE8iOwWFWQLLDB4pCS0fAJ8Y_O0rJpME3xWLJU6vT2B0NrF/s1600/20141101_100941.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">original parts</td></tr>
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I checked the <a href="https://www.ritstudio.com/color-library/pantone-seasonal-colors/" target="_blank">Rit website</a> and found a color I liked. I selected "Tender Shoots". Luckily I had both of the base colors already.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO2SmiKZe_wY7c7Nu3V1gCyWSTMKmHGMF36QRa5jjrDNIYpH5oedf__BfIlzpf-KW428S8UXwiQRWpzTlVWj-zaK1JT43tPTAgWJiFQ8TMJiJzLi0vDWBxBMFJigLagdKMMb5_yo3_MNl3/s1600/Capture.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO2SmiKZe_wY7c7Nu3V1gCyWSTMKmHGMF36QRa5jjrDNIYpH5oedf__BfIlzpf-KW428S8UXwiQRWpzTlVWj-zaK1JT43tPTAgWJiFQ8TMJiJzLi0vDWBxBMFJigLagdKMMb5_yo3_MNl3/s1600/Capture.PNG" height="320" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">color recipe</td></tr>
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I started by brushing the parts off then scrubbing them under running water to remove the excess nylon powder. The instructions suggested soaking the parts in water for at least 30 minutes or even overnight. I soaked them for two and a half hours.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIB6OI6mWTWaLJxIs7TaX59YKZZoMOxzFI6oNnmC729cW7zVLa1_wiAe9vegDfEOlzsbZCMzuWtDAyCgN-dCMvJZEMDchaqKvacBu3W_8H5L5Rw4qsMdSqRGksWiz8eNu3gXFs6EsAI6V/s1600/20141101_101114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIB6OI6mWTWaLJxIs7TaX59YKZZoMOxzFI6oNnmC729cW7zVLa1_wiAe9vegDfEOlzsbZCMzuWtDAyCgN-dCMvJZEMDchaqKvacBu3W_8H5L5Rw4qsMdSqRGksWiz8eNu3gXFs6EsAI6V/s1600/20141101_101114.jpg" height="320" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">soaking</td></tr>
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Next I boiled some water in a glass measuring cup and added the dye. I didn't need much water so I cut the recipe in half. Unfortunately I messed up and added too much of the aquamarine so the end color was off. The instructions mentioned dyeing the parts for 6 minutes, but after that long my parts were still too light. The Rit instructions said to add vinegar when dyeing nylon so I added about half a cup of white vinegar and brought the solution back to a boil in the microwave. The vinegar must have helped as the parts seemed to get darker almost instantly.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUv42N6i8ByPHXznamPZmD-JXZ-yjnvfxdePowO6_akpEDRjugT1wuRVStjFoFo0yxjttLy39Gx1MdhsKpd0amGJtpXyKs9Qk_pBwY3wQfrSAi-j3tkI80bSx3SVEoLIHcgbg1cGCL-gv/s1600/20141101_114611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUv42N6i8ByPHXznamPZmD-JXZ-yjnvfxdePowO6_akpEDRjugT1wuRVStjFoFo0yxjttLy39Gx1MdhsKpd0amGJtpXyKs9Qk_pBwY3wQfrSAi-j3tkI80bSx3SVEoLIHcgbg1cGCL-gv/s1600/20141101_114611.jpg" height="225" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">in the dye</td></tr>
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I continued stirring and reheating the parts for a total of 25 minutes until the color looked saturated enough. Then I rinsed the parts under hot running water and boiled them in clean water for a final rinse. I let the parts dry then sealed them with polyurethane.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwVZO2HiGd0YnrSb6_vOKfXPMqUIQ115RYIzbAi_hqT8q3lbtOCC0mqTQ-OCbVAYoJCE5RufeQQqA6YVENl5-LyLq0u2YjgcQueWw6FmsCka7v2J8stsFHRgrSTJQdvpAvfeAsSjYrtZPr/s1600/20141102_191732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwVZO2HiGd0YnrSb6_vOKfXPMqUIQ115RYIzbAi_hqT8q3lbtOCC0mqTQ-OCbVAYoJCE5RufeQQqA6YVENl5-LyLq0u2YjgcQueWw6FmsCka7v2J8stsFHRgrSTJQdvpAvfeAsSjYrtZPr/s1600/20141102_191732.jpg" height="230" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">finished parts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The parts look pretty good. The color isn't what I wanted but it's better than plain old white. I think I need to refine my dyeing process a little bit; the color could be more saturated. Here are a few things I learned and some changes I might make next time.</div>
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<ol>
<li>I am going to try adding the vinegar when I soak the parts before dyeing. I will also soak the parts for at least 12 hours.</li>
<li>Apparently any acid will help with dyeing nylon. I may try something else like citrus acid to see if it makes a difference.</li>
<li>Fit your parts <b><u>before</u> </b>you dye them! I forgot to test-fit my parts and I needed to enlarge some holes. That removed dye from some areas. It's mostly hidden on my parts so no big deal, but make sure you make any adjustments first. The dye only goes so deep.</li>
</ol>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vTgJJiacDsxHmCQm-DXd08J5cE8mkidWqhXHjS3x7bmDvJyIbavrv-qyqszpB4EDwxjQjnZXbvrPRXrhnGnp7wLQ5rj9oRxIw4otcgYm46OwF-ppO5fuqC1He1I3m9bZyLKgA2m2Kw-e/s1600/20141103_125448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vTgJJiacDsxHmCQm-DXd08J5cE8mkidWqhXHjS3x7bmDvJyIbavrv-qyqszpB4EDwxjQjnZXbvrPRXrhnGnp7wLQ5rj9oRxIw4otcgYm46OwF-ppO5fuqC1He1I3m9bZyLKgA2m2Kw-e/s1600/20141103_125448.jpg" height="279" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the part in use</td></tr>
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Entomophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953584069626334847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5283325182904225936.post-34320208912575803422014-10-16T19:05:00.001-04:002014-10-16T19:08:01.232-04:00Robot Toy<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGsJuNBRjoVogFjoKdSRiLhKxjQshxlLzUXbj1e4bLyaDzilguK5KNQgXGIXr7GQZiJxFkOgDuiTbkCtOOxZj_opqdcZhv-B58hW2yl2I8g7StsR-KZ-7vS0LM4cdvvvQtHHnybXwGcpB_/s1600/2014-10-16+18.36.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGsJuNBRjoVogFjoKdSRiLhKxjQshxlLzUXbj1e4bLyaDzilguK5KNQgXGIXr7GQZiJxFkOgDuiTbkCtOOxZj_opqdcZhv-B58hW2yl2I8g7StsR-KZ-7vS0LM4cdvvvQtHHnybXwGcpB_/s1600/2014-10-16+18.36.05.jpg" height="400" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">finished robot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I have been working on a constellation project with my oldest daughter for school. My 6 year old decided she wanted to do a project with me too. She wanted to make a gray robot with eyes that light up when you push a red button on his chest. I asked her to draw the robot so I had an idea of what she was going for.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX3wLdDfPngMq3XyMJ_7TMxKkm9jamfrCDBIYrv4EllPuPh5L1JARWP5_WmwyjPPomMGlB2FDDivizbN0xu1ASZlBdBuX_MmS1yyBcRSo6Oru7cNbKYMTM6q470iQl6OueSX8yONaVOf7T/s1600/2014-10-12+19.30.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX3wLdDfPngMq3XyMJ_7TMxKkm9jamfrCDBIYrv4EllPuPh5L1JARWP5_WmwyjPPomMGlB2FDDivizbN0xu1ASZlBdBuX_MmS1yyBcRSo6Oru7cNbKYMTM6q470iQl6OueSX8yONaVOf7T/s1600/2014-10-12+19.30.03.jpg" height="246" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">robot "blueprint"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAtHfpHJB9t9-Mu_quRng_ACz8uAYXdsVwda-t014uV1np1v80V4LdhKIaJ8kTJ51gx6xCxoE-HPnXocoYH-Z7z7xTV_kjeCLkGa83Va35p6T5woOkbj9q-4R2_NsIcynuAjA0ZLjWZc0/s1600/20141012_203054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAtHfpHJB9t9-Mu_quRng_ACz8uAYXdsVwda-t014uV1np1v80V4LdhKIaJ8kTJ51gx6xCxoE-HPnXocoYH-Z7z7xTV_kjeCLkGa83Va35p6T5woOkbj9q-4R2_NsIcynuAjA0ZLjWZc0/s1600/20141012_203054.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">boxes for the body and head</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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With blueprint in hand I looked through my collection of junk to find some suitable robot parts. I found a bunch of small boxes for her to choose from. She selected two gray plastic boxes, a large one for the body and a smaller one for the head. I was going to use two LEDs for the eyes until I found a collection of buttons, lights, and music from an old baby toy I had disassembled. The electronics were powered by three button cell batteries which were just about dead. I can't stand button cells so I pulled a 3 AAA battery pack from a cheap flashlight and wired that in. We then used hot glue to secure the electronics into the body. The button had a flat back and only needed a small hole for the wires to pass through.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzq4Ub_4HLCbAR-UmhxqBzz_Zfip28ybT8eACexuw-QGZwV4DAQfbwk5YvmX3Lzu22dSrzUPln-ggdaK3nlmsnasH7DY856NSlPzk-Nax3MGrEalz4IbjW4Z_wMMeFGeQwz7KSVVogjck/s1600/20141012_203240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzq4Ub_4HLCbAR-UmhxqBzz_Zfip28ybT8eACexuw-QGZwV4DAQfbwk5YvmX3Lzu22dSrzUPln-ggdaK3nlmsnasH7DY856NSlPzk-Nax3MGrEalz4IbjW4Z_wMMeFGeQwz7KSVVogjck/s1600/20141012_203240.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">electronics in</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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We tried to drill the 1" holes for the eyes but the box cracked. Luckily I had more. So I used a small tip on my soldering iron and cut out the holes by melting the plastic. That worked pretty well. The eyes were then hot-glued in place. We joined the head to the body with a screw through a short length of 1/2" PVC pipe. The head can swivel left and right.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgRb1U6c4lPIVw70qqcNgWut9XCBaHRnKbr9TZccM-RVlR02mdnSlL5FWxx8FTfO061gd5JaKdDtybJi1MWUe37Jl4aj3tQHQCwXJ1gF6YVI9EFscesLEvxY5vAhiZ0Rn8zxVNJc2Da2B/s1600/20141012_202920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgRb1U6c4lPIVw70qqcNgWut9XCBaHRnKbr9TZccM-RVlR02mdnSlL5FWxx8FTfO061gd5JaKdDtybJi1MWUe37Jl4aj3tQHQCwXJ1gF6YVI9EFscesLEvxY5vAhiZ0Rn8zxVNJc2Da2B/s1600/20141012_202920.jpg" height="320" width="220" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">starting to look like a robot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
My daughter adapted the design and decided one antenna was better than two. So we used a length of wire and a bead. For arms we used 3/8" nylon tubing, one piece through the whole body. The fit is tight enough that we didn't need to glue them in. That makes them somewhat poseable as they can rotate around. The boss decided to nix the hands.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNtj7dCCoRojU8cDUsv4wjfzmLW6j4H4zRSUB2MS7hvwHXpPuwbL-k3RGPJqB2beIKw2gMHLVA28Q961f-hPT0Pxv31vASEEod2qb5jcYCMbV5IplYG-dzTWqB_x2Ml6y0Jlgg03Eo2Xk/s1600/20141014_091744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNtj7dCCoRojU8cDUsv4wjfzmLW6j4H4zRSUB2MS7hvwHXpPuwbL-k3RGPJqB2beIKw2gMHLVA28Q961f-hPT0Pxv31vASEEod2qb5jcYCMbV5IplYG-dzTWqB_x2Ml6y0Jlgg03Eo2Xk/s1600/20141014_091744.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">arms and antenna</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We looked through my junk for some suitable legs. Instead we decided to give her robot wheels. We used two lids from ice cream containers and screwed them to the body. To keep the robot upright, I made a little leg out of a short piece of aluminum tubing with an end cap. I threaded the tube 1/4"-20 and screwed it to the body. Lastly we needed a "smile". It was very important that it was a smile, not your typical robot grille mouth. I found a cable of multi-colored wires that my daughter like so we cut it to length and glued it to the head.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPxMJEuW1fPb4SKDIlJHrLhwrjN4fJg8nQ4LKi1NzXJAjjyleQSjmGIjSEcPUYNge3n-uyMNt59Lbiow9OwhXN1IDa6tMJ3SUMzKGRfeyO0cNnJtvqccNzAaaELEUDnGwoLpYG1TglOOm/s1600/20141016_185324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPxMJEuW1fPb4SKDIlJHrLhwrjN4fJg8nQ4LKi1NzXJAjjyleQSjmGIjSEcPUYNge3n-uyMNt59Lbiow9OwhXN1IDa6tMJ3SUMzKGRfeyO0cNnJtvqccNzAaaELEUDnGwoLpYG1TglOOm/s1600/20141016_185324.jpg" height="269" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">wheel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAr7LNUQXZ55IlJ98lewXwAHg-wXMFFKcMA3pNvcHeeHfzDwH5uP_0t0sRz88lYBDNHzdLumzdsqj2EmKm1Fua7mF1tzWb21Xsqpg0_mcOcQSGtE5w6gzqPBgBcRKzTo0317hpsdxW1ATD/s1600/20141016_183145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAr7LNUQXZ55IlJ98lewXwAHg-wXMFFKcMA3pNvcHeeHfzDwH5uP_0t0sRz88lYBDNHzdLumzdsqj2EmKm1Fua7mF1tzWb21Xsqpg0_mcOcQSGtE5w6gzqPBgBcRKzTo0317hpsdxW1ATD/s1600/20141016_183145.jpg" height="310" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">support leg</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
That left only one thing, the all important button needed to be red. Well she made one more executive decision and decided to go with blue. She colored it with a permanent marker.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyRTTfOtOMGvPLWGcK3UO4yhKUWQHFImUUKr-ON7W2V4a0r6le9qjqa0Q-JqYLZGWt3x4sgzgtb0rm3Sg9JCmx6QUkyMluoeGj7B2lhqlApIAyq-K46sMgRRB5Bm0g65cUNnc9QJAz3bn/s1600/20141016_182949.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyRTTfOtOMGvPLWGcK3UO4yhKUWQHFImUUKr-ON7W2V4a0r6le9qjqa0Q-JqYLZGWt3x4sgzgtb0rm3Sg9JCmx6QUkyMluoeGj7B2lhqlApIAyq-K46sMgRRB5Bm0g65cUNnc9QJAz3bn/s1600/20141016_182949.gif" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">robot eyes!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
When you push the button, the eyes flash and the robot plays one of about 5 different tunes. She is so proud of her project; she planned a big reveal for the whole family and even brought him into bed with her that night. Can't wait to see what she comes up with next!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/llOLMFjP8BE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Entomophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953584069626334847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5283325182904225936.post-2969173026093445232014-10-14T07:23:00.001-04:002014-10-14T07:23:42.030-04:00High Standard Recoil Pad<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7U2XUrPCtckrYfPhVLgF0tjXmS9HatoG-RTG0xiLw7jcv64HxGOVp8_8Vo9HcuBLW4x6avaPlfTYt3HkhlOKgjG7qJPkv32SPbcx5e_1mwlnSgLgHc9u8DmcGrgpaC7q-Ewic6eqDwhy/s1600/20141014_064858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7U2XUrPCtckrYfPhVLgF0tjXmS9HatoG-RTG0xiLw7jcv64HxGOVp8_8Vo9HcuBLW4x6avaPlfTYt3HkhlOKgjG7qJPkv32SPbcx5e_1mwlnSgLgHc9u8DmcGrgpaC7q-Ewic6eqDwhy/s1600/20141014_064858.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">new recoil pad installed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The original recoil pad on this High Standard Flite King shotgun was dry rotted and rock hard. It made for some pretty uncomfortable shooting. I could not find a High Standard replacement piece, so I ordered a Pachmayr #325 Deluxe Skeet replacement pad. It's not an exact match but the Pachmayr pad resembles the original.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLoaydsgTrs59vr6iJ8O1uPsFSD19b4hqUYqISstgJagq2NnzNWptw_ROKS2cHBGfHRn4dlcjRRdR9oz2X4gPvZihiHh2Ya-WyugLztY47Wg_5O1S1WY0-GCNI59ToMqzHJwwQXnPxyRk/s1600/20141014_064742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLoaydsgTrs59vr6iJ8O1uPsFSD19b4hqUYqISstgJagq2NnzNWptw_ROKS2cHBGfHRn4dlcjRRdR9oz2X4gPvZihiHh2Ya-WyugLztY47Wg_5O1S1WY0-GCNI59ToMqzHJwwQXnPxyRk/s1600/20141014_064742.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">original recoil pad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The details of the installation are the same as in <a href="http://myfavoritestripper.blogspot.com/2011/12/shotgun-repair.html" target="_blank">this post</a>. This time however, I remembered to follow the angle of the toe line on the stock. This pad was a little tricky to install because the vertical lines on the pad exaggerate any uneven sanding on the pad. The pad will look off-center unless each side of the pad is shaped exactly the same.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiED_jdmmfvFK3Gpo7oKvfm3Xgc9VVgLGTQn6mrlOI3yweC4i9Oq0fLSA62G5secbIpRZIVYgBoA9e3o4gfFonK53uvOJIfP7Qj9pOv6B-GSDS5WMGt_kuAYlkPkk6W0TFDxSFZThj6dQrD/s1600/20141014_064841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiED_jdmmfvFK3Gpo7oKvfm3Xgc9VVgLGTQn6mrlOI3yweC4i9Oq0fLSA62G5secbIpRZIVYgBoA9e3o4gfFonK53uvOJIfP7Qj9pOv6B-GSDS5WMGt_kuAYlkPkk6W0TFDxSFZThj6dQrD/s1600/20141014_064841.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">vertical lines require careful shaping</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfrRfmfuhS-P3MufEA92VwDhohRGaiQUIMiS21hXGBJ0V-TCwq1BxSvv4PnOlsQPNR_wSQETPHGSxxunlx_utKbukSM-3sL6lNTMCyRuD-4FhmT4_0yvL_NgcuLjmRdH_FAFAsSLQjq6U/s1600/20141014_065131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfrRfmfuhS-P3MufEA92VwDhohRGaiQUIMiS21hXGBJ0V-TCwq1BxSvv4PnOlsQPNR_wSQETPHGSxxunlx_utKbukSM-3sL6lNTMCyRuD-4FhmT4_0yvL_NgcuLjmRdH_FAFAsSLQjq6U/s1600/20141014_065131.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">proper toe angle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The fit came out nearly perfect, nice and flush to the stock. The Pachmayr pad is nice and soft, recoil will not be an issue. This shotgun is ready to return to the field.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9FGnrVyW2GbphWdoVmiJl9QQrl28RR2Q4-oMbybk1GCI-_VEBKKE9bXhYI09cx3SsptFSRheZrfK8DrpBu11lT_HMarIMi6VmvTmnZYIcAKUu3xfPJYZjDro6S6RQpjIuxWWu13IPWQq/s1600/20141014_065054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9FGnrVyW2GbphWdoVmiJl9QQrl28RR2Q4-oMbybk1GCI-_VEBKKE9bXhYI09cx3SsptFSRheZrfK8DrpBu11lT_HMarIMi6VmvTmnZYIcAKUu3xfPJYZjDro6S6RQpjIuxWWu13IPWQq/s1600/20141014_065054.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pad is even with stock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Entomophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953584069626334847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5283325182904225936.post-36486634249098942482014-09-01T20:35:00.002-04:002014-09-01T20:35:42.462-04:00Floating Airsoft Targets - Part II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZR82Pa5Q7kM7SnWgHFc5y3zNo7T8LpFXI8_XZosA3ZNHK1VCDLonWAHjQNvXefYY7l4xYjZ-DLJARfFNJYJXkK5q9wfqH8GwqxV651zNHaoJV1n4Mzw2l8W4-I7ED6Exzk5mLKXqMBZGh/s1600/20140901_153524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZR82Pa5Q7kM7SnWgHFc5y3zNo7T8LpFXI8_XZosA3ZNHK1VCDLonWAHjQNvXefYY7l4xYjZ-DLJARfFNJYJXkK5q9wfqH8GwqxV651zNHaoJV1n4Mzw2l8W4-I7ED6Exzk5mLKXqMBZGh/s1600/20140901_153524.jpg" height="242" width="400" /></a></div>
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A few months ago I posted about a <a href="http://myfavoritestripper.blogspot.com/2014/02/floating-airsoft-targets.html" target="_blank">floating target system</a> I built for my airsoft pistol. It works well but the balls pop off of the air column and the target balls don't hold up to multiple shots. I finally got around to improving it.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7StEIBcEsXmoxUDnzThGzKnXQQzSi-6CGiWSOIYtgk06yhjf5_8hyphenhyphenxVrGDLfq20gEdKI7y8rh8ewR1o2zuqt_kjWvioD9PcCSlsnfdYjKRnaDrw4jf3KJzQCQcSxnD0b2ccZjcqyPnCT/s1600/20140901_153545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7StEIBcEsXmoxUDnzThGzKnXQQzSi-6CGiWSOIYtgk06yhjf5_8hyphenhyphenxVrGDLfq20gEdKI7y8rh8ewR1o2zuqt_kjWvioD9PcCSlsnfdYjKRnaDrw4jf3KJzQCQcSxnD0b2ccZjcqyPnCT/s1600/20140901_153545.jpg" height="320" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">straws packed in</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr">
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<div dir="ltr">
To smooth out the airflow, I used plastic stirring straws. I cut each in half (2.5") and packed 17 into each tube. They hold in with just friction.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQX6Ttczvtwb7gA6kJGx3qIUIECM-hdPtTbSeHNmh83XiRrR95HJF2ZatHx9XzrREUzaKhqZgB70IAeqhhLcglVcGrk2gSaXLq3RgzW0cdoG1-HjrihsryHOhehVA0r267JpvZo9ZAIm-m/s1600/20140901_200331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQX6Ttczvtwb7gA6kJGx3qIUIECM-hdPtTbSeHNmh83XiRrR95HJF2ZatHx9XzrREUzaKhqZgB70IAeqhhLcglVcGrk2gSaXLq3RgzW0cdoG1-HjrihsryHOhehVA0r267JpvZo9ZAIm-m/s1600/20140901_200331.jpg" height="264" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">new targets</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
For the target balls, I found these Callaway Soft Flight golf balls. They feel like they are made of a dense foam. They float stably and aren't damaged at all when shot. They will be able to withstand hundreds of shots. With those quick improvements the target system is much more reliable and fun. Happy shooting!</div>
<div dir="ltr">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/aCofmlXOiTY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Entomophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953584069626334847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5283325182904225936.post-10300383487574229282014-08-12T20:14:00.001-04:002014-08-12T20:14:12.140-04:00Dewalt 18V LiPo Battery Conversion<br />
<br />
Many moons ago I purchased a Dewalt 18V drill and trim saw combo. They served me well for a long time but the Ni-Cad batteries crapped out on me. Why not just buy a new battery? Well, a <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-18-Volt-Ni-Cad-XRP-Extended-Run-Time-Rechargeable-Battery-Pack-DC9096/100618863" target="_blank">new battery</a> is 89$. And if that wasn't bad enough, a <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-18-Volt-Ni-Cad-1-2-in-Compact-Drill-Driver-Kit-DC970K-2-4/202019943" target="_blank">new drill with two batteries and a charger</a> is...$89! New drills with lithium batteries are just so much nicer. They last longer, charge faster, and are much lighter. Let's see if we can't update this old workhorse with an inexpensive lithium polymer battery.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2nt-4P1W39ijoyH_bya2ZWHu2tqdJsToRFWXZ2CYwSLoDiE0RefrNKRB3fPCXcmzCgJKAew69-MlkDsIPPmH8pstDQhyphenhyphen9rszdr-_z4kaOBDKvIHDfhUIhOpThQXeg0JUfnKxQI1h_auR/s1600/20140125_113557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2nt-4P1W39ijoyH_bya2ZWHu2tqdJsToRFWXZ2CYwSLoDiE0RefrNKRB3fPCXcmzCgJKAew69-MlkDsIPPmH8pstDQhyphenhyphen9rszdr-_z4kaOBDKvIHDfhUIhOpThQXeg0JUfnKxQI1h_auR/s1600/20140125_113557.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dead DeWalt Ni-Cad battery</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>The Battery</b><br />
<br />
I started by disassembling the battery and taking some measurements of the inside. I have seen some people put large LiPo packs in by having it stick through the battery case. It may work and give long run times, but it looks like crap. I want my LiPo to be concealed inside the original battery case. After measuring and searching online, I figured I could fit a <span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__19125__Turnigy_nano_tech_2250mah_5S_65_130C_Lipo_Pack.html" target="_blank">five cell 2250 mAh 130C pack</a></span>. A 5S pack has a nominal voltage of 18.5 volts. Fully charged it puts out 21 volts. The drill should be able to handle the extra volts but you could always under charge the battery if you are concerned about it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AHGqn8EquTWKRruyB8XGlKvLob3E16SrMCUJJyB0HvrbL-PjsfeSg6u4Bw0_aAh7KNgusxTL-p72BDbhyjxQ5qWwOs_3Bzsqrc9s_OrXHGAtY0XO8rhBtG3zffMwpSIsT-TP1DuWGqsx/s1600/20140125_113825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AHGqn8EquTWKRruyB8XGlKvLob3E16SrMCUJJyB0HvrbL-PjsfeSg6u4Bw0_aAh7KNgusxTL-p72BDbhyjxQ5qWwOs_3Bzsqrc9s_OrXHGAtY0XO8rhBtG3zffMwpSIsT-TP1DuWGqsx/s1600/20140125_113825.jpg" height="241" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">disassembled pack</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Five torx screws hold the pack together. I removed them and pulled the halves apart. The end with the copper contacts must be pushed down from the top to get the battery bundle completely out. It's just a tight friction fit; no glue.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8DBoo7Hdn164QvTRnsFS7E-WEGQ2zHm9vv2CZSrR7uBqGYeN_pVXC_5nb06eNgWjsHG4JQPZ1XWkAnNeCT2qshnRv6uMWvgtBchdfSGG-o2FTbZzWQIz0PMuFiHnSbHkqawGOeWDUJBW/s1600/20140125_113843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8DBoo7Hdn164QvTRnsFS7E-WEGQ2zHm9vv2CZSrR7uBqGYeN_pVXC_5nb06eNgWjsHG4JQPZ1XWkAnNeCT2qshnRv6uMWvgtBchdfSGG-o2FTbZzWQIz0PMuFiHnSbHkqawGOeWDUJBW/s1600/20140125_113843.jpg" height="184" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">push down on the contacts with a blunt object</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Once the battery bundle is out, desolder one of the battery contacts and carefully pry up the other contact that is spot welded to the battery.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJj28vXuFrcGuy7hyphenhyphenV3EZjTZkHjsG1gvYDN587KIKNzr5BHo9HmqGjW9lo3huIUmt7jI9uoWjV5KBDrSgedLaqFKVlMdPr89glGqK7pqjfBt5jyieuqNI90NAR7S89BZexUVD49FfZN03/s1600/20140125_114308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJj28vXuFrcGuy7hyphenhyphenV3EZjTZkHjsG1gvYDN587KIKNzr5BHo9HmqGjW9lo3huIUmt7jI9uoWjV5KBDrSgedLaqFKVlMdPr89glGqK7pqjfBt5jyieuqNI90NAR7S89BZexUVD49FfZN03/s1600/20140125_114308.jpg" height="310" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">save this piece.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Now we need to solder some silicone wire to the battery contacts. The contact that was soldered is positive. The spot welded contact is negative. Solder your red and black wires to the corresponding contacts. I placed an XT60 connector on the other end of the wires. That way, the LiPo battery can be easily removed.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOUEO8KTZlLwBgDa0vt7qA-peZCOuAxIm7HYBIg8-G5LxydLraBFMsMgi5tMn5fckSGLWHNnK5jvbHG2bLav5IRL3ZWQnPUDCmFpScvbqdEHX3SLtJwCFPGyTQ3hM32Rc5Ls9YeEkKgPM/s1600/20140811_220213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOUEO8KTZlLwBgDa0vt7qA-peZCOuAxIm7HYBIg8-G5LxydLraBFMsMgi5tMn5fckSGLWHNnK5jvbHG2bLav5IRL3ZWQnPUDCmFpScvbqdEHX3SLtJwCFPGyTQ3hM32Rc5Ls9YeEkKgPM/s1600/20140811_220213.jpg" height="284" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">new LiPo battery</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I cut a small slot in the base of the pack so that I could access the balance lead. Balance charging keeps your cells even and the battery healthy. During reassembly, I noticed the plastic screw holes were starting to crack so I reinforced them with some epoxy.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bzm5qYV6SWWpwthOaOMF0UP2mTEm3XZzJELqBdcE_WH-195sBrz2pVwwth8ZrgGfmhYgwO-SPZOXmziwtPbLBcnB89gOYdjxh2CDWvDsYBRVG7GyfYiLoyCHNJTdiZZC4uY8Y2lZHS84/s1600/20140811_220231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bzm5qYV6SWWpwthOaOMF0UP2mTEm3XZzJELqBdcE_WH-195sBrz2pVwwth8ZrgGfmhYgwO-SPZOXmziwtPbLBcnB89gOYdjxh2CDWvDsYBRVG7GyfYiLoyCHNJTdiZZC4uY8Y2lZHS84/s1600/20140811_220231.jpg" height="191" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">perfect fit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwDkntVGBmFKalBAZtcpxBzOHDoKjfEQ5b0jn2HkWB6r_dIfibgy0VwlJm6JltkwHpmd_kUkZpMsqnRo0EGoAZb3tuzkhUbVf5mRkye-S719i0Wh_AAp96xySyf-4VVzLmyeOyWfgW9lN/s1600/20140811_220311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwDkntVGBmFKalBAZtcpxBzOHDoKjfEQ5b0jn2HkWB6r_dIfibgy0VwlJm6JltkwHpmd_kUkZpMsqnRo0EGoAZb3tuzkhUbVf5mRkye-S719i0Wh_AAp96xySyf-4VVzLmyeOyWfgW9lN/s1600/20140811_220311.jpg" height="258" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">reassembling</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YA1QjgQ3YD2D1qc7qSOxMkr76CLqCLzJ8AbZcNg5QBTn4u0I7NkPwtaQSmAOMcUjXQIav_Fa2L0FVZZ_Shr__4ao2SGdGVjT2JQCxes_2KZqAnAEaowgDZOL0RT6fWEdO5d-g_ilgbCp/s1600/20140811_220601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YA1QjgQ3YD2D1qc7qSOxMkr76CLqCLzJ8AbZcNg5QBTn4u0I7NkPwtaQSmAOMcUjXQIav_Fa2L0FVZZ_Shr__4ao2SGdGVjT2JQCxes_2KZqAnAEaowgDZOL0RT6fWEdO5d-g_ilgbCp/s1600/20140811_220601.jpg" height="255" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">finished pack</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<b>The Charger</b><br />
<b><br /></b>With the pack done, we need a way to charge it. The original Ni-Cad charger will not work with LiPo batteries. Doesn't matter anyway because my charger got fried when a pipe burst near it. Rather than jury rig some alligator clips from my LiPo charger to the battery pack, I decided to re-purpose the DeWalt charger. I pulled out the circuit board and cut off all of the components except the battery clips.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_UuARtKSzw7Jbb3O_9TzHBUz7CB4MUOanYDt2IAqI2venDhiGbeKdQU2RJOjvk28yyrWHPzfO_8GlTS-MT5oLUY1vfJaTF5rK3DyjeuzmNJGjHf4ye6iAfFh3jSil7BW-qOMxN4Z7bm6/s1600/20140122_141730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_UuARtKSzw7Jbb3O_9TzHBUz7CB4MUOanYDt2IAqI2venDhiGbeKdQU2RJOjvk28yyrWHPzfO_8GlTS-MT5oLUY1vfJaTF5rK3DyjeuzmNJGjHf4ye6iAfFh3jSil7BW-qOMxN4Z7bm6/s1600/20140122_141730.jpg" height="216" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charger circuit board. I don't think this works anymore.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMVtTfAQsegd8tNGgRrX9X5o3G2-vr5iyjwdbm8cFYlYnMHF9J66sbXi83LpZsar7Va2Jd50xCl9QS3aSQbjZ2njIt6uLHtvH1LUShBN35mDslBvOiaOxsRI6MACDjdRoOcR1AumOqSzS/s1600/20140122_143400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMVtTfAQsegd8tNGgRrX9X5o3G2-vr5iyjwdbm8cFYlYnMHF9J66sbXi83LpZsar7Va2Jd50xCl9QS3aSQbjZ2njIt6uLHtvH1LUShBN35mDslBvOiaOxsRI6MACDjdRoOcR1AumOqSzS/s1600/20140122_143400.jpg" height="217" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bare circuit board</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Next I cut the circuit traces going to the battery clips so that they are electrically isolated from the rest of the board. After that I cleaned the board.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhae1Ab2FMWSMv7lzc9POOrjYG4-2ie2xOPxT2tCbkCldIFqh2HULqDNPLx2GnbCg51vN-PAQBhg8VxpumqCEjsWzGt_D66ayasp4y0nofg3GdmHwSChkyt6AZ8d-OYvNFXRSrKALRqVl3Y/s1600/20140122_143424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhae1Ab2FMWSMv7lzc9POOrjYG4-2ie2xOPxT2tCbkCldIFqh2HULqDNPLx2GnbCg51vN-PAQBhg8VxpumqCEjsWzGt_D66ayasp4y0nofg3GdmHwSChkyt6AZ8d-OYvNFXRSrKALRqVl3Y/s1600/20140122_143424.jpg" height="209" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Battery clips are left center. Note the cut traces.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Then I sanded the insulation away with some emery paper and soldered on some 14 ga silicone wire.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7q01YMWSWmugsslnYra_zyiPiEgvR3gszs53bB8G5wcc1uhPf9VSuD-5oaaCKqxvX2hKbgkwRQJkXu5BVpcJ95xgFx3Sf-6rkFhBsr-01VYnXVxX2lTrVSdZTJhRomb5lRo1GLoZUppNw/s1600/20140122_160842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7q01YMWSWmugsslnYra_zyiPiEgvR3gszs53bB8G5wcc1uhPf9VSuD-5oaaCKqxvX2hKbgkwRQJkXu5BVpcJ95xgFx3Sf-6rkFhBsr-01VYnXVxX2lTrVSdZTJhRomb5lRo1GLoZUppNw/s1600/20140122_160842.jpg" height="216" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I sealed everything back up in the original case and soldered an XT60 connector to the end of the wires.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbu0CNXDc0kcbIiYDFzQJfq3_01DrHe-zF9mpFCSL7LTBpzeFMD-FGUu5FmNMvrSIiefUTKIFUrghK2mQyKsp-hq2Dn08Dq4IZv-8dvo7on5B4iUemXenOnEk0EjPuIA_4C0UXFoW6fZL/s1600/20140122_162446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbu0CNXDc0kcbIiYDFzQJfq3_01DrHe-zF9mpFCSL7LTBpzeFMD-FGUu5FmNMvrSIiefUTKIFUrghK2mQyKsp-hq2Dn08Dq4IZv-8dvo7on5B4iUemXenOnEk0EjPuIA_4C0UXFoW6fZL/s1600/20140122_162446.jpg" height="320" width="197" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">finished charge adapter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
To charge, I just plug the base into my <a href="http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__7028__Turnigy_Accucel_6_50W_6A_Balancer_Charger_w_Accessories.html" target="_blank">battery charger</a>. Charging takes about 1 hour with a conservative 2.3 amp charge. The battery can handle an 18 amp charge but my charger maxes out at 6 amps. So at 6 amps I can charge the pack in about 23 minutes.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6nDaEMUlSu-UoDHTNY7x-CepDY4ZR5P8h_IeNmHVKtmtoRQgcnf4VyGLvANnUlHPa8UFKYfMlWxyNrvrqUEH0p10aIiITLvQvdH1oKHcgWb5Br_G72D73ARxH8UvznHp34CWJITQNmfe/s1600/20140811_220813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6nDaEMUlSu-UoDHTNY7x-CepDY4ZR5P8h_IeNmHVKtmtoRQgcnf4VyGLvANnUlHPa8UFKYfMlWxyNrvrqUEH0p10aIiITLvQvdH1oKHcgWb5Br_G72D73ARxH8UvznHp34CWJITQNmfe/s1600/20140811_220813.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">charging the pack</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The new battery works great. It has plenty of power, doesn't bog down a bit even under heavy load. It runs at full power until the pack is dead instead of winding down as you use it like with Ni-Cad batteries. And as a bonus, the new pack is <b>much </b>lighter than the original. The old pack made using the drill feel like lifting weights. Extended drilling is now much easier, especially when drilling over your head. Check out the pack in action in the video below. It easily drills the long way through a 2x4 with a 1/2" bit. Looks like I've coaxed a few more years out of this old drill.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/BQknlHksJlI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Entomophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953584069626334847noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5283325182904225936.post-75495648580267646862014-07-20T09:17:00.002-04:002014-07-20T09:18:08.616-04:00LED Conversion of Magnifier Lamp<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLR3-XRPNZ-4IIHzfgNACIBgCxpxNK8AbTzK0C6kjzNzXhvQb-O5I6R6eEkfF0BWGL8njmsmkLjy2cVMrumKxgV57r5kL9nOHqeiaNnnKSpERmIgds4fCqTSAXLHXlskb-mQt6oPYT_Ye5/s1600/20140719_133454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLR3-XRPNZ-4IIHzfgNACIBgCxpxNK8AbTzK0C6kjzNzXhvQb-O5I6R6eEkfF0BWGL8njmsmkLjy2cVMrumKxgV57r5kL9nOHqeiaNnnKSpERmIgds4fCqTSAXLHXlskb-mQt6oPYT_Ye5/s1600/20140719_133454.jpg" height="316" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">converted magnifier light</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
My Luxo magnifier light stopped working recently. It turned out to be a bad ballast. The light is a very expensive unit and has proved invaluable for lighting and magnifying various tasks in my shop. I needed to fix it, but unfortunately I could not find a replacement ballast. So I decided to convert it to LED lights.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvEp-7HS9X5vi-Is_8Mor4o5Av8g9JxX46bCbE-9IMA0fVkLy6CiSzlAUDTIk8xXSzW-ZTUpIujbg1AT2zqYTwAY6PwS9EEW5p8jNUjYkfz3dfW6zYq3EMp25IzrHIwgRw02asCCELeajv/s1600/20140719_114907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvEp-7HS9X5vi-Is_8Mor4o5Av8g9JxX46bCbE-9IMA0fVkLy6CiSzlAUDTIk8xXSzW-ZTUpIujbg1AT2zqYTwAY6PwS9EEW5p8jNUjYkfz3dfW6zYq3EMp25IzrHIwgRw02asCCELeajv/s1600/20140719_114907.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the light</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMdI96I6cNPIl0S7pBKMDmZRkH43H9DNSMni8CXsXNU0v_0AhVhe6VqeW650oE1o5Jz-Adx8iNjfdfL8RtCYDdACCEQiHcDryeRWm_Hnv7TznWVpecefymsuCgLhC6r0wJdwfHhH80leW/s1600/20140716_085759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMdI96I6cNPIl0S7pBKMDmZRkH43H9DNSMni8CXsXNU0v_0AhVhe6VqeW650oE1o5Jz-Adx8iNjfdfL8RtCYDdACCEQiHcDryeRWm_Hnv7TznWVpecefymsuCgLhC6r0wJdwfHhH80leW/s1600/20140716_085759.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">removed the bad ballast unit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEengYogMji1OoFoZeTOIUwaQSiIWnFrtgYBqulnB8ywDNAzu-VKMZIo4kvH7Xm0CkqRMxl4Tmzz6e2MTIZifXCWzS6Zew9dvYiDQCwNriGkR23DcaDt4aYZ5R8rqALn_fdaxT-c3SVwbS/s1600/20140719_114923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEengYogMji1OoFoZeTOIUwaQSiIWnFrtgYBqulnB8ywDNAzu-VKMZIo4kvH7Xm0CkqRMxl4Tmzz6e2MTIZifXCWzS6Zew9dvYiDQCwNriGkR23DcaDt4aYZ5R8rqALn_fdaxT-c3SVwbS/s1600/20140719_114923.jpg" height="295" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">removed the light housing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9r5ImaP6YXk_lfBA1MNcuwRtroelvsRPfuDJnmXZoAW73x6rsHnkM8J5KCdEawFcAVNt4l9W8712kqePHFd77pt3XwLuuyIdmC5dpV75EYMPWYToI94hg1sfY7eZ659bhgbvDrr91xez/s1600/20140719_114011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9r5ImaP6YXk_lfBA1MNcuwRtroelvsRPfuDJnmXZoAW73x6rsHnkM8J5KCdEawFcAVNt4l9W8712kqePHFd77pt3XwLuuyIdmC5dpV75EYMPWYToI94hg1sfY7eZ659bhgbvDrr91xez/s1600/20140719_114011.jpg" height="320" width="185" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=22128516" target="_blank">LED strip</a> from Radio Shack</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVNkGSwjjEv7Bi1zuocHxO5F7uXYviYo2apRWXoK0T8JrqeYqfgzTudVEVDzzxJ0WaCAr8v9CAXE1Vede_0hWk35d4DiEPEjoHXprw34sfcguU912T9THb7yki-rguiILeqmrAJMYyd9G/s1600/20140719_120706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVNkGSwjjEv7Bi1zuocHxO5F7uXYviYo2apRWXoK0T8JrqeYqfgzTudVEVDzzxJ0WaCAr8v9CAXE1Vede_0hWk35d4DiEPEjoHXprw34sfcguU912T9THb7yki-rguiILeqmrAJMYyd9G/s1600/20140719_120706.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">removed the protective silicone covering and<br />
used foam tape to mount strip into light housing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6BX47GzDQ1grT6QD-Vj-ZQ2RkO3fIcKU6kdCAU8A60H9d3bmQxWYpoWkVbgaCqlk1t6cfH2yVmksa9mpSbcyiv31yHFwHEYY-xypRpxrNsxoBUztTiHdnJZ67CGJcncdFe1YG-8D7Af_/s1600/20140719_120714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6BX47GzDQ1grT6QD-Vj-ZQ2RkO3fIcKU6kdCAU8A60H9d3bmQxWYpoWkVbgaCqlk1t6cfH2yVmksa9mpSbcyiv31yHFwHEYY-xypRpxrNsxoBUztTiHdnJZ67CGJcncdFe1YG-8D7Af_/s1600/20140719_120714.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">had to make cuts to get it to follow the curve</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR72F1r53QnMoYKJg9QYiJJAgfOFTVAb-vo619_lmmrGV_lEN12H6XL4sVObugPFTib2l1D0pIOCbiCt2c41UBOAlM67hK5yIaeK_PRiYVfWCNWU8_7MtwmcKoHruMMUiem7_UiGA2w-_h/s1600/20140719_123454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR72F1r53QnMoYKJg9QYiJJAgfOFTVAb-vo619_lmmrGV_lEN12H6XL4sVObugPFTib2l1D0pIOCbiCt2c41UBOAlM67hK5yIaeK_PRiYVfWCNWU8_7MtwmcKoHruMMUiem7_UiGA2w-_h/s1600/20140719_123454.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">used solid core wire to bridge the gaps</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRT9sMVNuniyww0EKa6tsHjnXc8gqyXk9-exY02Ccw_zaHpHduTSzrihEVyD2ANYxjj7MFe98lt2SQ9F50RrGdu3lmE8q3Aylu_mr36mOgQ9kYhomwDUz8eNr54fKSXs0LnFj8_YslZUam/s1600/20140719_123434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRT9sMVNuniyww0EKa6tsHjnXc8gqyXk9-exY02Ccw_zaHpHduTSzrihEVyD2ANYxjj7MFe98lt2SQ9F50RrGdu3lmE8q3Aylu_mr36mOgQ9kYhomwDUz8eNr54fKSXs0LnFj8_YslZUam/s1600/20140719_123434.jpg" height="289" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LED strip mounted in housing. Not shown: soldered LED<br />
wires to existing wires in magnifier.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNKWRuhANLG7ja2oprIt-HzkJzZdzLJTC1Qvgf29b-0PUSneuUHitihzEvRr-_r4NLbzFrsSehMt2tljZJe3H5SW80llNaXyxuZOgQbrYu-xgUufCkk8qyIlmGUbvbRpEiVpcDH5OjjlM/s1600/20140719_113813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNKWRuhANLG7ja2oprIt-HzkJzZdzLJTC1Qvgf29b-0PUSneuUHitihzEvRr-_r4NLbzFrsSehMt2tljZJe3H5SW80llNaXyxuZOgQbrYu-xgUufCkk8qyIlmGUbvbRpEiVpcDH5OjjlM/s1600/20140719_113813.jpg" height="194" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LED strip requires 12v @ 1.5A. <br />
Found this old Power Wheels battery charger in my pile of junk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6rszrdEcBcb7OVbkQx0kvYcYs83cQW8UgQMiRVwaDNKJXAGAgscj-Sd80JqouR1dmpnk5vDiZVJYacWfwAUY-aEb9lnwZXbAKSI-yuVz6410Bi1w8jMVEDiGHwbHDTkdCQYmfmalWuAQ/s1600/20140719_130726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6rszrdEcBcb7OVbkQx0kvYcYs83cQW8UgQMiRVwaDNKJXAGAgscj-Sd80JqouR1dmpnk5vDiZVJYacWfwAUY-aEb9lnwZXbAKSI-yuVz6410Bi1w8jMVEDiGHwbHDTkdCQYmfmalWuAQ/s1600/20140719_130726.jpg" height="267" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">spliced power supply into magnifier power cord</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSs6zaJRhpXfUO8aufcYqwyqViE94lzz-h-j2y_EuQvyzRRgnTTsUyjpSMxCJwjJ_M7NjMXFXxuTX8ew9BXmMgz6RzgN70uFUDDviI5o23TZJHPnd3pmYDDdTrgbxDhipwFcu6v8xlcdK/s1600/20140719_130047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSs6zaJRhpXfUO8aufcYqwyqViE94lzz-h-j2y_EuQvyzRRgnTTsUyjpSMxCJwjJ_M7NjMXFXxuTX8ew9BXmMgz6RzgN70uFUDDviI5o23TZJHPnd3pmYDDdTrgbxDhipwFcu6v8xlcdK/s1600/20140719_130047.jpg" height="309" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It works! Nice and bright. <br />
Original power switch turns it on/off.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYausLdECtx7VWrf92AhAtDSfuKlZjmuCssVYHc1JjIAUn8E4UDyRxMjFwxxOh5es6Tcp4sWSrcBzL9VvpVy4bBe-Zo0oFPvRTBBAQL2mbehFY0NYmGTiU0yaCDtdOrmqBv44Rm8ipAjf/s1600/20140719_130303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYausLdECtx7VWrf92AhAtDSfuKlZjmuCssVYHc1JjIAUn8E4UDyRxMjFwxxOh5es6Tcp4sWSrcBzL9VvpVy4bBe-Zo0oFPvRTBBAQL2mbehFY0NYmGTiU0yaCDtdOrmqBv44Rm8ipAjf/s1600/20140719_130303.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view from above</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
This light is back in action and I can finally see what I am working on again. 30 bucks to save a $400 magnifier, not bad. The light is just as bright as before, maybe brighter. If I decide to add a PWM controller, I can even adjust the brightness. I even have about 18" of the LED strip left over for a future project.Entomophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953584069626334847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5283325182904225936.post-21824376909969012902014-04-14T17:53:00.002-04:002014-04-14T17:54:06.069-04:00LCD HD Television Repair<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDCyfcC77pZAd7f3OtySUkH5QeAx-EpAWsITN6G9aIYMFCke9jjdHh48m3EibqX-HxmqMohchAJMvz-xKNS50kM4GU0gSxhTlmrFNffjiSCRUzUjEP61OKXHc5gq8lOjDCqn79cLHJs00Z/s1600/20140414_174653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDCyfcC77pZAd7f3OtySUkH5QeAx-EpAWsITN6G9aIYMFCke9jjdHh48m3EibqX-HxmqMohchAJMvz-xKNS50kM4GU0gSxhTlmrFNffjiSCRUzUjEP61OKXHc5gq8lOjDCqn79cLHJs00Z/s1600/20140414_174653.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">working again</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
My inlaw's Vizio V037L FHDTV10A stopped working. When you turned it on, the picture would come on for a few seconds, then disappear. You could still hear the audio, but there was no video regardless of input. After some online research, it seemed like the backlight inverter board was to blame.<br />
<br />
I found a used but guaranteed replacement on ebay for $16.30 with free shipping. For that price, even if I was wrong about the diagnosis, it was worth the risk.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTga5YyhXpvpTh-H_qwLIe_y3wOeIBxYItZvWp6-03wJt5VDeOJHVwnv_9nblYh_qUbdPcu3dsiJa-jFllAJapITS9l0zdzSIs7kuZzQymKS9velftpPZz18OYe_DBTwAHwM5ViVCbdyn/s1600/20140414_164325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTga5YyhXpvpTh-H_qwLIe_y3wOeIBxYItZvWp6-03wJt5VDeOJHVwnv_9nblYh_qUbdPcu3dsiJa-jFllAJapITS9l0zdzSIs7kuZzQymKS9velftpPZz18OYe_DBTwAHwM5ViVCbdyn/s1600/20140414_164325.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">remove the back cover</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYC5RjZ7PjOk7MN4DSRXqsi1fMdLtFldEloRktVGt3SKvazdkxZvLwQIxxLl0cyjCeECMPEHkbcSfmUdxuaOhv3E_M_rG-hXi_kiBIO5zDCZ6FegNvW0xemqyPyjzXezgm8TQ3IrAoBYa6/s1600/20140414_164413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYC5RjZ7PjOk7MN4DSRXqsi1fMdLtFldEloRktVGt3SKvazdkxZvLwQIxxLl0cyjCeECMPEHkbcSfmUdxuaOhv3E_M_rG-hXi_kiBIO5zDCZ6FegNvW0xemqyPyjzXezgm8TQ3IrAoBYa6/s1600/20140414_164413.jpg" height="193" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">backlight inverter is in the lower left corner</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0e9GDvNxvPbFt8USbmh-9AHfd_gouIj0jGDg3iHrhgBbhz3Y-YnL044hMMAiQ8k7lgWHia0usUyt05OM4L4czcDy89IMgN7mGH7AQVocCkYN05UTUmLaZoUwOkKtDQTJ-ySdWze2ABYG/s1600/20140414_164504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0e9GDvNxvPbFt8USbmh-9AHfd_gouIj0jGDg3iHrhgBbhz3Y-YnL044hMMAiQ8k7lgWHia0usUyt05OM4L4czcDy89IMgN7mGH7AQVocCkYN05UTUmLaZoUwOkKtDQTJ-ySdWze2ABYG/s1600/20140414_164504.jpg" height="320" width="183" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">inverter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk45QnIdf5w4QqcZNtuOa5qDPvZP_ZQgTWLA-yw33fr1pFsi0V2S3_Gr8fTZ0xXHUPYWLgHDUrN1cfQvRUp2_UFXul6Zs3t3s3NycUsdluuUBZx-E9cV4yDzHnCdEbdTi78uaYFjI51_yj/s1600/20140414_164626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk45QnIdf5w4QqcZNtuOa5qDPvZP_ZQgTWLA-yw33fr1pFsi0V2S3_Gr8fTZ0xXHUPYWLgHDUrN1cfQvRUp2_UFXul6Zs3t3s3NycUsdluuUBZx-E9cV4yDzHnCdEbdTi78uaYFjI51_yj/s1600/20140414_164626.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">remove top cover</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxrg6YTaJRCj9r8RYrFeUZqCaVKIp_Da5C8HgBoJAJjiyPhrqPyJp-OwrcEeCApfq0_ZoXghJxMeFN-w1WaScjHOUpm2-2U623Z2vEPklvUPHOjILNK7h4ABtHZu5RWT4JKegenigQDPp/s1600/20140414_164728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxrg6YTaJRCj9r8RYrFeUZqCaVKIp_Da5C8HgBoJAJjiyPhrqPyJp-OwrcEeCApfq0_ZoXghJxMeFN-w1WaScjHOUpm2-2U623Z2vEPklvUPHOjILNK7h4ABtHZu5RWT4JKegenigQDPp/s1600/20140414_164728.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">remove inner cover</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnhOIpE_rbWUPMymaDutEZnNyf5laA2IuEjdcCTo8YLjVwA8CV9Z4r8PM2bS5TIh_XdyReh5i1Ut5RdzBIYSD40AR0EH8CuC7MaZlHkSBvIsiRhIx5HMvAdfW1w7nEOlAJqbmoTnSbwcN/s1600/20140414_164916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnhOIpE_rbWUPMymaDutEZnNyf5laA2IuEjdcCTo8YLjVwA8CV9Z4r8PM2bS5TIh_XdyReh5i1Ut5RdzBIYSD40AR0EH8CuC7MaZlHkSBvIsiRhIx5HMvAdfW1w7nEOlAJqbmoTnSbwcN/s1600/20140414_164916.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">replace board and 4 wires</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The entire process was very easy; it took less than 15 minutes total. Note: if you look closely the boards are not the same. There are about three different part numbers that will work. They are Phillips 6632L-0490A, 6632L-0504A, and 6632L-0506A. Buy whatever is available or cheapest.Entomophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953584069626334847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5283325182904225936.post-6806951746558402212014-03-19T09:17:00.001-04:002014-03-19T09:17:18.078-04:00Astro Invaders Arcade Restoration - Control Panel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6XBE7azrhATzK98RkIPyiVx5kL6fCFmrUwJ_8wiT-we3ez6XWDbqnHh8vETZrtO47JPgshR3N4GcdMq-ydla9dUrAyCz8V8m02gMn6qJ5Lv0tjloQuwSa2fxv8yE9-1pcdgDfQWJwj64/s1600/20140104_213131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6XBE7azrhATzK98RkIPyiVx5kL6fCFmrUwJ_8wiT-we3ez6XWDbqnHh8vETZrtO47JPgshR3N4GcdMq-ydla9dUrAyCz8V8m02gMn6qJ5Lv0tjloQuwSa2fxv8yE9-1pcdgDfQWJwj64/s1600/20140104_213131.jpg" height="121" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://myfavoritestripper.blogspot.com/2014/01/astro-invaders-arcade-restoration-part-i.html" target="_blank">Part I</a> - Intro<br />
<a href="http://myfavoritestripper.blogspot.com/2014/01/astro-invaders-arcade-restoration-part.html" target="_blank">Part II</a> - Lights & Locks<br />
<a href="http://myfavoritestripper.blogspot.com/2014/01/astro-invaders-arcade-restoration.html" target="_blank">Part III</a> - Marquee Paint<br />
<a href="http://myfavoritestripper.blogspot.com/2014/01/astro-invaders-arcade-restoration-power.html" target="_blank">Part IV</a> - Power Supply Rebuild<br />
<a href="http://myfavoritestripper.blogspot.com/2014/01/astro-invaders-arcade-restoration_20.html" target="_blank">Part V</a> - Circuit Board Cleaning<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRQYcdXNxIyc0TrkOMp6AkUEhVojQIRzARB53olIm9lEijbOnpaOEi6_SjEx5gc9C-Rv4wppHrvlzcIwLJtINEkuEuHgn8vjY1sAWfvaf38jdwKhdvFRS1g4-OlWtDhwcAUJInOoeMFIs/s1600/2014-01-21+19.25.19.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRQYcdXNxIyc0TrkOMp6AkUEhVojQIRzARB53olIm9lEijbOnpaOEi6_SjEx5gc9C-Rv4wppHrvlzcIwLJtINEkuEuHgn8vjY1sAWfvaf38jdwKhdvFRS1g4-OlWtDhwcAUJInOoeMFIs/s1600/2014-01-21+19.25.19.png" height="114" width="320" /></a></div>
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Now it's time to get the control panel in shape. It works perfectly. But the buttons are dirty and scratched, and the paint is scratched in a few spots. Let's clean everything up and protect that cool artwork. The panel was removed easily by unhooking two latches inside the cabinet.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGGyHnkQC3n5sTB3ET5NBfw282yP0eFo5_jctI3pggnB7627nUjoBu68GlLZwaLOmFZm5z1xw52t1XD_2RzYH-pItRX87HKdE9xWPrm4ze4F855SJae8AnutdEk2S3lkbf3lhfYdIN5ro/s1600/2014-01-21+19.24.32.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGGyHnkQC3n5sTB3ET5NBfw282yP0eFo5_jctI3pggnB7627nUjoBu68GlLZwaLOmFZm5z1xw52t1XD_2RzYH-pItRX87HKdE9xWPrm4ze4F855SJae8AnutdEk2S3lkbf3lhfYdIN5ro/s1600/2014-01-21+19.24.32.png" height="135" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">leaf switches</td></tr>
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The panel is made up of leaf switches. These are pretty cool, much less noisy than the typical microswitch buttons found in most arcades today. They are durable as well as there isn't much to go wrong with them. The wiring is straightforward. One common ground and a separate wire for each button. All I did below the control panel was straighten one leaf and clean the contacts on the leaf switches with fine emery paper.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9g1v2myhe4788WhXJvYux9dQYNpnzO2_Oij0D66v5Pa36L_wiU_WbxKrtgYPSNUnNeB7S_gXQc6K78lr-pYFeUvvpl8oYCBmzGY-pJ9YDUvpac9rqRQcd9rCZHWif9wJT_qNabyUCGTp/s1600/20140125_133346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9g1v2myhe4788WhXJvYux9dQYNpnzO2_Oij0D66v5Pa36L_wiU_WbxKrtgYPSNUnNeB7S_gXQc6K78lr-pYFeUvvpl8oYCBmzGY-pJ9YDUvpac9rqRQcd9rCZHWif9wJT_qNabyUCGTp/s1600/20140125_133346.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">buttons removed and disassembled</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFf4Rpw94FPvOnxrEvJMtOOwhx5mucRpt0N3rZ03W-ueNZrUX1ru6K7miPiUiZkwv-6t-xOiMSRGQI2v0zLKx0SUxWfKG9yj6rD5HV0dkqQT6samWpU4aDdnO_sk0SetroV1l4kqhxF-bY/s1600/20140125_133431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFf4Rpw94FPvOnxrEvJMtOOwhx5mucRpt0N3rZ03W-ueNZrUX1ru6K7miPiUiZkwv-6t-xOiMSRGQI2v0zLKx0SUxWfKG9yj6rD5HV0dkqQT6samWpU4aDdnO_sk0SetroV1l4kqhxF-bY/s1600/20140125_133431.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">these things are filthy</td></tr>
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While the buttons were working fine, they were a little beat up. I started by disassembling them and cleaning with some Fantastik. That didn't help much. So I put them in my ultrasonic cleaner for two 8 minute cycles with heated simple green. That got them much cleaner, but the plastic was still stained yellow. I tried Goo Gone; no help. I tried a buffing wheel on my Dremel. That just turned the plastic red from the buffing rouge. 320 grit sandpaper worked OK but took forever. The plastic is soft and does not sand well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIeTl3gznUi9c5n1WXPkHDVe-dvyMNBi7Si3vLFgrKzbpqXnyiwBljoXbFV5ugv6L__-i2Hp63cNMR5Wmtwh70WutwxYuS_zhxVUoPrjvHdV4pHGhyKgYTfh9LlRNovCmXD7QekuDRlVv/s1600/20140317_163449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIeTl3gznUi9c5n1WXPkHDVe-dvyMNBi7Si3vLFgrKzbpqXnyiwBljoXbFV5ugv6L__-i2Hp63cNMR5Wmtwh70WutwxYuS_zhxVUoPrjvHdV4pHGhyKgYTfh9LlRNovCmXD7QekuDRlVv/s1600/20140317_163449.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">new (L) and old (R) buttons</td></tr>
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After too much time and several attempts, I gave up on restoring the old buttons. I found <a href="http://www.arcadeadventures.com/leaf-switch-buttons-long-1/" target="_blank">replacements </a>for only $2.65 apiece. For under $20.00 delivered I could get new buttons in less time than I spent trying to restore these eye sores. Lesson learned. The new buttons are a slightly different design below but function exactly the same.<br />
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The monitor glass is easy to remove once the control panel is removed. So I decided to clean the glass and monitor. With the glass removed I could see the monitor bezel was severely faded. I removed it, cleaned it, and sprayed it with satin black spray paint. The bezel was then stapled back in place. It's a small detail but it makes a difference in the look of the cabinet.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3kV0MIdTb3X_-4xGxD1cY30WHkYi65q-W4GuVQnG7eGVtq3D3Oz8QviNlv8iJqX8536Q0VeVqoq7vjsoX0kzjqzD0UDfHiurs1PqCh6EnOVQ9sK3H2Ml6WSX9vlmEp3MBv1yQHb7rfal/s1600/20140309_123428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3kV0MIdTb3X_-4xGxD1cY30WHkYi65q-W4GuVQnG7eGVtq3D3Oz8QviNlv8iJqX8536Q0VeVqoq7vjsoX0kzjqzD0UDfHiurs1PqCh6EnOVQ9sK3H2Ml6WSX9vlmEp3MBv1yQHb7rfal/s1600/20140309_123428.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bezel before</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOjTlVT5JqswgunOp0un4MsmcoRlrdEkgQftcQluPjQFbgDYnQ9coy8iG6blh1d0M9HZeHR1HbMdRnjYF8L0qugNvKgLkC_NTDZ3bz4DVFCaA-shsShBOp6jWgiJzo1H7ja-W0YrWItuM/s1600/20140309_140454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOjTlVT5JqswgunOp0un4MsmcoRlrdEkgQftcQluPjQFbgDYnQ9coy8iG6blh1d0M9HZeHR1HbMdRnjYF8L0qugNvKgLkC_NTDZ3bz4DVFCaA-shsShBOp6jWgiJzo1H7ja-W0YrWItuM/s1600/20140309_140454.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bezel after</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpHd6a-FFQnUosQAL-LOUL_2YJ7QzGoFFKckJeO4CpSj5292Cp98rtJdACIhzQaDEBY3S72WgDaHT8zp7ZfsYfgh1-xiPi57bhcVdPV36S-ImK_BbXRNRRzQwtCtI2FzoEppcoBk0_0mL/s1600/20140309_160948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpHd6a-FFQnUosQAL-LOUL_2YJ7QzGoFFKckJeO4CpSj5292Cp98rtJdACIhzQaDEBY3S72WgDaHT8zp7ZfsYfgh1-xiPi57bhcVdPV36S-ImK_BbXRNRRzQwtCtI2FzoEppcoBk0_0mL/s1600/20140309_160948.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">reinstalled</td></tr>
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Next I cleaned up the control panel with some Fantastik. To finish things off, I touched up some of the scratches with a paint marker. Finally, I reinstalled the monitor glass and control panel. Next time I'll work on touching up the cabinet.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAvVUpUDaWp6qHmjSqRydjvwqYhvjlryUHFiNr6ryC26H4lDgA0fo7ImC9DXgyCOzrzqqh10EgRJM3w9u_f7UNtyRoQ4PbJC921yfoi3JNcqdPyXVZD96eZwjojATKC1OEUkGL_gPe_Sp/s1600/20140318_180052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAvVUpUDaWp6qHmjSqRydjvwqYhvjlryUHFiNr6ryC26H4lDgA0fo7ImC9DXgyCOzrzqqh10EgRJM3w9u_f7UNtyRoQ4PbJC921yfoi3JNcqdPyXVZD96eZwjojATKC1OEUkGL_gPe_Sp/s1600/20140318_180052.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">back together</td></tr>
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Entomophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953584069626334847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5283325182904225936.post-19040868319512982832014-03-02T20:30:00.001-05:002014-03-02T20:30:51.616-05:00Hexacopter Power Distribution Board<div dir="ltr">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eNj0I_6oJ6l-8JxQE0sWEoWZ20hGrwel7kUcm_R9XZZrIdwpQXF3qWt2DOs03DH9QtmzpESqGKRZCJU6fhA3KC_CFcyMfvu3_-LAXdMM_E6ytJEQQMLY_8zpzlQdfpMZn7RCuwUiyiow/s1600/20140302_195748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eNj0I_6oJ6l-8JxQE0sWEoWZ20hGrwel7kUcm_R9XZZrIdwpQXF3qWt2DOs03DH9QtmzpESqGKRZCJU6fhA3KC_CFcyMfvu3_-LAXdMM_E6ytJEQQMLY_8zpzlQdfpMZn7RCuwUiyiow/s1600/20140302_195748.jpg" height="183" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New PDB. It ain't pretty but it should work.</td></tr>
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Recently my hexacopter crashed. Luckily I had a GoPro strapped to it and I saw one of the motors stop in flight. You can also hear a"pop" just before the failure.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/KkDQ872NcDw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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After the crash I plugged the suspect motor into a good speed controller (ESC) and it worked fine. So I plugged a good motor into the suspect ESC and it did not spin. Therefore, I concluded that the ESC had failed. I took the ESC apart to see which component failed but I couldn't find anything out of the ordinary.</div>
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But when I installed a new ESC, it didn't work either! After a little checking with my multimeter, I discovered that the positive terminal on the power distribution board (PDB) for that ESC was not getting power from the battery. Upon closer inspection, I could see that the circuit traces had burned out. This was a bit surprising considering that the board is rated for 90 amps and my motors should only be pulling around 45 amps max.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutsb35LZSY-yBhLJ_GQDowLw21nk75nRxp7UDPdjWU1fUbMWq8i9xEQx1Y5ClgldTg_94Zo7L7FaNiOH4AC-WtdJwrZyZDxgvSHc9vWrFZ-KhO8TtoWf3H6GU-BmgE2z73Xa97-w3JVyZ/s1600/20140221_165602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutsb35LZSY-yBhLJ_GQDowLw21nk75nRxp7UDPdjWU1fUbMWq8i9xEQx1Y5ClgldTg_94Zo7L7FaNiOH4AC-WtdJwrZyZDxgvSHc9vWrFZ-KhO8TtoWf3H6GU-BmgE2z73Xa97-w3JVyZ/s1600/20140221_165602.jpg" height="280" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the 3 burned copper points around the lower right solder pad.</td></tr>
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I had a few choices to fix it. Purchase the same thing again, purchase a different one, or make my own. I couldn't put the fate of my several thousand dollar hexacopter in the hands of the same component that failed once already. Other brands were an unknown and probably would not fit as well. I really liked the form factor of the original so I decided to make my own based on that design. I could etch my own PCB but I was concerned that it couldn't handle the power. So I decided to make a new PDB out of a piece of 0.025" copper plate. That's five times thicker than the original copper traces. It should have no problem handling the current.</div>
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I choose a piece of 0.093" polycarbonate to insulate the positive and negative sides. I marked and cut the plastic the same size as the original PCB. Then I cut out two pieces of copper plate larger than the plastic. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJTppJ552OabsyuwTh5MeYlhyeu3pHwSZaBiAERFsa9MbuXcUVZLBuG9M0M9tVksEBt4n-Yr5mmqXOe5CLQQK7L1Y2yD9r4rV0xoDcQUow6zViBRT5iaL03-Y-nzU-lban_wVJbofS9qi/s1600/20140224_192807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJTppJ552OabsyuwTh5MeYlhyeu3pHwSZaBiAERFsa9MbuXcUVZLBuG9M0M9tVksEBt4n-Yr5mmqXOe5CLQQK7L1Y2yD9r4rV0xoDcQUow6zViBRT5iaL03-Y-nzU-lban_wVJbofS9qi/s1600/20140224_192807.jpg" height="225" width="320" /></a></div>
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I glued the copper pieces to the plastic with 5 minute epoxy then trimmed the copper even with the plastic.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZmMSHQB_wUb4DZfO1dV3BigwYb3cEYgDMPNoxfUm7-uSrLnY9JrDcJfKxU9ysA23kgixwtWx9t_i1X79s1jzJYcnBV1H0dAv7GiLUiWciWlm05u1_LPOfA3KwDOXJBWyDZBZr70W48CM/s1600/20140225_072423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZmMSHQB_wUb4DZfO1dV3BigwYb3cEYgDMPNoxfUm7-uSrLnY9JrDcJfKxU9ysA23kgixwtWx9t_i1X79s1jzJYcnBV1H0dAv7GiLUiWciWlm05u1_LPOfA3KwDOXJBWyDZBZr70W48CM/s1600/20140225_072423.jpg" height="162" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Each copper plate is almost as thick as the old PDB!</td></tr>
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With that finished I drilled the mounting holes with a 1/8" drill. I'll use nylon mounting screws to avoid any shorts. I followed by drilling a hole for the negative battery lead. The negative lead was passed through the bottom of the board and soldered to the top. I soldered a set of 3x6 header pins to the negative side of the board for the ESC receiver wires. All of the negative leads are wired together. The positive leads are separate. One positive lead is wired to the power supply wire for the flight control system. And the wiring harness from the old PDB was soldered to the signal wires.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMnC069X9yQ6VrWYCcuwe3ZBJVaFC7G7qpJMDn1ZSyGFSJJYYosD2b4RgkZ2Arh7OLnGqu8y1ziHg3EVSRn1IpCUT5kvXmTgGuUGMBOoqdvWi6XlHCro4KK8ktIjTUACEHowSe2gdeNpY/s1600/20140227_205257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMnC069X9yQ6VrWYCcuwe3ZBJVaFC7G7qpJMDn1ZSyGFSJJYYosD2b4RgkZ2Arh7OLnGqu8y1ziHg3EVSRn1IpCUT5kvXmTgGuUGMBOoqdvWi6XlHCro4KK8ktIjTUACEHowSe2gdeNpY/s1600/20140227_205257.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for ESC's</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Finally, the six ESC's were soldered to the board. I covered the entire board in several coats of liquid electrical tape. Once it was dry, I screwed the new PDB to the center plate and attached the receiver leads. It fits the hexacopter exactly like the original. It is a little heavier, but this one can handle <b>much </b>more power. Now I just have to slap it back together and get her back in the air.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhLNJyAWOAOhTbIGkx8b_hV622vOmhyphenhyphenpm5irzAeuCiKqgrJGZ0JjQtXnFr4ud2rbqof-0wKn1YzT2hf3LXGZOuKm7Yl2CHmspCToMoHab49XcZnHDJ-5dFXknDM3nXkiGnmz4BDuHuS9g/s1600/20140302_195655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhLNJyAWOAOhTbIGkx8b_hV622vOmhyphenhyphenpm5irzAeuCiKqgrJGZ0JjQtXnFr4ud2rbqof-0wKn1YzT2hf3LXGZOuKm7Yl2CHmspCToMoHab49XcZnHDJ-5dFXknDM3nXkiGnmz4BDuHuS9g/s1600/20140302_195655.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for reassembly.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<i>Tip: If you've never soldered to copper plate before, you need lots of flux and lots of heat. Coat the area to be soldered with flux. Heat it thoroughly with your soldering iron. Keep touching solder to the area until it melts. When it does, run your soldering iron in circles around the area to tin it with solder. Once you have a small layer of solder on, it will be much easier to solder your leads. Don't try to solder leads directly to bare copper plate.</i></div>
Entomophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953584069626334847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5283325182904225936.post-67452331945042466822014-02-16T09:22:00.002-05:002014-09-01T20:37:06.383-04:00Floating Airsoft Targets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_vSRmAHXs_xZcJDh6EMYln90ScKfXAnCvlhQysDBwKWEyOGG91wCYd3Mp78OAg_iJWMtxX1OzjibRoCoerqRU_3E-0bHwF3QMDY7XSjCwgJPoya1rN9h1Kj0oqR_kGwhG3uFNapDjYq0/s1600/2014-02-15+15.29.33.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_vSRmAHXs_xZcJDh6EMYln90ScKfXAnCvlhQysDBwKWEyOGG91wCYd3Mp78OAg_iJWMtxX1OzjibRoCoerqRU_3E-0bHwF3QMDY7XSjCwgJPoya1rN9h1Kj0oqR_kGwhG3uFNapDjYq0/s1600/2014-02-15+15.29.33.png" height="372" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
A few years ago I received this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0019UCPY4/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0019UCPY4&linkCode=as2&tag=myfavostri-20">Floating Target Shooting Gallery</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=myfavostri-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0019UCPY4" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> as a gift. The concept is pretty cool, shoot the floating balls as they bounce around on a column of air. The problem is, the dart gun is so inaccurate that if you hit the target it is only by pure luck. So I decided to build an upgraded floating target system for use with a more accurate airsoft gun.
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5V7AU5JGlvcC8pyXiq4ZHyq-hMwFtLlXlW375_FKucJNHR2pcclSoW6PYGMKuGOxcF1mDKPMYkufEnqVUgnUF2kbBf3xAvzUQwBKLPikiyyaZjAOM7fDElzl_dGOy7V-nCXyTQq5QoeZ8/s1600/61zkt9xdWML._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5V7AU5JGlvcC8pyXiq4ZHyq-hMwFtLlXlW375_FKucJNHR2pcclSoW6PYGMKuGOxcF1mDKPMYkufEnqVUgnUF2kbBf3xAvzUQwBKLPikiyyaZjAOM7fDElzl_dGOy7V-nCXyTQq5QoeZ8/s1600/61zkt9xdWML._SL1500_.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">floating target toy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Obviously the targets need to be light, so I chose ping pong balls. I also picked up some plastic practice golf balls. They are about the same size but a little heavier. With ping pong ball in hand, I took a trip to the hardware store to select the parts. Check the picture below for the parts. The 1" x 1/2" bushing serves as a cup to hold the balls. The ball valve controls the amount of air flowing through the pipe and thus, the height of the ball. I opted for five targets, but you could make as many as you want so long as you have enough air to supply all of the lines. The vacuum adapter will differ based on your air source.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3dWzc2uHzQNhTKAiO5pMGVeTYZmq2iqfYDZiVngoThMFWfoaUQ12YJba-Sm4MXXdtdDD3H-ppJrK2sVmL_VMC70eNhB7jO5n2BYhrnmt4m2gBCoW7CS2yqKTKN8XeJgC_SmAeyte7TtED/s1600/Picture3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3dWzc2uHzQNhTKAiO5pMGVeTYZmq2iqfYDZiVngoThMFWfoaUQ12YJba-Sm4MXXdtdDD3H-ppJrK2sVmL_VMC70eNhB7jO5n2BYhrnmt4m2gBCoW7CS2yqKTKN8XeJgC_SmAeyte7TtED/s1600/Picture3.jpg" height="186" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">parts diagram</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Eventually I would like to use a built-in air source to make the unit self-contained. But for now, I'm just using the exhaust from my shop vac. I used a narrow adapter that fit into the tee to get the vacuum hose to attach to the manifold. I added some duct tape around the adapter for a snug fit. The unit was glued together with PVC cement and mounted to a board with pipe clips.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKaQVCFhLFGt36rH_eQtmrcumD_6Ti4YdHvCxWRAieJQbZsfpOzEFs9EsojwCp5hpigNEZtScZHPdDxVmJfw3cBxtJBaBUJfgzInutplAjcGh4gbnjoaXzRAwAKXE6yakiY7kcy62CnDG/s1600/2014-02-15+15.32.55.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKaQVCFhLFGt36rH_eQtmrcumD_6Ti4YdHvCxWRAieJQbZsfpOzEFs9EsojwCp5hpigNEZtScZHPdDxVmJfw3cBxtJBaBUJfgzInutplAjcGh4gbnjoaXzRAwAKXE6yakiY7kcy62CnDG/s1600/2014-02-15+15.32.55.png" height="186" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">completed assembly</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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With everything together, it was time to test it out. I closed all of the ball valves and fired up the shop vac. Then I opened each ball valve just a little until the ball was floating. I adjusted the valves until each ball was floating stably. With my 6 HP Craftsman shop vac blowing around 170 mph, I was able to get each ball floating comfortably about 4 inches above the cups. You could adjust the valves so each ball is at a slightly different height.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGVzajVaJ5_scvICNifGZra1YF9PJ_qdQwSjt3AGIPDRVq16s4vfJmXkwKB-WOf7MUI0nhYKyPrPxpFjBHobvyuDHDeRy20GJLQ0w8PyH_A6teMPrMjfktERF5xw1TTxR9yeKUjfnzw4A/s1600/2014-02-15+15.29.33.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGVzajVaJ5_scvICNifGZra1YF9PJ_qdQwSjt3AGIPDRVq16s4vfJmXkwKB-WOf7MUI0nhYKyPrPxpFjBHobvyuDHDeRy20GJLQ0w8PyH_A6teMPrMjfktERF5xw1TTxR9yeKUjfnzw4A/s1600/2014-02-15+15.29.33.png" height="298" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">floating targets</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Now let's see how it works as a target system. I loaded up my <a href="http://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/WE_Hi_Capa_5_1_R_Full_Metal_Airsoft_Gas_Pistol/792" target="_blank">WE Hi-Capa 5.1 R</a> and took aim. With each good shot the balls popped off the air column. The air holds them steady enough that a glancing shot is not enough to knock them off. It takes a good square hit.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9x2BmypEpk8a86c9QGPrrQRyG1rTHr-hgRkz4gjfCuY0jQofTpYzf5nMzm9Xl7S_OCmbOTRStVgpDCDDj9vEngC_8wfo6jUmtl3dghMmRjgJbvUzDZxtkiid8yuk1brpTD_bkyvrogFOX/s1600/20140215_205135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9x2BmypEpk8a86c9QGPrrQRyG1rTHr-hgRkz4gjfCuY0jQofTpYzf5nMzm9Xl7S_OCmbOTRStVgpDCDDj9vEngC_8wfo6jUmtl3dghMmRjgJbvUzDZxtkiid8yuk1brpTD_bkyvrogFOX/s1600/20140215_205135.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cracked and dented balls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The ping pong balls hold up OK to the airsoft shots. Once in a while they crack. I tried the plastic golf balls. They dent but don't crack. The golf balls also seem to be a little more stable. I'll keep searching for a better target that can withstand multiple shots. The air flow is just a little erratic. Sometimes the balls pop off the air column on their own. I'll work on making the air column more stable. But for now, it's ready for some range time! Update: I have made some improvements. <a href="http://myfavoritestripper.blogspot.com/2014/09/floating-airsoft-targets-part-ii.html" target="_blank">Click for details!</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/b-QubWupA1Q?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Entomophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953584069626334847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5283325182904225936.post-58467349585368449992014-01-20T09:41:00.003-05:002014-01-20T20:39:19.490-05:00Astro Invaders Arcade Restoration - Circuit Board Cleaning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6XBE7azrhATzK98RkIPyiVx5kL6fCFmrUwJ_8wiT-we3ez6XWDbqnHh8vETZrtO47JPgshR3N4GcdMq-ydla9dUrAyCz8V8m02gMn6qJ5Lv0tjloQuwSa2fxv8yE9-1pcdgDfQWJwj64/s1600/20140104_213131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6XBE7azrhATzK98RkIPyiVx5kL6fCFmrUwJ_8wiT-we3ez6XWDbqnHh8vETZrtO47JPgshR3N4GcdMq-ydla9dUrAyCz8V8m02gMn6qJ5Lv0tjloQuwSa2fxv8yE9-1pcdgDfQWJwj64/s1600/20140104_213131.jpg" height="121" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://myfavoritestripper.blogspot.com/2014/01/astro-invaders-arcade-restoration-part-i.html" target="_blank">Part I</a> - Intro<br />
<a href="http://myfavoritestripper.blogspot.com/2014/01/astro-invaders-arcade-restoration-part.html" target="_blank">Part II</a> - Lights & Locks<br />
<a href="http://myfavoritestripper.blogspot.com/2014/01/astro-invaders-arcade-restoration.html" target="_blank">Part III</a> - Marquee Paint<br />
<a href="http://myfavoritestripper.blogspot.com/2014/01/astro-invaders-arcade-restoration-power.html" target="_blank">Part IV</a> - Power Supply Rebuild<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHnaIPUJZX6C45CyDEzT3tEJF_b9rJ2oExg1PUxdrxlGFTatpRUMgL0URX5Wt6sNLOZz7Tj6KjuybHqND7zEKC0c53xafPxYHM2a4qX7NpyAtFQuoFpQZj04kSTWCMjYm40OSlEPDJWdR/s1600/20140118_154734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHnaIPUJZX6C45CyDEzT3tEJF_b9rJ2oExg1PUxdrxlGFTatpRUMgL0URX5Wt6sNLOZz7Tj6KjuybHqND7zEKC0c53xafPxYHM2a4qX7NpyAtFQuoFpQZj04kSTWCMjYm40OSlEPDJWdR/s1600/20140118_154734.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">circuit boards in "card cage"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Now that the game is working, I want to make sure it is working as well as it possibly can. Decades of dust and corrosion on the circuit boards, pots, and IC pins can lead to sub-optimal performance. I'm not sure if it will help, but it certainly can't hurt to give everything a good cleaning.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGuTl7bSX7YOmPDCTvZkR-GYRWzCoJ3JYIHg0YM4RS5wQIvHua17IIKSeY3DBvF1uL4Mc1yXE9DrdE325JlQP5G55Wd5hgSjJwxBZgi9MjQ2chnrVdwPPH4j8pXR_y8yAVkPDzSy_DL-qR/s1600/20140118_164744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGuTl7bSX7YOmPDCTvZkR-GYRWzCoJ3JYIHg0YM4RS5wQIvHua17IIKSeY3DBvF1uL4Mc1yXE9DrdE325JlQP5G55Wd5hgSjJwxBZgi9MjQ2chnrVdwPPH4j8pXR_y8yAVkPDzSy_DL-qR/s1600/20140118_164744.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(L to R) video, CPU, & sound boards</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I started by pulling out the card cage containing all of the circuit boards. I sprayed each with circuit cleaner and scrubbed them with a soft toothbrush. Any IC's that could be removed were worked back and forth in the sockets to clean the pins. There are 8 exposed potentiometers on the sound board. One is the master volume and then I believe each game sound has it's own volume control. I marked the position of each one with a silver Sharpie before cleaning . Then they were sprayed with contact cleaner/lube and worked back and forth. I found a capacitor and resistor whose leads were touching and perhaps causing problems. I corrected that and checked for the same problem on the rest of the components. I finished up by cleaning the board contacts with 0000 steel wool. As I worked I looked closely for any signs of failing components. Everything looked good. I blew the boards dry with compressed air, cleaned the card cage and put it all back together.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDv2UtXEQoxTiEgMSEF0o1z4i17CJGu9LJ54WUUQG71pg46M7JLp-VuSQpT6ZCh1GRlq2Fgn8L86cq3bwN-8lz2DXI3WrTswgFBLbvYPoxNWEYzyalkgIUcbmwrkf6yqMzm8vcrbjCGiE/s1600/20140108_145933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDv2UtXEQoxTiEgMSEF0o1z4i17CJGu9LJ54WUUQG71pg46M7JLp-VuSQpT6ZCh1GRlq2Fgn8L86cq3bwN-8lz2DXI3WrTswgFBLbvYPoxNWEYzyalkgIUcbmwrkf6yqMzm8vcrbjCGiE/s1600/20140108_145933.jpg" height="202" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">someone didn't want to find an adapter for the ground plug</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPC28AsQBSEpiQ3onaCs3lpopqI3hvsGRGuXmRbyJ_vG9U1MHcQiyvGaHJ7LNwl8g3SfI_wQG-JC7hzCDW-QKc5zGrViRJDIWdUu0zMI32AUanel6PfkTYvDRHjXhohPQRjNU2C6sGE4r/s1600/20140120_153848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPC28AsQBSEpiQ3onaCs3lpopqI3hvsGRGuXmRbyJ_vG9U1MHcQiyvGaHJ7LNwl8g3SfI_wQG-JC7hzCDW-QKc5zGrViRJDIWdUu0zMI32AUanel6PfkTYvDRHjXhohPQRjNU2C6sGE4r/s1600/20140120_153848.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cracked power cord</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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While I was at it, I changed the power cord. The ground pin was broken off of the plug and the cord was starting to crack. I was going to pick up some 3 lead cable and make my own power cord. But buying wire by the foot is expensive. So instead I purchased an extension cord. With the plug molded in, the cord looks more professional anyway.<br />
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I kept the cord 11 feet long, like the original. I just cut off the female end and wired the cord to the connector with some new female crimp terminals. I kept the original warning card in place and added a zip-tie as a strain relief. The new power cord is much heavier duty than the original. In fact, if I were doing it again, I would probably go with 16 gauge wire. It was hard getting the 14 gauge wire into the connector. But this will stand up to years of hard use.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6Hz1OEBHWPB6xFAdoEOTz61ED89GCGHxG0QNt5aPT_9n4VCce6xhWFX4zrXgSjkxtJ3KaH8kEPiY0djbXqChyphenhyphen3naxAY1njLix4uMOzi3M6HZkqmsrtxQalA76ZRTgi2JOXsxmLIYWWlM/s1600/20140120_162430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6Hz1OEBHWPB6xFAdoEOTz61ED89GCGHxG0QNt5aPT_9n4VCce6xhWFX4zrXgSjkxtJ3KaH8kEPiY0djbXqChyphenhyphen3naxAY1njLix4uMOzi3M6HZkqmsrtxQalA76ZRTgi2JOXsxmLIYWWlM/s1600/20140120_162430.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">new cord in place</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Luckily the game still works and it seems like the sound is less scratchy than before. The game also used to have a few errant pixels lit up on the screen during game play. That seems to be gone as well. Next up I'll pull out the control panel and restore that.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNFp0GzSUXgG83GoYGUHRUa1fJxncJAFI1zUYRIzg56EmpY7PyVRe_Zep0b5RdUWNlEPuiO-OgpQO1JIyV83cuDcXRf2Z5tpPSpcrgx0gWC_dO6xBP1ODifpRt4sLq06btxgnpYJlKhyphenhyphenKh/s1600/20140120_163831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNFp0GzSUXgG83GoYGUHRUa1fJxncJAFI1zUYRIzg56EmpY7PyVRe_Zep0b5RdUWNlEPuiO-OgpQO1JIyV83cuDcXRf2Z5tpPSpcrgx0gWC_dO6xBP1ODifpRt4sLq06btxgnpYJlKhyphenhyphenKh/s1600/20140120_163831.jpg" height="227" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
PS - I didn't even waste the cut portion of the extension cord.<br />
<br />
<br />
Extension Cord $15.96Entomophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953584069626334847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5283325182904225936.post-55562814364637084672014-01-18T13:31:00.002-05:002014-01-18T13:31:08.689-05:00Astro Invaders Arcade Restoration - Power Supply Rebuild<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6XBE7azrhATzK98RkIPyiVx5kL6fCFmrUwJ_8wiT-we3ez6XWDbqnHh8vETZrtO47JPgshR3N4GcdMq-ydla9dUrAyCz8V8m02gMn6qJ5Lv0tjloQuwSa2fxv8yE9-1pcdgDfQWJwj64/s1600/20140104_213131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6XBE7azrhATzK98RkIPyiVx5kL6fCFmrUwJ_8wiT-we3ez6XWDbqnHh8vETZrtO47JPgshR3N4GcdMq-ydla9dUrAyCz8V8m02gMn6qJ5Lv0tjloQuwSa2fxv8yE9-1pcdgDfQWJwj64/s1600/20140104_213131.jpg" height="121" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://myfavoritestripper.blogspot.com/2014/01/astro-invaders-arcade-restoration-part-i.html" target="_blank">Part I</a> - Intro<br />
<a href="http://myfavoritestripper.blogspot.com/2014/01/astro-invaders-arcade-restoration-part.html" target="_blank">Part II</a> - Lights & Locks<br />
<a href="http://myfavoritestripper.blogspot.com/2014/01/astro-invaders-arcade-restoration.html" target="_blank">Part III</a> - Marquee Paint<br />
<br />
<br />
Time to rebuild the power supply. Every time I think I have the game working, it proves me wrong. The game will work for extended periods and then the screen will go red & black. And now it loses the sound as well when it does it. Best I can tell, all of the problems stem from the power supply.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzxi_udsRrcqoI5mh12Q-m6ejTR0NtbQBL8rUfCEMfnVlhvTKo_R34F9o3B8vkNoGJCQ8tFC_-5HNzZ6Zqc_L6kCYwU_W2DJnlyLhP8tvHRHbTDYDC0x_HtNHgnhJmmDfHGw62UXs1k_p/s1600/20140103_145839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzxi_udsRrcqoI5mh12Q-m6ejTR0NtbQBL8rUfCEMfnVlhvTKo_R34F9o3B8vkNoGJCQ8tFC_-5HNzZ6Zqc_L6kCYwU_W2DJnlyLhP8tvHRHbTDYDC0x_HtNHgnhJmmDfHGw62UXs1k_p/s1600/20140103_145839.jpg" height="177" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">power supply</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I know there is a bad connector, some questionable wiring, one resistor is burned out, the diodes look like they got hot, and the filter capacitors are probably bad. I could replace just the bad parts and hope for the best. However, the rest of the parts are so cheap, it makes sense just to replace everything.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vcozbR3IlvnPktJDTGZ2aVTgMAKP9r_1SZ2C-gtSSa-b1VIkMHBoBinsOBfd7Q6Pmp5BUhz-to_NUy1d-e-aN8dteH45OYwxPqzU668GdaYoPIJOg2N9ty5pYPurZpfPK0gKajkBoJPR/s1600/power_supply.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vcozbR3IlvnPktJDTGZ2aVTgMAKP9r_1SZ2C-gtSSa-b1VIkMHBoBinsOBfd7Q6Pmp5BUhz-to_NUy1d-e-aN8dteH45OYwxPqzU668GdaYoPIJOg2N9ty5pYPurZpfPK0gKajkBoJPR/s1600/power_supply.jpg" height="210" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">power supply schematic</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Luckily the machine came with a complete set of paperwork, including schematics for every board. The service manual is available online, but I have never seen any of the schematics. I looked over the schematics and the board and made a list of parts. Good thing I did because for some reason, capacitor #3 (5V filter capacitor) is not listed on the schematic. I have since updated the schematic and added C3. Sourcing all of the parts was a pain, especially the 6800 <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px;">µ</span>F and 15000 <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px;">µ</span>F capacitors. I ended up ordering half of the parts from <a href="http://www.newark.com/" target="_blank">Newark Electronics</a> and the other half from <a href="http://www.greatplainselectronics.com/" target="_blank">Great Plains Electronics</a>. I probably could have ordered everything from Newark, but it is much easier to find things on the GP website and they had better prices on a few things.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOsH94hUIJOfPzcciXa0l9YoWCCLghMqB0ZVQY7a9Kv4V4D1YEah0LFweptS1JxYcjrEcj1-K-wC3MxOs_gE8W5vIXyCUjUNoQZCZxqqjgVXWLplYPEMZh76Dxw6z54k_Tfn9Lm-2qbuZ/s1600/20140111_152326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOsH94hUIJOfPzcciXa0l9YoWCCLghMqB0ZVQY7a9Kv4V4D1YEah0LFweptS1JxYcjrEcj1-K-wC3MxOs_gE8W5vIXyCUjUNoQZCZxqqjgVXWLplYPEMZh76Dxw6z54k_Tfn9Lm-2qbuZ/s1600/20140111_152326.jpg" height="320" width="314" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the naked pcb and pile of old parts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
With the parts ordered, I began stripping the power supply. I removed everything except the potentiometer, fuse mounts, test points and output header pins. I used a solder sucker to remove the solder from the components. Then I just pushed the leads through with a hot soldering iron. With the board bare, I cleaned it with some <span style="background-color: white;">circuit </span>cleaner. I finished the prep by re-drilling all of the holes by hand to make sure the leads inserted with no problem.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOcyg8qk80-KnAsko1N-FJYGf51J73nsO-yXvuth84zD2C1tA3FUqWciQ4znu_DSE2bGK1bMLbsXVE98fIhM5wqUnFJ9OEMENDxU1SAQWYOWUSa4FxkW5_i6fjhg6Fm4UCe6VSfMMC0Wa5/s1600/20140113_192547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOcyg8qk80-KnAsko1N-FJYGf51J73nsO-yXvuth84zD2C1tA3FUqWciQ4znu_DSE2bGK1bMLbsXVE98fIhM5wqUnFJ9OEMENDxU1SAQWYOWUSa4FxkW5_i6fjhg6Fm4UCe6VSfMMC0Wa5/s1600/20140113_192547.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">burned circuit trace</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
One of the header pins was badly burned; to the point that some of the copper traces were damaged. I scraped away as much of the burn as practical and soldered in a piece of solid wire to replace the damaged trace.<br />
<br />
As I was removing the parts, I noticed that R5 was a 13Ω, 5W resistor. On the schematics it is listed as a 25Ω, 5W. This resistor goes to the input of the 7905 -5V regulator. So which part is correct? I asked for some advice on the <a href="http://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/showthread.php?t=93364" target="_blank">All About Circuits</a> forum. It looks like that resistor limits the amount of current that can flow through the 7905. The 25Ω resistor only lets about 0.5 amps through. Perhaps that was not enough current for the CPU board and someone swapped it out. I had already ordered the 25Ω resistor and didn't feel like paying the shipping just for one resistor. So I went to a local <a href="http://makezine.com/2008/07/05/hidden-gem-wayne-electron/" target="_blank">electronics supply shop</a> and found a 15Ω resistor. That's close enough and should provide plenty of power to the CPU.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXyIr7HU4gugIZB_FqDuYSm3YoiX8fyLmOW75i8D-lBkwLTDYiQMXz0oBvoito8x-bEQaURuWvCwrcVKnOWsGdtI7Jly06Lx7-riv3IcraV4vc3DtmRZ6ER8SA-qU8NWRiKlbSSCdY-A1/s1600/20140111_140555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXyIr7HU4gugIZB_FqDuYSm3YoiX8fyLmOW75i8D-lBkwLTDYiQMXz0oBvoito8x-bEQaURuWvCwrcVKnOWsGdtI7Jly06Lx7-riv3IcraV4vc3DtmRZ6ER8SA-qU8NWRiKlbSSCdY-A1/s1600/20140111_140555.jpg" height="195" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">before</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKpU6FWPVCBCV4x8_hRE_zNAivzRzTibW-hjboetkyMMJ6pSUwjRJjpfcU3sxIulq_jpcLU0N4KxsmqJL3Jg3YYVpOGkXtqbo18Zl4UrdBF32uTtJ8LlH-60ffHCW0F97Tmlp7zPs0uL_/s1600/20140117_182700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKpU6FWPVCBCV4x8_hRE_zNAivzRzTibW-hjboetkyMMJ6pSUwjRJjpfcU3sxIulq_jpcLU0N4KxsmqJL3Jg3YYVpOGkXtqbo18Zl4UrdBF32uTtJ8LlH-60ffHCW0F97Tmlp7zPs0uL_/s1600/20140117_182700.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">after</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The parts arrived in <span style="background-color: white;">a few days</span>. Installing the new parts didn't take long. I mounted the resistors and diodes well above the surface of the board to hopefully help dissipate any heat. I increased the one burned out resistor from 1/4 W to 1/2 W. I finished by spraying some contact cleaner in the potentiometer and working it back and forth a few times.<br />
<br />
With the board rebuilt, all that was left was to replace the contacts. The four and six pin plugs were so loose that touching them would make the screen go haywire. I decided to replace the standard contacts with Trifurcon contacts. They grip the pins on three sides instead of one and provide a much more secure connection. I replaced the contacts for all of the plugs on the power supply board. Even with the Trifurcon contacts, the four pin connector is still touchy. I will need to replace the plug and pins as well.<br />
<br />
Time to re-install the board. I screwed the board down and attached the connectors. I powered up the power supply without plugging in the output connectors and adjusted the voltage to spec. Then I plugged in the output connectors and nervously hit the power switch. I watched for the magic blue smoke but all was calm. No smoke, but no game either. I checked the test points and all of the voltages were OK. I unplugged the CPU boards and quickly cleaned the contacts. I also found two resistors on the board that had their leads touching and may have been shorting out. I separated those, put the boards back in, powered up and voila! The game works.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ethmkDDifYwrSkSiIy-KrpZZfc5eKSqkiu4rVdkh0LGIuvYc4z8aPZL31MyZarnMMUJe5IykvE-ZCpWVjpJmKrMqZ3PJ5HuYq_3hyYxSYwE3NpPma3cama9z76NR48JXgqaFZcJUVqha/s1600/20140104095434.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ethmkDDifYwrSkSiIy-KrpZZfc5eKSqkiu4rVdkh0LGIuvYc4z8aPZL31MyZarnMMUJe5IykvE-ZCpWVjpJmKrMqZ3PJ5HuYq_3hyYxSYwE3NpPma3cama9z76NR48JXgqaFZcJUVqha/s1600/20140104095434.gif" height="320" width="178" /></a></div>
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<br />
Next I'll pull out the CPU boards and give those a good cleaning. A few decades of dust and corrosion can't be good for the game. Check back soon.<br />
<br />
<br />
<u>Parts List</u><br />
<u><br /></u>
Capacitors<br />
<a href="http://www.newark.com/illinois-capacitor/226tta035m/capacitor-alum-elec-22uf-35v-20/dp/30K6677?CMP=TREML008-005" target="_blank">22 <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">µ</span>F, 35V</a> x 4 $1.22<br />
<a href="http://www.newark.com/illinois-capacitor/159tta016m/capacitor-alum-elec-15000uf-16v/dp/30K6650?CMP=TREML008-005" target="_blank">15000 <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px;">µ</span>F, 16V</a> $5.91<br />
<a href="http://www.newark.com/illinois-capacitor/108tta035m/capacitor-alum-elec-1000uf-35v/dp/30K6610?CMP=TREML008-005" target="_blank">1000 <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px;">µ</span>F, 35V</a> $1.03<br />
<a href="http://www.newark.com/vishay-bc-components/a104k15x7rf5uaa/capacitor-ceramic-0-1uf-50v-x7r/dp/89K8584?CMP=TREML008-005" target="_blank">0.1 <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px;">µ</span>F, 50V</a> x 10 $0.32 (only 1 needed)<br />
<a href="http://www.newark.com/vishay-bc-components/a103k15x7rf5taa/capacitor-ceramic-0-01uf-50v-x7r/dp/95C0840?CMP=TREML008-005" target="_blank">0.01 <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px;">µ</span>F, 50V</a> x 10 $0.27 (only 1 needed)<br />
<a href="http://www.newark.com/illinois-capacitor/688tta035m/capacitor-alum-elec-6800uf-35v/dp/30K6800?CMP=TREML008-005" target="_blank">6800 <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px;">µ</span>F, 35V</a> $6.32<br />
<br />
Diodes<br />
<a href="http://www.newark.com/on-semiconductor/1n4004g/standard-diode-1a-400v-59-10/dp/42K2822?CMP=TREML008-005" target="_blank">1N4004G</a> x 4 $0.76<br />
<a href="http://www.greatplainselectronics.com/products.asp?cat=116" target="_blank">6A4</a> x 4 $1.40<br />
<br />
Resistors<br />
<a href="http://www.newark.com/multicomp/mccfr0s2j0120a20/resistor-carbon-film-12-ohm-500mw/dp/58K4941?CMP=TREML008-005" target="_blank">12Ω, 500 mW</a> x 10 $0.27 (only 1 needed)<br />
<a href="http://www.greatplainselectronics.com/products.asp?cat=119" target="_blank">5.6Ω, 5 W</a> $0.35<br />
<a href="http://www.greatplainselectronics.com/products.asp?cat=119" target="_blank">25Ω, 5 W</a> $0.35<br />
<br />
Wiring<br />
<span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.greatplainselectronics.com/products.asp?cat=79" target="_blank">0.156" Header, 24 Pin</a> x 4 $5.40 (only 1 needed)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.greatplainselectronics.com/products.asp?cat=80" target="_blank">Crimp Contact, 0.156", Trifurcon, 22-26AWG</a> x 100 $8.00 (only xx needed)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.greatplainselectronics.com/products.asp?cat=80" target="_blank">Crimp Contact, 0.156", Trifurcon, 18-20AWG</a> x 50 $4.00 (only xx needed)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Voltage Regulators</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.greatplainselectronics.com/products.asp?cat=23" target="_blank">7905T</a> $0.45</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.greatplainselectronics.com/products.asp?cat=23" target="_blank">7815T</a> $0.45</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.greatplainselectronics.com/products.asp?cat=23" target="_blank">7812T</a> $0.35</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>S&H + tax $10.99</u></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Total $46.64 </b>(price is actually higher than needed because I ordered extra of some parts)</span></span><br />
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<br />Entomophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953584069626334847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5283325182904225936.post-11097005197745106252014-01-18T11:40:00.001-05:002014-01-20T20:39:44.730-05:00Astro Invaders Arcade Restoration - Marquee Touch-Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6XBE7azrhATzK98RkIPyiVx5kL6fCFmrUwJ_8wiT-we3ez6XWDbqnHh8vETZrtO47JPgshR3N4GcdMq-ydla9dUrAyCz8V8m02gMn6qJ5Lv0tjloQuwSa2fxv8yE9-1pcdgDfQWJwj64/s1600/20140104_213131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6XBE7azrhATzK98RkIPyiVx5kL6fCFmrUwJ_8wiT-we3ez6XWDbqnHh8vETZrtO47JPgshR3N4GcdMq-ydla9dUrAyCz8V8m02gMn6qJ5Lv0tjloQuwSa2fxv8yE9-1pcdgDfQWJwj64/s1600/20140104_213131.jpg" height="121" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://myfavoritestripper.blogspot.com/2014/01/astro-invaders-arcade-restoration-part-i.html" target="_blank">Part I</a> - Intro<br />
<a href="http://myfavoritestripper.blogspot.com/2014/01/astro-invaders-arcade-restoration-part.html" target="_blank">Part II</a> - Lights & Locks<br />
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In a previous post I <a href="http://myfavoritestripper.blogspot.com/2014/01/astro-invaders-arcade-restoration-part.html" target="_blank">repaired my marquee light</a>. With the light shining through, the missing paint was now much more noticeable. Actually, it's not paint. I believe it was screen printed. Over the years the ink had dried out and was starting to crack. In some of the worst spots, it was flaking off. So I decided at the very least, I should preserve the sign in its current condition. With any luck, I might even be able to make it look a little better.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsMstXn7CMo_eIrBDQO65p5-cEH5ptvRLwLQ7N4FB7lrQF83wPxp-7mXc1MegC80je38MzS5ZDH1NaSQEscKbl_v6xmwTmx7y7qi38hsh-JaK0dzELaTwHmizyERTRnc4d-HcbKgAjGT7/s1600/20140110_191608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsMstXn7CMo_eIrBDQO65p5-cEH5ptvRLwLQ7N4FB7lrQF83wPxp-7mXc1MegC80je38MzS5ZDH1NaSQEscKbl_v6xmwTmx7y7qi38hsh-JaK0dzELaTwHmizyERTRnc4d-HcbKgAjGT7/s1600/20140110_191608.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">flaking ink</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I started by cleaning the back of the marquee. Years of dust had accumulated over the ink and was probably muddying some of the colors. Because of the compromised condition of the ink, I couldn't simply scrub the sign clean. So I sprayed the marquee with Fantastik and let it soak for a minute. Then I rinsed it under a very light stream of water. That removed much of the grime. I followed by very lightly wiping the ink with a damp paper towel. That did pull off a few flakes of ink from the worst area but it got the rest of the marquee much cleaner.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KzCdokrtBura6R0tszcVIgfYWrPd74k6jvdtIg2bqcnUg8p8a8wbmCTIm7Ui0JWI5eZloU2t9YgsAIBnbOw19Sld_La1nipz5uj0YZTaIBNXTjqkh6-6HqXicx0AKzHzzHDMkVnRsvYE/s1600/marquee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KzCdokrtBura6R0tszcVIgfYWrPd74k6jvdtIg2bqcnUg8p8a8wbmCTIm7Ui0JWI5eZloU2t9YgsAIBnbOw19Sld_La1nipz5uj0YZTaIBNXTjqkh6-6HqXicx0AKzHzzHDMkVnRsvYE/s1600/marquee.jpg" height="320" width="218" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before (top) & After (bottom)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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With the sign sufficiently clean I needed to protect the ink so that it wouldn't crack or flake anymore. I read on a forum that Krylon Triple-Thick Crystal Clear Glaze is the best option for preserving old pinball marquees and backglass. I found a can at <a href="http://www.michaels.com/" target="_blank">Michaels</a> and applied it per label directions over the ink; two heavy coats. The glaze dried clear and left a nice thick protective coating. Now I don't have to worry about the marquee getting any worse. More importantly, I could try and repair the missing ink on the sign without fear of ruining the sign. Any mistakes could be wiped away.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUDlA81mUNXMHM5hrLPDwNFC-YHNz_VPDG7Dh6QhFUODwa6pUqZ1Iku3L_HFfDeboH4xui5p4T_OvwZL8Ksl9kCwMAzaqYoDXkq_mBKFOCDZmioMV2kP8uSHMzdFieRT2J-T0Ya2iZ_2N/s1600/81WfWOToukL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUDlA81mUNXMHM5hrLPDwNFC-YHNz_VPDG7Dh6QhFUODwa6pUqZ1Iku3L_HFfDeboH4xui5p4T_OvwZL8Ksl9kCwMAzaqYoDXkq_mBKFOCDZmioMV2kP8uSHMzdFieRT2J-T0Ya2iZ_2N/s1600/81WfWOToukL._SL1500_.jpg" height="320" width="121" /></a></div>
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If you read the arcade/pinball forums, you will find most people advise against repainting translucent marquees. Even if you match the colors perfectly, the translucency will likely differ and your repair might actually be more obvious than the damage was. While trying to decide what to do, I came across a 24 pack of Sharpie markers at home. For some reason I thought they might be suitable for repairing the marquee art. I tried them along the edges of the marquee, hidden by the brackets. The colors ended up being too transparent; even with multiple coats.<br />
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So next I decided to try fine point Sharpie oil-based paint pens. I picked up a few colors that were close to the marquee colors and tried them out along the hidden edges of the sign. I tried two colors to touch up the purple area of the marquee. The colors weren't an exact match but the repair looked OK...until I put it up to the light.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtM1FMDYjOFW8rckgmhIDrHDE1jtzfJsuHe_M1JH33UB-24JYHSQ10qMzmVu5QCRSQiseNqPL0y2YzyAjsRIQw7I7uB8mPQsUazx27rTDpL5KLkCmO_cSuwxoc8G5qtGVjFDRGz5ew2Flb/s1600/20140110_191448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtM1FMDYjOFW8rckgmhIDrHDE1jtzfJsuHe_M1JH33UB-24JYHSQ10qMzmVu5QCRSQiseNqPL0y2YzyAjsRIQw7I7uB8mPQsUazx27rTDpL5KLkCmO_cSuwxoc8G5qtGVjFDRGz5ew2Flb/s1600/20140110_191448.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">repair lighted from the front</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglt9leKTUH3bBjSbSFcHxO4C_xt6cOnYDhgLe_unSzCWX2hkDScZ1kKN3JlS-jKHUUBgAHkZG1LUYC-og4aXLjeE3HptPTExkVdqTaQFqU2ZVlq6EyrHuEOOf0hEyZDFruwN4Y5tjCvQ3x/s1600/20140110_191525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglt9leKTUH3bBjSbSFcHxO4C_xt6cOnYDhgLe_unSzCWX2hkDScZ1kKN3JlS-jKHUUBgAHkZG1LUYC-og4aXLjeE3HptPTExkVdqTaQFqU2ZVlq6EyrHuEOOf0hEyZDFruwN4Y5tjCvQ3x/s1600/20140110_191525.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">same repair lighted from behind</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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With the light shining through the marquee, any spot of paint that was over the original ink made the area more opaque and painfully obvious. IF I could get paint that was a closer match, and IF I could get the paint ONLY on the clear areas without getting ANY paint on the ink, the repairs might be OK. But those are a lot of ifs.<br />
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Luckily, the black paint is completely opaque. Repairs made with the black paint pen were completely invisible. The area of the marquee with the worst flaking is actually black and light blue. If I can at least touch up the black, the missing light blue might not be that noticeable. So I carefully went to work with with a black extra-fine point Sharpie paint pen.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85P_sn2-g3MzcSAgeB9Xc3vFizEXhzul4MpsP6oEdGQ-PLD1jwxzVnwrp9AZAwBa91JFMDoTV9RbG4uAxnp6_v3h7A-Bom9MvVxw7KbOJLFGHxGIKhYenp4TmoFq2cwQ3Ee_BG1jTyqWv/s1600/marquee_paint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85P_sn2-g3MzcSAgeB9Xc3vFizEXhzul4MpsP6oEdGQ-PLD1jwxzVnwrp9AZAwBa91JFMDoTV9RbG4uAxnp6_v3h7A-Bom9MvVxw7KbOJLFGHxGIKhYenp4TmoFq2cwQ3Ee_BG1jTyqWv/s1600/marquee_paint.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">before (top) & after (bottom)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The resulting repair isn't perfect, but it looks pretty good. I've got two things going for me. Most of the flaking paint is light blue which blends well with the clear areas. And the worst part is in the area of an explosion. So the bits of flaked and missing paint almost look intentional. This will do for now. Maybe in the future I will play with those light blue areas again. The final step in the touch-up will be polishing the front of the marquee with some Novus plastic polish. But that will wait until the rest of the cabinet is finished.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFm9VhKgargZOFiG1mZ27XljNxBIUGmtaRJNY7Dw4f6GdOhsAf0IZMAIFnmQxYrh-0qGG5s7rPrdYjkwcVt-9GxWTbFtOTbnldmO5wgpS8rDrreJ_GRCYHjHA2S2tgT-6AXcFsIjJCie4/s1600/2014-01-18+11.25.05.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFm9VhKgargZOFiG1mZ27XljNxBIUGmtaRJNY7Dw4f6GdOhsAf0IZMAIFnmQxYrh-0qGG5s7rPrdYjkwcVt-9GxWTbFtOTbnldmO5wgpS8rDrreJ_GRCYHjHA2S2tgT-6AXcFsIjJCie4/s1600/2014-01-18+11.25.05.png" height="106" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">back on the arcade</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The difference is subtle. From 5 feet away, nobody would probably notice the difference. But it is certainly better than it was. And most importantly, the marquee will be protected for the next three decades. Next up, I'll rebuild the power supply.<br />
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Krylon glaze 4.49<br />
<u>Paint pen 2.50</u><br />
<b>Total $6.99</b>Entomophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953584069626334847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5283325182904225936.post-36432078104465159892014-01-05T10:30:00.002-05:002014-01-18T17:02:28.681-05:00Astro Invaders Arcade Restoration - Locks & Lights<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6XBE7azrhATzK98RkIPyiVx5kL6fCFmrUwJ_8wiT-we3ez6XWDbqnHh8vETZrtO47JPgshR3N4GcdMq-ydla9dUrAyCz8V8m02gMn6qJ5Lv0tjloQuwSa2fxv8yE9-1pcdgDfQWJwj64/s1600/20140104_213131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6XBE7azrhATzK98RkIPyiVx5kL6fCFmrUwJ_8wiT-we3ez6XWDbqnHh8vETZrtO47JPgshR3N4GcdMq-ydla9dUrAyCz8V8m02gMn6qJ5Lv0tjloQuwSa2fxv8yE9-1pcdgDfQWJwj64/s400/20140104_213131.jpg" height="121" width="400" /></a></div>
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In <a href="http://myfavoritestripper.blogspot.com/2014/01/astro-invaders-arcade-restoration-part-i.html" target="_blank">Part I</a> I got my Astro Invaders arcade working again. Now I want to fix the lights and locks. The lights don't affect the function of the game, but they sure do make it look better. And while the locks don't sound too important, it is a real pain having the coin door flopping around and the back constantly falling off. Also, there are safety switches on the back and coin door that shut off the game if they are open. So without the locks, they must be taped down.</div>
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The locks were an easy fix. I ran down to Home Depot and picked up a <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/Prime-Line-5-8-in-Chrome-Drawer-and-Cabinet-Keyed-Cam-Lock-U-9941/100173693?keyword=u-9941#" target="_blank">5/8" cam lock</a> for the coin door and a <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/Prime-Line-7-8-in-Chrome-Drawer-and-Cabinet-Keyed-Cam-Lock-U-9943/100124186?keyword=u-9943#" target="_blank">7/8" cam lock</a> for the back. Both screwed right in and the included hardware fit without any trouble. I tried to find matching keys but didn't have any luck. Eventually I may re-pin one of the locks so one key will fit both. But this will do for now.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbKWMA5ZFdpoCyi8Fn1fVPGL2IxOMbJZFBlnKEZw7yjp-CZnGwGUZv6-GsSYRLRV5Qi3wVn4BxNzFk-UW5biEHlmKDyEGFFsKtQ_koNDzzFtiTRXhZB9W3okVuzyP2TriJGfPamF97N8Y/s1600/20140104_153955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbKWMA5ZFdpoCyi8Fn1fVPGL2IxOMbJZFBlnKEZw7yjp-CZnGwGUZv6-GsSYRLRV5Qi3wVn4BxNzFk-UW5biEHlmKDyEGFFsKtQ_koNDzzFtiTRXhZB9W3okVuzyP2TriJGfPamF97N8Y/s320/20140104_153955.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">coin door lock</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjocmeLp0m9M5TKhXnf21AWMfoScJTwUyCKOhtYNp5-Y7Bp629klRSuJf4CcAJ79JRdP7hAfmIg64MwoELvNYDU2Ox2fi3hr0g9o9Bbo5iQoJimbQKeUAxflL41ldHoaqDqCH1f691pnARi/s1600/20140118_160043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjocmeLp0m9M5TKhXnf21AWMfoScJTwUyCKOhtYNp5-Y7Bp629klRSuJf4CcAJ79JRdP7hAfmIg64MwoELvNYDU2Ox2fi3hr0g9o9Bbo5iQoJimbQKeUAxflL41ldHoaqDqCH1f691pnARi/s1600/20140118_160043.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">back lock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Next up were the coin door lights. There are two #44 bulbs on the coin door. I purchased <a href="http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102798" target="_blank">replacement bulbs</a> at Radio Shack. Once installed, I bent the metal mounting tabs a bit to center the bulbs.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-8tm7yOXTsGm-j6D5vT3VLWjy5dWCCYTBsYoIVXHR-xDyDRavTgDdXXD-bDqqveYUO28YJfmNGA1p1FokPkWw9xvb43kb-D4amG6rC6__amKFfpo_Ih_SWVApF_3ekrTbF2Hepze807_/s1600/20140104_151245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-8tm7yOXTsGm-j6D5vT3VLWjy5dWCCYTBsYoIVXHR-xDyDRavTgDdXXD-bDqqveYUO28YJfmNGA1p1FokPkWw9xvb43kb-D4amG6rC6__amKFfpo_Ih_SWVApF_3ekrTbF2Hepze807_/s320/20140104_151245.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">new bulbs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPCktmxxnP9FopAl9Y29YyBzT7dEbwUhp_X3kLB25qxtxiM7N5S4kVSHJuClE8ZRQRAKm5ODumBXY45JKACn2M_NIjHRpsHyNYn5Co5TRbViemhkl_wndcHDSuCmBzdtD6ZLLemjUoqDQ/s1600/20140104_151316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPCktmxxnP9FopAl9Y29YyBzT7dEbwUhp_X3kLB25qxtxiM7N5S4kVSHJuClE8ZRQRAKm5ODumBXY45JKACn2M_NIjHRpsHyNYn5Co5TRbViemhkl_wndcHDSuCmBzdtD6ZLLemjUoqDQ/s320/20140104_151316.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">all lit up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Lastly, but most importantly was the marquee light. Astro Invaders has some great artwork and I really want it to stand out. So I opened up the marquee and checked the light. The <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/Philips-15-in-T12-14-Watt-Soft-White-3000K-Linear-Fluorescent-Light-Bulb-141507/100476637?N=bm3zZ2bcoqrZ1z0vvrc%3FNCNI-5#" target="_blank">F14T12 fluorescent bulb</a> was clearly burned out, so I purchased a new one. While I was at it, I purchased a pack of new <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-Starter-for-14-15-20W-lamps-80619/100493847?N=12kx%2FNtk-Extended%2FNtt-GE%252Bflourescent%252Bballast%3FNtx%3Dmode%20matchpartialmax%26NCNI-5#" target="_blank">starters</a> too. The light sockets were not attached to the brackets so I screwed them back on with some 4-40 screws. Then I installed the new bulb and starter, flipped the power switch, and... The light flickered for a split second and went out. Oh well. I should have known something would give me trouble.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCs43W9K6SV7sWH7uGPBezHDxKCXoKEn0iloOdA05gCKZhEFAuQSFFYAYtliXdxMxi1GjQ_S0LOMwJ_mBJBS209CIShuJEgS572UggEnKgdPIYZ1arXjvCYemTJm9PmC3dxVx4qvFU63a9/s1600/20140104_151616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCs43W9K6SV7sWH7uGPBezHDxKCXoKEn0iloOdA05gCKZhEFAuQSFFYAYtliXdxMxi1GjQ_S0LOMwJ_mBJBS209CIShuJEgS572UggEnKgdPIYZ1arXjvCYemTJm9PmC3dxVx4qvFU63a9/s320/20140104_151616.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">original light fixture</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Time to troubleshoot. I checked the fuse; that was good. I checked the AC voltage in; that was fine. I figured the ballast must be bad. Back to Home Depot for a replacement. I could have purchased this <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-Metal-Magnetic-Pre-Heat-Fluorescent-Ballast-GEM120PH120DIY/203959172?N=12kx%2FNtk-Extended%2FNtt-GE%252Bflourescent%252Bballast%3FNtx%3Dmode%20matchpartialmax%26NCNI-5#" target="_blank">direct replacement</a> for less money. But I miscounted the wires on the original ballast and thought it wouldn't work. So instead I picked up a GE <a href="http://genet.gelighting.com/LightProducts/Dispatcher?REQUEST=BALLASTSPECPAGE&PRODUCTCODE=68187" target="_blank">GEM120TC120/2-DIY</a> ballast. It is basically the same thing, but it eliminates the starter. One less thing to go wrong in the future. Wiring it in was relatively easy. See the picture for details. I left the original fuse in place. I used wire nuts in case the ballast needs to be replaced in the future. Finally I dated the ballast and light so I (or some future tech) will know when they were last replaced.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDBiqY26iKD8F3YBgKRq2hXnNPvDCGq97KHT9v7ILeKu-CCV4NLzoFgh2nPtul6lk3p9A8nfq7kp7v5u6_YfBhfWhKNSRzHnsb_m-MVHN8VQE1iJDHx-274EatkIbZg3x9FYFdGnZtU0I/s1600/20140104_211938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDBiqY26iKD8F3YBgKRq2hXnNPvDCGq97KHT9v7ILeKu-CCV4NLzoFgh2nPtul6lk3p9A8nfq7kp7v5u6_YfBhfWhKNSRzHnsb_m-MVHN8VQE1iJDHx-274EatkIbZg3x9FYFdGnZtU0I/s320/20140104_211938.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">new ballast wired in</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkG1Bgsnb9vcaYi3AELP1Q-YNJbh7xncZjOtodVaKOvqGt2-AhxUWMHkYvpPYWrUg7_YZnyOfXQIbcn8GaqDyEKy2DIEosiy6WyvoaogoOW8aIsw4OcBunpdScIkkVFyu7xIWP8f6eQMP/s1600/new_ballast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkG1Bgsnb9vcaYi3AELP1Q-YNJbh7xncZjOtodVaKOvqGt2-AhxUWMHkYvpPYWrUg7_YZnyOfXQIbcn8GaqDyEKy2DIEosiy6WyvoaogoOW8aIsw4OcBunpdScIkkVFyu7xIWP8f6eQMP/s320/new_ballast.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">wiring diagram for new ballast</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Just for reference, here is how the old ballast was wired in.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw42inA_D1yFbEbyHIAPiRh9pJNQ2PThFv1DAqMjeTMpLiYARvPibUPTddzvNqLW8ZGtnGGPtKREWjVewYSqaOcWLnKXObFf_E3HBfYjP0vKKpJgYK-2rQdc_mSrPzRy3Gvw0x9aUREhu7/s1600/old_ballast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw42inA_D1yFbEbyHIAPiRh9pJNQ2PThFv1DAqMjeTMpLiYARvPibUPTddzvNqLW8ZGtnGGPtKREWjVewYSqaOcWLnKXObFf_E3HBfYjP0vKKpJgYK-2rQdc_mSrPzRy3Gvw0x9aUREhu7/s320/old_ballast.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">original wiring</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
With the new ballast in place it was time to see if my hard work had paid off. I flipped the switch and the light came on. Hurray! It's starting to look like an arcade again. In the next installment, I think I will start cleaning all of the circuits, switches, and connectors. Check back.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLsP2UUbjti35wutrAgl_5onjtSlr6I6jlJ6JfIosdCL4FndWlGlNgYdx95n3_PRWdOnCkBU99mnEM7HwchP22reyURw14dzV2myEhtKNZwRbTIJIvRiVaLuclumGCZLDe_qt7kOai0SE/s1600/20140104_213131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLsP2UUbjti35wutrAgl_5onjtSlr6I6jlJ6JfIosdCL4FndWlGlNgYdx95n3_PRWdOnCkBU99mnEM7HwchP22reyURw14dzV2myEhtKNZwRbTIJIvRiVaLuclumGCZLDe_qt7kOai0SE/s320/20140104_213131.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gotta love that artwork!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I don't usually do this (because I don't want to know) but I think I'll keep a running total on what I spent on this project. Here's what this part cost.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
Starter 1.97</div>
<div>
5/8" cam lock 4.59</div>
<div>
7/8" cam lock 4.92</div>
<div>
Ballast 11.99</div>
<div>
Fluorescent bulb 10.72</div>
<div>
#44 Lamps 0.99<br />
<u>Tax 2.46</u></div>
<div>
<b>Total $37.64</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Entomophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953584069626334847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5283325182904225936.post-60567892391608645202014-01-04T10:16:00.002-05:002014-01-08T18:07:13.454-05:00Astro Invaders Arcade Restoration<div dir="ltr">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6XBE7azrhATzK98RkIPyiVx5kL6fCFmrUwJ_8wiT-we3ez6XWDbqnHh8vETZrtO47JPgshR3N4GcdMq-ydla9dUrAyCz8V8m02gMn6qJ5Lv0tjloQuwSa2fxv8yE9-1pcdgDfQWJwj64/s1600/20140104_213131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6XBE7azrhATzK98RkIPyiVx5kL6fCFmrUwJ_8wiT-we3ez6XWDbqnHh8vETZrtO47JPgshR3N4GcdMq-ydla9dUrAyCz8V8m02gMn6qJ5Lv0tjloQuwSa2fxv8yE9-1pcdgDfQWJwj64/s400/20140104_213131.jpg" height="121" width="400" /></a></div>
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A friend gave me a few arcade games. One of them is Astro Invaders. I was told that the machine used to work sporadically, sometimes requiring a whack to the side to get it to work. Now it just has these red and black vertical bars and repeats this incredibly annoying "pew, pew, pew..." sound over and over. When I pound the side of the cabinet, the screen flashes and there is an explosion sound. Then it goes back to the red and black screen. I was going to sell it as-is, but I decided to restore it instead. If I decide to sell it later, I can probably double my money if the game works. I've never worked on an arcade before so this will be a good learning experience.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5EldNfOlXS5sFPLNAPwMHWruh14746Ofiq67IkNvcrbmtdsxX_Uk8X6p_J69myFsWbdHtgAouRLFIyML5DWTS769sViU-dWVU3MHfIxOYt_t8mJ9VcA_X6F9v-koD8e0lr8Ql1kvPX7My/s1600/20140103_145653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5EldNfOlXS5sFPLNAPwMHWruh14746Ofiq67IkNvcrbmtdsxX_Uk8X6p_J69myFsWbdHtgAouRLFIyML5DWTS769sViU-dWVU3MHfIxOYt_t8mJ9VcA_X6F9v-koD8e0lr8Ql1kvPX7My/s320/20140103_145653.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">screen problems</td></tr>
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Luckily the game included all of the manuals and schematics. I read over that material to see if it said anything about this red screen. No luck. So I opened up the back of the cabinet and identified all of the sections of the game. I noticed that the power supply board was hanging loose in the cabinet. I grabbed four 6-32 screws and secured the power supply board to its mounts.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZi01NG3x5m_5VLF9bWomSC5wbU-7hKyBLy81qutcn14mzfN-7Ne0vhlELfNwfChyLm8aNV0xCm65pKsRLKVkcHOHqGRmgUYKPAbEqioRrCj8TbRerRGc-F7sz3PTVrg9LSRUtrhVE6ET/s1600/20140103_145839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZi01NG3x5m_5VLF9bWomSC5wbU-7hKyBLy81qutcn14mzfN-7Ne0vhlELfNwfChyLm8aNV0xCm65pKsRLKVkcHOHqGRmgUYKPAbEqioRrCj8TbRerRGc-F7sz3PTVrg9LSRUtrhVE6ET/s320/20140103_145839.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">power supply board</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr">
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<div dir="ltr">
Next came some step-by-step troubleshooting. I started with the power supply as that is the first section of the game. First I checked the fuses. I used my multimeter to check for continuity. All of the fuses were good. However, I did notice that one of the fuses was loose in the mount. I removed the fuse, pinched the mount together, and reinstalled the fuse. The game still didn't work, but now when I whack the side of the cabinet nothing happens. Looks like the loose board and/or fuse was causing things to short out.</div>
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To see if the power supply was working, I checked the voltage test points (labeled "TP") on the circuit board. The manual and the board tell you what voltages to expect at the test points. I checked TP1. It should be between 5.3 and 5.6 volts. It measured less than 2 volts. So I adjusted the small potentiometer next to the test point until my meter read 5.3 volts. Suddenly the repeating noise stopped. I peaked around the front of the cabinet and behold! The game was working. I played for one life. But when my ship was destroyed, the game crashed and went to a blue screen. So I checked the other test points. The 12 and 15 volt test points were way off (< 3 volts).</div>
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A few hours later I powered up again and checked the voltage directly at the voltage regulators. The voltages were all as expected, about 11.8v from the 7812 and 14.9v from the 7815. I checked the test points again and they were all within spec. I played the game and everything worked perfectly. Hmmm? As happy as I was that it worked, I need to know why it wasn't working before. Otherwise, it might happen again. And it did. Every once in a while I would get the same screen problem. Eventually, I traced the problem to a loose wire connector on the power supply board that came from the SG323 regulator (upper left corner of the power supply in the above picture). I twisted the connector around until it worked again but it will need to be replaced when I get deeper into the restoration.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerdPfpaNsbRLprhOL6r2mJOBuCigU3i8QoBL2MhnJNa5nmI4LgpFuJcnlpEeBUsiZKc02Mo8R8uSBv5D4g8e94_4S4b-4ibNemUGMEgWrcaB0FWNvuSqkSPbKzxefHmlM8vFzkBu75B7v/s1600/20140104095434.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerdPfpaNsbRLprhOL6r2mJOBuCigU3i8QoBL2MhnJNa5nmI4LgpFuJcnlpEeBUsiZKc02Mo8R8uSBv5D4g8e94_4S4b-4ibNemUGMEgWrcaB0FWNvuSqkSPbKzxefHmlM8vFzkBu75B7v/s320/20140104095434.gif" height="320" width="178" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's alive!</td></tr>
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</div>
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Well that was a bit frustrating but relatively easy. Next, I'll fix the lights and locks. Stay tuned.</div>
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Entomophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953584069626334847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5283325182904225936.post-67330542284808816702013-12-20T19:11:00.001-05:002013-12-21T15:09:31.750-05:00Hammerli 850 Cheek Rest<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8iRJtB6AAV5krPkw_J1FpAVv1Kt6_6vb1h9TMVG30giO0WXOrVNSggHAHGm_Q3G98QDNdSOlzOuG5W6u221OWgWk5pG8dKpf3f6KnHaqUxFxjqL-hHbd4zHVACxCMYKf0a9IE7DA9hpJ/s1600/20131218_212632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8iRJtB6AAV5krPkw_J1FpAVv1Kt6_6vb1h9TMVG30giO0WXOrVNSggHAHGm_Q3G98QDNdSOlzOuG5W6u221OWgWk5pG8dKpf3f6KnHaqUxFxjqL-hHbd4zHVACxCMYKf0a9IE7DA9hpJ/s400/20131218_212632.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">elevated cheek rest</td></tr>
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Lately I've been busy improving my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000R4AHJI/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000R4AHJI&linkCode=as2&tag=myfavostri-20">Hammerli 850</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=myfavostri-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000R4AHJI" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
air rifle. With the new <a href="http://myfavoritestripper.blogspot.com/2013/12/hammerli-850-trigger-job.html" target="_blank">trigger job</a>, this rifle is quickly becoming one of my favorites. The next problem to tackle is the height of the cheekpiece on the stock. It is too low for my scope. For best accuracy your cheek should be pressed firmly against the stock with your eye perfectly centered in the eyepiece. To see through my scope, I must lift my cheek off of the stock. Not comfortable and bad for accuracy. Good target stocks will have an adjustable cheek piece. If this were a wooden stock, I could just cut it and install a mechanism to raise it. Not so easy with a hollow plastic stock; so I decided to make a new cheek rest.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDoJYlv-fvcQcTrhBN2L7vbfasZZlxF5FuqGl4Zm5CoTjPwPV0fh-Msr-8WrD_Q1waei41SHw9G4Gb70TyjRDPpyUalYs361jTOTFzJnBaLYQacufJv8KHQ8YlcIyjhICV-ehIYwSP0X3/s1600/20131217_210138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDoJYlv-fvcQcTrhBN2L7vbfasZZlxF5FuqGl4Zm5CoTjPwPV0fh-Msr-8WrD_Q1waei41SHw9G4Gb70TyjRDPpyUalYs361jTOTFzJnBaLYQacufJv8KHQ8YlcIyjhICV-ehIYwSP0X3/s320/20131217_210138.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">kydex formed to stock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I purchased a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BR38ZS8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00BR38ZS8&linkCode=as2&tag=myfavostri-20">sheet of kydex</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=myfavostri-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00BR38ZS8" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
from Amazon. I went with a thick piece (0.118") for the extra strength. Next I cut the kydex sheet in half (6" x 12") with a pair of sheet metal shears. Then I preheated the oven to 350 degrees and placed the kydex in a Pyrex dish for three minutes. I checked the sheet with a spatula to make sure it was very pliable. Then I scooped it up and placed it on the stock folding it over the cheek piece with gloved hands. I quickly got the alignment just right and held the kydex tight against the stock as it cooled. In about 5 minutes the kydex had cooled and was rigid. It formed perfectly to the shape of the stock and the pattern and color even matched the stock.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg516RJb3fwS8gx6VGE6kXcEXR4LwhbptjEHrqJ4bx5PrnQ3UGOUfVm-dfZ0lYd1sFY7fi8JChv9MIh9JNSicaMXM9VVFLpEFVdHj7IceWQ1Rx8SUvqSsmefYQius4BcvwReZ21O3TjPQE1/s1600/20131216_203025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg516RJb3fwS8gx6VGE6kXcEXR4LwhbptjEHrqJ4bx5PrnQ3UGOUfVm-dfZ0lYd1sFY7fi8JChv9MIh9JNSicaMXM9VVFLpEFVdHj7IceWQ1Rx8SUvqSsmefYQius4BcvwReZ21O3TjPQE1/s320/20131216_203025.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tracing the pattern</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
To make a pattern, I wrapped a piece of paper over the stock. Then I traced the edges of the cheek swell with a scrap of aluminum sheet. The aluminum worked really well, cleanly marking only the edge. I carefully cut the pattern out with an x-acto knife. I placed it back on the stock and drew some witness marks on the paper and stock so I could lines things up later. Finally, I cut the pattern in half.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxY9Z473HSvNaBiXzfnvejkmzQbOs6N3tcWBBTRT-g8JzOX0GP4m-sFgRrtE66h09nTk9qM6WZ9vbIbiRqvTGqeZoKyh32-VS0lEZLkV-kW_MfdCcTewdbaMPEryIheHiCAxevETdpRFKK/s1600/20131217_211037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxY9Z473HSvNaBiXzfnvejkmzQbOs6N3tcWBBTRT-g8JzOX0GP4m-sFgRrtE66h09nTk9qM6WZ9vbIbiRqvTGqeZoKyh32-VS0lEZLkV-kW_MfdCcTewdbaMPEryIheHiCAxevETdpRFKK/s320/20131217_211037.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">spacer taped to stock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The next step was finding the correct height for the new cheek rest. I experimented by placing pieces of rod under the cheek rest until my eye was perfectly aligned with the scope. Turns out a 1" rod and a Bic pen tube provided the perfect height (1.319"). I taped the spacer to the stock and put the kydex over it to test. Perfect. Now to make the bottom of the new cheek rest match the contour of the stock. I coated the back of the pattern pieces with spray glue. Then using the witness marks, I lined each pattern up on the stock and stuck them to the kydex.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYeEwDgc7mC9Pyge97ZBJ-wgsLpLYsd13xFw1w79RU7FXsBhdq6J612XG0snKB39qXKIEhsCYUXXiNUroHupsUs0R7ngBIfoe31FI6fhZc7jOs0LWhrH8NX0q0Y2z4DhD4OjJqS4f_h_q/s1600/20131217_212447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYeEwDgc7mC9Pyge97ZBJ-wgsLpLYsd13xFw1w79RU7FXsBhdq6J612XG0snKB39qXKIEhsCYUXXiNUroHupsUs0R7ngBIfoe31FI6fhZc7jOs0LWhrH8NX0q0Y2z4DhD4OjJqS4f_h_q/s320/20131217_212447.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hlaf of pattern glued to kydex</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The bulk the excess kydex was trimmed away with the metal shears. Then the kydex was formed exactly to the pattern on the belt sander. Now to attach the new cheek rest to the stock. I was going to make the cheek rest adjustable by cutting slots in the kydex but why bother? I only needed to set it correctly one time. And most adjustable cheek rests have large ugly knobs on one side to tighten the bolts. I wanted a cleaner look. So I carefully laid out the position of the screws and drilled two 3/32" pilot holes through the kydex and into the stock on each side. I then opened up the holes on the kydex to 13/64" and countersunk them so the screws would sit flush. I enlarged the holes in the stock to #25 and tapped them for 10-24 screws. Although the stock is hollow, it is thick enough where the cheek rest is providing plenty of threads. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivETNt_Mj6NzJ1c9bKDc5ydbNn8jKwaEief1a6Tii5Znqr60aAJWhl9OgpbyNF9oBZgPgTrNF3XUDD-f-CNn7B0hyphenhyphenDcqiIwM4akbzARVlWDokQQ4bd9rjwdE5l3O83MsCzC6znkj4ciEfx/s1600/20131217_221628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivETNt_Mj6NzJ1c9bKDc5ydbNn8jKwaEief1a6Tii5Znqr60aAJWhl9OgpbyNF9oBZgPgTrNF3XUDD-f-CNn7B0hyphenhyphenDcqiIwM4akbzARVlWDokQQ4bd9rjwdE5l3O83MsCzC6znkj4ciEfx/s320/20131217_221628.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">screw holes in kydex</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The pattern peeled off the kydex rather easily and I cleaned up any residual glue with Goo Gone. I cleaned up any uneven spots on the belt sander and dressed the edges with 220 grit sandpaper. Finally I screwed the new cheek rest to the stock with stainless flat head socket cap screws. I was going to back up the screws with nuts but the plastic held the screws tight. I added a drop of thread lock to each screw just to be sure.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qSqAl-x_47AoWv7-H76XuPqPB7jYs2Sz7SV4I8zWwMHkNAJE_TnqDjaX6-9GzVxY5nL7MVbvXWvPEnigXrzpT4a5d33z-TBMDlU3rOQXklBuNYhtIbUXZrxP4wiTyewLaHNPKdQkP9qy/s1600/20131218_212432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qSqAl-x_47AoWv7-H76XuPqPB7jYs2Sz7SV4I8zWwMHkNAJE_TnqDjaX6-9GzVxY5nL7MVbvXWvPEnigXrzpT4a5d33z-TBMDlU3rOQXklBuNYhtIbUXZrxP4wiTyewLaHNPKdQkP9qy/s320/20131218_212432.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">finished and installed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rhBlGqZxXW_ec3ybS3k1inoMaV7EA5QmxlfIj3VzrMKp2z_aKN3di9CYebhiXeyrPDzOop2htBCKddHCem6aXJ3A0n1D0NKiUF7msIyGXsN4muqJZ8WhdR7DsrZpNdvSS1wl4SEG73lC/s1600/20131220_175436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rhBlGqZxXW_ec3ybS3k1inoMaV7EA5QmxlfIj3VzrMKp2z_aKN3di9CYebhiXeyrPDzOop2htBCKddHCem6aXJ3A0n1D0NKiUF7msIyGXsN4muqJZ8WhdR7DsrZpNdvSS1wl4SEG73lC/s320/20131220_175436.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">height relative to scope</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The new cheek rest is great. It looks like a factory accessory and is rock solid. Now that I don't have to move my head around looking for the eyepiece, I can get on target much faster.<br />
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PS - If you are cutting kydex on a scroll saw, I found that a 15 tpi blade at 500 rpm gave a very clean cut. No melting and minimal saw marks.<br />
<br />Entomophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953584069626334847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5283325182904225936.post-72695483671236424542013-12-19T09:29:00.001-05:002013-12-19T09:29:13.974-05:00Paracord Cobra Bracelet<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAMkYPdjisfYmL3Dlm7lp3tOhpL7PIhImPlFJK2wBCMJfX0ecNZWpm2WetRyxLgclmle5NAUECJVzihj3Tt8SXll53LOXICP1YEA4Luu5KdXzFT4DrT2X_iE-6i_Li6negdr9aO1OLEXn/s1600/20131218_165927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAMkYPdjisfYmL3Dlm7lp3tOhpL7PIhImPlFJK2wBCMJfX0ecNZWpm2WetRyxLgclmle5NAUECJVzihj3Tt8SXll53LOXICP1YEA4Luu5KdXzFT4DrT2X_iE-6i_Li6negdr9aO1OLEXn/s400/20131218_165927.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cobra pattern paracord bracelet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After making my <a href="http://myfavoritestripper.blogspot.com/2013/12/paracord-pouch.html" target="_blank">paracord pouch</a>, I realized that my 9 year old daughter would really enjoy making things with paracord. I figured a bracelet would be the perfect beginner project. Easy to do and what young girl doesn't love bracelets? So I picked out some colors of paracord that I thought she would like and some small buckles at <a href="http://www.michaels.com/" target="_blank">Michaels</a>. I showed her the first weave and then she took over. In no time she was weaving the paracord like a pro. Here's how we did it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-N66DuuAE5KPymHeIW5gt6hdaBUxD8x1rqDv-gAmM0yCsdvLtJiVXVcDAVJefAyiq0lMu3MrlcLuKHItmsm-RLG63hp5fndQ_8J9tSBVcHyPD4N7YdHFuAn-COPiUWPxx1Ya8I4F6i9kX/s1600/20131218_163036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-N66DuuAE5KPymHeIW5gt6hdaBUxD8x1rqDv-gAmM0yCsdvLtJiVXVcDAVJefAyiq0lMu3MrlcLuKHItmsm-RLG63hp5fndQ_8J9tSBVcHyPD4N7YdHFuAn-COPiUWPxx1Ya8I4F6i9kX/s320/20131218_163036.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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First cut 4 feet of each color of cord. Then fuse the two pieces of cord together by melting the ends.<br /><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsrguDGiMrA_7NFUI4tIuNNdjzOvodrYWkoVYmF67Oh0NoklVnw2YHfSm6TJFwO8iY94LvRyZUZ-tL19Jp-p1WgPUgFZ_xorUWUnsQl85YLQ8JRbaipJkVZcha3o3TVlFIvC7dXTstzzp/s1600/20131218_163605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsrguDGiMrA_7NFUI4tIuNNdjzOvodrYWkoVYmF67Oh0NoklVnw2YHfSm6TJFwO8iY94LvRyZUZ-tL19Jp-p1WgPUgFZ_xorUWUnsQl85YLQ8JRbaipJkVZcha3o3TVlFIvC7dXTstzzp/s320/20131218_163605.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Loop one end through one of the buckles.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YkthVPdzfShiiWBMHUQVtXBQQ04BOCWWhmMjWhI5i78ZB73kg_TsbfqbGcc5enLDpTW5_91JF_qCR5WPZsCQbWOAAlBXQNxSUFQlZyFDo1sI-gxxOQNC8Zjxb0e3lvMcIzWdfC0y5mW1/s1600/20131218_164151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YkthVPdzfShiiWBMHUQVtXBQQ04BOCWWhmMjWhI5i78ZB73kg_TsbfqbGcc5enLDpTW5_91JF_qCR5WPZsCQbWOAAlBXQNxSUFQlZyFDo1sI-gxxOQNC8Zjxb0e3lvMcIzWdfC0y5mW1/s320/20131218_164151.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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String the cord through the other buckle and wrap the cords around your wrist to measure. Tie the buckle to the cords with overhand knots.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zrHEMK7zsnjPzJBy6IyucL3_x3LQSYXmb_7j2GJ7reZTPIoLByGeOUYkwIh4Fgc8V8ErPtj1gciDlE2QO3v2L32bKveF9loPoR6k3a9YuVbbOJ08cRBQ_OrJ_W9MtLR7CmAbvhiMfSzH/s1600/20131218_164201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zrHEMK7zsnjPzJBy6IyucL3_x3LQSYXmb_7j2GJ7reZTPIoLByGeOUYkwIh4Fgc8V8ErPtj1gciDlE2QO3v2L32bKveF9loPoR6k3a9YuVbbOJ08cRBQ_OrJ_W9MtLR7CmAbvhiMfSzH/s320/20131218_164201.jpg" width="203" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to weave.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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She wanted purple down the middle with pink lines down the sides. Whatever color you want down the middle is the color you start with each time.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3lJp0LxOAFMWrwICTE7Y0HbBTOlSBXDnJ64DhIPaVbKytv40AlqzIP7Pd1m0Q9tLalbGY5IZlQ46pyBH8PPIseIoyPSWDC7LTgG0yyRxs5qgtpB_sIqa89rkoteebClRlZpPw3tDHvKNH/s1600/20131218_164244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3lJp0LxOAFMWrwICTE7Y0HbBTOlSBXDnJ64DhIPaVbKytv40AlqzIP7Pd1m0Q9tLalbGY5IZlQ46pyBH8PPIseIoyPSWDC7LTgG0yyRxs5qgtpB_sIqa89rkoteebClRlZpPw3tDHvKNH/s320/20131218_164244.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The purple cord is laid across the bracelet.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7e1b8PaLe9gK_TIVP3GM5s8ZjF9Hw2A594BaR-3pfuHuvkEU56sTLmWgNV0bBFiiY6htN7V9h-pvkA_odahITnm9SgKvDroyhSv3KMi8teamOx0HWGGoAiA4Ok2Ex5BbqydvKEdE6wE1U/s1600/20131218_164322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7e1b8PaLe9gK_TIVP3GM5s8ZjF9Hw2A594BaR-3pfuHuvkEU56sTLmWgNV0bBFiiY6htN7V9h-pvkA_odahITnm9SgKvDroyhSv3KMi8teamOx0HWGGoAiA4Ok2Ex5BbqydvKEdE6wE1U/s320/20131218_164322.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The pink cord goes over the purple, behind the bracelet, and through the loop from the back.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SL5Rh3gzdDLzJnlv4vcbdFaghNId5Qw9ULhjfpZOs2oukgYkxD21-NGLsxz5wh79hlQ2UsC2w0W69e9-vgYGJNkWPp3q5Qau-9ri2SB4JMOvZnxaCVYv17JP0dOfv2cGuivTvKeXo6jr/s1600/20131218_164448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SL5Rh3gzdDLzJnlv4vcbdFaghNId5Qw9ULhjfpZOs2oukgYkxD21-NGLsxz5wh79hlQ2UsC2w0W69e9-vgYGJNkWPp3q5Qau-9ri2SB4JMOvZnxaCVYv17JP0dOfv2cGuivTvKeXo6jr/s320/20131218_164448.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Pull the cords tight.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LBQFgqAqklSGHqf8suBYnV3Mh799RYvuEKm3gAF45VdUtZgb2AFDa7V6GRgsJtFITCLcKfOsdKH1Xm_zrXFNqsGAA-PCTMQ2NA3PtXwgHXXSlINHII58Rh1Y4RDEwgXeaCtzMQEh1Z0L/s1600/20131218_165012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LBQFgqAqklSGHqf8suBYnV3Mh799RYvuEKm3gAF45VdUtZgb2AFDa7V6GRgsJtFITCLcKfOsdKH1Xm_zrXFNqsGAA-PCTMQ2NA3PtXwgHXXSlINHII58Rh1Y4RDEwgXeaCtzMQEh1Z0L/s320/20131218_165012.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">after several passes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Continue, repeating the same sequence each time. Purple over the front of the bracelet, pink under the bracelet.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8sopC0oaEAoVxiQ71vGFSVdQVXWwEwhRckPXNjnEmJSoTaMIgbUrQzYHSe0qU_olILw1qbpb5GB1DZjt8aymRQC0G3Zl8VLCJMrK-n4KM6SSpeNGHuYiy6P63G48-c2XXrJGnwPly3AM/s1600/20131218_165605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8sopC0oaEAoVxiQ71vGFSVdQVXWwEwhRckPXNjnEmJSoTaMIgbUrQzYHSe0qU_olILw1qbpb5GB1DZjt8aymRQC0G3Zl8VLCJMrK-n4KM6SSpeNGHuYiy6P63G48-c2XXrJGnwPly3AM/s320/20131218_165605.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
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Repeat until you reach the other buckle.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9Wm4qQ6SVJ_ug46rmv9aWGTFZe5cvQvBVJtaweq-3R7eEuFEz1ewwV1mXi2OQ7-qiNhdqFIIf38ys-yivv_4ea66rdKyXYoiSRUBJesVh7QEhgJqcxzWW-FxlNHnw2AwaKPLEKeIT4Xb/s1600/20131218_165834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9Wm4qQ6SVJ_ug46rmv9aWGTFZe5cvQvBVJtaweq-3R7eEuFEz1ewwV1mXi2OQ7-qiNhdqFIIf38ys-yivv_4ea66rdKyXYoiSRUBJesVh7QEhgJqcxzWW-FxlNHnw2AwaKPLEKeIT4Xb/s320/20131218_165834.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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To finish just trim the ends leaving about 1/8". Then melt the ends with a lighter and use the metal part of the lighter to push the melted cord against the bracelet. This mushrooms the end of the cord and melts it to the surrounding cord so that it can't pull through. That's it. Enjoy your new bracelet.Entomophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953584069626334847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5283325182904225936.post-325097610292375982013-12-14T10:52:00.002-05:002013-12-14T10:52:13.969-05:00Paracord Pouch<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUL_TDQtSh7n33oyznX5Q195CZhIHgMs1R405sTNXB38QM-Bg5G2KdHiSDWuSm03SeAEv_9yiFJ10gBIrzePzBovdaDBezdwaaUda5LkSNhPjoolHuEnb4_5jmtgRvR1kcSg5Xd-7RxbZ0/s1600/20131214_094649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUL_TDQtSh7n33oyznX5Q195CZhIHgMs1R405sTNXB38QM-Bg5G2KdHiSDWuSm03SeAEv_9yiFJ10gBIrzePzBovdaDBezdwaaUda5LkSNhPjoolHuEnb4_5jmtgRvR1kcSg5Xd-7RxbZ0/s400/20131214_094649.jpg" width="337" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">finished pouch holding 3/8" steel shot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Now that I have made a <a href="http://myfavoritestripper.blogspot.com/2013/12/homemade-paracord-needles.html" target="_blank">paracord needle</a>, it's time to put it to use. These <a href="http://www.simple-shot.com/collections/gear-bags-and-pouches/products/paracord-ammo" target="_blank">slingshot ammo pouches</a> were what first inspired me to try some paracord projects. A quick search on the web turned up <a href="http://stormdrane.blogspot.com/2010/08/woven-and-half-hitched-paracord-pouch.html" target="_blank">this set of plans</a> for a paracord pouch. It is a slightly different design than the Simple Shot pouches but it should work.<br />
<br />
Start with 30 feet of paracord. Use a rubber band or tape to secure one end of paracord to can. Also secure a sharpie to can to add slack to line. (I used a pen but found it a bit tight afterwards. The sharpie will give more slack.) Wrap the cord around a soda can 25 times and remove the sharpie.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfOALLRm-hkCbg31x9KpO6Au6TMorY6mFeS2KS6b-LQdCXtjVo1oYPBd31n-WcviMym2gC9O5cPHGv2VrUNGoJ1yLhOq46D9_Aen_wt9Mb253ozbi_riCpW4-5zuc1Vw-6eSiSKkbddQu/s1600/20131213_093120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfOALLRm-hkCbg31x9KpO6Au6TMorY6mFeS2KS6b-LQdCXtjVo1oYPBd31n-WcviMym2gC9O5cPHGv2VrUNGoJ1yLhOq46D9_Aen_wt9Mb253ozbi_riCpW4-5zuc1Vw-6eSiSKkbddQu/s320/20131213_093120.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">25 wraps of paracord</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Add your needle to the end of the paracord and weave it up through the wraps by twos. Start by going under the first two wraps. Continue spacing each line about 1/2" apart. Don't worry too much about spacing, just push the lines together, you can feel when they are close enough.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIG2YuFc8h6ePMivHoAq7OhBYvso2hmX51cTdkcfVrefGcMKlSyMJa6reHr75DjYBhTuatao4bUKc-Bh___O-ij-6uY2AbrLuMzoXW7yCkfwcqMl2BBZMUFpI0FJhPxIq5icqtXTVb2aM/s1600/20131213_093446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIG2YuFc8h6ePMivHoAq7OhBYvso2hmX51cTdkcfVrefGcMKlSyMJa6reHr75DjYBhTuatao4bUKc-Bh___O-ij-6uY2AbrLuMzoXW7yCkfwcqMl2BBZMUFpI0FJhPxIq5icqtXTVb2aM/s320/20131213_093446.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">starting to weave</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMcdSohPpV4hdgkgEn-c6xIH1zK51UNbuP5CmWKmISo9aBnkLg6OPI0da0Cq6ARV0349i3mInCFVJ-E5XECUuQXtzqA3LOZzHDvvIqf5N_REkQV0Lg62pEt4kmLBCwsPqQh_K5rXufZ09/s1600/20131213_094447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMcdSohPpV4hdgkgEn-c6xIH1zK51UNbuP5CmWKmISo9aBnkLg6OPI0da0Cq6ARV0349i3mInCFVJ-E5XECUuQXtzqA3LOZzHDvvIqf5N_REkQV0Lg62pEt4kmLBCwsPqQh_K5rXufZ09/s320/20131213_094447.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and more</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Make sure to work any twists and kinks out of the paracord as you go. Your last weave should go down and thread back under the bottom wrap.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadZJaurASq4oUtksRb5hf221kaQaTTpgHgdLoUpmoTQmgZCjM2p35-u6m8V8V_Ox-80NsdPC9u517YToCMzgszWOdIc1oLIKa1INlBKySPbkZ3lU5t2p4BWZOZipdDPRIB_Q_khoHoBm8/s1600/20131213_101825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadZJaurASq4oUtksRb5hf221kaQaTTpgHgdLoUpmoTQmgZCjM2p35-u6m8V8V_Ox-80NsdPC9u517YToCMzgszWOdIc1oLIKa1INlBKySPbkZ3lU5t2p4BWZOZipdDPRIB_Q_khoHoBm8/s320/20131213_101825.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">last weave</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Now it is time to start on the bottom. Push everything down even with the bottom of the can. The bottom is constructed by making half hitches around the bottom of the weave. Alternate the half hitches through the horizontal wraps and through the base of the vertical weaves.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTMQ_B8thqTM8cylz4Ws5ioSsKE_N3MSflYlTuTnjMd59e_NS8fxv2vlLY_3B_HhW0yrGQSxwUcx01iplWVdoQbY08Fm5e1JQ_82v1uSwqxrb4ER0p2qJy9flxbOVatHMoEnmrLcIYVsv/s1600/20131213_102138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTMQ_B8thqTM8cylz4Ws5ioSsKE_N3MSflYlTuTnjMd59e_NS8fxv2vlLY_3B_HhW0yrGQSxwUcx01iplWVdoQbY08Fm5e1JQ_82v1uSwqxrb4ER0p2qJy9flxbOVatHMoEnmrLcIYVsv/s320/20131213_102138.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">starting first half hitch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmaLEUKFy2ddfAfhOL8lBsr3p0fceVl3shmFTI6bgDlrOYhKhJUSDixl-hqVUZKFcu9dIRUbX6djgPaBVcx_bGKQ8ap2G8rFr2onthD0Mjxq-G5TAe4_YLw7heb5sOs7qoyt4q5v3msjHu/s1600/20131213_102247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmaLEUKFy2ddfAfhOL8lBsr3p0fceVl3shmFTI6bgDlrOYhKhJUSDixl-hqVUZKFcu9dIRUbX6djgPaBVcx_bGKQ8ap2G8rFr2onthD0Mjxq-G5TAe4_YLw7heb5sOs7qoyt4q5v3msjHu/s320/20131213_102247.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">finishing first half hitch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9rPRwUB3dWb4JRZ1AmdWpGcLqnS7b8QqwRJ2S7cE6uJsFsQip0Rw8qtBIOY7EMTzahSLVywMl3gikhVhp0nglWJ85C11OZDqxLYXL9mfblNmz4u8xfAAn48c7wOcqwg36zLQXUgzlwWFk/s1600/20131213_103057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9rPRwUB3dWb4JRZ1AmdWpGcLqnS7b8QqwRJ2S7cE6uJsFsQip0Rw8qtBIOY7EMTzahSLVywMl3gikhVhp0nglWJ85C11OZDqxLYXL9mfblNmz4u8xfAAn48c7wOcqwg36zLQXUgzlwWFk/s320/20131213_103057.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">first row of half hitches complete</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Continue the half hitches around the base of the can. Keep the hitches tight so you have a solid base. As you get towards the center you have to skip some half hitches and maybe go every other one. Otherwise you end up making the base cone-shaped rather than flat. If there is an exact formula for this, I'm not aware of it. The center gets a little tricky and I just went by feel, adding half hitches where it looked like I needed one.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQlaSNd6gXJ45O6a3FYwRUIldZ4iG5wXFeRqAhxGbG15If2rDms7PpMXSANTSMk8oNKzKfdLKZwMQAFhc2t48HTpCeY7xYt8Xz3zJy9lY-MGarBHsr2t_z_x07KgVnxxiB_qQAekZ6e63a/s1600/20131213_152445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQlaSNd6gXJ45O6a3FYwRUIldZ4iG5wXFeRqAhxGbG15If2rDms7PpMXSANTSMk8oNKzKfdLKZwMQAFhc2t48HTpCeY7xYt8Xz3zJy9lY-MGarBHsr2t_z_x07KgVnxxiB_qQAekZ6e63a/s320/20131213_152445.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">completed base</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Now remove the pouch from the can. To finish the base, I passed the working end inside the pouch. Then I secured it to the base with an overhand knot and cut off the excess. I inverted the pouch and finished it off by melting the knot together, permanently securing it.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYrdqgjTx9pg_kQCvguRG_-sWwoQ9HVWIHNxU-l7beGRBjAy4F82dU206rsd72gjjAOGfxglmtB7eYYubjmQNInOS_w7G8a8uUdoN34_ZQo6hjH38JThUBEeZXUUrQNCJUdICuQHNBqxT/s1600/20131213_111137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYrdqgjTx9pg_kQCvguRG_-sWwoQ9HVWIHNxU-l7beGRBjAy4F82dU206rsd72gjjAOGfxglmtB7eYYubjmQNInOS_w7G8a8uUdoN34_ZQo6hjH38JThUBEeZXUUrQNCJUdICuQHNBqxT/s320/20131213_111137.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">inside view of melted knot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The starting end of the cord is then woven back down the side of the pouch next to one of the other vertical lines. Melt that end and press it to the adjacent line, fusing them together. Take the extra cord (or cut a new piece) and weave it around the top to create a drawstring (see first picture). Add a cord lock then knot, trim, and melt the ends of the drawstring. All done! Add your favorite junk and pull it closed.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wNEVi9xa6twTvFL3WuKsD7fQ3gv4CA5VyGSGRt6srhF_o9DW3wFGgrT17l6qjXXRtC4z-WYP0ylUzt0k5dwMLtZiZUVxVtJqf_DyqdatFlfHqAE058FwuiZjalunIISoFOA3yYBgVmi9/s1600/20131213_114226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wNEVi9xa6twTvFL3WuKsD7fQ3gv4CA5VyGSGRt6srhF_o9DW3wFGgrT17l6qjXXRtC4z-WYP0ylUzt0k5dwMLtZiZUVxVtJqf_DyqdatFlfHqAE058FwuiZjalunIISoFOA3yYBgVmi9/s320/20131213_114226.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">finished pouch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<br />Entomophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953584069626334847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5283325182904225936.post-37048473368354279362013-12-12T21:37:00.001-05:002013-12-12T21:37:04.855-05:00Homemade Paracord Needles<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_Usl48NLLMeRWcj5yzLdPVRnVpN0sqAlo5WyRdg50oPzVTWucoT3w4iGb6yEIh-RUdbX_3w60-L9a0Xkhiv9-G8eYLto_XI1vnJDHtjR5PKjN5sg1WSn5fQKyEeerIDR4YhKN2vzN9aF/s1600/20131212_203826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_Usl48NLLMeRWcj5yzLdPVRnVpN0sqAlo5WyRdg50oPzVTWucoT3w4iGb6yEIh-RUdbX_3w60-L9a0Xkhiv9-G8eYLto_XI1vnJDHtjR5PKjN5sg1WSn5fQKyEeerIDR4YhKN2vzN9aF/s400/20131212_203826.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my homemade paracord needles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Listen. I love <a href="http://www.rainbowloom.com/" target="_blank">Rainbow Loom</a> as much as the next guy but I fear if I make too many more rubber band bracelets with my daughters, I may have to trade in my Man Card. So I decided to try my hand at some paracord projects. Seems like something the girls and I might like to do together. For some of the trickier projects, people use <a href="http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/search/searchresults/1193-543.aspx" target="_blank">Perma-Lok</a> needles to weave the rope through tight spots. It's just a tapered metal rod with a threaded hole in the base that you screw the paracord into. The threads actually hold the cord tight as you pull it. I'd never forgive myself if I purchased something that I could make so easily, so here we go.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbzuRlhkEHqh1qP1Tk2t5HaM-ZNlnQ-i5hMlJmfnAi8UrszxHQHT8SAFmMg94xuYTA4MDZw-M3ndrOoCx0w_67CLfuwUH4SZpjPxJSfXzei5Buuf9eWpwnex7pAmixaqP5KWAtXMGqI9ZP/s1600/20131212_200039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbzuRlhkEHqh1qP1Tk2t5HaM-ZNlnQ-i5hMlJmfnAi8UrszxHQHT8SAFmMg94xuYTA4MDZw-M3ndrOoCx0w_67CLfuwUH4SZpjPxJSfXzei5Buuf9eWpwnex7pAmixaqP5KWAtXMGqI9ZP/s320/20131212_200039.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">paracord and cleaning rods</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I could have made them from some metal rod but I figured if I looked hard enough in the abyss that is my basement, I would find something already threaded. I remembered that I had a bunch of cheapo pistol cleaning rods that I had saved. I have upgraded to more professional rods and have no need for these anymore. They are 13/64" in diameter and have a 8-32 thread on the end that goes 7/16" deep. They looked just about right so I screwed a length of paracord in and pulled on it. It held tight. Perfect. All I would need to do is cut them to length and taper the end. I decided to make two, one for me and one for my daughter.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrJ79-13fE7KLLucS7agbjI9ccj_OFavguAcG81PdqH_yEzVPj4xWLt4GZJ4jR53BlBdtG9RxX756q0UMFaV8XyghXnPevjo2Lsdzt8z4vr8m2v1CSeHw6rcbpLpDJp5ILENRiUo8JInc/s1600/20131212_204212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrJ79-13fE7KLLucS7agbjI9ccj_OFavguAcG81PdqH_yEzVPj4xWLt4GZJ4jR53BlBdtG9RxX756q0UMFaV8XyghXnPevjo2Lsdzt8z4vr8m2v1CSeHw6rcbpLpDJp5ILENRiUo8JInc/s320/20131212_204212.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">8-32 thread</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I cut the rods to 3" in length with a hacksaw. Then I started to taper the ends on my disc sander. The results were coming out too uneven for someone as obsessive as myself. So I chucked them in my lathe and cut a 5 degree taper.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7slkg-8HrW0EuJ36OndQ7rBytDWmfoBfw9H45qni18BXNTx0tHDZfXkOw1FazzVBAIHQvLWeljoYl4Qs_MM_h-8X11VNqKy6V6j20-ak2tAEquo1-hDg6YF_4T-yA4yeui1yzuDlB0877/s1600/20131212_200651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7slkg-8HrW0EuJ36OndQ7rBytDWmfoBfw9H45qni18BXNTx0tHDZfXkOw1FazzVBAIHQvLWeljoYl4Qs_MM_h-8X11VNqKy6V6j20-ak2tAEquo1-hDg6YF_4T-yA4yeui1yzuDlB0877/s320/20131212_200651.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cut to length</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Next, I blunted the tips with a hand file. I finished them off with some fine emery paper followed by 0000 steel wool while still spinning in the lathe.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFz61889I9p-My5sk51Y1SamFIqqp8XcnriRUtM4LFHtsSvHRfqCzpbPItJ_7Wnots6yKjrlx-lq8O5M-TnGgpfLM-9myoAK_-gyesHd_OUnG5nN99I782SbqUff8eH9JBIyrYwAP_sr67/s1600/20131212_203226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFz61889I9p-My5sk51Y1SamFIqqp8XcnriRUtM4LFHtsSvHRfqCzpbPItJ_7Wnots6yKjrlx-lq8O5M-TnGgpfLM-9myoAK_-gyesHd_OUnG5nN99I782SbqUff8eH9JBIyrYwAP_sr67/s320/20131212_203226.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tapered and (top one) polished</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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That's it. It probably took me longer to find the cleaning rods than to make the needles. I have some more scrap cleaning rods in other materials and diameters. I'll probably make a few more in different lengths and tapers just to see what works best for me.Entomophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953584069626334847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5283325182904225936.post-64606792489641467612013-12-06T08:27:00.000-05:002013-12-06T08:27:37.951-05:00Hammerli 850 Trigger Job<br />
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The <a href="http://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Hammerli_850_AirMagnum/913" target="_blank">Hammerli 850</a> is a great air rifle nearly ruined by a god-awful trigger. Previously I posted about <a href="http://myfavoritestripper.blogspot.com/2013/06/hammerli-850-trigger-upgrade.html" target="_blank">making a steel trigger</a> for this rifle. That was all about personal preference; it did nothing to improve the trigger pull. The stock trigger pull isn't that heavy, it breaks at a reasonable 2.25 lbs. But the pull is a very long and <u>very </u>mushy single stage that feels much heavier. Mine was adjusted with no pre-travel, followed by 4 mm of movement that felt like you were pulling the trigger through chewing gum, and then another <b>11 mm</b> of over-travel after the sear released. There was absolutely no indication when the sear would release making the trigger very unpredictable and distracting. And the over-travel essentially guaranteed that you jerked the trigger every time. There is a useless adjustment screw but it only changes the amount of pre-travel. It does nothing to change the pull weight or length of pull. Time to work on the trigger.<br />
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<b>Manual Safety</b><br />
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Before I worked on the trigger I had to do something about the safety. It automatically engages whenever the gun is cocked. This is not only a nuisance, but it breeds bad habits. Engaging the safety should be a conscious decision. Since 99.9% of the guns in the world have manual safeties, you do not want to get into the habit of assuming the safety will engage by itself.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRekFz7gvl3pH53oS1LrHfHNuhKaErWyM48gqmvkP4Rbs4EGNqTKEgK9ccJBgdU46V2gkFpAQbrvwaRoyP15JQLhjs3Wv1dt9rGspssHdqzh-Y7l-B5V3DzoJ6MJ2FC5KL_145GArlXLbW/s1600/Picture2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRekFz7gvl3pH53oS1LrHfHNuhKaErWyM48gqmvkP4Rbs4EGNqTKEgK9ccJBgdU46V2gkFpAQbrvwaRoyP15JQLhjs3Wv1dt9rGspssHdqzh-Y7l-B5V3DzoJ6MJ2FC5KL_145GArlXLbW/s320/Picture2.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part that needs to be removed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Luckily this is an easy fix. The safety block has a plastic tab that the bolt pushes on when cocking the gun. Simply cut off the tab and you have a manual safety.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvpC5r8MBSpfPRWOHjqneOoFl-wl5YUKd8SHFQKqY84cP4CnzzqB0QHuYOxB5TMV23ZPXtq6JmdGktCaxtr4QYuNKyNTU7zodNlvm3NGmPFXji2-0sc0jqurz0lex7iWrqgCbXoLUxaviq/s1600/20131204_140808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvpC5r8MBSpfPRWOHjqneOoFl-wl5YUKd8SHFQKqY84cP4CnzzqB0QHuYOxB5TMV23ZPXtq6JmdGktCaxtr4QYuNKyNTU7zodNlvm3NGmPFXji2-0sc0jqurz0lex7iWrqgCbXoLUxaviq/s200/20131204_140808.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">before</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_6qY9Rx_Ci-ZyMt3InTEAzu-hjYmWzUYHtFGRsi66gbROKoZ-jabkNxf6toQ7TKP7MYq-rNuN9pfllm1PXO66SjXuGDMgV10qGuXTDmfbKg_c8SGbMQtpSbQ-gvKcS4QViVw2dnGnpZw/s1600/20131204_141148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_6qY9Rx_Ci-ZyMt3InTEAzu-hjYmWzUYHtFGRsi66gbROKoZ-jabkNxf6toQ7TKP7MYq-rNuN9pfllm1PXO66SjXuGDMgV10qGuXTDmfbKg_c8SGbMQtpSbQ-gvKcS4QViVw2dnGnpZw/s200/20131204_141148.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">after</td></tr>
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As an added bonus the bolt operates a bit more smoothly now without having to push on the safety. Now to do something about that trigger.<br />
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<b>Over-travel Adjustment</b><br />
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The worst aspect of the trigger is the over-travel. Eleven millimeters may not sound like much, but it's huge! To eliminate the over-travel I added a screw that limits the movement of the sear. I drilled and tapped a hole for a 5-40 screw right where the sear spring is located. I cut the head off the screw to make a threaded rod. Then I carefully ground off a little bit of the screw and tested the trigger. I repeated the grinding and testing until all of the over-travel was removed. Then I used some Loctite to secure the screw in place. I ended up with the screw protruding 5.5 mm above the sear.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOEGB0P8JuCj_9EV6EfRTIMP6dQJKJrT33OnqsgpNRGjbNEkiVHwH4HpoKl_qbNSyV0msa39D9GDnprhZGktFqYw31rcV4DzufH1FIDa-hkjWV1PrNFWB3qPWIpWQwj2p0ckbntS8tvjVB/s1600/20131205_061039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOEGB0P8JuCj_9EV6EfRTIMP6dQJKJrT33OnqsgpNRGjbNEkiVHwH4HpoKl_qbNSyV0msa39D9GDnprhZGktFqYw31rcV4DzufH1FIDa-hkjWV1PrNFWB3qPWIpWQwj2p0ckbntS8tvjVB/s320/20131205_061039.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">screw added to sear</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>Adding a Second Stage</b><br />
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As I mentioned, there is 4 mm of movement needed to trip the sear. Unfortunately, much of that movement is the sear pushing the hammer back against the hammer spring. That accounts for most of the pull weight and trigger creep. There is nothing that can be done about that unless you are willing to change the geometry of the sear and hammer faces. Since they are die-cast in soft metal I didn't feel comfortable messing with that. Luckily, someone came up with a way to <a href="http://www.network54.com/Forum/583201/thread/1234885168/Add+a+second+stage+to+your+trigger" target="_blank">add a second stage</a> to the trigger. What this does is, it allows you to put most of the pull weight and "mush" into the first stage, then just a little more movement is needed to trip the sear in the second stage.<br />
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I checked my supplies and found a length of 2.36 mm stainless steel drill rod. I cut it to length and just placed in under the trigger to test it out. It looked like it would work so I cleaned the parts in acetone and epoxied the rod to the trigger with PC7.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOu2CSMV70mwS4RU4s9paexesN7Wu2tHXGjak5f5ptlHf6JrpTVa7WJxpicgx3Ik-Je6iVmfIwM81SeEdU1D4D62ELQEj1zj5FMZaP8tnMgmp-TlZqlPTTx3jl2atI8Z5kr4Gjkghrkvsa/s1600/20131205_062626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOu2CSMV70mwS4RU4s9paexesN7Wu2tHXGjak5f5ptlHf6JrpTVa7WJxpicgx3Ik-Je6iVmfIwM81SeEdU1D4D62ELQEj1zj5FMZaP8tnMgmp-TlZqlPTTx3jl2atI8Z5kr4Gjkghrkvsa/s320/20131205_062626.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rod epoxied to trigger</td></tr>
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During reassembly I burnished some molybdenum into the trigger and sear contact points and oiled the pivot pins. The results were amazing. Now the trigger pull is as follows. There is no pre-travel, a very smooth 5 mm pull through the first stage, followed by a definitive stop before the second stage, then < 1 mm of movement to trip the sear with absolutely no over-travel. Pull weight is now just 1 pound.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WzMiLDog_QM8Ew9Vc9uj902pZJMkjk3muqIDslbE0c6rVTHfZ4xEGfDkOLU11RYvxqcBleQ-Pe1oSDyLd4QtN5BtyY-RBEhYTQH34pFBBDQisA06FlX4xIgiP8ih6WmlQg7Frc59ussC/s1600/20131205_181459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WzMiLDog_QM8Ew9Vc9uj902pZJMkjk3muqIDslbE0c6rVTHfZ4xEGfDkOLU11RYvxqcBleQ-Pe1oSDyLd4QtN5BtyY-RBEhYTQH34pFBBDQisA06FlX4xIgiP8ih6WmlQg7Frc59ussC/s320/20131205_181459.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the finished trigger and sear</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The original adjustment screw now determines how much of the trigger movement is in the second stage. Turn the screw all the way in and you end up with a long second stage pull. Turn the screw out and you transfer the trigger movement to the first stage. Turn it out far enough and the sear trips in the first stage, giving you a single stage trigger again. I have mine adjusted with the screw about <span style="background-color: white;">one and a quarter turns out.</span><br />
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The trigger is so much better it makes the rifle much more enjoyable to shoot. Now I can concentrate on the sights and not lose focus wondering when the gun is going to fire. Don't get me wrong. This is no match trigger, but I certainly can't blame any bad shots on the trigger anymore.<br />
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<br />Entomophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953584069626334847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5283325182904225936.post-8248055823375967002013-11-26T14:34:00.001-05:002013-11-26T14:34:49.707-05:00QUADframe Battery Tray<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mLGMhDJ200o/UpTphp9oaUI/AAAAAAAALo4/iflElPtJMu4/s1600/20131030_094922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="271" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mLGMhDJ200o/UpTphp9oaUI/AAAAAAAALo4/iflElPtJMu4/s400/20131030_094922.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">battery tray on QUADframe Pro Six</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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One of the goals of our hexacopter is long flight times. Our hex is large and relatively heavy (3.3 kg without batteries) so that requires large batteries. We planned to fly with either three <a href="http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__18210__Turnigy_nano_tech_8000mAh_6S_25_50C_Lipo_Pack.html" target="_blank">6S 8,000 mAh batteries</a> or two <a href="http://www.flying-hobby.com/gens-ace-10000mah-222v-25c-6s1p-lipo-p-11582.html" target="_blank">6S 10,000 mAh batteries</a>. These batteries are <b>large </b>and <b>heavy</b>. QUADframe sells a battery tray that mounts <a href="http://www.quadframe.us/products/lipo-battery-plates-for-six-octo-frames-1" target="_blank">between the arms</a>. Unfortunately those mounts are designed for much smaller batteries. Time to design a new battery mount.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c5Aw0XgdSIg/UpT2-4qQ7-I/AAAAAAAALsI/Wc7FfGuPsok/s1600/IMG_4225_1024x1025_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c5Aw0XgdSIg/UpT2-4qQ7-I/AAAAAAAALsI/Wc7FfGuPsok/s320/IMG_4225_1024x1025_large.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">QUADframe battery tray</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After some playing around with the frame and batteries, I determined the best place to mount them was over the center plates of the frame. I removed the protective dome and decided to mount the plate on the four standoffs that supported the dome. I wanted to make the tray out of <a href="http://www.dragonplate.com/ecart/categories.asp?cID=110" target="_blank">honeycomb carbon fiber</a>. Unfortunately I didn't have any left and I didn't want to wait to order it. So I made my own carbon fiber laminate. I epoxied some thin carbon fiber sheet I had to both sides of some good quality 1/8" plywood. I clamped it in a vise between some boards as it dried. The next day I cut it to size on a wet tile saw with a diamond blade. Sorry, I forgot to take pictures as I made the laminate.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VoNWGHXmfE0/Uls_YXNKvZI/AAAAAAAAJvM/y-IXXkVOn3g/s1600/20131013_204804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VoNWGHXmfE0/Uls_YXNKvZI/AAAAAAAAJvM/y-IXXkVOn3g/s320/20131013_204804.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">over-sized plate attached</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Next I marked and drilled the holes to mount the tray. The <a href="http://www.myfavoritestripper.blogspot.com/2013/09/quadframe3dr-ublox-gps-mount.html" target="_blank">GPS mount</a> that I made was in the way of the tray. So I cut a groove in the tray for the GPS support. Had I known the batteries were going there, I would have mounted the GPS somewhere else. With that done I mounted the tray and tested the fit of the batteries. The tray was longer than needed, so I cut it to the same width as the center plates of the frame.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0v1VNnLMqsQ/UpTrNPAZ2nI/AAAAAAAALqA/MkpLFz9G7XM/s1600/20131126_133025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0v1VNnLMqsQ/UpTrNPAZ2nI/AAAAAAAALqA/MkpLFz9G7XM/s320/20131126_133025.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">screwed to standoff</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
To hold the batteries in place I used some <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/Velcro-4-in-x-1-in-Titanium-Strips-10-Pack-90812/202261937#.UpTzLMRDurg" target="_blank">heavy duty Velcro tape</a> and Velcro straps. I cut a slot in the tray to pass the straps through. The standoffs were higher than needed so I cut about 1/2" off of each to bring the center of gravity down.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GthcbE_dluA/UpTrNI-86sI/AAAAAAAALqA/a6Uow_pfTEE/s1600/20131126_132939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GthcbE_dluA/UpTrNI-86sI/AAAAAAAALqA/a6Uow_pfTEE/s320/20131126_132939.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">finished tray on frame</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The tray is very strong; doesn't even budge with over 6 kg of batteries on it. As a bonus, it also protects the flight control systems from crashes. The 10,000 mAh batteries mount front to back, while the longer 8,000 mAh batteries mount lengthwise.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gW0VpjSexhI/UpT0LfcCJYI/AAAAAAAALrY/cuYBKXgPtuI/s1600/20131126_141755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gW0VpjSexhI/UpT0LfcCJYI/AAAAAAAALrY/cuYBKXgPtuI/s320/20131126_141755.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">10,000 mAh batteries</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oS7e8381H3Q/UpT0z0B1k9I/AAAAAAAALrw/6jqysHqB7tI/s1600/20131126_142113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oS7e8381H3Q/UpT0z0B1k9I/AAAAAAAALrw/6jqysHqB7tI/s320/20131126_142113.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">8,000 mAh batteries</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Even with all of that weight on top, the hex flies pretty well. The 8,000 mAh setup balances slightly better because the third battery mounts below the hex on the landing gear (see first photo). At some point in the future I may move the GPS mount so I can move the 10,000 mAh batteries closer to the center of the hex. But for now, it works.<br />
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<br />Entomophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09953584069626334847noreply@blogger.com0