Thread: Taking The Next Step (Casting)

Hi All,

Not had much time to do too much lately!! as usual, however I did manage to get out in the workshop for a couple of hours later this afternoon.
I had previously bought some offcuts of 12mm thick Lexan Polycarbonate so off I went cutting it and running all edges across the jointer accurately to size and to clean them up ready for gluing.
So here are some photographs of my vacuum chamber starting to take shape
I have made it 275mm long x 200mm front to back and 215mm high. This should allow enough room internally for between 8 to 32 Blanks being 4 rows of 8 blanks or anywhere in between. The extra height should also allow for and prevent the stabilizing resin from bubble into the vacuum line also (Thanks for the heads up Neil)
I am also thinking of doing a 12mm thick lid for the top as well, rather than doing a timber one which will give full visibilty during the stabalizing process. I will update with some photos as I work through the project.

Thanks
Tony.

did you glue it together or plastic weld it?

I was thinking same lid but over a solid steel cooking pot from the op-shop.
should still work. (mine is 15mm thick) but only 8 inch wide router a lip and put foam seal on it.

Is everyone doing a bulk buy of juice???

Peter

Peter,

The plan is to glue it together hopefully next weekend.
I am also hoping to be able to pick up the glue through the week.
I was going to put a little fillet of polycarbonate around the top outside of the box to increase the surface area for a gasket. I was also planning on gluing a strip around the outside of the lid to act as a locator as I do not want to router a grove into the polycarbonate and weaken the lid whilst under vacuum.
If done right it should look the part also

I would be up for a group buy on the Cactus Juice if there is one happening

Cheers
Tony.

Let me know how you go. Your glue will need to be good for butt joints like that.

I was thinking making a higher one too, as I don't have a welder I was thinking 45 degree joints with silicon, that way the vacuum will pull the joint together helping the seal.

Ah well Tony, if it doesn't work out you could keep pet "piranhas" in it ,good to see you getting that monstor of yours to work ,maybe not what you planned when building it ,but shows its versatility great project , I spent a couple of days this week replacing my el cheapo deep groove headstock bearings in my C3 lathe to improve its performance . Replaced with tapered roller bearings . Cheers ~ John

What sort of glue will you use?
A friend used to make those chewing gum displays and they used chloroform to glue it together..

How much cactus juice will we go thru? 1 litre each? 2, 4.
Anyone got any ideas how much they might want?

I would have made my lid fit onto my pressure pot but seeing its only 8 inches it wouldn't fit.
I think a 3mm groove in 15mm that gets packed with a dishwasher sticky backed seal should be ok,
And as I said I'll get a good solid steel pot from an op-shop for the body, Just won't be able to see where the liquid and foam separate, just need to use plenty of juice.

I do have a bit of the 15mm, so maybe I'll see how yours goes and if its ok I could always go for the fishtank look.
Peter

Originally Posted by dai sensei

Let me know how you go. Your glue will need to be good for butt joints like that.

I was thinking making a higher one too, as I don't have a welder I was thinking 45 degree joints with silicon, that way the vacuum will pull the joint together helping the seal.

Hi Neil,

I worked for a well known acrylic fabricator in Brisbane for a couple of years so I am comfortable that I can secure a solid well glued/fused and water proof joint using but joints. From memory it is but joints on the ones from the US as well. Silicone will not stick too or provide any strength when gluing acrylics, so correct glues are the only way to go Neil.
Weld 0n 3 is a glue which is applied through a syringe with a consistency of water and works on capillary action and fuses the two surfaces together when done correctly. It is important though that the edges are all square very flat and clean. An internal bead of Weld on 16 which is thicker in consistency can also be applied to all internal joints as an option to strengthen and to provide additional sealing if need be but is trickier to work with without making a mess.
Maybe I could make these commercially, but wait until it is all tried and tested
I am sure it is going to turn out looking very professional and will also do the job which it is being built for.

Cheers
Tony.

Originally Posted by _fly_

What sort of glue will you use?
A friend used to make those chewing gum displays and they used chloroform to glue it together..

How much cactus juice will we go thru? 1 litre each? 2, 4.
Anyone got any ideas how much they might want?

I would have made my lid fit onto my pressure pot but seeing its only 8 inches it wouldn't fit.
I think a 3mm groove in 15mm that gets packed with a dishwasher sticky backed seal should be ok,
And as I said I'll get a good solid steel pot from an op-shop for the body, Just won't be able to see where the liquid and foam separate, just need to use plenty of juice.

I do have a bit of the 15mm, so maybe I'll see how yours goes and if its ok I could always go for the fishtank look.
Peter

Peter,

I have emailed Curtis regarding the possibility of me arranging a group buy on the Cactus Juice so leave it with me and I will get back to one and all.

Cheers
Tony

Originally Posted by AuS MaDDoG

Hi Neil,

I worked for a well known acrylic fabricator in Brisbane for a couple of years so I am comfortable that I can secure a solid well glued/fused and water proof joint using but joints. From memory it is but joints on the ones from the US as well. Silicone will not stick too or provide any strength when gluing acrylics, so correct glues are the only way to go Neil.
Weld 0n 3 is a glue which is applied through a syringe with a consistency of water and works on capillary action and fuses the two surfaces together when done correctly. It is important though that the edges are all square very flat and clean. An internal bead of Weld on 16 which is thicker in consistency can also be applied to all internal joints as an option to strengthen and to provide additional sealing if need be but is trickier to work with without making a mess.
Maybe I could make these commercially, but wait until it is all tried and tested
I am sure it is going to turn out looking very professional and will also do the job which it is being built for.

Cheers
Tony.

I'm guessing that this weld on 3 is chloroform based.

It is a mix of the following. More info is available if you search google.

Methylene Chloride
Dimethyl Glutarate
Methyl Methacrylate Monomer

Cheers
Tony.

Originally Posted by AuS MaDDoG

Peter,

I have emailed Curtis regarding the possibility of me arranging a group buy on the Cactus Juice so leave it with me and I will get back to one and all.

Cheers
Tony

Please remember the rules regarding bulk buys on the forums, or should I say not on the forums .

To Aus, you will need to order the un-catalysed version that only comes in the 1 gal size, and 2 fit in a large std international box with a few dyes etc. So rather than bulk buy I would suggest either you order 2gal, or go in with a nearby friend for 1gal each.

I'm quite happy that there is no bulk buy on things available from forum sponsors.

If they'd like to order it for us then I'd be happy with that as well.

But if its not available in Aus and they don't want to bring it in then they should not get upset.

And by us doing a bulk buy, It leaves us more money to spend with them anyway.

Changed the design of my vacuum chamber which is now all glued up and leaving it sit for a few days allowing the glue to cure properly. Should be nice and strong now with the changes made.
Once the chamber has had time to cure I will then test it under vacuum

Cheers
Tony.

Wow, now that's a change, cerntainly plenty of surface joint area now

I was thinking a 45 joint would have done, increased area plus the joint would pull together under vacuum. Any particular reason why you went this way?