Began work on a Monster PVC Calcium Reactor Lots of pics!

[MarkS]

Bubble counter is done

Bubble counter is done

I made the bubble counter out of scrap 3/4" and 1/2" PVC plate and a length of 1 1/2" clear PVC pipe. I think it came out quite nice. The top is removable, although I'm not sure if that will be necessary. Thought it would be a good idea just in case.

The bottom and top of the bottom part of the counter. I recessed a 1" hole to support a 1/2" bolt head and then drilled a 1/2" hole the rest of the way for the bolt. The bubble counter can at any of the 12 bolts around the top flange.

The gasket. Just a piece of scrap 1/8" neoprene.

The top piece. The center fitting is the CO2 inlet and the other fitting is the outlet.

Here it is with the counter body attached.

And here is it assembled.

And this is it bolted to the reactor.

I should have the pump, o-rings, Uniseals and other stuff by next week sometime. There is not much I can do until then.

 

[MarkS]

I just ordered 5' of 6" clear PVC from Savko. I am going to replace the bottom 3' of the body with the clear. This will be far cheaper and easier than trying to add a window.

I'm still waiting on the rest of the stuff. Hopefully I'll have this finished by sometime next week.

 

[AcroSteve]

So.... How you making out?

 

[Kimo]

Wow -

That thing is a monster! 3/4 inch PVC plate, sheesh!

Nice job so far, lets see what you have now!

Jamie

 

[MarkS]

I stopped work on the reactor due to plumbing problems and the choice of white PVC for the body. After drilling the holes for the Uniseals, I noticed that the 2" plumbing would protrude too far into the body and make maintenance difficult or impossible. Then there's the necessary window. Go, I hate trying to make a window on a tube.

So, I bought a 2' x 4' sheet of 3/4" PVC and 4' of real Sch. 40 clear 6" PVC pipe for the body. I've been putting off the construction while I wait for some CNC'd aluminum templates (money issues). The thought just occurred to me (I'm slow at times...) that I need to templates should I ever decide to build these for sell. However, this will be a prototype and I'll be using it. I don't need CNC accuracy for this unit. *slapping self on forehead!*

I'm going to work on it this week. It will still be awhile before I get it finished (again, money issues). It will be powered by a Uno Marlin instead of the Dart and that pump is not cheap!

I'm not going to use Uniseals. Instead, I have come up with an ingenious way to flatten the tube where I will install bulkheads.

I'll probably start a new thread since the design has changed so much.

 

[spazz]

hey mark have you see my new toy. he he he he he

 

[MarkS]

Yeah... Rub it in!