DIY Lumenarc Kits

[spleify]

Yes tin snips, the yellow ones(straight cut). Didn't bend it at all.
Here is a link to my build thread, hope it helps.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1343381

Again it cost me $45 total with the mogul socket.

Hope this helps.

Spleify

 

[tundra1000]

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100007578

I'm sure there are some more cost effective materials than this but this has excellent reflective properties and can fit 2 of the 14" with some to spare. I also have seen a 24" tube at lowes for less than $30 but I could not find a link to it. I believe the manufacturer was velux.

 

[SWINGRRRR]

Youll need 2.

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=101898-665-101898&lpage=none

 

[tundra1000]

My apologies to all who requested a link to a viewer via pm. I sent out the wrong link. The viewer that is needed is for dwg files and can be found here:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?id=6703438&siteID=123112

 

[mfinn]

Using the jpg pattern, could this be used to make a 12" reflector?

 

[JCTewks]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12987044#post12987044 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mfinn
Using the jpg pattern, could this be used to make a 12" reflector?

theoretically, you should be able to scale it down and still have a good reflector!

 

[tundra1000]

I could give you a scaled down version and was going to make a pattern for an 18" The only problem with going smaller is without having a mogul and bulb in front of me, which I don't, I am not sure of clearances.

 

[JCTewks]

I've also heard of people "stretching" the design some to be able to cover slightly longer tanks using 1 MH...like making a reflector 14x24 to fot over a 30breeder

 

[mfinn]

I was thinking I could take the copy I have that is printed on a 8.5x11 piece of paper, take it to kinko's and have them scale it up till the measurement on the right side ( 14") is,, say 12".

 

[spleify]

FWIW, when I took in my 8.5 X 11, and had it blown up it was 281%. That was at Office Max. I don't know if all stores and all printers are the same or different, but that was the size that worked for me and gave me the standard mini size 14.5" X 6.5" tall I believe.

HTH

Spleify

 

[mfinn]

So your finished reflector was only 6.5" wide?

 

[spleify]

??? No, 14.5 Wide and 6.5" TALL......

Spleify

 

[2dawghouse]

spleify, that is the size of the mini, correct? What would you say the blown up % for a large reflector would be (19.25" width)?

 

[ReefEnabler]

spleify, I remember seeing pics of your DIY lumenarcs in your thread, and thinking how rediculously professional they looked.

you should post some pics in this thread

 

[mfinn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12988447#post12988447 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by spleify
??? No, 14.5 Wide and 6.5" TALL......

Spleify

6.5" tall,,, ok

 

[spleify]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12989192#post12989192 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 2dawghouse
spleify, that is the size of the mini, correct? What would you say the blown up % for a large reflector would be (19.25" width)?

Yes I believe that is the correct size for the mini, that is why I went with that size.
I wish I could tell you what percentage you would need. Try going larger and have then print it, bring a tape measure with so you can check it. I don't really know if all printers are the same either.

Thanks Ryan, they really arn't hard to make. And you should be talking, your system makes me drool when I look at it, now that is sick. I love you're set up.
I am curious to know what the comparison is to the real ones, as far as PAR goes.
Using a a Radium With my light 13" off the water, and 26" deep tank, I have 430 at the surface, about 200-250 half way down, and 150-200, on the sand bad. I also checked the PAR with a Hmilton 14K They were almost Identical. Not different enough to note. I also have a SPS 20K and those readings were, 200 at the surface, 100 or so half way down, and 90-100 on the sand bed.
I ran the Radium for a little while, but man is that bulb BLUE, I an currently running the 14K Hamilton, and really like it.

Please feel free to go and check out my build thread, as there are LOT of DIY in there.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1343381

 

[siropa]

tundra1000, how did you get the autocad file to print out onto multiple sheets? I've never used that program and don't see an obvious option to do that.

 

[runningstix]

that wont work. Here are your options, print on 8.5x11 and take to kinkos to enlarge or print 4 out and puzzle them togther with tape.

Option 1: check the box fit to paper under plot scale in the print dialog. Select 8.5x11 paper size and printer.


Option 2: Under plot area select window after you have selected 8.5x11 and you can print a bunch of papers til that fits. Use preview to make sure you get the whole thing. my guess would be 4 prints. then tape them together to get 1. It will be pretty ghetto but it will work.

 

[tundra1000]

runningstix is right on the money. It is kind of a pain but does allow for accurate full scale print out. I did this once and then made posterboard templates so I could throw away the taped up mess.

 

[siropa]

just as a followup on the printing... I used this program

http://www.cadsofttools.com/en/products/abviewer.html

and it has an option to do a tile print. the dwg file printed out onto 9 sheets at the correct scale. worked really nice.