diy seaswirl

[MrRyanT]

theres probably not enough pressure differential between the coupling and the outlet to cause things to blow apart...:celeb1:

Not so sure I would agree, there's quite a bit of pressure there. You could add a clamp around the pipe inside the cover to keep it from coming apart. It will require a little more height inside the box. It's probably what I'll do with my next one.

 

[TurboGuru]

Radio Shack. they are project boxes made for electrical boards and components.

Got a catalog #, (cat #) from the box?

 

[dahenley]

Catalog #: 270-1801 through Catalog #: 270-1809

i cant remember the exact size. but those are the ones that they offer.
if i can find mine, i will try to find out what size it really is.

(when i went, i just looked for one that was about the size of a sea swirl/ or one that would fit a motor and the o-ring joint.)

i hope that gives you a start. but i will try to find the size that i used. or maybe someone will chime in and give the size.

 

[TurboGuru]

Catalog #: 270-1801 through Catalog #: 270-1809

i cant remember the exact size. but those are the ones that they offer.
if i can find mine, i will try to find out what size it really is.

(when i went, i just looked for one that was about the size of a sea swirl/ or one that would fit a motor and the o-ring joint.)

i hope that gives you a start. but i will try to find the size that i used. or maybe someone will chime in and give the size.

Thanks, The one that I got local is to narrow.

 

[blk94rs]

Here are a few progress pics of my DIY Seaswirls:

 

[blk94rs]

I would love to make parts for people, but unfortunately I do not have the time with my 55 hour per week job.

The first set I made were black, but I decided to make all of my equipment white on my new tank, so everything is made with white acrylic.

 

[dahenley]

i would have to say, that looks pretty bad A$$

 

[reefermad619]

Here are a few progress pics of my DIY Seaswirls:

What was the cost on this. It looks GREAT!

 

[shikhyung]

Impress! Is that 1 pcs arcrylic and how thick is it?
Also, what is the torch for that motor?

 

[dahenley]

it looks like a layered block made of multipul 1/4in acrylic.
it could just be mill marks though

 

[blk94rs]

it looks like a layered block made of multipul 1/4in acrylic.
it could just be mill marks though

You are correct. Its 10 different layers of 1/4" acrylic. I cut them on an Epilog 35 watt laser cutter.

If I had a CNC router, I could have easily milled it out of a solid block of acrylic, although it would have probably cost a lot more for the acrylic.

Someday, I hope to have a CNC router!

 

[blk94rs]

Impress! Is that 1 pcs arcrylic and how thick is it?
Also, what is the torch for that motor?

It measures 6 1/2" (L) x 3 3/16" (W) x 2 1/4" (T).

The motor is from McMaster-Carr. Its 3 RPM and has 6.9 in-lbs of torque.

I ran the seaswirl for several days (without water) without any problems at all. It runs very smooth and seems to put very little load on the motor. The motor is nearly silent!

I cut all of the parts for the 2nd one tonight, and will be assembling it tomorrow. Hopefully they will both be running on my new tank by this time next week!

 

[MrRyanT]

Mine's been running for over 3 months now. Only thing I have problems with is getting to it for maintenance. It needs a bit of grease on the o-ring and with it inside my canopy, it's tough getting to it.

 

[shikhyung]

Here are a few progress pics of my DIY Seaswirls:

What do you call that extension rod and where to buy?
How do you glue the arm to the PVC for the swirl?
Do you use any kind of clamp at all at the swirl?

 

[dahenley]

the extension rod is a common thing in a hobby shop. they are used on R/C airplanes and Cars. (they are servo rods. they come in tons of different length.) some also come with the eyelets too.

to glue the arm to the PVC, you need to use Weld-On. (Weld_on is used to attach acrylic to different things. just make sure you buy the correct one to attach Acrylic to PVC. (i think its like Weld-on 40????)

as for the teardrop piece that attaches to the motor, he built that.

there are 2 holes in that picture in the middle, and if it were me, i would use a clap that screwed in those to make sure the motor doesnt rock. (allthough it is in a hole and probably wont.)
as for the PVC end, the top plate will keep it together.


(my opinions)

 

[blk94rs]

Yes, you are right...the tie rod ends came from a hobby shop. I found them in the RC car section.

I cut the arm that goes on the motor with a laser cuter.

The motor is held down with 2 4-40 screws. The 2 larger holes between the motor and span coupling are used to mount the seaswirl. I drilled/tapped 2 8-32 holes in my euro bracing and am using 1.25" nylon screws to hold them in place. its seems to work really well.

 

[shikhyung]

Thanks, I stopped by a local RC hobbies today, I saw those rods with the lables 9.99!!! Is that much expensive?

 

[blk94rs]

I think I paid $3.49 for a pair of rods, and $4.99 for the set of ends. They have 4-40 threads on them.

 

[shikhyung]

That's about it then, what I saw is a complete piece. Good to know, thanks.

 

[blk94rs]

I finished my Seaswirls up tonight, and am now working on my return pipping. With any luck water will be going in my new tank tomorrow!

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They run VERY smooth! No binding, no sign of any load on the motors, no vibration, & dead silent. I found adjusting the rod to just the right length really made a difference.