landys calcium reactor

[landy]

here are some pictures of the start of my new calcium reactor. I didn’t draw any fancy sketchup this time.

The idea here (good or bad), is not to have any holes in the tubing. The suction and pressure side of the pump will flow through passage ways in the base of the reactor as seen in the pictures.

Here is the strainer that will sit on top of the 1/2" acrylic rod. the big hole on the side will be were the suction side line will pass through and go to the top on the reaction chamber.

I will get more of my parts Monday, and will post some more pictures shortly after.

Thanks for looking

landy

 

[logiktest]

Impressive start.

Hope to see more soon.

 

[liveforphysics]

Fantastic and clever design! That is a very low-profile, I'm loving it!

 

[landy]

thank you!

im glad you guys like it

liveforphysics, coming from an individual with your skill set, i take that as quite the complement

Here is a link to my skimmer build a while back if you guy missed it.

and again thank you!!!!

landy

 

[ADA33]

Hey Landy -
I really admire you acrylic work. Can you share with us the tools you are using to make such intricate parts. The holes look so clean. What drill bit are you using. Also her is the dumb question what tool did you use to cut the acrylic round.

 

[landy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13839256#post13839256 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ADA33
Hey Landy -
I really admire you acrylic work. Can you share with us the tools you are using to make such intricate parts. The holes look so clean. What drill bit are you using. Also her is the dumb question what tool did you use to cut the acrylic round.

im using a laser cnc....
this would explain the nice holes

most of my work is done in autocad. then i just send the acrylic and .dxf files to work with my lady, and presto chango perfect shinny cuts every time!!!!

wish i had some secret i could share that everyone could use, but it is what it is...

i actually think that a cnc router would make a better cut, as the lasered edges need to me lightly sanded before any glue can be applied and the thicker pieces do not come out perfectly true as the laser seem to burn out at the bottom.

i have really been considering building a DIY cnc router to use instead of the laser. But i just don’t think i would use it enough to warrant the time and money spend on engineering one. But maybe.

landy

 

[stugray]

landy,

Brilliant way to do the embedded chambers.
I thought of the same thing but by drilling channels thru a solid block.
This will look VERY clean when done.

Have you tested the best method for laminating all the pieces together at the end?

All my attempts to "laminate" sheets of acrylic using Weldon have ended in crazing or lots of bubbles.

I think to do it perfectly you need to use vacuum bagging or something of the sort.


Stu

 

[landy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13839829#post13839829 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stugray
landy,

Brilliant way to do the embedded chambers.
I thought of the same thing but by drilling channels thru a solid block.
This will look VERY clean when done.

Have you tested the best method for laminating all the pieces together at the end?

All my attempts to "laminate" sheets of acrylic using Weldon have ended in crazing or lots of bubbles.

I think to do it perfectly you need to use vacuum bagging or something of the sort.


Stu

i have not had great success laminating the sheets together. They have never crazed, but do end up with bubbles. I have done this on a few other projects, and have never had any problems caused buy the air between the layers. The worst part is appearance, and I can live with that.

Thank you for your comments!!!

Landy

 

[landy]

here are some progress pictures

I was thinking of using this as my recirculation pump, but it might be to small, what do you think?

landy

 

[hllywd]

WOW Landy, That is really cool! Will you be offering kits?

Nice job!:thumbsup:

Tim

 

[hllywd]

3 gpm doesn't sound like a lot of flow if I'm seeing that right. I'm using an Ehiem 1250 (317 gph) on my 6 x 18 DIY reactor. GEO uses a 1048 (158 gph) on that size reactor and jumps to a PanWorld on a 6 x 24 reactor. I had the 1250 and didn't see a reason not to use it. It seems to work pretty good but I wonder if I could have used a smaller more efficient pump. I think the excess flow in mine causes the bubble counter to be really erratic but since I use a controller its not a big problem.

Tim

BTW What was the purpose of the center rod in the first pics?

 

[logiktest]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13863906#post13863906 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hllywd
Will you be offering kits?

Landy, will you please ship said kits as well?

Is there any chance of seeing a picture of the assembly beneath the support grid? I'm curious to see how the body meets the base. Also, what is the diameter of the reactor body?

Phenomenal build so far.

 

[Radar1]

watching this one.

 

[landy]

when i get off work i will post replies and more pictures, i just wanted to thank everyone for the replies and Pm's. gotta go, i hear a 300ton crane calling my name!!

landy

 

[landy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13863906#post13863906 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hllywd
WOW Landy, That is really cool! Will you be offering kits?

Nice job!:thumbsup:

Tim

i would love to do something like offer a kit, but my lady draws the line @ using her works laser for personal gain. So unless i can justify buying a laser or building a cnc end mill, no kits

and thank you!

 

[landy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13864013#post13864013 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hllywd
3 gpm doesn't sound like a lot of flow if I'm seeing that right. I'm using an Ehiem 1250 (317 gph) on my 6 x 18 DIY reactor. GEO uses a 1048 (158 gph) on that size reactor and jumps to a PanWorld on a 6 x 24 reactor. I had the 1250 and didn't see a reason not to use it. It seems to work pretty good but I wonder if I could have used a smaller more efficient pump. I think the excess flow in mine causes the bubble counter to be really erratic but since I use a controller its not a big problem.

Tim

BTW What was the purpose of the center rod in the first pics?

the tubing is 6" OD by 19" tall. so about 300gpm? anyone else care to comment.

the center rod is dual porpuse, one it aligns for gluing and it holds the strainer.

 

[landy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13864465#post13864465 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by logiktest
Landy, will you please ship said kits as well?

Is there any chance of seeing a picture of the assembly beneath the support grid? I'm curious to see how the body meets the base. Also, what is the diameter of the reactor body?

Phenomenal build so far.

The way it works now is the tubing slides all the way down to the bottom piece of acrylic. I then notched the tubing to align with the passage ways. I’ve already started drafting version two. which will work the same but assemble much different. In the newer design the tubing will sit on top of the lower base and bolt on with the same flanges I use for the top of the reactor. This will be better for many reasons. 1 no notching of the tubing, 2 the base assembly will be MUCH simpler ( i do love simple) with nothing but the passage ways and the 1/2" holes on the top layer. then the tubing will simply bolt on. I think this design will be WAY better, and you could reverse the top and bottom on the chamber (why I’m not sure) but it sounds like a good idea.

i will draw some stuff up later to better explain.

and thanks!!!

 

[landy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13865827#post13865827 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Radar1
watching this one.

glad to have you here
enjoy!!

 

[wbailey0035]

this is amazing work!!

 

[landy]

ok, here are the cutsheets for version 2 base. this is a WAY better design!

if im lucky i will have these cut tommorow night.

the 1/2" hole to the far right was added to aid in alignment.