My DIY Recirculating Skimmer

[mcgyvr]

Recirculating Skimmer
Sedra 3500 needlewheel pump (35W)
6" OD x 12" L (3/16" wall) cast acrylic reaction chamber
6" OD x 6" L skimmer cup with drain
3" OD x 4.5" foam neck
uniseals
total cost including pump $160-175 or so USD

Will be fed off my return manifold into a carbon reactor and biopellet reactor (still working on finishing those ) then into the skimmer inlet.
still have to paint the rest of the plumbing black and a few other odds/ends

Cleaning/access is very important to me so the whole cup comes off (simple o-ring seal) so you have complete access to clean it and can easily get into the reactor chamber to do whatever..
Cup off..

made all the parts on my DIY cnc machine run by the smoothieboard/pronterface UI (18" x 24" work area)

 

[ca1ore]

Very nice! Tried making one myself some years ago but a CNC machine is not amongst my stable of tools so it ended up looking (and working) like ...... well, you know! Now I know who to call when I need a piece of acrylic cut properly :lol:

 

[mcgyvr]

Very nice! Tried making one myself some years ago but a CNC machine is not amongst my stable of tools so it ended up looking (and working) like ...... well, you know! Now I know who to call when I need a piece of acrylic cut properly :lol:

yep just let me know..

I tried to do a "simple" design and I think it worked out great... Since I have the cnc I started with all these crazy intricate designs then just said screw it.. simple will work just well as anything fancy..
No reason this couldn't be build with a regular router table either.. Thats how I did my first one and it worked great too.. I just rough cut the circles.. glued them on and used a trim bit to run around it and make it perfect..
But it was much easier this time with the CNC..

 

[ca1ore]

When you used a router table (that I have!) do you need to use special bits for plastic or will the ones for wood work fine?

 

[mcgyvr]

When you used a router table (that I have!) do you need to use special bits for plastic or will the ones for wood work fine?

Ones for wood work just fine..IMO.. I had no problem using them.
it will be snowing plastic flakes all over though
I just moved the part around the bit (trim bit with the bearing) and it flushes it right up to the tubes or whatever.. works for outside and inside corners

 

[dartier]

That is cool. Gotta love the ease a CNC provides in fabricating parts.

Are you using ACME or ball screws on your CNC?

I also have a CNC, but it is a fair bit smaller than yours. A Shapeoko 2, and it is belt driven. It works OK, but I am already planning a larger, stiffer replacement. Most likely an Openbuilds OX.

Good job on the skimmer.

Dennis

 

[mcgyvr]

Are you using ACME or ball screws on your CNC?

RM1605 ball screws of course..

 

[dartier]

Very nice.

Dennis

 

[john08007]

love the CNC, curious ballpark what do you have invested in that? I assume that you are making a lot more than a few DIY skimmers with it

 

[mcgyvr]

love the CNC, curious ballpark what do you have invested in that? I assume that you are making a lot more than a few DIY skimmers with it

Really haven't been counting.. maybe $750 or so..
I really have no set plans for it.. But I've always wanted one.. so I built one.

I'm just a interested in all sorts of automation/mechanical stuff,etc.. It actually started life as a belt driven pick and place machine for SMT assembly.. (movements were smoking fast with belt drive)
Now I converted it to this with the intention of adding a pick/place head to it again.. maybe a "gripper head" of some sort too to assembly stuff. Maybe a laser head and even a 3d printer head.

I sort of wanted a "do all" machine. I will probably try to make some plastic injection molds in aluminum with it next and build a DIY injection machine. :hmm5: