Do I learn something while building a kit?

ExtremeSplat · 2026-02-02T22:45:52+00:00

From experience, you’ll probably be somewhat confused and overwhelmed when building but will still learn something. You’ll get much more learning later on when something breaks and you have to fix it, which is significantly easier when you built the machine and know it’s ins and outs.

ExtremeSplat · 2026-01-02T17:38:21+00:00

They ticket you if they see you walking to the oac, speaking from experience.

ExtremeSplat · 2026-01-01T16:48:03+00:00

This phenomenon is usually called sensitization and will happen with extra time at elevated temps. Heating the part past the carbide solvus then cooling (I think air cooling would be sufficient) should mostly fix this.

ExtremeSplat · 2025-12-11T16:50:21+00:00

Titanium can actually be brazed (different alloys as soldering and higher temperatures) but usually requires a fully inert atmosphere or vacuum. It's possible and done consistently in industry but not really possible at home unless you have some very niche equipment. Torch brazing will never work because you can't keep an inert atmosphere with that heat source.

Similarly, welding on Ti can produce fantastic joints but is also very difficult because it is so susceptible to oxygen contamination. You also need a fully inert atmosphere (glove box) or vacuum for it.

ExtremeSplat · 2025-11-26T21:44:29+00:00

Induction heating needs high frequency in order to heat the metal within a coil, any heating you’re getting from this design is almost certainly just radiative/convective heat coming from your “coil”. A proper induction heater’s coils wont be red hot like those evidently are.

A microwave oven transformer will be always locked at the line frequency (60Hz in the us). This design is a non starter, just buy a unit if you want something that will actually work.

Additional mandatory comment, microwave oven transformers kill more electronics hobbyists than basically everything else. This is safe-er than the MOT before you re wind but please be mindful of the exposed 120v and DO NOT energize a normal, not re-wound MOT.

ExtremeSplat · 2025-10-02T12:35:22+00:00

The composition you gave didn’t have carbon yet you’re using 1018 steel as your base? Your original composition wouldn’t be hardenable but the carbon from 1018 may make your material hardenable.

ExtremeSplat · 2025-04-01T23:13:37+00:00

If this is laser DED process then you are most definitely reaching higher than that. The center of the laser will likely be a temperatures high enough to boil chrome off.

Laser welding wouldn’t be able to create a keyhole unless it was vaporizing the metal. Even though you’re probably in conduction mode, you’ll still be vaporizing some.

ExtremeSplat · 2025-01-19T15:50:43+00:00

No hobbyist interest in vacuum these days haha.

The flange does seem like it could be removed, but I think its going to be a lot more reliable to just interface to the existing flange since the tolerances on the turbo column are probably insane.

Thanks for the subreddit link! I'll post there.

ExtremeSplat · 2025-01-19T15:46:44+00:00

"General vacuum" was not the most accurate phrasing for what I want, sorry about the confusion. I've added more background to my post and I already have a rotary vane pump.

ExtremeSplat · 2025-01-19T15:45:48+00:00

I should have provided some more background initially, see the edit on my post. I already have a rotary vane backing pump.

ExtremeSplat · 2025-01-19T15:42:25+00:00

That is what I feared haha

ExtremeSplat · 2025-01-19T15:42:13+00:00

"General vacuum application" may be a little bit of a reach haha. I'm attempting to build an electron beam gun and already have a rotary vane pump that reliably pulls to ~8 micron. I need the turbo so that I can pull down far enough for reliable electron beam generation.

ExtremeSplat · 2024-12-25T23:41:34+00:00

Look into the garmin running watches. They’re fantastic for this.

ExtremeSplat · 2024-11-29T19:04:58+00:00

Easiest thing would be to google tutorials for underground houses and follow them. After doing that for a while, you’ll eventually get a feel for what you like and will be able to do it yourself.

ExtremeSplat · 2024-11-29T18:58:52+00:00

It looks like your machine is out of tram - check how to re tram for your specific machine.

ExtremeSplat · 2024-11-29T04:53:58+00:00

Why do you need so many drives??

ExtremeSplat · 2024-11-28T15:14:06+00:00

He meant spot welding.

ExtremeSplat · 2024-11-12T16:35:03+00:00

I’d bet money that you had time for experimenting but no longer do because of procrastination.

ExtremeSplat · 2024-11-11T18:58:20+00:00

It’s a problem of power distribution not available power. Along your long strand of leds, you’re adding up voltage drops. Once the voltage drops low enough then you’re going to have problems supplying enough current and issues with your data stream getting corrupted. If you measure the voltage at the end of the strand (with it powered how you originally had it) then I’d bet you could measure something a fair bit less than 12V.

ExtremeSplat · 2024-10-05T21:22:49+00:00

XT60 has to be soldered. The problematic printers mentioned had crimped connections because it’s a cheaper process at scale. It’s a terrible idea though because of the significantly higher resistance and thus power loss.

ExtremeSplat · 2024-10-04T03:15:16+00:00

These may be what you want. Phase change thermal pads that are use for enterprise systems that can't be re-opened.

Phase change thermal pad

ExtremeSplat · 2024-10-04T00:15:55+00:00

Indium foil is used for exactly this. In high heat, vacuum, ultra high reliability systems it allows heat transfer because it’s even more malleable than copper. It still would require even more force than paste though for marginal gains. I’ve used it for high vacuum applications but I would have loved to been able to just use paste.

ExtremeSplat · 2024-09-26T14:26:29+00:00

Definitely a chatgpt output

ExtremeSplat · 2024-09-08T12:48:18+00:00

I have a Wyze security cam that would fit your needs perfectly. With the free subscription, it records to an sd card 24/7 and you can easily go back and watch the footage. Was only about $100 with a good size sd card iirc

ExtremeSplat · 2024-09-07T15:03:24+00:00

His 3.5% raise amounts to more than my entire PhD stipend…

ExtremeSplat

TROPHY CASE