www.TK560.com

[CrazyFool]

Just a short post and one photo for now. I promised myself a shower and a trip on my scooter to see 'Iron Man' when this job was done. I haven't tested the machine yet because I'd like to celebrate by running the first test with production forms (letters that will actually go up on a building storefront) and they aren't ready yet... but I'm almost positive it will work as is. It's really pumping out some heat. I found two separate 20 amp breakers in the electrical power panel and so replaced the existing 15 amp wall outlets with 20 amp outlets. Then I made custom electrical cords out of heavy duty Romex. Each of the two 2ft x 2ft ovens are running on their own 20 amp breaker. And each 5.5 hp shop vac is running on it's own 15 amp breaker. Everything worked together, all at once, the first try. Thank you very much to this website owner and to the guys who offered me advice. I could not have done this without your help. This is a production machine that was made in 7 days that should now earn me thousands of dollars, potentially save my boss's business (and my job). I mention this in thanks and also as a friendly reminder that vacuforming can be used for fun, but it can also be used for real world applications that might earn you money. I will not say the last week has been easy though. It was a lot of work. Maybe not for someone else, but it sure was for me. I am extremely tired and worked practically night and day (only sleeping a few hours here and there) to get this built in seven days. But... now the fun part begins!! Thanks again guys, really. More photos coming soon.

Sincerely,
CF

[crashmann]

That is some damn fine work CrazyFool!

I like the idea of splitting the ovens across two separate circuits. It's simple, and it works very nicely!

It looks like your plastic clamping frames are riding on the 4 rods. Are you using pillow block bearings?

Charlie

[TK 109]

i like that, very nice work!
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-Alex

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[PARATECH1]

It really does look good dude.

I bet you feel like a proud daddy who really wants to show their kid off. I know I would be if I were you.

[CrazyFool]

crashmann
Thanks man! The frames slide on four 1/2" electrical conduit pipes. The tops of the pipes are screwed to the inside walls of the oven with L brackets, and the bottoms of the pipes simply sit in the table top (where I drilled 1/2" wide and about 1/2" deep holes). The frames are guided up and down the pipes by 1/2" conduit straps. (Nothing fancy.) At first the frames didn't want to slide up the pipes very well, but I smeared the pipes with some high temperature auto grease and those suckers will slide all the way to China.

TK 109
Hey thanks. If you say so! My dad was a carpenter and I'm afraid to show the thing to him. I slapped it together so fast it kind of felt like the Winchester Mystery House, with screws that don't really screw into anything and 2x4's that lead to nowhere. lol (BTW... I like screws way better than nails because it's so much easier to make changes later.)

PARATECH1
Thanks! I'm just glad it didn't blow up when I turned it on. At first nothing happened when I switched on the ovens. But then I remembered that I had turned off the 20 amp breakers to wire the new wall outlets. d'oh. I wish I could relax and enjoy it but there are people riding me pretty hard to crank out some forms and produce the final plastic letters (for business signs).

CF

[DarthVader1]

I guess I could vouch for everyone in this forum; building a machine like that in just 7 days.....man......


_________________
Robert
BH/TK/TB/TS 060

[PARATECH1]

I think the idea of the way you built the frame raise/lower system looks like a pretty cool idea.

Any chance of you posting a few close up photos (attachment points to frame, photos of the materials used and how you may hold up the frame when it is raised).

Again, you did a really good job.

[crashmann]

[CrazyFool]

Vader
You really made me laugh... thanks!!

PARATECH1
Sorry for taking so long to post photos. I made a (very simplified) version of another guy's pulley system idea I saw somewhere on this forum.

crashmann
Yep, it's velcro. Not the best system but I was in a hurry.

And now for some photos. Any and all comments/questions/criticisms welcome. Just remember... I was in a hurry! lol

















CF

[jegner]

Well done! I can't wait to see some pulls from your creation. I'm glad you found this site helpful. The folks around here are a great bunch, and we like to help.

Great job on your machine!

Jim

[ahillworks]

That looks awesome kinda gives me some ideas. I am still scared to do the nichrome wire but the way things are looking may have to give it a shot.

[DarthVader1]

[PARATECH1]

Thanks for taking the time and putting up the photo's of your pully system. I really do appreciate it.

The new photo's really show off your machine and how good a job you did in putting it together. The attention to detail of the text on top of the photo's really was nice.

All around good job.

[LaughingCheese]

Awesome machine CrazyFool!

I have decided to build one like that, seems like it would save space.




Can you give a total cost estimate?

Oh, and did you design it yourself or did you have plans?

Thanks,


LC

[TK 109]

gotta see those pulls! i gotta say, i LOVE this table!
_________________
-Alex

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