I failed.
kinda…
A bit of background as to WHY I would want to do such a project can be found at http://mike.creuzer.com/2013/01/watercooling-my-makergear-prusa-reprap.html I wanted to improve over the coil of copper being that I am about to re-install my 1.75mm hot end for a few lbs of plastic. Going to try ABS for the first time at this size. Not sure if I am going to have problems with that or not.
My fail is I was too lazy to go out into the cold to drill a hole on the drill press. I managed to salvage my stupid hole with a bit of tubing. Hopefully it doesn't cost me too much in efficiency.
I really have no idea what I am doing when it comes to using a lathe. Learning from YouTube is difficult as many of the videos posted are by people with as much experience as me (about 3 hours at this point).
Well, the next iteration should be better, right? I enjoyed making this enough I wouldn't mind making it again. But with a drill press. I think I will drill that hole first so I know it's right.
In album Machining a water block FAIL
Using my UNiMAT lathe to fix my lousy hack saw cut and bring the aluminum block down to the right dimensions.
I turned down the black insulator a bit as I don’t have metric drill bits. The bigger tube is to couple airline tubing together on the OUTSIDE so I don’t get even more restrictions of water flow.
THERE I FIXED IT. I ran a bit of aquarium air hose through the buggered up hole. I am going to lose a lot of heat removal capability, but it lets me temporarily salvage this part. The water going through is in it’s mid 60s, so there is going to be a big difference, so it should pull heat well.
Until I make a new one.
I cut a piece of aluminium in half with a hack saw. The tray did a decent job of collecting the aluminum dust. Terrible surface finish on the cut. I did not do a good job of making the cut straight.
I tried drilling the hole using a hand drill because it’s COLD out in the garage where my drill press is.
I FAILED. I totally didn’t get things where they wanted to go. I’ve a hole on the inside, and a double hole on one end.
I can JUST snap the wooden clip in place with the water block installed. It’s going to be a royal pain to un-clip it.
The water block is small and light. It should work well I hope.
How can you screw up a hole on a lathe? This I gotta see…
I did the hole with a hand drill. I didn't even *think* to drill it on the lathe. Rather new tool to me usage wise.