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Re: Need Help With Tank Calculation

Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2018 11:07 am
by Smoker
The backup plan will be to use the miscut pieces, and hand cut one larger piece to fill in the bottom section. Have plenty of leftover tubing. Would not be perfectly round, though.

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Re: Need Help With Tank Calculation

Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2018 1:48 pm
by MK
That's what I meant to do with grinding.
There's not too much that needs to get off each mating surface to close the gap at the end.

Re: Need Help With Tank Calculation

Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2018 12:53 pm
by Smoker
A week ago, the laser company said they would discuss with the cutting technician and get back to me with details, so I know how much titanium to order.

Haven't heard one peep. :smt012

Just sent an email saying I would accept the refund. Can't keep waiting.

Will try to cut a larger piece by hand to finish the circle. If it's too far off, might need to trim down all the pieces.

Re: Need Help With Tank Calculation

Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2018 4:21 pm
by silverstrom
So close, yet so far away. Stay positive Pete. You'll get this issue resolved.

It looks like you should be able to make the last piece knowing what the angles are and the measurements needed. Perhaps a template first to insure it's correct and then the actual piece. I can see a belt sander being useful in getting to the exact fitment.

Re: Need Help With Tank Calculation

Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2018 5:57 pm
by Smoker
Need to set it up again. Then measure short and long gaps at the center (for the bottom section).

Used to have a pipe program that would print out paper templates. Hope I can find it. Would be really great to have the template cut by a digital paper cutter. Not sure how accurate I can be by hand.

Re: Need Help With Tank Calculation

Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 2:09 pm
by MK
https://www.conelayout.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And give it a try with hand cutting, except you're shakin like an 80yo ...
That's enough to check if it fits.
On the other hand: whats the sense of testing with paper if the 3D cutter cuts whatever they like ?

Re: Need Help With Tank Calculation

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2018 12:05 pm
by Smoker
I don't have any software that'll make the template. So, I print out and cut 2 halves and tape them together. Hard to do with great accuracy. Almost there.

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Re: Need Help With Tank Calculation

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2018 11:38 am
by Smoker
Took me the better part of 2 days to figure out, make the template, and get a finished cut.

Thought a cutting blade on the angle grinder might bend the 1mm titanium. Took a while, but cut it with a dremel.

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Finished it off with a HF belt sander.

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Fit was near perfect.

Problem is, the new angle is too steep to mate with the previous angle.

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Looks like I need to make 3 perfect pieces by hand, in order for it to work. :smt012

Re: Need Help With Tank Calculation

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2018 2:30 pm
by Jeff B
I think I'd grind a little off the pieces adjacent to the one with the filler hole. Change the angle a little to bring the opposite side closer together.

Re: Need Help With Tank Calculation

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2018 12:33 pm
by MK
Usually I'd slightly hammer the edges to a correct shape before welding and even reposition the whole segment to the outer side.
Alternative/Additional option: Use a bit of filler rod.
In any case: After welding the visible "step" will be gone.

Re: Need Help With Tank Calculation

Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2018 8:26 am
by Smoker
Hammer? :shock:

Trying my best to make sure no hammering is needed.

Re: Need Help With Tank Calculation

Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2018 10:09 pm
by theredbarron
Don't know how far this project has progressed but what we would have done is gap all of the joints 20-30 thou ( in your language :grin: ) or 0.5-0.75mm to eliminate the gaps at the final segment then welded with filler wire. You would also have achieved a lovely stack of dimes visual finish instead of welding autogenously which leaves a pretty plain flat looking weld.

Re: Need Help With Tank Calculation

Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2019 4:02 pm
by Smoker
Back on this project.

Making 3 pieces to finish the tank isn't going to be easy. Trying to finish with one piece.

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Unfortunately, my first try isn't going to work. Giving my hands a rest, then round 2.

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Had to cut the tubing, file out a section, and do a lot of hand bending. Still needs some work before I can use it to make a template for the next one.

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Re: Need Help With Tank Calculation

Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2019 4:19 pm
by Smoker
theredbarron wrote: Sat Dec 01, 2018 10:09 pm Don't know how far this project has progressed but what we would have done is gap all of the joints 20-30 thou ( in your language :grin: ) or 0.5-0.75mm to eliminate the gaps at the final segment then welded with filler wire. You would also have achieved a lovely stack of dimes visual finish instead of welding autogenously which leaves a pretty plain flat looking weld.
Can't believe I missed this post! :shock:

I would love to have dimestacks!

I didn't know what you are saying is even possible.

I'll set up the tank with gaps, just to see how it looks. One problem might be the gaps are narrower on the inside circumfrence, and wider on the outside.

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Re: Need Help With Tank Calculation

Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2019 12:12 pm
by Smoker
Set up the tank with the original miscut pieces.

Joints are touching on the inside edge.

Gap on the outside is about 1.5mm.

Only way to even out the gap is to change the angle on 24 sides. I don't have the tools to do it accurately.

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All pieces (except the last) fit perfectly together. Would hate to mess that up. Will probably continue to try making the last piece by hand and hope for a good fit.