firstly the "on the scrounge" bit.

I am looking for some 26 mm aluminium - else 1 inch or 25 mm diameter aluminium rod to make some 5 mm to 10 mm thick discs - anyone got some offcuts?

I also would like to make 26 mm diameter glass discs - is this possible without any specialist glass cutting tools? I am guess not.

I've got a bit of 5mm ali plate. How big a piece do you need ?

Can't help with the glass though.

Are you making a wind chime?

Well I'm intreagued to know what you want them for, obviously nothing to do with the build?

The aluminuium ones should be easy enough to get lathed off a rod.
The glass will be harder, glass merchants use like a compass with a cutter on the end, but i think it would be presty tricky to cut that small?
Sorry not more help

Does it have to be Glass, Could you use polycarbonate

polycarbonate can be cut with a jigsaw and filed round on a belt sander.

1. piece big enough to get four 26 mm discs - say 60 x 60 allowing for saw cuts.

Since I do not have a lathe, I cannot see how I can make the surfaces flat hence rod may not be the way.

2. I would like to make a heat sink for my DIY LED lamps - so it fits inside a tube. The surface needs to be flat but the roundness is not so critical.

re: the glass - this is lens on the front; since I don't think I will be avble to make from glass or find something like that, I probably will have to use plastic/peerspex or similar.

U me your address and I'll pop some in the post. If I can work out how to hold a something
without a hole in the middle in the lathe then I'll make them for you too.

Polycarbonate would be a far better choice than glass... lighter, tougher.....

^^^ that sounds good - anyone know of source for polycarbonate sheet? (I should be able to cut that too!)

a CD case?

CD cases are usually acrylic.... brital and sh1t

seeings as you dont need very big pieces...

Try ringing a few suppliers from google and see if they will send you a "sample" or two because you are thinking about placing a HUUUGE order

I'd make the outer disc out of polycarbonate. Pretty easy too. You just need to be able to drill out a disc without a central pilot drill hole.

Get two pieces of wood (10-20mm thick), use a hole cutter to drill a hole through it. Use a hole saw with an I/D the same as the O/D of the disc required. Take out the hole cutter central pilot drill bit. Clamp the two bits of wood together with the polycarbonate between. the hole in the wood will act as a guide for the hole cutter (hence no drill bit needed) and cut out the disc. Job done.

I've got some offcuts of polycarbonate in my garage. It's probably 3-4mm thick. Give me a shout if you want it. Not sure how easy it is to post (its a bit fragile in big sheets). Otherwise B+Q sell sheets of it.

One thing to know re polycarbonate when drilling is don't go too fast or it'll melt....

quote:

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Originally posted by 02GF74
^^^ that sounds good - anyone know of source for polycarbonate sheet? (I should be able to cut that too!)

a CD case?

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quote:

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Originally posted by NigeEss
If I can work out how to hold a something
without a hole in the middle in the lathe

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Neil,

that's near what I worked out. There's actually enough friction between the ali plate a
and a bar in the chuck to keep it clamped solid with a live centre.

O2GF74.
Got your U2U's and as it's easy that ^ way I'll turn them.

Nige

Hi
Not sure exactly what you are using your LED lamps for,
but I recently had to make up some lamps for my brother's bicycle.


see ohter post HERE

Soldered the LED's to a 'U' bent copper strip.




The lenses were from Farnell LINKY




Martin

yes - I've seen that.

I have 5 W lamps and the housing is getting up to 50 degree C - I am looking at fitting a bit more metal to act as a heat sink, not entirely convince it will make that much a difference - the worry is that the driver, that will sit inside the housing will not be happy.

I am hoping that when moving and also outside, the cooler air flow will be enough.

I have an idea to mount the emitter on a 25 mm solid aluminum rod, maybe that will be version 2.

Hi what driver are you using ?

I used a LM3404 from farnell Linky

Controlled by a Microchip microcontroller.

Not yet small enough to go in the lamp case yet.

All this is yet to be field test though.

If you want some simple machining done I may be able to help ( got a hobbly lathe etc), Just PM me.

Martin

PS
What about a small heatsink turned to 26mm.

[Edited on 13/1/09 by rf900rush]

I am not familar with that regulator but I am using 5 W driver board from ebay - these are postage stamp size.


<<--- linky

Your PCB seems to operate very simular to mine.
Should not get that hot.

it doesn't but it sits inside the lamp housing (= copper pipe) I've had a thermocouple in there an temp is 50 C.

Juts cut the ally heatsinks out of plate with a hole saw?

Cheers

Fred W B

[Edited on 13/1/09 by Fred W B]

did you manage to get some polycarbonate discs in the end?

If not I can sort some out for you if you let me know the thickness of the disc

I work for a plastic fabrication company so have shed loads of the stuff, if its of any use