exxos's Atari, Amiga & retro forum

My first prototype soldering iron clamp holder thingy. It is actually in two halves. This bottom section should bolt to the printer head mounting bracket. Then a similar section for the top we should clamp the soldering iron within the 3-D printed object.. In theory... :lol:

We’ve got to the third page without any flames :fire:

PhilC wrote: 18 Sep 2023 16:33 We’ve got to the third page without any flames :fire:

Yet...

So, my thoughts are how is the feed mechanism going to behave with the solder?

Obviously 3d print filament is much less compressible than solder, and more rigid along the length, at present it seems like the feed mechanism would simply be to aggressive and would eat the solder.

Just thinking out loud here...

rubber_jonnie wrote: 18 Sep 2023 16:37 So, my thoughts are how is the feed mechanism going to behave with the solder?

Obviously 3d print filament is much less compressible than solder, and more rigid along the length, at present it seems like the feed mechanism would simply be to aggressive and would eat the solder.

This is why I like the adjustable spring loaded feed for this project. I hope there will be a balance between the solder slipping and squashing as it goes though the mechanism. As I mentioned earlier, if it is too thin and starts to slip etc, I will have to increase the diameter of the solder I am using. Obviously there must be a way because there is mechanisms to do this type of thing which is very similar anyway.

exxos wrote: 18 Sep 2023 16:44

rubber_jonnie wrote: 18 Sep 2023 16:37 So, my thoughts are how is the feed mechanism going to behave with the solder?

Obviously 3d print filament is much less compressible than solder, and more rigid along the length, at present it seems like the feed mechanism would simply be to aggressive and would eat the solder.

This is why I like the adjustable spring loaded feed for this project. I hope there will be a balance between the solder slipping and squashing as it goes though the mechanism. As I mentioned earlier, if it is too thin and starts to slip etc, I will have to increase the diameter of the solder I am using. Obviously there must be a way because there is mechanisms to do this type of thing which is very similar anyway.

Something adjustable is definitely the way to go, because it will allow for different diameter solder, perhaps a pair of rubber wheels lightly tensioned to avoid slippage would work.

rubber_jonnie wrote: 18 Sep 2023 16:48 Something adjustable is definitely the way to go, because it will allow for different diameter solder, perhaps a pair of rubber wheels lightly tensioned to avoid slippage would work.

I did wonder that before that a rubber wheel. It would have to be something ever so slightly squishy in order to grip the solder I think.

The only other thing I see currently is that there is a cog on the motor which grips the solder. On the professional feeders they are there recessed in type. like a "V" slot with teeth. I do have some of those from previous printer experiments. Though I actually think they worked worse somehow. Possibly they may be better for the solder. Until I start feeding solder through, it is to to really think how it will act.

exxos wrote: 18 Sep 2023 16:52

rubber_jonnie wrote: 18 Sep 2023 16:48 Something adjustable is definitely the way to go, because it will allow for different diameter solder, perhaps a pair of rubber wheels lightly tensioned to avoid slippage would work.

I did wonder that before that a rubber wheel. It would have to be something ever so slightly squishy in order to grip the solder I think.

The only other thing I see currently is that there is a cog on the motor which grips the solder. On the professional feeders they are there recessed in type. like a "V" slot with teeth. I do have some of those from previous printer experiments. Though I actually think they worked worse somehow. Possibly they may be better for the solder. Until I start feeding solder through, it is to to really think how it will act.

I was thinking along the lines of something like a pinch wheel in a cassette player, a bit of give but a bit flexible too. I think you need to do some feed tests first though, for sure, otherwise you won't understand the behaviour. I'd guess that the metal 'cog' on the current feeder would just munch the solder if it had enough tension to grip it.

BTW that cog in the link you posted looks a bit fierce for solder.

rubber_jonnie wrote: 18 Sep 2023 16:56 I was thinking along the lines of something like a pinch wheel in a cassette player, a bit of give but a bit flexible too. I think you need to do some feed tests first though, for sure, otherwise you won't understand the behaviour. I'd guess that the metal 'cog' on the current feeder would just munch the solder if it had enough tension to grip it.

Its a bit of a Catch-22 at the moment because I need to mount the soldering iron to know what sort of tubes are need for the solder to travel though. I could just pump it through the head but keep assemble and disassembling it every time so going to try feed experiments after getting the soldering iron mounted.

I do have a array of cogs I could swap out to try, assuming they are the right diameter, to experiment with the feed. Though if the current mechanism does not work properly then my next solution is to go to 1mm solder. If there is problem with that then it could to simply be game over as I don't really have the time to spend around with it for endless months :(

exxos wrote: 18 Sep 2023 17:02 I do have a array of cogs I could swap out to try, assuming they are the right diameter, to experiment with the feed. Though if the current mechanism does not work properly then my next solution is to go to 1mm solder.

I wish you good luck with that and fully expect to see the results posted here :)