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Versatronics RV series Pick & Place machines => RV Hardware => Topic started by: trev on October 29, 2018, 05:24:41 PM

Title: Converting 8mm feeders to 16mm or 24mm
Post by: trev on October 29, 2018, 05:24:41 PM
Has anyone tried converting 8mm feeders to 16 or 24mm? Need to open a unit up and investigate how much of a task this is but I have a few 8mm spare that need a service and was thinking it would be really useful to convert them instead as I have no 16mm or 24mm feeders.

Thanks

Trev
Title: Re: Converting 8mm feeders to 16mm or 24mm
Post by: Mike on October 29, 2018, 09:42:14 PM
It's pretty easy - just mill out the divider ( I did it on my small Proxxon circular saw!) , add shims if necessary to get the right width,and remove the unused feeder pin and belt.
You might also want to mill the channel deeper while you're at it, to deal with taller parts.

Title: Re: Converting 8mm feeders to 16mm or 24mm
Post by: trev on October 29, 2018, 10:12:47 PM
Thats good to know, thanks.

Will strip one down and have a look.
Title: Re: Converting 8mm feeders to 16mm or 24mm
Post by: trev on October 30, 2018, 09:09:35 PM
Stripped a feeder down and all looks pretty good. I think I just need to make a new top plate some how but I do not have the tools myself or the skills really. Am wondering how much it might cost to get someone to machine a new metal block for me to the correct profile. Suppose I would need to cad something up for someone to work to.

Looks promising though.
Title: Re: Converting 8mm feeders to 16mm or 24mm
Post by: trev on November 03, 2018, 07:57:01 PM
Am thinking about trying to 3d print a new plate or several sections to make up a plate. I dont know how to use 3d cad and I dont have a printer but seems like a useful project to widen the skillset and maybe even invest in a printer.

I think the important thing about the plate is that it is level. Having several small plates would make this relatively easy to implement I think. I do not think it really has to be very strong and plastic does actually seem to print quite strong anyway.

What do people think?

Trev
Title: Re: Converting 8mm feeders to 16mm or 24mm
Post by: spiyda on November 06, 2018, 04:28:45 PM
I have an ordinary cheapo 3D printer and wouldn't contemplate printing a plate with it,
accuracy and smoothness would be an issue as would friction on the available materials.
to work, you would need to use a high end printer
even then, the choice of material would be critical as you can't afford any extra friction.

much easier to machine it from aluminium either from scratch or by modifying an existing one,

I increased the depth of one of my plates to take electrolytic capacitors by milling the bottom and it worked a treat.
I also narrowed a wide track by adding packers cut from acrylic ( I have a laser cutter so that was easy)

It might be possible to laser ablate an acrylic plate, but I don't know how much wear that would stand, and various bits bolt to it which makes it that much more complicated.
There is a picture somewhere on here of a laser ablated guide I made for LEDs on the vibro feeder

One thing I've been meaning to try is to add a packer under the stripper plate for plastic reeled components..
it seems that might reduce the bounce due to the pastic being thinner than the original paper carrier tapes the machine was designed for.
Title: Re: Converting 8mm feeders to 16mm or 24mm
Post by: trev on November 06, 2018, 07:06:01 PM
Thanks for the thoughts.

I was thinking of taking a standard 2 - 3mm plate to attach all the mechanics too and then printing some runners for the top part to suit the tape. I had not even considered friction might be an issue. Maybe it depends on the material.

Static might also be introduced if using plastics I think. There seems to be some interesting printing materials though. Not recommending this one specifically but this type might be a good selection for runners.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AMOLEN-Printer-Filament-Conductive-Filament-Black/dp/B07BDF75YC/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1541530820&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=conductive+pla&psc=1

Maybe a thin spray of lacquer would produce a nice smooth finish. The accuracy of the printers seems amazing. 0.1mm resolution and height can be as good as 0.05mm if required. I am looking at a Prusa i3 Mk3

I thought I might be able to print the tape spools for holding the waste tape as these will be a different size of the 16 and 24mm tapes.

I might be able to print some replacement arms and better holders for the reels as well.

Also I might print to magnetic blocks for positioning the boards.

Trev