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Author Topic: finished build inc 3D printed housing.  (Read 3065 times)

SirhC

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finished build inc 3D printed housing.
« on: November 06, 2018, 21:42:28 »

I purchased the pcb and programmed chips from Tom and today the final part arrived (rj11 sockets went M.I.A).
I rattled up a basic 3d printed housing 107mm x 75.5mm to hold it all together (it might get a few tweaks and re-printed later)

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SirhC

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Re: finished build inc 3D printed housing.
« Reply #1 on: November 06, 2018, 21:44:36 »

Images of the pcb fitted into the one part of the housing

I have attached the 3D stl files in a zip below.  (2 stl 3d files, 1 lower and 1 upper housing) if anyone wants to look at them re-work or even print them please feel free.


Design factors.

When I soldered my pcb I decided not to mount the led`s close to the pcb but to leave them long, that way I make sure they reach the outside of the case and I did not have to try and make light tubes/paths to direct the led light from the board to the outside. I could have used bits of a black plastic drinking straw cut to length but the long lead idea sounded better to me while soldering it up.

The 2 part housing is held together by 4 x M3 button head 30mm bolts and the lower housing has 4 x recessed M3 nut holes that should keep hold of the nuts as you tighten them up and pull the case together.

If anyone prints the housing please remember when tightening the bolts that this is 3d printed in whatever material you selected so "DO NOT" over tighten the bolts because you will destroy the nut holes or even pull the nut through the printed surface.

p.s I have just connected the steppers and ran it at sidereal rate and my stepper drivers are heating up (1.5A steppers) so If your drivers have heatsinks mounted on them then extra space will be needed and a re-designed upper housing will need to be made to fit them in. (on the todooooo list along with everything else)

The final image showing the case with the laser engraved markings and 3 coloured dots showing the led light that emits showing what AstroEQ is doing. Red for power, Blue for usb data and green for AstroEQ status (going to have to adjust the green resistor to tame the light down a bit) and yes I know they should have all been Red led because red does not interfere with dark eyes etc but I am sitting in a warm office with lights on and looking outside I can see what led is doing what..

At some point in the next few weeks I will re-print and laser engrave the case to the final version (the laser machine crashed doing the st4 marking hence the messy marking) at least it was on the prototype housing..
« Last Edit: November 11, 2018, 14:58:48 by SirhC »
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telfish

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Re: finished build inc 3D printed housing.
« Reply #2 on: November 15, 2018, 19:49:39 »

Looks really neat.
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khobar

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Re: finished build inc 3D printed housing.
« Reply #3 on: July 12, 2019, 23:40:16 »

I don't know if the OP is still active, but I thought I'd say THANK YOU just in case. I printed one of these and it really is very nice. Very pleased.

I have heat sinks but I went ahead and soldered the driver boards to the AstroEQ pcb. I'm probably asking for trouble, but there you go.
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