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21
Project Logs / Re: Making the best of Global Warming
« Last post by Joules on July 04, 2025, 03:58:17 AM »
We have a 12v Rolls battery that's covered by the workshop and Studio array.   That handles  fridge and freezer plus most of our IT gear.  The tracker has ended up powering our Bluetti (7.5kW total storage) power station.   That pretty much covers all kitchen appliances, microwave, the air con and any other heavy loads up to 2.5kW.   I run the lathe and mill from the Bluetti as well when we have plenty of power.   House is still grid tied as never enough in winter, but March through October the house only uses 1-2kW a day.   We don't sell back to the grid and using the Bluetti solves lots of regulation issues having solar dedicated wiring in the house.   Pretty much just electric shower and electric range cooker only loads we can't power, wife likes to bake, so well worth the power used.

The Bluetti can handle a direct feed in from the tracker and make full use of the array.  The 12V side maxes out at 600W per array, looking into moving to 24V replacing the Rolls battery. This is as much a hobby for me these days, it certainly isn't a fit and forget system.  My workshop rack is a lot of work compared to the Bluetti.  The all in one is very convenient, and portable, I would certainly say it's the way to go if you are starting from scratch.

Apologies for the awful picture of Bluetti stack, AC200L and two B300K expansion batteries.  Wife really likes this system and took to using it straight away.
22
CNC / Re: My CNC Router
« Last post by vtsteam on July 03, 2025, 07:45:41 PM »
I edited the G-code and dropped the speed down to 8 IPM from 16 IPM. I then changed to a new mill bit I just received in the mail today. Also inexpensive (5 for $20) but speced for aluminum. The others were supposedly for stainless steel (!) but they did seem to work well on aluminum on the Bosch Colt router.

Anyway, I ran the same part again with the reduced travel speed, and it cut. Looks like a decent job. Not as fast as the router, but this also was a different offcut of aluminum, and might have been a different type.

I'd say the 500 watt spindle is usable, though slower. Definitely quieter, which is a plus. Also it is DC and can be speed controlled from LinucxCNC if I figure out how to do that.

Here's the results of both the first (bottom) and second attempt:

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23
CNC / Re: My CNC Router
« Last post by vtsteam on July 03, 2025, 07:36:15 PM »
Uh...... first attempt @ 16 IPM 8000 RPM and .020" DOC ....not so great. For some reason it seemed to wander sideways in the cut. I think the bit was flexing. The spindle and mount were really solid and no detectable play, before or after. It managed one pass, got back on track, then took a detour again, this time into double the depth of cut, which broke it.

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24
Project Logs / Re: Making the best of Global Warming
« Last post by vtsteam on July 03, 2025, 07:22:03 PM »
Joules, what do you have for a battery, and what does it power?
25
Project Logs / Re: Making the best of Global Warming
« Last post by Joules on July 03, 2025, 06:19:37 PM »
You're only one step away from making a buzz bomb Andrew...

Careful measurements were taken to clear Studio and also work out best position for winter sun, based on the x8, 100W panels we have.

I am currently seeing 750W an hour for at least 4-5hrs (sunny hot day), after around 4-5kW all our batteries are full  so don't have a true
amount for how much the tracker can produce as it gets throttled back.   These last few days not even activated the tracker as it collects enough just pointing up.  I think we produced 20kw for the air con during these heatwaves.

The array is 2m x 2m to give it some scale, so not far off 20% efficient, considering our latitude.
26
CNC / Re: My CNC Router
« Last post by vtsteam on July 03, 2025, 04:16:45 PM »
It fits!  :med:

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27
CNC / Re: My CNC Router
« Last post by vtsteam on July 03, 2025, 04:14:23 PM »
Done!  :thumbup:

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28
CNC / Re: My CNC Router
« Last post by vtsteam on July 03, 2025, 03:46:43 PM »
That's really nice Andrew!  :thumbup: :thumbup: :clap:

I wonder if the one I have is for engraving? That would make sense because of the size. I'll have to dig it out and get a photo of it to post.

Meanwhile, I started in on the adapter ring for the 500 watt spindle.

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29
CNC / Re: My CNC Router
« Last post by awemawson on July 03, 2025, 01:00:33 PM »
I made it for engraving lettering on labels etc - I used the smallest centre drill that I could find as the cutter.

It seems it was 20 years ago !

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30
CNC / Re: My CNC Router
« Last post by vtsteam on July 03, 2025, 12:38:30 PM »
That's pretty cool, Andrew.  :thumbup: What did you cut with it?

That also just reminded me I picked up a little turbine spindle, used at one of the old Bernardston Gas Engine shows. Forgot I had it. It was just a curiosity to me, and cheap. Unfortunately, there's no compressed air in the shed where the cnc router is, so I can't use it. Also it's kinda small.  I don't have much of a compressor in my tiny shop near the house, either.

Right now, I'm working on getting the 500 watt spindle fitted to the CNC. Looks like the router mount fits a 70-71mm body, and my 500 watt spindle has a 52mm body. I think I'll keep the existing mount and just make a 71/52mm adapter.

I was rummaging around in my scrap box and found this big chunk of aluminum, so I don't have to cast anything:

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