(picture heavy) New guy with DIY cabinet incubator build, come follow along

[Nifty-Chicken]

How awesome! I love circuits like this. I even just watched this video about the one you got:

Here's a circuit I got from China that I've been using to do capacity testing on my rechargeable battery packs and my lithium 18650 batteries:


That's amazing yours came in that nice box!

Looking forward to the rest of your project.

When you're done, I hope you create an article here on BYC with all the images and info!

 

[Thangbom]

How awesome! I love circuits like this. I even just watched this video about the one you got:

Here's a circuit I got from China that I've been using to do capacity testing on my rechargeable battery packs and my lithium 18650 batteries:
View attachment 557519

That's amazing yours came in that nice box!

Looking forward to the rest of your project.

When you're done, I hope you create an article here on BYC with all the images and info!

I hear on you China stuff. They make some decent stuff and lots of junk stuff. Reverse engineering at its best. It's ok I guess. There prices are fairly reflective of there products. For $3, I'll bite. Yes, the simple CnC box is nice. I didn't remove all the paper on mine. I'm hoping that it will block a little sunlight and make it easier to read. I bought 2 of them since it takes a while for it to get here form China. I'll keep the other one as back up in case the first one fries.

As for the Article, I really don't know how to yet. As you know, I'm new and have yet to learn how to navigate and use these forums that well yet.

ThangBom

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

I'm hoping to put together a nice tutorial video for using the forum and writing articles. I'll have it ready in time for you to finish with your project and create an awesome summary article!

 

[Thangbom]

I'm hoping to put together a nice tutorial video for using the forum and writing articles. I'll have it ready in time for you to finish with your project and create an awesome summary article!

Very cool. Can you make this video a short and simple one? I hate those video that takes forever to got to the point.. I know people mean to be clear and cover all bases with explanations but man those videos get long fast.

Anyhow, you're the man!

ThangBom

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

haha... yup! That's actually a big reason I haven't done it yet, I'm trying to find the balance between too little and too much info (and too much time).

 

[Thangbom]

maybe 1 comprehensive one with everything you want to show ans say and then one that is "quick and dirty." Perhaps multiple videos to break up long videos.

ThangB0m

 

[Thangbom]

This incubator project has been very fun. I have been excited and been putting lots of time into the build.

On with the pictures.

My car window motor came in. The motor is strong but spins too fast. I'll have to figure something out. I think I'll but a timer and have it run 1 or 2 seconds 2x or 3x/hr. I have really not decided but I'm leaning towards that direction as it will be the easiest way to go. It will also make it more of a set and forget deal so that my parents can operate the incubator will little to no hassle.


I bought a 9'' piece of building strap, heated it and pounded one end to curve it. I was then able to use a worm screw clamp and clamp the bar onto the motor's shaft. I then heated the other end and bent it into a 90 deg. I left that motor as is until I finalize it to be able to rock my trays.




I needed a strong 12v power source to power the car window motor. I had a little plug in adapter that I tried. It was way too weak and unable to power the window motor. I rummaged around the house and found an old PC power supply. I salvaged it and now it will power most of the components of my incubator. Here you can see the 3 PC fans screwed onto the board. I decided to put it onto this board instead of directly onto the cabinet inside because I wanted to be able to remove the whole assembly in one piece if needed. It will make modifying and trouble shooting a lot easier. I then attached my 250watt PTC heater on the other side so that the fans blew across the heater.



I cut a piece of 1/2'' foam to fit into the inside of the door. I then traced the window cut out with a pen onto the foam. The middle portion was cut out about 1/8'' smaller than the window itself.
I bought a small piece of plexiglass from HD and cut it in half so that I would have 2 long panes. The cut edge was rough sanded to round it over. Holes were drilled and they were secured onto the door, one pane inside and one out. Finally, the foam piece was pushed into the interior of the door. It is a very snug fit so friction is all that is needed to hold the foam in place. I then started wiring the whole thing up. I had velcro the cheap China temp controller to the side of the cabinet. A 25' extension cord was used to wire up the unit. It was a good idea as now the cabinet has a 20' cord to power it.




The fans and heating element was mounted into the top of the cabinet. The mesh screen wrapped around the heating element was an after thought. I had tested the unit then went to fiddle around in the cabinet and accidently touched the heater. It hurt and didn't want to chance someone else getting burnt.


A ceramic light bulb w/socket was mounted to the top right. I had planned this 1/2 way though the build and glad it came out well. It has a pull string to turn the light on and off. It also has a socket so that I can plug things and run them inside the incubator. NICE! Two small pieces of wood were attached to the side so that a simple board can span across. This removable shelf is where the water vessels will be kept.


Here is how the cabinet stands for now. I'm running it testing to see if it can get up to temperature and hold it.

The rocking shelving are not attached nor working at this point. I will have to figure the motor part out.




To be continued when I get the rack and motor sorted out.

Thangbom

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

Wow, it's really coming together!

heated it and pounded one end to curve it

I don't do much metal work, but when I do, I just use brute hammer / pounding. I never think to heat up metal to work it. Do you do this to make it easier to bend / work with? Does it make a huge difference in the process? Does it change the strength / temporing of the metal?

 

[Thangbom]

I don't do it for a living or anything like that. I just learned it form watching TV. They form most metals while hot because it's easier to work the metal vs cold. Yes it weakens the metal. You have to heat it back up then quickly cool it to restore its strength back. A quick dunk in water does the trick. I only heated the area I planned to work and form. This left the other area harder then the area I hammered so that they did not change shape. This is why the flat area stayed flat. I used a propane torch to heat the bar but any heat source would work. I bet a gas stove top could do the trick. It will just take a while.

so to answer your questions:
1- yes heat makes working the metal easier. As far as I know, the metal don't get really easy to work unless it is glowing red some.
2- yes it makes a huge difference in processing. As stated above, it makes it easier to work which speed up the process. It also makes it more pliable so that it forms easier and better. piece of metal, a light tap can coax the metal to bend a little and stay there. A cold piece of metal will just bounce the light tap right off and if it did bend some, it will kind of rubber band back a little like a spring. This means you will have to wack it again or should of wack it harder the first time to compensate for the back springing of the metal.
3-yes it weakens the metal. But you can somewhat bring the strength back by reheating the whole then then quickly cooling it.

ThanBom

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Awesome built! Wish I had a son home yet to run to the salvage yard for some car parts lol. Are you sure your going to have enough heat with that for that big cab? let me tag someone just in case I cant get back here if its not.... @NaJoBeLe Nathan is this the same heating element you tried out? ugh and the other tag I cant get to work. I must be spelling it wrong. if I can find it I will come back and tag him. he makes some amazingly crafty bators. Keep on trucking!!