Mica Insulated Strip Heater, Heater Voltage 120V AC, Overall Length 6 in, Mounting Dimension 5 3/8 in, Element Width 1 1/2 in, 100 W Watts, Watt Density 23W/sq in, Terminals Tandem at One End, Sheath Material Rust Resistant Coated Steel, 1 Phase, Max. Sheath Temp. 900 Degrees F, Slotted Hole Length 9/32 in, Slotted Hole Width 3/8 in, Screw Size 10-32, Standards UL Recognized
There was a totally different concept for the internal support system of the frame. It was initially going to use steel grid pattern, but we discovered that it would make the wiring near impossible to thread throughout the heating elements. The Elements were also on a great sale at the time.
We wanted to mount the Eboxes to the frame in a way that would be relatively easy to mount and also remove... using hose clamps seemed to be a good option... so far so good! The brackets did require a mill to machine the grooves for a well for the Press Frame and a little recess for the width and thickness of the hose clamp itself.
These are the fixtures that lock the Bolt together frame. Unfortunately, there IS a mismatch along the front face. You will put in the effort to mill or drill it already on a preexisting hole.
This is a test of HDPE pellets, which are meant for weighted blankets. They melted great! Even and consistent, but difficult to pile up because the nature of them rolling around and getting everywhere.
We figured out that a heavy duty Paper Shredder, used for Credit Cards and CDs, also works great for plastics. It isn't perfect, most bottles and materials need to be cut into smaller flat-ish pieces, or crushed into manageable sizes; material also needs to be run through the shredder about three times to get to a particulate consistency.
A familiar face at the Lab, Emily Velasco, was available to help test the wiring and setup to the Solid State Relay, Temperature Controller, and Rocker Switch.
I drilled and tapped a basic aluminum frame to make a small test mold. Two steel plates are being used as platens to avoid direct contact with the heating surface. Wiping Silicone Oil on the surfaces of the plates was initially used, but Mold Release Spray was easier, more convenient and work better.
Supplyframe DesignLab
