Engineering Excellence from
Richard Mack
All my chassis are made from the finest materials available, and precision cut using the latest techniques to ensure an easy and accurate build. Chassis are also available ready built. Please contact me for pricing on ready built kits.
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©All photographs copyright Richard Mack 2007-2008
BLOCK
MOST IMPORTANT TO USE A FLAT BLOCK. SOME BLOCKS THAT YOU CAN BUY ARE NOT FLAT ENOUGH TO BUILD A FLAT CHASSIS ON, THEY ARE OK TO SOLDER A MOTOR IN.
DRILL
DREMEL OR SIMILAR ( I USE A JEWELLERS PENDANT DRILL WITH A FLEXIBLE SHAFT AND FOOT SPEED CONTROL).
FILES
SET OF DIAMOND FILES(I USE LARGE ONES NOT NEEDLE FILES).
PLIERS
A PAIR OF MAUN PARELLEL ACTION PLIERS WORK GREAT
BURRS
A SELECTION OF DIAMOND AND TUNGSTEN CARBIDE BURRS AND CUTTERS. EXPENSIVE BUT WORTH IT. USE WATER ON DIAMOND CUTTERS.
SOLDERING IRON
TRY TO USE A TEMP CONTROL IRON SO YOU CAN TURN IT DOWN SO YOU DO NOT BURN THE SOLDER.IF ITS TOO HOT ITS NOT BRIGHT, BUT DULL AND GREY .USE A GOOD QUALITY SILVER LOADED ONE. I USE WARBURTONS WHICH I GET FROM RAPID ELECTRONICS. ONE SPOOL WILL LAST FOREVER.
I USE LUCKY BOBS FLUX WHICH I’VE FOUND TO BE AS GOOD AS ANY.
PREPERATION
KEEP EVERYTHING CLEAN.
IT WILL MAKE IT EASIER TO SOLDER
CUT ALL THE PARTS FROM THE MAIN CHASSIS ,CUT OR FILE ALL THE SPRUES OFF. DON’T LOOSE ANY AS YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET SPARES.
PUT THE MAIN CHASSIS ON THE FLAT BLOCK AND TWEEK IT TO GET IT AS FLAT AS YOU CAN.
THIS IS WORTH SPENDING SOME TIME ON.
NOW I RUN A FINE CUTTER OF SOME SORT IN ALL THE HOLES IN THE CHASSIS, TO CLEAN UP ANY LUMPS AND BUMPS.
I THEN RUN A SMALL ROUND DIAMOND BURR ALONG THE TOP OF ALL THE SLOTS TO VERY SLIGHTLY COUNTERSINK THEM.. IT ONLY TAKES THE SHARP EDGES OFF TO HELP THE OTHER BITS SIT IN PLACE
I THEN TAKE THE EDGES OFF ANY PARTS SO THAT THEY FIT SNUGLY IN THERE APPROPRIATE SLOTS. NOW YOUR READY TO START SOLDERING
MAKE SURE THAT THE PARTS FIT CORRECTLY AS THEY CAN BE A PIG TO REMOVE ONCE SOLDERED
BUILDING
HAVE A CUP OF SOAPY WATER AND YOUR BEST TOOTH BRUSH READY.
PUT FLUX ON THE JOINT AND A WIPE THE SOLDERING IRON CLEAN AND LOAD WITH A SMALL AMOUNT OF SOLDER, PLACE ON JOINT AND MAKE SURE THE SOLDER RUNS ALL AROUND THE JOINT. IF THERE IS TOO MUCH SOLDER ON THE JOINT, WIPE THE IRON CLEAN AND DRAW THE EXCESS ONTO THE IRON, ONCE COOL CLEAN THE JOINT WITH THE BRUSH AND SOAPY WATER, NOW FLUX THE JOINT AND REHEAT, AND CLEAN AGAIN. YOU SHOULD NOW HAVE A NICE BRIGHT ,CLEAN STRONG JOINT.
WHEN YOU’VE FINISHED THE SOLDERING CLEAN IT UP THE BEST YOU CAN, EMERY, WET N DRY, GRINDING PASTE, TOOTHPASTE ETC. YOU CAN USE A SMALL ROTARY BRUSH IN A DREMEL WITH SOME POLISHING COMPOUND.
THIS IS HOW IT SHOULD LOOK WHEN YOU’VE FINISHED. NOW PUT IT IN YOUR BOX AND WAIT FOR IT TO GO RUSTY!
DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO PREVENT THE DREADED RUST !! ??