Epoxy-filled toroids

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: Mark Broker <mbroker-at-thegeekgroup-dot-org> 

Well, I was able to make a "prototype" this weekend as I had hoped.  My 
results weren't spectacular but show promise.

I mounted the 4x18" aluminum drier duct toroid off the end of an old metal 
lathe and added about 3-4 cups of two-part "System Three" (I don't recall a 
manuf.) epoxy through a hole in the inside of the toroid.  It was a little 
messy since I made the hole too small and ended up with a bit dribbling 
down the side.

I set the lathe to spin on its lowest speed - about 60RPM I think.  I let 
it run for about an hour, then turned it up a bit to about 300RPM.  I did 
add a band of 1" masking tape to the major diameter of the toroid to 
prevent it from flying apart from centrifugal force.  I let it run on 
"medium" for about 1.5 hours or so, at which point I had to shut it off to 
leave the shop.  The epoxy in the bowl hadn't set yet, but was in the "very 
thick and gooy" stage.  There was still a heavy spot under the 
"fill  hole," so I rotated that to the top of the toroid.

When I came back in the next afternoon, the epoxy was set, but pretty soft 
and pliable.  But the heavy spot was now at the bottom.  It was too 
lopsided IMO to keep, so I decided to do an autopsy.

Indeed there was a huge puddly of epoxy on the "bottom" with a several inch 
wide band of epoxy around the major diameter.  However, I found that even 
the "sides" of the toroid had a very thin coating, which seemed to add 
significantly to the dent-resistance.

So I think I've demonstrated that it's possible, but needs some more 
investigation.  I think that I ran it too fast to begin with - something 
closer along the line of 5RPM probably would have spread the stuff around a 
little better.  I also definately used too much epoxy for the 4x18" toroid 
- half the amount I used would have sufficed.  Next time I get back to 
Platteville I'll try again.

Again, the only thing I wanted this to do was to add to the dent-resistance 
of aluminum drier duct toroids.


Regards,

Mark Broker
Chief Engineer, The Geek Group


On Sat, 10 Jan 2004 12:18:34 -0700, Tesla list <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com> wrote:

>Original poster: Mark Broker <mbroker-at-thegeekgroup-dot-org> Ian, and others:
>
>I wasn't planning to fill the toroid, actually, and really wasn't too 
>interested in other types of foams.  I only want to "partially fill" 
>it.  For instance I just made a standard 4" drier duct toroid last night 
>(4x16.5")  I was thinking that I could mount the toroid vertically 
>(horizontal axis) in a lathe (or some motor).  I could pour some epoxy 
>through a smallish hole on the inside of the toroid by using a funnel.  I 
>would only add about 3 inches worth of epoxy.  I could then turn the lathe 
>on "highish" to spin the epoxy to the outside via centrifugal force until 
>the epoxy sets (perhaps an hour or two)  When the epoxy hardens, it has 
>filled the big crevices in the periphery of the aluminum drier duct, 
>preventing damage where it is most likely to occur.
>
>I bought an extra 4" duct to experiment with and have another back in the 
>shop at my alma mater with the rest of my TC in progress.  If the Society 
>of Physics Students left the epoxy from their canoe-making around, I'll 
>try this and maybe a variation, and report back on Monday.
>
>TTYL
>
>Mark Broker
>Chief Engineer, The Geek Group