SuperDave
Member
After a spinal injury, I am finally getting back to where I left off.
My pressure pot is rated to 100 PSI (not that I want to go that high... just yet
)
I also wanted to use it as a vacuum chamber for silicon casting and other casting materials. However, I needed to see into the pot. I solved that when a friend dropped off a 3/4" thick CNC'd Acrylic disc that just happened to be the correct diameter.
I cut the slots for the clamps, drilled the hole for the fittings to connect the vacuum gauge (Surplus Center) and the line to the vacuum pump.
Then I cut a new gasket from a 12" x 12" x .125" rubber sheet from the Borg, using the original lid for a template.
Then a quick and dirty connection to the Thomas Vacuum Pump I got off EBAY for $40. I connected the two cylinders in series to maximize the vacuum draw-down. Need to install an exhaust muffler. I will also use this for vacuum chucks on my three lathes.
Here it is connected to test the vacuum pump, gauge, gasket, etc. Pulling 27Hg... good enough for my needs. I still need some more c-clamps and plan on installing a vacuum switch that will cut the pump off at whatever level of vacuum I set and then restart the pump if the vacuum drops beyond a predetermined level.
Here is the original lid still set up for pressure. I will need to plug the original hole in the center. Will eventually test the new acrylic lid for pressure to see if I can get by without swapping lids.
Here are some test pieces of Curly and Quilted Maple to which I did a down and dirty turning, Dying and finishing job (excuse the hurry-up picture). Pretty pleased with the results, as it is my first "Dye Job" and I have several hundred blanks waiting for processing. I want to test the penetration at various settings to see if the blanks should be pre-turned and drilled prior to pressure dying...
More to follow later... once I get to the real casting[8D]
My pressure pot is rated to 100 PSI (not that I want to go that high... just yet

I also wanted to use it as a vacuum chamber for silicon casting and other casting materials. However, I needed to see into the pot. I solved that when a friend dropped off a 3/4" thick CNC'd Acrylic disc that just happened to be the correct diameter.
I cut the slots for the clamps, drilled the hole for the fittings to connect the vacuum gauge (Surplus Center) and the line to the vacuum pump.

Then I cut a new gasket from a 12" x 12" x .125" rubber sheet from the Borg, using the original lid for a template.

Then a quick and dirty connection to the Thomas Vacuum Pump I got off EBAY for $40. I connected the two cylinders in series to maximize the vacuum draw-down. Need to install an exhaust muffler. I will also use this for vacuum chucks on my three lathes.

Here it is connected to test the vacuum pump, gauge, gasket, etc. Pulling 27Hg... good enough for my needs. I still need some more c-clamps and plan on installing a vacuum switch that will cut the pump off at whatever level of vacuum I set and then restart the pump if the vacuum drops beyond a predetermined level.

Here is the original lid still set up for pressure. I will need to plug the original hole in the center. Will eventually test the new acrylic lid for pressure to see if I can get by without swapping lids.

Here are some test pieces of Curly and Quilted Maple to which I did a down and dirty turning, Dying and finishing job (excuse the hurry-up picture). Pretty pleased with the results, as it is my first "Dye Job" and I have several hundred blanks waiting for processing. I want to test the penetration at various settings to see if the blanks should be pre-turned and drilled prior to pressure dying...

More to follow later... once I get to the real casting[8D]