prototype 3 installed 2022-4-16
Apr. 16th, 2022 12:25 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
solarbirdPrototype 3 is finally instantiated!
This version is plastic, a bunch of which is 3D printed using HT-PLA+, and we're going to be finding out real soon whether a certain company's claims about stability after annealing are actually true. But from testing, I'm pretty confident they actually are, and we aren't going to be coming close any temperatures of plastic concern here.
But... if I'm wrong... and if their data is bullshit... we'll find out. xD
Design improvements here mostly focus on ease of cleaning. There're proper seals, and there's a hinge!
From data so far, it basically needs to be cleaned once every couple of weeks, and cleaning it is like cleaning a lint filter.
Other improvements include better duct attachment points (as in, actual duct attachment points), and a bit of saved width.
I also put up a little shelf to hold the thing, rather than taping it to the top of the dryer again. I think we can all appreciate that.
I took apart Prototype 2, installed two and a half months ago. I'd been regularly cleaning the prefilter. The charcoal filter was definitely at a "clean me" point, but not obstructing air yet, according to the thermometers and humidity sensors.
And the furnace filter is damn near like new. It will easily last a heating season, quite probably two. This will help a lot with operations cost - I was assuming you'd have to replace it at least once a heating season, possibly twice, and... absolutely not. Not at our washing load rates, anyway.
Anyway, been a busy day, here's hoping Prototype 3 doesn't literally fall apart on me. It is, after all, plastic. I've got a looooot of epoxy betting it won't, but... I sure hope it holds up!
no seriously that's what i'm honestly worried about
it should be fine
should be
fingers crossed!
This version is plastic, a bunch of which is 3D printed using HT-PLA+, and we're going to be finding out real soon whether a certain company's claims about stability after annealing are actually true. But from testing, I'm pretty confident they actually are, and we aren't going to be coming close any temperatures of plastic concern here.
But... if I'm wrong... and if their data is bullshit... we'll find out. xD
Design improvements here mostly focus on ease of cleaning. There're proper seals, and there's a hinge!
From data so far, it basically needs to be cleaned once every couple of weeks, and cleaning it is like cleaning a lint filter.
Other improvements include better duct attachment points (as in, actual duct attachment points), and a bit of saved width.
I also put up a little shelf to hold the thing, rather than taping it to the top of the dryer again. I think we can all appreciate that.
I took apart Prototype 2, installed two and a half months ago. I'd been regularly cleaning the prefilter. The charcoal filter was definitely at a "clean me" point, but not obstructing air yet, according to the thermometers and humidity sensors.
And the furnace filter is damn near like new. It will easily last a heating season, quite probably two. This will help a lot with operations cost - I was assuming you'd have to replace it at least once a heating season, possibly twice, and... absolutely not. Not at our washing load rates, anyway.
Anyway, been a busy day, here's hoping Prototype 3 doesn't literally fall apart on me. It is, after all, plastic. I've got a looooot of epoxy betting it won't, but... I sure hope it holds up!
no seriously that's what i'm honestly worried about
it should be fine
should be
fingers crossed!
