Ken's 215G Build

JGT · Apr 7, 2021

kenchilada said:
I can’t think of a reason not to use three. I didn’t give it much thought, just used two because that’s what ATI uses to support the fixture.

I looked into the strength of derailleur cable and as far as I could tell they are rated to around 250lbs minimum, and most likely much higher.

I also looked into different support mechanisms such as these. Pretty surprising how much they can hold.

Weight Load Guidelines - Griplock Systems, LLC

At Griplock® Systems safety is our number one concern. The weight load guidelines determine the correct gripper / cable combination with safe working loads.

griplocksystems.com

When you get a chance can you send me pics of the clamps you got at HD to secure the cables to the rod? Kit arrived yesterday. Well made although instructions are terrible.

kenchilada · Apr 7, 2021

JGT said:
When you get a chance can you send me pics of the clamps you got at HD to secure the cables to the rod? Kit arrived yesterday. Well made although instructions are terrible.

I can’t find it on HD but check here...

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

www.mcmaster.com

I used something like this...
https://www.mcmaster.com/cable-ends/wire-rope-clamp-and-thimble-kits-not-for-lifting/.

A compression sleeve would work too.

JGT · Apr 7, 2021

kenchilada said:
I can’t find it on HD but check here...

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

www.mcmaster.com

I used something like this...
https://www.mcmaster.com/cable-ends/wire-rope-clamp-and-thimble-kits-not-for-lifting/.

A compression sleeve would work too.

hmm, OK. Thinking I can turn the derailleur cable around and use the cable tip to secure it. The rod has a slot so I think to weave the cable in the slot and let the tip secure it.

JGT · Apr 7, 2021

JGT said:
hmm, OK. Thinking I can turn the derailleur cable around and use the cable tip to secure it. The rod has a slot so I think to weave the cable in the slot and let the tip secure it.

My idea is a no go. Cable tip is too small for rod slot. The compression fitting idea is a good one. So drill hole in rod, snake cable through, install compression fitting and compression is bigger than drill hole so it locks it in place. But won’t that get in way of cable as it spools? Same question on the wire rope clamp. Speaking of which, can you dig up the 3D file for the rod? Like the idea of a spoiler vs. cable on raw metal. Also if you wanted to be a real pal, and print 2 for me that would be even better. 2” rod. I’ll cover you for materials, shipping, etc.

Thanks.

kenchilada · Apr 8, 2021

JGT said:
hmm, OK. Thinking I can turn the derailleur cable around and use the cable tip to secure it. The rod has a slot so I think to weave the cable in the slot and let the tip secure it.

I did this too. I wasn't sure how much weight that tip would carry so I just went overboard.

JGT said:
My idea is a no go. Cable tip is too small for rod slot. The compression fitting idea is a good one. So drill hole in rod, snake cable through, install compression fitting and compression is bigger than drill hole so it locks it in place. But won’t that get in way of cable as it spools? Same question on the wire rope clamp. Speaking of which, can you dig up the 3D file for the rod? Like the idea of a spoiler vs. cable on raw metal. Also if you wanted to be a real pal, and print 2 for me that would be even better. 2” rod. I’ll cover you for materials, shipping, etc.

Thanks.

Hard to explain, but what I did was put the spool on, drill a hole through the spool AND rod. Drill where you want the cable to start winding, so it goes in correct direction of spool threads, etc. Then I fished the cable through the end of the rod (ie, the openings on the side), so the derailleur cable tip (along with the compression fitting) ends up on the INSIDE of the rod. Now you have the cable sticking out of the rod already lined up on the spool.

I can print you a couple or dig up the STL file.. it's in a thread here somewhere. I have a 2" rod also so the file should already work for yours.

kenchilada · Apr 8, 2021

I found the pictures for you...

kenchilada · Apr 8, 2021

kutcha said:
just went through that whole thread it has been a long journey but well worth it.

Thanks, really appreciate you checking it out!

kenchilada · Apr 8, 2021

Skynyrd Fish said:
This is the little angel that could.

She really is. She went into chloroquine phosphate yesterday and is well so far. Eating aggressively and chasing food around the tank, which she hasn't done since this started. If I can keep bacterial infection away I think she will make it.

She has been in so many methylene blue baths at this point she is stained a faint blue.

JGT · Apr 8, 2021

kenchilada said:
I did this too. I wasn't sure how much weight that tip would carry so I just went overboard.

Hard to explain, but what I did was put the spool on, drill a hole through the spool AND rod. Drill where you want the cable to start winding, so it goes in correct direction of spool threads, etc. Then I fished the cable through the end of the rod (ie, the openings on the side), so the derailleur cable tip (along with the compression fitting) ends up on the INSIDE of the rod. Now you have the cable sticking out of the rod already lined up on the spool.

I can print you a couple or dig up the STL file.. it's in a thread here somewhere. I have a 2" rod also so the file should already work for yours.

Thanks a lot. This plus the pics make it clear. Since you are in Canada, might be easier to get them done here so the file would suffice. I thought you were in Mandeville, Louisiana. :)

tdyrkacz · Apr 9, 2021

Beautiful build. I also like what you did with the indexed thread. Makes it super convenient.

kenchilada · Apr 9, 2021

JGT said:
Thanks a lot. This plus the pics make it clear. Since you are in Canada, might be easier to get them done here so the file would suffice. I thought you were in Mandeville, Louisiana. :)

I am definitely in Louisiana! Here is the STL file. It fit fine for me with no scaling, fits tight.

63mm Od Aluminum Rod Real by Ocpondpoacher

This part is designed to slip over a 63mm od aluminum pipe. The rod is connected to a motor which will allow it to spin and the threads will real up a 1.5mm cable.

www.thingiverse.com

kenchilada · Apr 9, 2021

tdyrkacz said:
Beautiful build. I also like what you did with the indexed thread. Makes it super convenient.

Thank you very much!

kenchilada · Apr 9, 2021

GHL Review

JGT · Apr 9, 2021

kenchilada said:
I am definitely in Louisiana! Here is the STL file. It fit fine for me with no scaling, fits tight.

63mm Od Aluminum Rod Real by Ocpondpoacher

This part is designed to slip over a 63mm od aluminum pipe. The rod is connected to a motor which will allow it to spin and the threads will real up a 1.5mm cable.

www.thingiverse.com

Oh, OK. My bad. I saw something in this thread where you said something about needing some type of store in Canada. So that was why. Thanks for the file.

kenchilada · Apr 11, 2021

Woke up this morning and my GFCI tripped. Turns out it’s my Varios 6. I’ve been having problems with it. So now I have to drive an hour to get a pump. ‍:mad:

kenchilada · Apr 18, 2021

My velvet-stricken swallowtail angel is finished with chloroquine phosphate. Looks like she will survive! ;Joyful

She has been through 16 Cipro/MB baths! I’ve also had to fight off two separate internal infections with food soaked in metro/neo but it seems to have worked.

She just has to make out through observation and two rounds of prazi now.

It took an unbelievable amount of work and money to save her. Pre-quarantined fish are a good deal!

JGT · Apr 19, 2021

kenchilada said:
I found the pictures for you...

So have a question for you on the motor brackets. I want to mount the brackets using the side holes not the back holes to the sides of the canopy. The one on the motor side isn’t an issue because it has the square seat to put the square tenon into and the lock it down with the cotter pin. Plenty of clearance. The other side has a star like cutout that the square tenon for the wheel to go into. The issue is since I’m using the side bracket, the tenon can’t go all the way through enough to slip the cotter pin through. The wood blocks it from going all the way through. If this makes sense, how did you handle this? Thanks.

sdreef · Jun 5, 2021

Any updates? How are things coming along?

kenchilada · Jun 5, 2021

sdreef said:
Any updates? How are things coming along?

Things are going great, but I’ve been busy at work and still haven’t put a single coral in yet. I’m still quarantining fish though... planning to add an Achilles tang and maybe 6-8 ignitus anthias and then be done with fish.

I sort of abandoned this thread because it seemed like everyone lost interest and I mostly hang out on another forum. ;) I‘ll probably relocate over there at some point.