Reef Casa Mini Frag Tank (Pico) Filter Roller

[Snorg]

I have a 3D printer and a 6 Gallon Reef Casa Mini Frag Tank. While I know reefing well, I do not know 3D Design well. Therefore, I'm on the hunt for someone to alter an Automatic Filter Roller file so that it works seamlessly with my miniature AIO, or create one entirely from scratch. Preferably something that can be set up to be time-driven or that uses an optical water sensor. I tried for many hours without progress, trying to get the first piece created. I would need the size of filter rolls to be readily available, along with the hardware (motor, control, etc.)

Could I just buy one from iSeaLive? Absolutely, but then if something breaks, I am on the hook for another entire roller unit. I would much rather print it and assemble it myself.

Can anyone point me in the direction for some place or person that can help with that, and is not a scam? I believe that this would be a breeze for someone well versed in 3D design.

I am definitely happy to pay (provided it works properly with my setup. I can put a down payment on it. I am trying to keep the design at a reasonable price.

 

[Tahoe61]

@tbrown

Might have a few ideas.

I have the ReefCasa Pico, love the tank.

 

[tbrown]

Rollers aren't necessarily difficult to design to print, it's more the motors to drive it and getting everything to work together.

They're fairly simple - allow water to flow through the fleece/filter roll until the restriction raises the water level triggering the roll and allowing the water to flow again. Getting the motor to turn the roller and pull fresh filter without just "spooling", you'll need the right tension.

It wouldn't be too difficult to design a replacement "box" for a roller but you'd need to ensure that the roller fleece fits your AIO.

 

[Snorg]

Rollers aren't necessarily difficult to design to print, it's more the motors to drive it and getting everything to work together.

They're fairly simple - allow water to flow through the fleece/filter roll until the restriction raises the water level triggering the roll and allowing the water to flow again. Getting the motor to turn the roller and pull fresh filter without just "spooling", you'll need the right tension.

It wouldn't be too difficult to design a replacement "box" for a roller but you'd need to ensure that the roller fleece fits your AIO.

Yeah, thats a good point. I am just not well versed with the design aspect of it. CAD is not my strong suit.

 

[tbrown]

Yeah, thats a good point. I am just not well versed with the design aspect of it. CAD is not my strong suit.

You can try TinkerCAD or Fusion360. Just play with designing for a little bit and you should pick it up fairly easily.

 

[tbrown]

I can probably fairly easily design a bracket for the roller you want to use BUT it will potentially affect how the roller works. I'd need the roll dimensions (had to be very accurate - within 0.1 mm accuracy is best for a true fit) and the inside dimensions of the AIO chamber you'd want it in.

 

[Snorg]

Yeah, thats a good point. I am just not well versed with the design aspect of it. CAD is not my strong suit.

You can try TinkerCAD or Fusion360. Just play with designing for a little bit and you should pick it up fairly easily.

Thats what would benefit me the most. Because then I can design other stuff too. It would be nice to be able to do myself.

Thanks for the encouragement.

 

[tbrown]

Thats what would benefit me the most. Because then I can design other stuff too. It would be nice to be able to do myself.

Thanks for the encouragement.

I'm here to help if needed! @tharbin is another great resource. And @MegabiteOG and @That Crusso Kid and a bunch of others ( I'm looking at you @Red_Beard the Grey Beard).

 

[Snorg]

Thats what would benefit me the most. Because then I can design other stuff too. It would be nice to be able to do myself.

Thanks for the encouragement.

I'm here to help if needed! @tharbin is another great resource. And @MegabiteOG and @That Crusso Kid and a bunch of others ( I'm looking at you @Red_Beard the Grey Beard).

I love this community!! Thanks!

 

[Red_Beard]

Hey boys....

Absolutely would echo tbrown's suggestions. both tinkercad and fusion are free for hobbiests, though autodesk makes you click around to find the freebee link. tinkercad is pretty user friendly, tbrown i hear is a whiz with it. fusion360 has a higher learning curve but is more flexible and feature rich once you get it figured out, and is what i personally prefer. There is also siemens cad software and a few others, but they are a lot less user friendly and would not recommend.

For both, there are a ton of youTube videos that would help you learn to get started. Basically, you need to think about how to make a 2d sketch, then pull/push/revolve/remove with it. I would watch one or two on the basics of sketches and basic extrude/3d operations, then just get started. when you get stuck, ask us or hit up the ol' google and ask how a specific process is done. if you are so inclined, I have found that gemini AI is pretty good with directions for fusion, same with grok and chatgpt. (I haven't asked claude yet, don't want to waste tokens ;) )

 

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Looks basically like a new product design process. It's usually a lot of work and testing.