With Instructables you can share what you make with the world and tap into an ever-growing community of creative experts.
I was building a crystal set for my son, but it came to a halt. When i found out that i have no variable capacitor in my pile of junk.Scavenging one f...
On this step we will do the measurements.Lay the aluminum sheet flat on your work bench. From on end draw a square measuring 5cm x 5cm. Using a sharp ...
Here we will draw circles on the sheet. We can draw circles perfectly by using a compass.If you dont have a compass.You can improvise, by driving two ...
Using a tri-square, draw a line from the edge of the sheet up to the center of the arc. (The one that is pointed by a pen on the photo)It is importan...
With a big scissors and a strong grip. You can easily cut out all of the pieces. And then flatten each piece with a rubber mallet. You can also use a ...
Get a piece and draw a line from the center. Going to the left corner. Get the centerline (from corner to arc) and punch a hole in it.Mark this piece ...
Again improvise a compass to draw the inner circle.Using a scissors cut it from both end, up to the arc of the inner circle. Be very carefull not to c...
Here we will cut the arc that still connects the rotor and the stator plates. You can always cut it with a scissors.But it's easier and faster if you ...
Now that we have our rotor and stator. It is time to make the holes bigger. With the use of a drill. Find bolts (3pcs.) with nuts ( i used 12 pcs. Of ...
At this stage we will make our rotor plates perfect arcs. And to remove burrs and sharp edges. With the help of a drill and a coarse file and some san...
We will shape the stator plates at this part of my instructable. Like what we did with our rotor plates. We will also stack all of the stator plates. ...
At this stage, your pieces must look like the 3rd piece on this photo. Well done. At this point you can also remove the paint. If they have paint on. ...
Make your own washers/spacers. From a heavier guage or from the same sheet. But you will need 2 pcs. Of washers/spacers for each gap. I recommend usin...
As what you did with the rotor plates. Hammer them gently to make them flat. Stack them up, insert the bolt, tighten the nut. And again with the use o...
Remove the head of each bolt. Put one nut on one end of eah bolt. Turn the nut until 5cm. of the bolt protrudes from the nut. Get one of the bolts, in...
I made the housing from an aluminum heatsink salvaged from a television chassis. It is more or less 2mm. thick. I placed the rotor and stator on top o...
Look for something that will insulate the rotor's axel from the end plate/chassis. Like for example a rubber hose from a fuel line of an automobile. S...
Cut two triangular shaped plastic from jar caps. Or any plastic of your choice. This plastic will insulate the rotor contact from the aluminum housing...
Here is the finished variable capacitor. Installed on a crystal shortwave receiver.
Remove these ads by
Signing Up
Not NiceInappropriateSpam
PDF Downloads
As a Pro member, you will gain access to download any Instructable in the PDF format.
You also have the ability to customize your PDF download.
Visit Our Store »
Go Pro Today »