imee made

It's a 12 volt fan. We are using a Jackery 1000 solar generator to power all of our electronics on the van, so we have a 12v distribution panel that the fan is wired into.

Peat moss isn't too expensive and a little goes a long way. However sawdust is definitely more economical. Thanks for suggesting a baffled or foam filled tank that seems like a great route!

Yes, for this I use 100% Argon gas when welding. No worries! Feel free to ask away, I honestly don't mind and love to help. learning is always encouraged!!

Thank you! It's a budget TIG welder from Harbor freight, which unfortunately they don't sell anymore. but here's a machine that's similar to what I'm using: https://amzn.to/3i59So2

Thank you! I agree, I could have went into more details for the backing and rest plate.The hinge is just a solution to adjust the tracking of the belt. Since the whole assembly can be a little off plane, using a bolt to dial in the pitch of the tracking roller helps keep the belt centered in relation to the pulleys.

Thank you very much! Yes there are definitely a few alternatives to achieve the same function. Glad this was able to spark some inspiration :)

Thank you for the kind words! It's definitely a fun project to tackle. It's not too cumbersome and the pay off is so good.

Thank you! Just my 2 cents on your list of constraints:1. Yes, assembling in a mirror image would solve the problem - essentially working from the back side of the grinder so the belt direction is upwards.2. Harbor freight has an inexpensive router speed controller like this: https://amzn.to/3iTVIHz which might work, but I don't have first hand experience with that3. You can build everything with plywood using the templates provided. Some dimensions may need to be adjusted to account for the added thickness. Another solution would be to mark all the welded joints and ask a local muffler repair shop to weld the pieces for you. I've asked a few shops throughout the years before getting my own welder and most of the time they are more than happy to help if they're not super busy.Good luck on…

Thank you! Just my 2 cents on your list of constraints:1. Yes, assembling in a mirror image would solve the problem - essentially working from the back side of the grinder so the belt direction is upwards.2. Harbor freight has an inexpensive router speed controller like this: https://amzn.to/3iTVIHz which might work, but I don't have first hand experience with that3. You can build everything with plywood using the templates provided. Some dimensions may need to be adjusted to account for the added thickness. Another solution would be to mark all the welded joints and ask a local muffler repair shop to weld the pieces for you. I've asked a few shops throughout the years before getting my own welder and most of the time they are more than happy to help if they're not super busy.Good luck on your build!

Thank you very much!

The cost of the pulleys are definitely the bulk of the project budget. There are also many alternatives, I just linked to the pulleys I used and it serves as a reference in case someone (such as yourself) wants to go down a different path, at least you'll know the general dimensions of the pulleys. I've seen people use skateboard wheels used as pulleys and also plywood by using a hole saw to cut several discs from a sheet of plywood, then glue and stack them together. Thanks alot for checking out our Instructable though, I'd love to see what your solution for the pulleys!

Thank you very much! It was a lot of fun to build

Thanks for checking it out!

For sure that's the preferred way! We're actually working on the van at a local Makerspace, so there were limitations on using an angle grinder inside the shop since woodshop, textiles, and other maker areas are around us and they weren't too keen on having sparks flying from the top of the van.

Thank you! This was definitely an ambitious project, especially since it was our first time really working with carbon fiber. Glad it's inspired you to work on your own carbon project, good luck!

Such a great write up!

Thank you! Haha if you notice on the video, the PID controller is off when I reach in to pick up the crucible 😅. Definitely going to upgrade to have a proper door and safety shut off switch!

Yes! We looked into a propane foundry at first and after some deliberation we decided an electric one suits our needs best since its silent, we can use it indoors (i.e. our garage) and the footprint is contained within the foundry and not dependant on an external propane tank. Thank you very much for checking out our project!

Thanks for educating us! Will definitely keep that in mind when we get optimize this foundry!

Thank you so much!

It can be any shape your heart desires. We chose this to minimize cutting and use the amount of bricks we had at the time.

Thank you! For sure this can reach 1100C.This setup using 120 V will reach 900C within 20 mins in a linear fashion, but once it hits 900C the temperature rise begins to flatten and its takes about another 15 mins to reach 1100C. There's definitely heat loss from the top of the foundry because we didn't make a properly latched door which most likely contributes to the inefficiency at higher temps.If you can make it with a 240V source, it could definitely do 1100C way more efficient. All the electronics we listed are dual voltage besides the power plug, so it should be the exact same build process.