[ARC5] ARC-5 repair

[Roy Morgan]

On Dec 9, 2008, at 9:55 PM, Robert Nickels wrote:
>
> Thanks for the great suggestion!  I wouldn't have have thought of  
> using the tubing cutter, but it looks like that would work slick.

People who make cymbals and other such things from brass and bronze  
have many ways to form metal while it is being turned.  I can imagine  
a tool steel ground and polished to just the right shape to un-crimp  
the capacitor while being turned in the lathe.  You'd want to support  
the tool near the working end, and likely put a bit of lubricant on  
the piece.

>  I have an HLV lathe, and assume that's what is shown,

Oh, THOSE!  You  know they've been recalled for safety reasons and  
because they tend to induce metal-shop-ophilia in folks who own them.   
So just send the lathe tome and I'll save you from such a terrible  
fate.  Better yet, just unplug it and let me know where you live. I'll  
come pick it up.



> ...  I have tried using a cutoff tool to open up electrolytic cans  
> held in my three jaw chuck, with fairly dismal results.  Using a  
> hacksaw blade worked pretty well however.

I'm not experienced in machine work (wish I was) but may I suggest a  
sleeve kind of thing to go between the capacitor and the jaws.  Tube  
of steel or aluminum slit in three places to distribute the force onto  
the capacitor.

Another possible trick is to make a fairly thick sleeve just right to  
slip the cap into and fasten it in with un-dissolved shellac. The  
shellac melts at moderate temperatures and would hold the cap securely  
when cooled.  Clean up with alcohol.  Watchmakers of old held tiny  
parts in place and for machining or polishing with a dab of solid  
shellac.  The flat-faceted alcohol lamp was standard equipment at any  
work bench.

Roy

Roy Morgan
k1lky at earthlink.net
529 Cobb St.
Groton NY, 13073