MEW 117 July 2006

Hello Electronic Experts

In the MEW 117 July 2006 there is an artikel called "A Simple Spark Erosion Machine" is there someone out there who can scetch me a stripboard Circuit, not a PCB, for the Oscillator only, The Electrode Circuit is OK.

I have tried to do this myself but i aam not proficient enough.

Or can anyone recomend a computer program which can do this.

I can't use a PCB scetch because i dont have the fascility to make a PCB.

Thank you in advance

Ray

Thank you Jeff for your advice

I also have the Ben Fleming Book and PCB but find this far too complicated for my level of electronic knowledge.

I have built a resistor capacitor power section which works well enough for me, but i am trying to separate the solenoid controll from the Burning circuit.

The Oscillator i have mentioned is a simple Solenoid controller the ,Feed motor controll will follow.

Ray

Is there no one who can help

Ray,

I am sorry I can't help with a stripboard layout although having looked at the circuit it doesn't look impossible and my ignorance of most things electronic is legendary. I couldn't build that without being given ratings for the resistors and types and ratings for the capacitors which I suspect an electronics whizz would say is obvious but it isn't to me.

I built a simple spark eroder which works well enough for me using a scavenged solenoid (washing machine valve |I think) and a microswitch arranged so that it removed the power from the solenoid at the top of its travel. The circuitry for this is separate from the spark power, it may have been based on the one mentioned in the article to which you refer.

If it would help I can dig the device out from under the bench and see how I wired it all up.

Andy

Ray,

I've just had a quick look at the circuit diagram:

It would be difficult to do a tidy stripboard layout without knowing the physical size and style of the components [particularly the capacitors] that you are using ... Therefore, I would suggest that you buy the components first.

That said; the board layout could be greatly simplified by hard-wiring several of the resistors onto the terminals of the switches.

MichaelG.

Thank you Andy

that sounds like a good idea it may be even simpler than using an oscillator.

Michael thank you for your help,

i have all the components and have already built this particular oscillator, but unfortunately it fried the IC, thats why i'm looking for someone to scetch me a wiring diagram to see where i went wrong.

Ray

Ray,

It is definitely simpler but maybe not better.

I have created an album called spark eroder with some photos of the device and a circuit diagram, the squeamish and safety conscious should probably avoid looking

Andy

Hi Ray,
Are you sure that you did not apply more than 12 volts to the circuit. (The NE556 absolute maximum voltage rating is 18 volts.) Can you post a picture of the track side of the board and a few of the top site so it is possible to follow the path of wires. If you have made any errors it should be possible to spot them.

Les.

Les

I have sent you an email.

Andy i have had a look at your spark eroder, well you cant get much simpler than that, amasing.

Thank you

Ray