etcher problems

Ryan Minchew

Ryan Minchew

Joined
Sep 29, 2005
Messages
580
I just built Chris Crawford's etcher. WHen I go done I went to use it turned it on. The only thing that happens is the red light comes on. I double checked my wiring. Should I be able to use a volt meter to measure the leads? If so I can't get anything out of them. ANyone have any ideas? My fuse is good I can't find a mistake in the wiring. Not saying there isn't one I just can't find it.


Ok scratch that I just took the lid off again and tried it without doing anything other than removing the lid and got it to leave black marks on both settings. I read that can be a cause of the wires being crossed so I switched the two wires and get the same results ac and dc. So I"m still searching for the frosted etch and the black etch.
 
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I've built one and that etcher does work quite well as designed.

If you are getting black marks on both settings then you are most likely only getting a/c voltage out of the unit. d/c voltage does the etching (depth&frosted) and a/c voltage darkens the etch. Double check your wiring to the bridge rectifier and the way your a/c-d/c switch is wired to make sure its wired right.

Not working with the lid on but works with the lid off, I would be checking for something rubbing together with the lid on and shorting out, or loose connections.

If you still can't get it to work properly, post a few clear, close up pics of your wiring and I will see if I can sort out your problem from them.

Brad
www.AndersonKnives.ca
 
I appreciate the help Teknition. I started looking in the box while I was etching and could see sparks everyonce in a while on the bride rectifier. One of the prongs had been bent close enough to another one to cause problems. I noticed it was bent and I guess it's too late at night because it never occured to me that it was close enough to another one to cause the problems. Big difference after I moved it away. Again thanks for the help and I"m going to quit working on things late at night causes more problems than it fixes.
 
I had great success building an etcher.

While I was at the surplus electronics store buying the parts on the list, I ran across a Monode 150 etching machine for $25 and snatched it up.

It works great, no soldering, I wonder why other people have trouble building their own:p

I bought an etching head from TUS tech for ~$90 so I've got ~$115.00 in it but I have to etch a few things before Blade so I can't afford the time to DIY.
 
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