Etching setup?

[J. Hoffman]

Zaph: I don't understand wiring diagrams. I don't know what they mean.

 

[Atlas Knife Company]

That's the beauty of my design. You don't need to understand wiring schematics. Get two wall transformers, 12vdc and 12vac. Plug them into an extension cord. Hook the output of both into a DPDT switch. Double Pole Double Throw, That means four wires in, two wires out. The switch should look similar to what you see here. Run two wires out from the middle leads to your alligator clips. On one of the wires, place a momentary-on pushbutton switch. When you push the button, power is running through the wire. This will give you the pulsing action.

Putting everything inside a project box makes it easier to mount the button and keep everything clean. If you don't have a project box, tupperware will work. On mine, I have the momentary switch on the 120VAC before it gets to the transformers I replaced the extension cord with shorter wires, but it's still a very simple design.

 

[jmaze1]

Zaph1 - Nice idea and design! Can you detail the wiring from the power switch to the two transformers and the power light/indicator? I can't quite see it in your photos, or visualize how those connections are made.

 

[Atlas Knife Company]

Sure. Power in from wall to a momentary power switch. Out from the switch to both the indicator light and to the transformers. Transformers out to the DPDT three position switch. One position sends DC out, another sends AC out, middle position is off. Out from the switch to a speaker jack. Wires with alligator clips are attached to the speaker jack on the outside of the box.

Here is the link to the original thread. More detail there.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/805772-DIY-Electro-etcher-under-20

 

[pixelhack]

I breadboarded the etcher at http://www.knives.mlogiudice.com/knifeshop/etcher/index.shtml and it works fine with a 12.6V transformer. You might need a higher voltage for some types of stainless.

Instead of making a circuit board for this though I am going to modify a 1970's video camera power supply I just picked up for 5 bucks at a garage sale. Its putting out 2 amps at almost 14 volts and weighs about 5 pounds. I was looking for a car battery charger to modify but this camera power supply looks very retro cool.

Based on what I have read about electroplating (which is really the same as electro-etching) I would guess that the power on-off etching method is a way to compensate for electrolyte depletion during etching. When you turn the power on, the ions in the electrolyte near the stencil are "used up" etching the metal. Turning the power off allows time for new electrolyte solution to move towards the metal to be etched. I would also guess that the dabbing method of etching does this too. If my short attention span allows it I will try some circuit mods to support these methods.

 

[amcardon]

Poper link: http://www.knives.mlogiudice.com/knifeshop/etcher/index.shtml

I breadboarded the etcher at http://www.knives.mlogiudice.com/kni...er/index.shtml and it works fine with a 12.6V transformer. You might need a higher voltage for some types of stainless.

Instead of making a circuit board for this though I am going to modify a 1970's video camera power supply I just picked up for 5 bucks at a garage sale. Its putting out 2 amps at almost 14 volts and weighs about 5 pounds. I was looking for a car battery charger to modify but this camera power supply looks very retro cool.

Based on what I have read about electroplating (which is really the same as electro-etching) I would guess that the power on-off etching method is a way to compensate for electrolyte depletion during etching. When you turn the power on, the ions in the electrolyte near the stencil are "used up" etching the metal. Turning the power off allows time for new electrolyte solution to move towards the metal to be etched. I would also guess that the dabbing method of etching does this too. If my short attention span allows it I will try some circuit mods to support these methods.