Well... one step closer to a finished system... The power supply cooling block is complete. Now I just need to trim up the power supply casing and install it back into my tower. Last thing I'll do to the power supply is custom lengthen the power connectors just for my drives, etc.
On to today's workload...
First off is a word of warning... if you're in a hurry, STOP... take a break and think it through or something like this may be the result!!!
Let me explain... First: I was in a hurry, second: I forgot the rule for smaller drills and taps in copper "USE LUBRICATION!", third: I got in a hurry.
Result: Broken drill bit in the first hole... offset and drilled a second with success...
...only to break the tip of the tap off in the hole.
The tap was still usable with a little grinding down, but I could not get it out as the hole does not go all the way through and there is no way to punch back out the way it went in.
:shrug:
The good news is I believe that one cap screw will be sufficient on this "finger" as it has three small regulators and not that big one and two small ones.
Here are two tips for those planning to tap very small holes...
1. Use a screw of the same type you are going to use for a tap by filing a cutting edge in the end. This will make it MUCH easier if you break it off. These are soft enough you can drill back through them.
2. Use the "T" handle with out the cross bar, this forces you to use your finger tips and NOT apply too much torque.
Here is the other "finger" with the regulators re-installed and ready to fasten to the circuit board.
Here is that "finger" being fastened to the circuit board... notice the holes actually line up for the most part.
Here is the block with the fingers installed and secured to the circuit board and all the regulators in place and ready for final leak testing. (Yes, I also messed up on which hole to move over for that one I tried to correct. DOH!
The final leak test revealed one last pinhole leak near one of the cap screw pass through holes. So, out came the torch and reheated that one area with the tube end of the block in water. All fixed and tested with the completed reservior, NO LEAKS!!! YAY!
The pump does get pretty warm, but even after an hour with only the power supply block and reservior in the system, the pump could be held without burning you. (No radiator of any kind, not too bad.
)
That's it for today, I'm going to re-solder the regulators and re-fasten the circuit board into the power supply casing tomorrow and begin the custom cut-out on the power supply casing. Hopefully, I can get a finished power supply out of this mess.