Gregory's Server
@BillySmith @kelbot One aspect that stood out to me is "The melting point for Zn4Sb3 is 570 degrees Celsius, while itβs 1,400 degrees for silicon." Could a hobbyist reach these temperatures using just solar heating? Maybe just a huge magnifying glass? https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2011/07/solar-powered-factories.html
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12 comments
 @BillySmith @skyfaller @kelbot its worth a try - at very least if the cells work you should be able to get enough solar power to charge batteries that could run all the routers / networking / telecoms hardware in the hackspace, independently of UK Power Networks (good for resilience if there are power cuts) It would be interesting. :D I've never worked with German Silver before. :D I read how the recipe for the metal was nearly lost due to the anti-German feeling after WW2, but i've never played with it yet. :D Plus the press-fit design for the plug-caps could be pressed from sheet metal. The hardware and jigs to do that are really simple, and they've fallen out of patent decades ago. :D If they produce enough power, then attach them to meshnet nodes, and put them everywhere. :D That article reminded me of this OSHW project, https://web.archive.org/web/20160622174305/http://www.poc21.cc/solarose/ Using similar techniques to the version installed in Egypt in the previous article.  @skyfaller @BillySmith @kelbot Anyway, you'd use nichrome wire electric furnace, don't need to get all fancy while figuring out how to do this stuff..(which complicates safety too) It's definitely another topic. :D Captain Tangent strikes again. :D Also, I sent you links in the other thread of another approach towards solar reflector design. :D This is also why i have it written at the top of my profile: #adhd I get far too sidetracked by shiny ideas. :D Yes, using an electric furnace makes life a lot easier. The link to the Gingery Furnace, was meant to show that metal-casting could be done in a low-tech manner. :D The fact that we built that furnace and got it to work is a way of showing that lack of access to the tools can be worked around, using simpler methods, so that should never be a bottleneck. :D |
@skyfaller @kelbot
We were able to do aluminium casting ~640-660C using a furnace that we made from a broken vacuum cleaner and a bucket with a hole in it. :D
https://wiki.london.hackspace.org.uk/view/Project:GingeryFurnace
Using a smaller 24V fan as the air input, with a renewably-charged battery, and sustainably-farmed charcoal, the whole system was carbon neutral :D
So 570C for Zn4Sb3 is perfectly feasible. :D