Making homebrew Ka feeds Gibby bracket friendly.

[Vipersan]

Not sure of the price of liquid plastic, but would filler foam be a better - and cheaper - option ?

I considered filler foam CH ..
I suspect it would do the job ..but not sure it would set hard enough to be compressed in the clamp and provide the required resistance .
Also ..it would be a problem gauging the correct quantity so it doesn't overspill the tube and run down the sides etc ..
that stuff is real sticky and keeps on growing once released into the air.
Finally ..you would have to do all works at the same time as the nozzles almost always block up..preventing futher use.
@ £25 for 2x 1 litre bottles 50/50 mix ..I think I'll stick with liquid plastic ..

Multiple uses ..more manageable ...and not ridiculously expensive.
;)
rgds
VS

 

[Vipersan]

Here is the 2nd feed (ex invert lnb) mounted on the SL3 and working well ..
less weight and leverage from the SL3 now ..and a fraction closer to focus ..
rgds
VS

Wouldn't mind a box of those ex Hughes Ka feeds ..
I can dream...;)

 

[Vipersan]

So ..I scrounged another 100mil plastic bottle off my mother ..and potted up the Homebrew Ka all copper feed ..
It too can now be mounted and adjusted easily on the gibby brackets ...or indeed any 40 (39mm) dish bracket..
nice ;)

 

[Llew]

..Finally ..the finished item mounted ..
rgds
VS

Hi VS, got my Hughes LNB 19.7 -20.2GHz assembly yesterday, and I'm trying to figure out how you connected your feedhorn to the XMW LNB (Post #4). I don't envisage having any problem fitting the feedhorn to the Triax dish, just how you mated it to the LNB? Can't see from the pictures. Thanks for any workaround you might suggest

 

[Vipersan]

Get yourself a good quality rat tail file or 2 ..then file 4 slots into the rounded edge of the feed where it previously mated to the OMT/Filter unit ..
I have to take the XMW off the 1.5 tomorrow in preparation for the possible storms ..so will take a couple of close up photos tomorrow..
rgds
VS

 

[Llew]

You know VS, I considered all manner of ways except that one
Brain disengaged too often these days I'm afraid.

I'll check my filing system (looks under R for rat tail)

Thanks

 

[Vipersan]

Creeps up on us all in the end buddy..
anyway ..just in case you or anyone else needs it ..
here is a photo showing one side with a screw fitted ..and one removed..
rgds
VS

 

[Llew]

Cheers for the pic VS. Did mine earlier, fits a treat. Alas, now it's chucking down outside, so can't test it yet

 

[Terryl]

If you all need to turn down some of these plastic parts and don't have access to a lathe, then try what I use for these types of projects, and thats a "Poor-mans" lathe.

What it consists of is a drill motor, a selection of rubber drum sanders (without the sandpaper) and a drill motor mount.

You use the rubber drum sander to hold the PVC pipe (or other material) mount the drill to the mount on a good solid work bench and go to work, makes it a bit easier to turn down the necks and even the insides of the PVC.

Here is what I'm babbling about, you would look for one of these,

http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/switch-n-lockdrillmount.aspx

And some of these,

http://www.rakuten.com/prod/sander-drum-26pcs-kit-blow-mo/227403267.html?listingId=318423608&scid=pla_google_eToolsCity&adid=29963&gclid=CMvL1Lyj6L4CFUOSfgod754Aeg[code]

You just find a drum that will fit inside the PVC pipe, tighten down on the screw, (this expands the rubber holder) and run it up on the drill, you can use sand paper or a file to turn it down, if the rubber drum needs to be a bit bigger then a bit of sandpaper will help hold the part.