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Flow Battery Research Collective

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  3. My build (very slowly progressing)

My build (very slowly progressing)

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  • sepiS sepi

    I got around printing the PP parts and it's not going great I'm afraid. The parts either don't stick (on PEI plate) or stick too much on PP tape. Even adding a layer of mineral oil doesn't help too much. The tape itself is also not very even due to bubbles. The top is also not super smooth. Who knows, maybe the gasket can seal anyways.

    IMG_20250720_131156.jpg
    IMG_20250720_131139.jpg IMG_20250720_131132.jpg

    On the plus side, the electrolyte containers seem to be good.
    IMG_20250720_130935.jpg

    Now I need to be patient about the Pumps from Kamoer which have't shipped yet and the Potentiostat wich also isn't completed yet.

    I'm more and more considering printing my own centrifugal pump with magnetic coupling. This could also be interesting for the larger models as good pumps seem to be pretty expensive.

    kirkK Offline
    kirkK Offline
    kirk
    wrote last edited by
    #17

    @danielfp248 said in My build (very slowly progressing):

    @kirk Thanks for clarifying kirk, I have the same issue, lol.

    I have added a note to the docs on this now!


    Also @sepi I somehow missed reading the main chunk of your thread that you posted several days ago - great work!!

    @sepi said in My build (very slowly progressing):

    Now I need to be patient about the Pumps from Kamoer which have't shipped yet

    @quinnale has also tried some 3D-printed peristaltic pumps in his build thread: https://fbrc.nodebb.com/topic/23/towards-a-working-system

    @sepi said in My build (very slowly progressing):

    So I finally printed my modified jig in 6h on my kobra max with 1mm nozzle. This made it quick but fugly. You judge for yourself and maybe tell me why my modifications don't make sense.

    Can you show the back of your jig? If the rear support doesn't stick out long enough, the entire jig can tip over once the pumps are installed due to a shift in the center of gravity.

    Also, it looks cool and wavy! And using a lot less material. Did you modify it in FreeCAD?

    sepiS 1 Reply Last reply
    1
    • sepiS sepi

      I got around printing the PP parts and it's not going great I'm afraid. The parts either don't stick (on PEI plate) or stick too much on PP tape. Even adding a layer of mineral oil doesn't help too much. The tape itself is also not very even due to bubbles. The top is also not super smooth. Who knows, maybe the gasket can seal anyways.

      IMG_20250720_131156.jpg
      IMG_20250720_131139.jpg IMG_20250720_131132.jpg

      On the plus side, the electrolyte containers seem to be good.
      IMG_20250720_130935.jpg

      Now I need to be patient about the Pumps from Kamoer which have't shipped yet and the Potentiostat wich also isn't completed yet.

      I'm more and more considering printing my own centrifugal pump with magnetic coupling. This could also be interesting for the larger models as good pumps seem to be pretty expensive.

      kirkK Offline
      kirkK Offline
      kirk
      wrote last edited by
      #18

      @sepi said in My build (very slowly progressing):

      I'm more and more considering printing my own centrifugal pump with magnetic coupling. This could also be interesting for the larger models as good pumps seem to be pretty expensive.

      If you do, please share the results! This may be very demanding of PP FDM printing (leaktightness, tolerances, etc.). For reference, these are the pumps we are planning on using for the large-format cell (they are likely too large, but the smallest PP, mag drive centrifugal pumps we could find): https://fbrc.nodebb.com/post/30. They were less than 50 EUR each at a quantity of 2 pumps, IIRC.

      sepiS 1 Reply Last reply
      1
      • kirkK kirk

        @sepi said in My build (very slowly progressing):

        I'm more and more considering printing my own centrifugal pump with magnetic coupling. This could also be interesting for the larger models as good pumps seem to be pretty expensive.

        If you do, please share the results! This may be very demanding of PP FDM printing (leaktightness, tolerances, etc.). For reference, these are the pumps we are planning on using for the large-format cell (they are likely too large, but the smallest PP, mag drive centrifugal pumps we could find): https://fbrc.nodebb.com/post/30. They were less than 50 EUR each at a quantity of 2 pumps, IIRC.

        sepiS Offline
        sepiS Offline
        sepi
        wrote last edited by
        #19

        @kirk said in My build (very slowly progressing):

        They were less than 50 EUR each at a quantity of 2 pumps, IIRC.

        That's really cheap but you'd still need two variable frequency drives. Nevertheless, it seem like a nice option.

        1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • kirkK kirk

          @sepi said in My build (very slowly progressing):

          The button does not work, it's just a tiny bit short. Maybe because my UNO is super old and used a different button.

          FYI, that button is upside down which is why it doesn't work! You assemble it so that the large end is fixed inside the case (a bit of a balancing act during the assembly). The original designer has some photos of it assembled here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:628929

          sepiS Offline
          sepiS Offline
          sepi
          wrote last edited by
          #20

          @kirk duh, now I feel like an idiot about that button. I "fixed" my butten by heating it with a lighter and giving it a light squeeze at the end :D.

          1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • kirkK kirk

            @danielfp248 said in My build (very slowly progressing):

            @kirk Thanks for clarifying kirk, I have the same issue, lol.

            I have added a note to the docs on this now!


            Also @sepi I somehow missed reading the main chunk of your thread that you posted several days ago - great work!!

            @sepi said in My build (very slowly progressing):

            Now I need to be patient about the Pumps from Kamoer which have't shipped yet

            @quinnale has also tried some 3D-printed peristaltic pumps in his build thread: https://fbrc.nodebb.com/topic/23/towards-a-working-system

            @sepi said in My build (very slowly progressing):

            So I finally printed my modified jig in 6h on my kobra max with 1mm nozzle. This made it quick but fugly. You judge for yourself and maybe tell me why my modifications don't make sense.

            Can you show the back of your jig? If the rear support doesn't stick out long enough, the entire jig can tip over once the pumps are installed due to a shift in the center of gravity.

            Also, it looks cool and wavy! And using a lot less material. Did you modify it in FreeCAD?

            sepiS Offline
            sepiS Offline
            sepi
            wrote last edited by
            #21

            @kirk about the jig, yeah I modified the FreeCAD version. It's probably prone to tipping. I'll see that once I get the pumps and hobo modify it and then modify my model and share it.IMG_20250728_195417.jpg

            C 2 Replies Last reply
            2
            • sepiS sepi

              @kirk about the jig, yeah I modified the FreeCAD version. It's probably prone to tipping. I'll see that once I get the pumps and hobo modify it and then modify my model and share it.IMG_20250728_195417.jpg

              C Offline
              C Offline
              czahl
              wrote last edited by
              #22

              @sepi Great job, your assembly is really looking quite good. Can't wait to see how it will perform.

              sepiS 1 Reply Last reply
              1
              • C czahl

                @sepi Great job, your assembly is really looking quite good. Can't wait to see how it will perform.

                sepiS Offline
                sepiS Offline
                sepi
                wrote last edited by
                #23

                @czahl Thanks mate! I'll keep you posted. The pumps and potentiostat are in the mail and on their way to my place 😄

                1 Reply Last reply
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                • C czahl

                  @sepi Your PP parts are looking good. Which filament did you used?

                  sepiS Offline
                  sepiS Offline
                  sepi
                  wrote last edited by sepi
                  #24

                  @czahl said in My build (very slowly progressing):

                  @sepi Your PP parts are looking good. Which filament did you used?

                  https://www.3djake.com/fiberlogy/r-pp-anthracite?sai=12757
                  It's pretty soft but that might just be PP. I never used PP before. I just selected the cheapest one on 3dJake.

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  1
                  • D Offline
                    D Offline
                    danielfp248
                    wrote last edited by
                    #25

                    @sepi Nicely done! Also don't forget to wrap your screws in packing tape before you assemble the device for testing, otherwise the screws will short the cell.

                    sepiS 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • sepiS sepi

                      @kirk about the jig, yeah I modified the FreeCAD version. It's probably prone to tipping. I'll see that once I get the pumps and hobo modify it and then modify my model and share it.IMG_20250728_195417.jpg

                      C Offline
                      C Offline
                      czahl
                      wrote last edited by
                      #26

                      @sepi BTW, have you done a blow test with your assembled cell? Should be easier now as you just need to blow into one pipe while closing / opening the other one, right?

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                      0
                      • sepiS Offline
                        sepiS Offline
                        sepi
                        wrote last edited by
                        #27

                        I've done it with just one flow frame: That seemed to be good. The problem with your proposal is that (at least that's what I think it is) the photo paper is permeable to air. I might put a piece of tubing on the second flow frame to test the seal on the whole cell. Then again, the only real test is to use some liquid. For that I need to wait for those pumps to arrive, which should be this or next week.

                        C D 2 Replies Last reply
                        0
                        • D danielfp248

                          @sepi Nicely done! Also don't forget to wrap your screws in packing tape before you assemble the device for testing, otherwise the screws will short the cell.

                          sepiS Offline
                          sepiS Offline
                          sepi
                          wrote last edited by
                          #28

                          @danielfp248 I actually used Kapton Tape but should probably use PP-tape instead.

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • sepiS sepi

                            I've done it with just one flow frame: That seemed to be good. The problem with your proposal is that (at least that's what I think it is) the photo paper is permeable to air. I might put a piece of tubing on the second flow frame to test the seal on the whole cell. Then again, the only real test is to use some liquid. For that I need to wait for those pumps to arrive, which should be this or next week.

                            C Offline
                            C Offline
                            czahl
                            wrote last edited by
                            #29

                            @sepi said in My build (very slowly progressing):

                            I've done it with just one flow frame: That seemed to be good.

                            This sounds great. I also want to do the same then to eliminate as much of uncertainties as possible from the very beginning. It is always frustrating to identify such bugs after assembling everything together. For sure, the final test is the one with the liquids. Looking forward for your first tests with the pumps installed.

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • sepiS sepi

                              I've done it with just one flow frame: That seemed to be good. The problem with your proposal is that (at least that's what I think it is) the photo paper is permeable to air. I might put a piece of tubing on the second flow frame to test the seal on the whole cell. Then again, the only real test is to use some liquid. For that I need to wait for those pumps to arrive, which should be this or next week.

                              D Offline
                              D Offline
                              danielfp248
                              wrote last edited by
                              #30

                              @sepi If you have an assembled cell with everything except the pumps you can use a syringe to manually pump some liquid through and see if you have any obvious leaks. This is how I normally test cells before I put activate material inside them or cycle water through them using pumps.

                              sepiS 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • D danielfp248

                                @sepi If you have an assembled cell with everything except the pumps you can use a syringe to manually pump some liquid through and see if you have any obvious leaks. This is how I normally test cells before I put activate material inside them or cycle water through them using pumps.

                                sepiS Offline
                                sepiS Offline
                                sepi
                                wrote last edited by
                                #31

                                @danielfp248 Good trick, now I only need a syringe.

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                                • sepiS Offline
                                  sepiS Offline
                                  sepi
                                  wrote last edited by sepi
                                  #32

                                  My Mystat finally arrived, yay! No I need to figure out how to flash that pic (hopefully no programmer neede) and get rid of the remaining 5 PCBs.

                                  IMG_20250731_191409.jpg

                                  D 1 Reply Last reply
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                                  • sepiS sepi

                                    My Mystat finally arrived, yay! No I need to figure out how to flash that pic (hopefully no programmer neede) and get rid of the remaining 5 PCBs.

                                    IMG_20250731_191409.jpg

                                    D Offline
                                    D Offline
                                    danielfp248
                                    wrote last edited by
                                    #33

                                    @sepi You do need a programmer to flash that. We use a PcKit3 programmer.

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • sepiS Offline
                                      sepiS Offline
                                      sepi
                                      wrote last edited by
                                      #34

                                      @danielfp248 noooooooooooo. I'll add: replacing it with an esp32, to the list of projects I will never do.

                                      C 1 Reply Last reply
                                      1
                                      • sepiS sepi

                                        @danielfp248 noooooooooooo. I'll add: replacing it with an esp32, to the list of projects I will never do.

                                        C Offline
                                        C Offline
                                        czahl
                                        wrote last edited by
                                        #35

                                        @sepi Good idea, I was also thinking to use a ESP32 with micropython - makes prototyping much easier and if you like you can easily add a simple web UI.

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