Magic Garden

[Screwdriver]

I'm sure we've all heard of these chemical marvels. Well I am making a set as a Christmas gift and the first thing I need is a nice "display" tank.

Original design:



4mm acrylic sheet (which is overkill but all I had on hand). Slots into the uprights with relief built in to accommodate silicon sealant. The sides print separately so they can print flat and give me nicely printed long slots but that does mean I need to be cautious with the corner join regarding sealing.

So this updated version has a tongued section and a horizontal aperture to collect the squeeze out and form a perfect seal.



I was going to have an internal manifold to allow more of the silicon to form even more of a seal and also stop it squeezing out all over the place. Especially inside the tank where you can't get to for cleanup. But instead, I used copious amounts of masking tape and very fine joins which should let me just strip off any excess.



...and for version 2, I covered the entire inner surface. Not too many actual photos while my hands and the entire workspace are covered in silicon!



Because it must not leak!




Corner detail:



...and it does not leak!



At least, not yet. Now I just need to make up a box for all the metal salts, form some baubles (better to use lumps of salt rather than the fine granular form) and hope it works. I should do a quick test I suppose.

 

[Mark 2]

What does it do?

 

[Kram]

If any of the silicone lifts the liquid will find its way under and out. I would have chosen a bolted design with a gasket oring cord seal rather than a slot with silicone.

 

[indykid]

If any of the silicone lifts the liquid will find its way under and out. I would have chosen a bolted design with a gasket oring cord seal rather than a slot with silicone.

How many bolted fish tanks have you seen?

I'd make a bund to use for the first week in case any of the printing is porous but given the head or lack thereof, I'm sure any amount of silicone will be absolutely fine

 

[Screwdriver]

What does it do?

Full instructions also. PS sodium silicate is useful for all sorts of experiments. I made a forge liner out of some!

 

[Screwdriver]

If any of the silicone lifts the liquid will find its way under and out. I would have chosen a bolted design with a gasket oring cord seal rather than a slot with silicone.

I can't see it lifting. If you look at the model, there are two interior channels for the silicon to flow into, under pressure. One full perimeter seal on the outside, another on the inside and (for good measure) all the way around the edges.

The corner bevel was my biggest concern but that gets its own internal seal, a full gasket and is encapsulated in an outer jacket.

I put quite a bit of thought into this and the above model has some complexity to it that you might not see first glance. like I said, I was considering an entire internal manifold for the silicon to flow into. But the "plunger", i.e. that tongue sticking out of the bottom of the sides, did a great job of pumping excess silicon all the way through the model to form a complete sealing ring.

The parts click lock together so that the silicon does not need to 'stick" to the PETG (good job too because it doesn't!), nor does it need to stick to the acrylic (likewise). You might be right and some time in the future it could develop a leak if dropped/disturbed but it's for Christmas, one shot then dump the lot down the sink carefully dispose of the waste material.

 

[Seadog]

Full instructions also. PS sodium silicate is useful for all sorts of experiments. I made a forge liner out of some!

That takes me back.

 

[indykid]

it's for Christmas, one shot then dump the lot down the sink carefully dispose of the waste material.

Leave it in a corner of the garden where you don't want anything to grown and if nature wants it, it'll take it.

My Dad's been getting rid of grotty pots of brake fluid like that for years......intentionally or not