SET UP.
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MATERIALS
[P] #10-32×
6"
setscrews, ( 3)
TOOLS
This project is sized for my
HotPot Simple Solar Cooker,
which has a footprint 11"
square and a reflector array
that fans out 31"× 26" deep
and 14" high. But you can
modify the platform to fit
other cookers, provided that
the photocell, motor, and
wheels will all work together.
[F] 3V photovoltaic cell
powerful enough to drive
your motor, such as item
#4-3.0-100 from Solar World
(
solarworld.com), $16; or
#3037334 from Edmund
Scientific, $20
[Q] Aluminum tube,
¼" O. D., 0.049" thick, at
least ¾" long such as part
#3061 from K&S Engineering
(
ksmetals.com)
[G] Velcro tape, 2"× 4"
strips, industrial strength,
1 package
[R] Brass tube, t" O.D.,
1" I.D., at least 6" long
K&S Engineering #128
[A] ¼" medium-density
fiberboard (MDF) enough
for two 16" square pieces
[H] Aluminum angle,
¾"×¾"×W" thick,
6' length or use ¼" thick
[S] #4-40×½" machine
screw, round head, with
nut and washer, ½" long
[B] Non-swivel wheel
assemblies, 28" tall ( 3)
One of them must have a
removable axle. Check a local
hardware store.
[I] Corner braces:
¾"×¾"×½" wide ( 3);
1"× 1"×½" wide ( 1)
[T] #8-32×½" machine
screws, flathead, with nuts,
( 16)
[J] Rubber feet, at least
2" tall, package of 4 with
screws
[C] 0.025" aluminum
sheet, 6"× 18"
[K] Fender washers,
¼" I.D., 1¼" O.D. ( 3)
[U] ¼- 20 nuts:
»
1" thick ( 2)
» y" thick ( 5)
» stop nut ( 1)
»
1" thick jam nuts ( 2)
Photography by Thomas R. Hughes
[D] 3V, 1rpm motor with
enough torque to rotate the
turntable and a diameter
smaller than the wheels,
such as part #3041327
from Edmund Scientific
(
scientificsonline.com), $25;
or #A3Z16-0010A from
SDP/SI (
sdp-si.com), $30
[L] Nylon washer with
I.D. at least ¼" and O.D.
between
4" and 2"
[NOT SHOWN]
[M] ¼- 20 machine screws:
round head, 1½" long ( 1);
round head, 2" long ( 1);
flathead, 3½" long ( 2)
Solar cooker Visit makezine.
com/22/solartracker for
sources
Electrical tape or
liquid electrical tape
» Drawing compass with at
least a 7½" radius
103 Make:
