- #1
jxmiller
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I am not an engineer in the sense that I have been educated in or work in that field. Just wanted to get that out of the way.
I am having a problem mostly with types of connectors. I have a design idea (will spare the details for now) that includes the need for replacing a 36 to 38 awg single strand nichrome wire once a month or so. I don't want to have people use solder... I would like it to be more modular. Most of the problem is space limitations. I need something roughly 1mm to 3mm (length width height). My first thought was alligator clips. I have not been able to find any small enough. My second thought was to use eyeglass sized screws which is what I am leaning towards now. Ideally though it would not require tools (like the alligator clip). Also thought of the old speaker wire terminals.
http://www.electronix.com/catalog/images/11-512.jpg
But out of all of these things the screw type terminal is what I end up with. I forgot to mention that the connector or terminal needs to be heat resistant of up to 350-400 C. This means no common speaker wire terminal.
A second idea I had is a little more complex and mildly negates the need to have replacement connections to a degree. The problem I am having here is "engineering" the connection once again. This is a circular type of configuration that would have 2+ nichrome wires instead of one. A knob on the outside of the device could be used to turn the circle on the inside. Turning it I imagine it "clicking" into place just enough to hold and make an electrical connection to the top most section. Making this connection is the current problem. I will try to post a picture or make a video with a model made out of paper clips or something...
I have this feeling that this will be hard to understand and I preemptively apologize for not being able to explain it better nor being able to currently provide any sort of schematic to demonstrate what it is I am talking about.
Perhaps I just need to get the wording right. How about a miniature copper wire connection that will make a connection when turning a knob such that once the connection is made the knob gains resistance (to turning) so that the user knows it has made the connection. turning the knob with a little bit of extra force will disconnect the current connection and rotate the circle so that the next connection can be made.
Thanks for any insight here.
I am having a problem mostly with types of connectors. I have a design idea (will spare the details for now) that includes the need for replacing a 36 to 38 awg single strand nichrome wire once a month or so. I don't want to have people use solder... I would like it to be more modular. Most of the problem is space limitations. I need something roughly 1mm to 3mm (length width height). My first thought was alligator clips. I have not been able to find any small enough. My second thought was to use eyeglass sized screws which is what I am leaning towards now. Ideally though it would not require tools (like the alligator clip). Also thought of the old speaker wire terminals.
http://www.electronix.com/catalog/images/11-512.jpg
But out of all of these things the screw type terminal is what I end up with. I forgot to mention that the connector or terminal needs to be heat resistant of up to 350-400 C. This means no common speaker wire terminal.
A second idea I had is a little more complex and mildly negates the need to have replacement connections to a degree. The problem I am having here is "engineering" the connection once again. This is a circular type of configuration that would have 2+ nichrome wires instead of one. A knob on the outside of the device could be used to turn the circle on the inside. Turning it I imagine it "clicking" into place just enough to hold and make an electrical connection to the top most section. Making this connection is the current problem. I will try to post a picture or make a video with a model made out of paper clips or something...
I have this feeling that this will be hard to understand and I preemptively apologize for not being able to explain it better nor being able to currently provide any sort of schematic to demonstrate what it is I am talking about.
Perhaps I just need to get the wording right. How about a miniature copper wire connection that will make a connection when turning a knob such that once the connection is made the knob gains resistance (to turning) so that the user knows it has made the connection. turning the knob with a little bit of extra force will disconnect the current connection and rotate the circle so that the next connection can be made.
Thanks for any insight here.
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