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Super Glue Gun 09: How to Make a Stand -- Episode 318

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element14's The Ben Heck Show

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Super Glue Gun
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Previously, the team worked on all the individual parts and mechanisms within the super glue gun including the trigger, the circuitry, the hot end, the auto stand, and the extruder motor.  Now it’s time to bring things together to make a cohesive prototype.  They’ll also work on case design and how it works with the autostand.

 

 

Ben’s been drawing sketches for the case design to figure out placement of the innards. The bottom half will contain the electronics and the top half will bolt onto that and contain the motor, the hot end, and the auto retracting servo. He does a quick mockup with clay to get an idea of the concept in hand.  This will help him visualize how the stand will fit in with the enclosure.

Ben and Karen have a brainstorming session so they can take an in-depth look at the stand. They received some feedback in a previous episode about how the stand could get in the way, become a false trigger, and other problems.  For the stand to work it would have to be used to place the glue gun on a flat surface.  For that to happen they need a workable extension retraction but because it would extend past the gun barrel there is some concern that it will get gummed up.  To address these concerns, Ben returns to his sketchpad to try and come up with a new design.

Next, Ben begins working on a new 3D model in Autodesk Fusion 360. Karen and Ben both agree that it would be beneficial if the gun was longer. This also means that he’ll also need to make some adjustments to the code to accommodate the temperature difference in the hot end.  While their original goal was to come up with a mechanism to operate their auto stand, in doing so they come to the realization that they’ll need to redesign almost the entire top portion of the gun, rotating the motor 90 degrees, and adjusting the positioning (possibly swapping out for a bigger one) of the heating elements.

 

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  • why not use a spring loaded stand. it could shoot out the front and have a ratchet so you could push (or pull with a trigger) it back in as far as you wanted. then you could use it as a stand, a strand catcher or even a rest for the shaky handed among us to glue a straight line. I imagine it would be cheaper as it would use less parts (perhaps) As long as you were able to retrack it using one hand I am sure it would still qualify as Super.

     

  • in reply to gavmo

    Would it still be automatic? Ben is set on having it activated by a trigger being electrical not simply mechanical.

  • in reply to makerkaren

    I was thinking mechanical, however in thinking about it again I'm not sure a stand is the right way to go at all. Glue guns sit tilted forward so any remaining glue runs straight out the nozzle, not back into or onto the gun. You have already solved the excess glue problem with the retracting glue-stick so is there any need for it so sit titled that way? I find the main reason glue guns don't sit very well on the fold out stand are because of the cable. If you made it cordless it could sit on the handle like a cordless drill. The weight of the battery would be more that the motor so it would wouldn't tip to the side and would be much easier and convenient to use.

  • in reply to gavmo

    An interesting idea. I'll have to run the cordless idea past Ben. We've already discussed the stand solution being making the base wider thus more stable. And he's very aware of how the cord causes stability issues. Good thinking!

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