1.1.2 Sticking the Parts Together
In this section, you will glue everything together.
The diagram below shows how each of the parts you cut out in the previous subsection comes together.
Try to keep this diagram in mind as you go through with this subsection.
- Construct the box
Glue,
- B: the base
- FC: front cover
- BC: back cover
- SC-L: side cover left
- SC-R: side cover right
- CB-T: control box top
- CB-S: control box side
together.
You should have something that looks like this (but without the top cover):
At this stage (perhaps before actually gluing everything together), if you have access to your electronics, you might like to try placing the mist diffuser and water pump to check that it fits.
(steps between temporary deleted)
- Seal
Using a silicon sealing (the ones you use for your bathtub are fine, but you can get special ones for acrylic. Ask people who make home aquariums.) to seal all sides of the box, especially the control box.
Don't worry if you mess up (like me) and get a horrible smudge on the side. You can clean it up anytime later, or just paint over it.
- Test Watertightness
This is the most important part of the construction of this machine, to ensure that your house doesn't burn down.
Do everything you can think of to check that your box is watertight.
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Close up the holes (for the fan and the cables) temporarily, and dunk the base of the box in water. Check no water seeps through overnight.
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Do the opposite. Fill up the entire box with water, and check no water seeps out overnight.
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Fill up the Control Box with water and check it doesn't leak.
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Put water and shake.
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Spray with running water. Check the seals don't come off.
- Decorate
At this stage, your box should look like this (but without the fan):
Now may be a good time to decorate your box.
You may try giving it a smoky look by sanding the top and bottom with course sandpaper:
Or spray paint it white:
Whatever suits your senses.
Your box is now ready! Let's move on to building the electronics.