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Re: [TowerTalk] [Bulk] Cutting a FT-240 type 33...in half ??

To: Jim Thomson <jim.thom@telus.net>, towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] [Bulk] Cutting a FT-240 type 33...in half ??
From: Grant Saviers <grants2@pacbell.net>
Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2015 08:31:18 -0800
List-post: <towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
First, why is 393 a requirement? RG142 silver center/double silver braid is rated 2000w at 50Mhz. I've been using 142 for several years at QRO in 240-31 wound chokes and not had a problem. Then the big snap-ons will fit. I use the big box plastic junction boxes, Carlon or Thomas & Betts. 4x4x4, 6x6x4 and 6x6x6 are large enough depending on the core count.

Ferrite cutting/shaping is done with diamond tools and lots of water based coolant flushing. I tile saw will cut it. One requirement for the expected inductance is the surfaces mate precisely, a few microinch surface roughness. I don't think a tile saw will produce flat enough or smooth enough mating surfaces. Look at the flatness/finish on the big clamp-ons, that is what is needed. The gap affect can be measured by measuring inductance cut/not cut and calculating the equivalent air gap. I have a $50 Harbor Freight tile saw for cutting fiberglass stock and tubing - works fine for that, but does make a mess.

A surface grinder with a thin (0.035") diamond saw will make a satisfactory cut and finish but it is a tedious cut with usually a slow "plunge cut" automatic downfeed. It is also very very messy and the grinder owner may reject the job on that basis. Beside very high hardness, the ferrite particles are very abrasive. In a previous life I was engaged in ferrite cutting and shaping for recording heads, the grinders only did that and were totally enclosed. Depending on the ferrite composition there might be some cobalt or other hazardous trace elements that are a concern. Perhaps a tower-talkian knows the type 31 composition.

At one time I rebuilt a surface grinder from a WE microwave ferrite making operation - quite a mess. Another common ferrite grinding operation was making deflection coil armatures for precision CRT's.

Grant KZ1W


On 2/9/2015 9:55 PM, Jim Thomson wrote:
Ok, I have a requirement where an additional  one or two x  2.4 inch OD, type 
33 cores needs  to be added to  an existing choke balun.
Since each end of the RG-393 silver plated + teflon coax is already silver 
soldered to a 7-16 DIN connector  at each end of the nema box,
I would rather not have to take the entire assy apart.  Major pita.    393 coax 
has TWO  silver plated braids, and in this case, each of the braids has been 
carefully
separated at each end, and each braid is silver soldered to a lug,  that is 
bolted to  the 7-16 din connector flange, via the SS  8-32 machine screws.
IE: 2 of the 4 corners of each 7-16 din female coax connector gets a braid 
attachment.

Can a 2.4 inch OD, 1.4 inch ID, type 33 toroid  be cut in half, edges sanded,  
then  placed around the existing  4-5 turns of 393 coax, then
held together via glue, ty-raps, both, or some other method ???   I have an 
excellent H-V bandsaw, made for cutting steel, hard steel, and AL.
IE: 80-120-200 ft per minute.   It would slice through a toroid very quickly.   
If what I propose is feasible, it would save me a lot of grief.
I already checked, and the big, type 43 snap on types  will not fit, since they 
only have a 1 inch ID.

Tnx...... Jim   VE7RF



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