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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Posts
    173

    Dead Microwave Oven

    My microwave went belly up. I was getting ready to put it in the trash and then it occurred to me that there might be something in it that I could use on my CNC Router. Is there?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Posts
    1
    I've seen what looks like limit switches in most microwaves.
    BTW, did you know that you can make an arc welder from the transformers?
    But, you need 8 of them - big ones - and you have to rewind the secondaries -
    (too much work for me)

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Posts
    524
    See Bubba's guide to rewinding the power transformer.

    The big magnets can sometimes be handy to have around.

    Ken
    Kenneth Lerman
    55 Main Street
    Newtown, CT 06470

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538
    Quote Originally Posted by lerman
    See Bubba's guide to rewinding the power transformer.
    http://www.cnczone.com/modules.php?n...warticle&id=27
    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Posts
    226
    Things I have used from dead microwaves...not all CNC

    Micro switches
    Relays
    Display
    Turntable motor (for Artsy-fartsy project)
    Transformer (rewound secondary for CNC) {Thanks for the how-to, Bubba!}
    Magnets (handy chuck-key holder at drill press)
    Sheet metal cabinet (cut up for anything and everything)
    Glass tray
    Bulb socket
    Fan
    Misc hardware

    Waste not, want not, ya know
    It's not the dime that it saves, it's the hour round trip to town.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Posts
    190
    If you rewind the hi-V of the trafo to very low V (say 1V to 3V using 3 turns of 1/2"), then you will have a very high A trafo (say 500A for 2KW trafo), that is useful for, by example, to make a spot welder capable of welding steel sheet of about 1/10"

    Not sure if useful for you, but I can assure is funny.

    /Fer

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Posts
    173
    Bad news gang. Decided I just put the meter to it just to make sure it wasn't easily repairable. (It's always been my experience that they aren't). Found a blown fuse deep inside. Got it working again. I realize the blown fuse means there's something else wrong, but with my luck it'll just work from now on. My wife thinks it would be stupid to gut it while it still works. Thanks for all the tips.

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