duffy
Well-Known Member
A few years ago I picked up this curious electromechanical gadget at American Science and Surplus. They didn't know what it was, or where it came from.
![whatsit.jpg whatsit.jpg](https://www.electro-tech-online.com/data/attachments/49/49470-6e4e0eaad4c9ef5b70e84373d052c40d.jpg)
There are no markings on it, other than the labels from the company that made the stepper motors. It has 3 steppers in an x, y and z gantry configuration with limit switch optos. Each of the 3 lead screws has a different pitch. Together they move a "nozzle" assembly.
![whatsit3.jpg whatsit3.jpg](https://www.electro-tech-online.com/data/attachments/49/49471-4c05386e662d38f5c0113ceb81f5f7f0.jpg)
The white part is ceramic. There is a barbed fitting for gas or fluid to this. There is also a barbed fitting to that part underneath it that resembles a showerhead. These two heads are in a fixed relation with a half-inch gap between them.
I've had this thing sitting around my office for a while, getting a lot of comments and theories as to what it might be. Maybe someone here knows?
![whatsit.jpg whatsit.jpg](https://www.electro-tech-online.com/data/attachments/49/49470-6e4e0eaad4c9ef5b70e84373d052c40d.jpg)
There are no markings on it, other than the labels from the company that made the stepper motors. It has 3 steppers in an x, y and z gantry configuration with limit switch optos. Each of the 3 lead screws has a different pitch. Together they move a "nozzle" assembly.
![whatsit3.jpg whatsit3.jpg](https://www.electro-tech-online.com/data/attachments/49/49471-4c05386e662d38f5c0113ceb81f5f7f0.jpg)
The white part is ceramic. There is a barbed fitting for gas or fluid to this. There is also a barbed fitting to that part underneath it that resembles a showerhead. These two heads are in a fixed relation with a half-inch gap between them.
I've had this thing sitting around my office for a while, getting a lot of comments and theories as to what it might be. Maybe someone here knows?