CTI ProDAT modification

This is what I came up with. I designed a spacer that would fit inside the body of the ProDAT. I printed it out on a label, and stuck it to a piece of 0.032" thick aluminum. While the piece of aluminum was still big, I drilled a 1/4" hole in the center of the spacer. I used a sacrificial piece of 1/4" plywood as a "zero clearance" device for the cutting of the spacer.

Very, VERY carefully, I cut out the spacer with the bandsaw. Yes, it was scary cutting such a small, relatively intricate piece with such a big saw. But I was successful. I did the final shaping of the spacer with a 1" stationary sander.

I refined the shape of the spacer with the sander until it fit into the ProDAT body. I also sanded the "flash" off the back of the spacer to make sure it was a uniform thickness. I think it'll work! Now I have selections of -2, -3, -4, -5, -6, -7, -8, and -9 seconds. I can drill the two delays for my cluster one second apart.

I wonder what I'll obsess about next...

Wow, I want that.

Shaking my head...

watermelonman said:

Wow, I want that.

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As soon as I get a laser cutter or a Flow Jet, I'll make one for everybody!

o1d_dude said:

Shaking my head...

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I knew you'd be impressed.

qquake2k said:

As soon as I get a laser cutter or a Flow Jet, I'll make one for everybody!



I knew you'd be impressed.

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Shaking my head because "it was scary cutting such a small, relatively intricate piece with such a big saw" was your better judgement calling attention to your band saw guides being set so high for a thin piece of sheet metal. :y:

Nag, nag, nag.

totally makes sense to me. Yes- Mom had me tested.....

Yes, it works. So would have a drill bit alone. Just measure the hole by 32nds until your desired delay. I do it consistently successfully. A whole lot easier!

o1d_dude said:

Shaking my head because "it was scary cutting such a small, relatively intricate piece with such a big saw" was your better judgement calling attention to your band saw guides being set so high for a thin piece of sheet metal. :y:

Nag, nag, nag.

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Hey, if the guide is too low, it would block my view of the tiny little piece of metal.

fyrwrxz said:

totally makes sense to me. Yes- Mom had me tested.....

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My mom never had me tested. I had to discover my issues on my own.

jimzcatz said:

Yes, it works. So would have a drill bit alone. Just measure the hole by 32nds until your desired delay. I do it consistently successfully. A whole lot easier!

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But not nearly as much fun!

Our kids did the same thing for their TARC flights. I think they needed to raise up the notch by .030" which perfectly matched some plastic we had. They simply cut out a few small squares and glued them in place with white glue so that they could be removed in the future.

Take a look at the ears on the piece that has the drill on/in it (post#4 picture 5 left and right of drill bit). If you have 2 ProDat tools you could remove 1/32nd off of each ear's tip and then the modified tool would allow the delays to be -10, -8, -6, -4, -2 and the unmodified tool -9 thru -3 thus having even more delays since you would now be able to have -10 thru -2. Just a note, there is space between the 2 pieces of the Prodat tool that would be where the material would be removed from. Make sense?

I've use a hand nibbler for shaping small 1/16" sheet aluminum parts. Much safer than most power tools.
Also great if you need to cut out square holes. I picked mine up at Radio Shack many years ago for around $10. Don't know if they still carry this item.

dch said:

I've use a hand nibbler for shaping small 1/16" sheet aluminum parts. Much safer than most power tools.
Also great if you need to cut out square holes. I picked mine up at Radio Shack many years ago for around $10. Don't know if they still carry this item.

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I used to have one of those years ago. No idea whatever happened to it.