This is my second straight key design. The first was designed to be light and portable. The Brass Lever Straight Key is built to make it easier to adjust the contact and magnet gap. Mounting holes have been added to this design so it can be mounted to a nice base.
The first prototype worked well, functionally. To reduce total number of printed parts, the 2 pieces where the upper contact and upper magnet are connected were combined. Making the lever sit closer to the base made it more comfortable to operate.
To test how sturdy the prototype was, I allowed my structural testing department (My 2 yr old toddler) to perform rigorous tests. Results showed that the design could benefit from a slight change were the pivot meets the base. After a few modifications, the current prototype was printed.
A different knob is going to be put on this unit. Currently several different designs are being refined. Exotic wood will be used as the base to give weight and a nice look. Come back soon to see these additions and results from basic testing!!
See the full build on my project page. https://km4nmp.com/projects/
- 2:1 Balun For 2m/6m
- 1:1 Choke For 2m and 6m
- 2m Delta Loop Ver 2
- 2m Delta Loop
- Finishing The 6m Delta Loop With 2:1 Balun
KM4NMP 