Open Source Ecology - User contributions [en]

Wanted Items

2011-04-30T07:16:25Z

ScottSEA: /* General */

=General=

#metal stakes, fence posts, other posts for fencing and staking of trees
#pipe wrenches; wrench, socket, screwdriver, drilling bit sets
#nuts, bolts, screws, fasteners of all types
#Metal- shafts, rods, tubing, sheet, bar, etc - aluminum and steel
#Lumber - studs, 4x4s, 4x8 sheets
#chicken wire, fencing
#hand tools, garden tools (shovels, rakes, etc), power tools
#hammers, crowbars, pickaxes, wedges, and deconstruction equipment
#rope, wire, chain, electrical wire, electrical cords (broken ok)
#poly tubbing, rubber hose, fuel line, PVC pipe, garden hoses (broken ok)
#canned food, quart jars
#rebar, cement
#manure, pots, soil, organic fertilizer, strawbales
#beehives, bees, honey extractor
#5 gallon buckets - ''check with local drywall and painting businesses they sometimes have stacks and stacks of these''
#1/4 hp and higher electric motors
#hinges, shelving
#Exterior paint; wood varnish, wood shellac (for cordwood building finish)
#Good gloves needed for work doing a ''lot'' of handling of rough materials. Most cheap gloves wear out within 1-3 days.

=Plants=

This includes seed, nut, cuttings, divisions, etc:

#Excess or unwanted full-size fruit/nut/berry trees/plants for propagation and transplanting (such as when you're taking out a tree)
#Plants for propagation by cuttings, rood division, etc -
##Cold temperature kiwi
##Nanking cherry
##Yellow, full size sweet cherry
##Gooseberries, currants
##Aronia viking cultivar
##Trazels and hazelnuts (blight resistant)
#Diversity of other useful, edible plants
##Perennial garlic
##Perennial parsnips
##Perennial onion

According to the book "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell,
The hunter-gatherer [[Wikipedia:ǃKung people |ǃKung people ]] work no more than 19 hours a week.
They do not grow any plants or raise any animals, but subsist mainly on perennial fruits, berries, roots, and nuts.
When a bushman was asked once why his people hadn't taken to agriculture, he looked puzzled and said,
"Why should we plant, when there are so many [[Wikipedia: mongongo nut| mongongo nut]]s in the world?"

=Books=

#Hartmann and Kester, [http://www.amazon.com/Hartmann-Kesters-Plant-Propagation-Principles/dp/0136792359 Plant Propagation Principles]

Richard: I have this book ^^, i didnt have enough space to bring it with me to CDA. Ill bring it out next time. I have several others as well:

The Nature and Properties of Soils: Nyle C Brady, Ray R. Weil
Introduction to Environmental Soil Physics: Daniel Hillel
Home Horticulture: Principles and Practices: Marietta Loehrelein
Textbook of Dendrology: Ninth Edition: Hardin, Leopold, White
Environmental Science: G. Tyler Miller, Scott Spoolman
Welding: The fundamentals of welding, cutting, brazing, soldering, and surfacing of metals

#'''The Second Industrial Divide''' by Piore
#''Fruit and Nut Production'' by Brenda Olcott-Reid and William Reid, 2007
#''The Creature from Jekyll Island''

[[Category:Materials]]

Carbonized Chicken Feathers

2011-04-30T07:03:01Z

ScottSEA: /* Relevant Abstract */

Carbonized chicken feathers (heated or "baked" in the absence of oxygen) appear to have some very interesting structural properties, similar to carbon nanotubes. However, carbon nanotubes are much more expensive and consume large amounts of energy during production. This means that the market for them favors large-scale, capital-intensive modes of production. In contrast, chicken feathers are a byproduct of the poultry industry with disposal costs and currently little use. A publication in 2009 showed that carbonized chicken feathers can store large amounts of hydrogen and hence may be useful for hydrogen-powered vehicles ([http://portal.acs.org/portal/acs/corg/content?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=PP_ARTICLEMAIN&node_id=222&content_id=CNBP_022276&use_sec=true&sec_url_var=region1&__uuid= source]). But the more interesting application may be the mechanical strength of these fibers. It may be possible to embed them in a thermoplastic resin and weave very thin strands of these composites into super-strong yet dirt-cheap fibers and fabrics. The abstract below has some details on the carbonization process.

==Relevant Abstract==
found here: http://acs.confex.com/acs/green07/techprogram/P41563.HTM
Friday, 29 June 2007 - 10:10 AM
New York Room (Capital Hilton Hotel) 209
'''Carbon microtubes from chicken feathers'''
''by Melissa E. N. Miller, University of Delaware, Newark, DE and Richard P. Wool, University of Delaware, Newark, DE.''
<blockquote>
In the United States alone, 5 billion pounds of poultry feathers are generated annually and must be properly disposed. This creates land-fill disposal and potential health problems. This research uses this waste as a valuable feedstock for new, high-performance, bio-based materials. Containing 47.83% carbon, chicken feathers are hollow and strong in nature due to the 91% keratin content. This study takes the use of chicken feathers one step further, by carbonizing them to create strong, inexpensive, hollow fibers. Current research shows that with the carbonization method of heating the chicken feathers at 225 °C for 26 hours, followed by 2 hours at 450 °C in a nitrogen environment, results in carbonized fibers which maintain their hollow structure. These fibers are added to a soybean oil-based resin to make biocomposites. We are seeing a 236% increase in the composite storage modulus at 35 °C, from 0.639 GPa with 0% fiber to 2.145 GPa with 3.45 wt% fiber. The extracted fiber modulus is on the order of 142 GPa, comparable to low/medium modulus carbon fiber. Density gradient experiments show a density in the range of 1.325–1.43 g/cm3. The aspect ratio is ~102. Wide-angle X-ray scattering shows an interplanar spacing (d002) of 4.4 Å in the raw chicken feathers, and a structural change showing 3.36 Å for carbonized chicken feathers, similar to 3.43 Å found in commercial carbon fiber. The potential applications range from use in the aerospace industry to airbags, catalysts, ligament repairs, batteries, hydrogen storage, and fuel cells. This project was supported by the National Research Initiative of the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service, grant number 2005-35504-16137.
</blockquote>

==Relevant Links==
* [http://gradworks.umi.com/14/44/1444662.html Characterization of carbonized chicken feathers]
* [http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090623120833.htm Article on ScienceDaily about hydrogen storage in chicken feathers]
* [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32175178/ns/technology_and_science-green_innovation/ interesting electron microscopy image of carbonized chicken feathers]
* (Audio) ScienceFriday: [http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/200906261 Hydrogen Storage in Chicken Feathers?]
* [http://www.che.udel.edu/research_groups/wool/research/research.html Richard P. Wool lab at Univ. of Delaware]

[[Category:Food and Agriculture]]
[[Category:Energy]]
[[Category:Materials]]

Metal Casting and Extrusion

2011-04-30T06:43:20Z

ScottSEA: /* Casting Furnaces */

{{Site header}}

[[Image:metalcastingicon.jpg|right]]
----
Metal Casting and Extrusion (MCE)- metals from the waste stream, and eventually aluminum from clay - may be turned into valuable forms or extruded profiles. Engine blocks, structural metals, wire, and many other uses abound. This is doable with local compressed gas sources as the source of heat.

=Introduction=

==Project Specification==

The open source foundry must be able to melt [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium aluminum] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cast_iron cast iron].

;Melting point of aluminum
: ~1220°F
;Melting point of cast iron
: 2192 °F

==Babington Burner Research==

Warning: if you coil your supply fuel line around your combustion tube for preheating, then if your fuel supply runs out or the pump stops, the fuel in your fuel line will heat up to the temperature of the burner (about 1200 degrees F), which is above the flashpoint for most fuels. If your fuel flow stops for more than a few seconds, is it safest to wait 10-15 minutes until everything cools, then try restart the burner. I once didn't wait, and had superheated oil flow into my sump and start it on fire - not good![http://www.aipengineering.com/babington/Babington_Oil_Burner_HOWTO.html]

[http://www.green-trust.org/2000/biofuel/babington/default.htm Babington burners on Green-Trust.org.]

==Foundry Research==
*[http://www.backyardmetalcasting.com/index.html www.backyardmetalcasting.com]
*[http://www.budgetcastingsupply.com/Informative_Reading.html www.budgetcastingsupply.com]
*[http://www.backyardmetalcasting.com/harriette01.html www.backyardmetalcasting.com/harriette01.html]
*[http://www.lindsaybks.com/bks7/chas1/index.html www.lindsaybks.com/bks7/chas1/index.html]

=Casting Furnaces=

There are several types of casting furnaces which include Electric Arc furnaces, Blast furnaces, Cornwall Iron Furnace, etc. The electric arc furnace can be described as a furnace heating charged materials by the way of an electric arc. The Blast Furnace can be referred to as a kind of metallurgical furnace, through which the process of smelting takes place.

Blast Furnaces produce metals, normally iron. These furnaces trace their origin to China (around 500 BC). Electric Arc furnaces exist in all the sizes, from the smallest one having a capacity of around one ton to the largest one having a capacity of 400 tons. The former is used in foundries to produce cast iron products, whereas the latter one is used for secondary steel making.[http://www.metalcastingzone.com/casting-furnaces/]

=Collaboration=
==Review of Project Status==
== MCE - Current Work==
== MCE - Developments Needed==
=== MCE - General===
=== MCE - Specific===
==== MCE - Background Debriefing====
==== MCE - Information Work====
==== MCE - Hardware Work====
== MCE - Sign-in==

=Development Work Template=
#[[MCE - Product Definition]]
##[[MCE - General]]
##[[MCE - General Scope]]
##[[MCE - Product Ecology]]
###[[MCE - Localization]]
###[[MCE - Scaleability]]
###[[MCE - Analysis of Scale]]
###[[MCE - Lifecycle Analysis]]
##[[MCE - Enterprise Options]]
##[[MCE - Development Approach]]
###[[MCE - Timeline]]
###[[MCE - Development Budget]]
####[[MCE - Value Spent]]
####[[MCE - Value available]]
####[[MCE - Value needed]]
##[[MCE - Deliverables and Product Specifications]]
##[[MCE - Industry Standards]]
##[[MCE - Market and Market Segmentation]]
##[[MCE - Salient Features and Keys to Success]]
#[[MCE - Technical Design]]
##[[MCE - Product System Design]]
###[[MCE - Diagrams and Conceptual Drawings]]
####[[MCE - Pattern Language Icons]]
####[[MCE - Structural Diagram]]
####[[MCE - Funcional or Process Diagram]]
####[[MCE - Workflow]]
###[[MCE - Technical Issues]]
###[[MCE - Deployment Strategy]]
###[[MCE - Performance specifications]]
###[[MCE - Calculations]]
####[[MCE - Design Calculations]]
####[[MCE - Yields]]
####[[MCE - Rates]]
####[[MCE - Structural Calculations]]
####[[MCE - Power Requirements]]
####[[MCE - Ergonomics of Production]]
####[[MCE -Time Requirements]]
####[[MCE - Economic Breakeven Analysis]]
####[[MCE - Scaleability Calculations]]
####[[MCE - Growth Calculations]]
###[[MCE - Technical Drawings and CAD]]
###[[MCE - CAM Files]]
##[[MCE - Component Design]]
###[[MCE - Diagrams]]
###[[MCE - Conceptual drawings]]
###[[MCE - Performance specifications]]
###[[MCE - Performance calculations]]
###[[MCE - Technical drawings and CAD]]
###[[MCE - CAM files whenever available]]
##[[MCE - Subcomponents]]
#[[MCE - Deployment and Results]]
##[[MCE - Production steps]]
##[[MCE - Flexible Fabrication or Production]]
##[[MCE - Bill of materials]]
##[[MCE - Pictures and Video]]
##[[MCE - Data]]
#[[MCE - Documentation and Education]]
##[[MCE - Documentation]]
##[[MCE - Enterprise Plans]]
#[[MCE - Resource Development]]
##[[MCE - Identifying Stakeholders]]
###[[MCE - Information Collaboration]]
####[[MCE - Wiki Markup]]
####[[MCE - Addition of Supporting References]]
####[[MCE - Production of diagrams, flowcharts, 3D computer models, and other qualitative information architecture]]
####[[MCE - Technical Calculations, Drawings, CAD, CAM, other]]
###[[MCE - Prototyping]]
###[[MCE - Funding]]
###[[MCE - Preordering working products]]
###[[MCE - Grantwriting]]
###[[MCE - Publicity]]
###[[MCE - User/Fabricator Training and Accreditation]]
###[[MCE - Standards and Certification Developmen]]
###[[MCE - Other]]
##[[MCE - Grantwriting]]
###[[MCE - Volunteer grantwriters]]
###[[MCE - Professional, Outcome-Based Grantwriters]]
##[[MCE - Collaborative Stakeholder Funding]]
##[[MCE - Tool and Material Donations]]
##[[MCE - Charitable Contributions]]

== related projects ==

* [[foundry]]
* [[Metal Casting]]
* [[Investment Casting]]
* [[Plastic Extrusion & Molding]]
* [[Open Source Fab Lab]]
* [[bicycle technology]]

[[Category:Metalworks]]
[[Category:Digital Fabrication]]

Metal Casting and Extrusion

2011-04-30T06:41:45Z

ScottSEA: /* Foundry Research */

{{Site header}}

[[Image:metalcastingicon.jpg|right]]
----
Metal Casting and Extrusion (MCE)- metals from the waste stream, and eventually aluminum from clay - may be turned into valuable forms or extruded profiles. Engine blocks, structural metals, wire, and many other uses abound. This is doable with local compressed gas sources as the source of heat.

=Introduction=

==Project Specification==

The open source foundry must be able to melt [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium aluminum] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cast_iron cast iron].

;Melting point of aluminum
: ~1220°F
;Melting point of cast iron
: 2192 °F

==Babington Burner Research==

Warning: if you coil your supply fuel line around your combustion tube for preheating, then if your fuel supply runs out or the pump stops, the fuel in your fuel line will heat up to the temperature of the burner (about 1200 degrees F), which is above the flashpoint for most fuels. If your fuel flow stops for more than a few seconds, is it safest to wait 10-15 minutes until everything cools, then try restart the burner. I once didn't wait, and had superheated oil flow into my sump and start it on fire - not good![http://www.aipengineering.com/babington/Babington_Oil_Burner_HOWTO.html]

[http://www.green-trust.org/2000/biofuel/babington/default.htm Babington burners on Green-Trust.org.]

==Foundry Research==
*[http://www.backyardmetalcasting.com/index.html www.backyardmetalcasting.com]
*[http://www.budgetcastingsupply.com/Informative_Reading.html www.budgetcastingsupply.com]
*[http://www.backyardmetalcasting.com/harriette01.html www.backyardmetalcasting.com/harriette01.html]
*[http://www.lindsaybks.com/bks7/chas1/index.html www.lindsaybks.com/bks7/chas1/index.html]

=Casting Furnaces=

There are several types of casting furnaces which include Electric Arc furnaces, Blast furnaces, Cornwall Iron Furnace, etc. The electric arc furnace can be described as a furnace heating charged materials by the way of an electric arc. The Blast Furnace can be referred to as a kind of metallurgical furnace, through which the process of smelting takes place.

Blast Furnaces produce metals, normally iron. These furnaces trace their origin to China (around 500 BC). Electric Arc furnaces exist in all the sizes-right, from the smallest one having a capacity of around 1 ton to the largest one having a capacity of 400 tons. The former one is used in foundries to produce cast iron products, whereas the latter one is used for secondary steel making.[http://www.metalcastingzone.com/casting-furnaces/]

=Collaboration=
==Review of Project Status==
== MCE - Current Work==
== MCE - Developments Needed==
=== MCE - General===
=== MCE - Specific===
==== MCE - Background Debriefing====
==== MCE - Information Work====
==== MCE - Hardware Work====
== MCE - Sign-in==

=Development Work Template=
#[[MCE - Product Definition]]
##[[MCE - General]]
##[[MCE - General Scope]]
##[[MCE - Product Ecology]]
###[[MCE - Localization]]
###[[MCE - Scaleability]]
###[[MCE - Analysis of Scale]]
###[[MCE - Lifecycle Analysis]]
##[[MCE - Enterprise Options]]
##[[MCE - Development Approach]]
###[[MCE - Timeline]]
###[[MCE - Development Budget]]
####[[MCE - Value Spent]]
####[[MCE - Value available]]
####[[MCE - Value needed]]
##[[MCE - Deliverables and Product Specifications]]
##[[MCE - Industry Standards]]
##[[MCE - Market and Market Segmentation]]
##[[MCE - Salient Features and Keys to Success]]
#[[MCE - Technical Design]]
##[[MCE - Product System Design]]
###[[MCE - Diagrams and Conceptual Drawings]]
####[[MCE - Pattern Language Icons]]
####[[MCE - Structural Diagram]]
####[[MCE - Funcional or Process Diagram]]
####[[MCE - Workflow]]
###[[MCE - Technical Issues]]
###[[MCE - Deployment Strategy]]
###[[MCE - Performance specifications]]
###[[MCE - Calculations]]
####[[MCE - Design Calculations]]
####[[MCE - Yields]]
####[[MCE - Rates]]
####[[MCE - Structural Calculations]]
####[[MCE - Power Requirements]]
####[[MCE - Ergonomics of Production]]
####[[MCE -Time Requirements]]
####[[MCE - Economic Breakeven Analysis]]
####[[MCE - Scaleability Calculations]]
####[[MCE - Growth Calculations]]
###[[MCE - Technical Drawings and CAD]]
###[[MCE - CAM Files]]
##[[MCE - Component Design]]
###[[MCE - Diagrams]]
###[[MCE - Conceptual drawings]]
###[[MCE - Performance specifications]]
###[[MCE - Performance calculations]]
###[[MCE - Technical drawings and CAD]]
###[[MCE - CAM files whenever available]]
##[[MCE - Subcomponents]]
#[[MCE - Deployment and Results]]
##[[MCE - Production steps]]
##[[MCE - Flexible Fabrication or Production]]
##[[MCE - Bill of materials]]
##[[MCE - Pictures and Video]]
##[[MCE - Data]]
#[[MCE - Documentation and Education]]
##[[MCE - Documentation]]
##[[MCE - Enterprise Plans]]
#[[MCE - Resource Development]]
##[[MCE - Identifying Stakeholders]]
###[[MCE - Information Collaboration]]
####[[MCE - Wiki Markup]]
####[[MCE - Addition of Supporting References]]
####[[MCE - Production of diagrams, flowcharts, 3D computer models, and other qualitative information architecture]]
####[[MCE - Technical Calculations, Drawings, CAD, CAM, other]]
###[[MCE - Prototyping]]
###[[MCE - Funding]]
###[[MCE - Preordering working products]]
###[[MCE - Grantwriting]]
###[[MCE - Publicity]]
###[[MCE - User/Fabricator Training and Accreditation]]
###[[MCE - Standards and Certification Developmen]]
###[[MCE - Other]]
##[[MCE - Grantwriting]]
###[[MCE - Volunteer grantwriters]]
###[[MCE - Professional, Outcome-Based Grantwriters]]
##[[MCE - Collaborative Stakeholder Funding]]
##[[MCE - Tool and Material Donations]]
##[[MCE - Charitable Contributions]]

== related projects ==

* [[foundry]]
* [[Metal Casting]]
* [[Investment Casting]]
* [[Plastic Extrusion & Molding]]
* [[Open Source Fab Lab]]
* [[bicycle technology]]

[[Category:Metalworks]]
[[Category:Digital Fabrication]]

Metal Casting and Extrusion

2011-04-30T06:39:07Z

ScottSEA: /* Babington Burner Research */

{{Site header}}

[[Image:metalcastingicon.jpg|right]]
----
Metal Casting and Extrusion (MCE)- metals from the waste stream, and eventually aluminum from clay - may be turned into valuable forms or extruded profiles. Engine blocks, structural metals, wire, and many other uses abound. This is doable with local compressed gas sources as the source of heat.

=Introduction=

==Project Specification==

The open source foundry must be able to melt [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium aluminum] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cast_iron cast iron].

;Melting point of aluminum
: ~1220°F
;Melting point of cast iron
: 2192 °F

==Babington Burner Research==

Warning: if you coil your supply fuel line around your combustion tube for preheating, then if your fuel supply runs out or the pump stops, the fuel in your fuel line will heat up to the temperature of the burner (about 1200 degrees F), which is above the flashpoint for most fuels. If your fuel flow stops for more than a few seconds, is it safest to wait 10-15 minutes until everything cools, then try restart the burner. I once didn't wait, and had superheated oil flow into my sump and start it on fire - not good![http://www.aipengineering.com/babington/Babington_Oil_Burner_HOWTO.html]

[http://www.green-trust.org/2000/biofuel/babington/default.htm Babington burners on Green-Trust.org.]

==Foundry Research==
[http://www.backyardmetalcasting.com/index.html]
[http://www.budgetcastingsupply.com/Informative_Reading.html]
[http://www.backyardmetalcasting.com/harriette01.html]
[http://www.lindsaybks.com/bks7/chas1/index.html]

=Casting Furnaces=

There are several types of casting furnaces which include Electric Arc furnaces, Blast furnaces, Cornwall Iron Furnace, etc. The electric arc furnace can be described as a furnace heating charged materials by the way of an electric arc. The Blast Furnace can be referred to as a kind of metallurgical furnace, through which the process of smelting takes place.

Blast Furnaces produce metals, normally iron. These furnaces trace their origin to China (around 500 BC). Electric Arc furnaces exist in all the sizes-right, from the smallest one having a capacity of around 1 ton to the largest one having a capacity of 400 tons. The former one is used in foundries to produce cast iron products, whereas the latter one is used for secondary steel making.[http://www.metalcastingzone.com/casting-furnaces/]

=Collaboration=
==Review of Project Status==
== MCE - Current Work==
== MCE - Developments Needed==
=== MCE - General===
=== MCE - Specific===
==== MCE - Background Debriefing====
==== MCE - Information Work====
==== MCE - Hardware Work====
== MCE - Sign-in==

=Development Work Template=
#[[MCE - Product Definition]]
##[[MCE - General]]
##[[MCE - General Scope]]
##[[MCE - Product Ecology]]
###[[MCE - Localization]]
###[[MCE - Scaleability]]
###[[MCE - Analysis of Scale]]
###[[MCE - Lifecycle Analysis]]
##[[MCE - Enterprise Options]]
##[[MCE - Development Approach]]
###[[MCE - Timeline]]
###[[MCE - Development Budget]]
####[[MCE - Value Spent]]
####[[MCE - Value available]]
####[[MCE - Value needed]]
##[[MCE - Deliverables and Product Specifications]]
##[[MCE - Industry Standards]]
##[[MCE - Market and Market Segmentation]]
##[[MCE - Salient Features and Keys to Success]]
#[[MCE - Technical Design]]
##[[MCE - Product System Design]]
###[[MCE - Diagrams and Conceptual Drawings]]
####[[MCE - Pattern Language Icons]]
####[[MCE - Structural Diagram]]
####[[MCE - Funcional or Process Diagram]]
####[[MCE - Workflow]]
###[[MCE - Technical Issues]]
###[[MCE - Deployment Strategy]]
###[[MCE - Performance specifications]]
###[[MCE - Calculations]]
####[[MCE - Design Calculations]]
####[[MCE - Yields]]
####[[MCE - Rates]]
####[[MCE - Structural Calculations]]
####[[MCE - Power Requirements]]
####[[MCE - Ergonomics of Production]]
####[[MCE -Time Requirements]]
####[[MCE - Economic Breakeven Analysis]]
####[[MCE - Scaleability Calculations]]
####[[MCE - Growth Calculations]]
###[[MCE - Technical Drawings and CAD]]
###[[MCE - CAM Files]]
##[[MCE - Component Design]]
###[[MCE - Diagrams]]
###[[MCE - Conceptual drawings]]
###[[MCE - Performance specifications]]
###[[MCE - Performance calculations]]
###[[MCE - Technical drawings and CAD]]
###[[MCE - CAM files whenever available]]
##[[MCE - Subcomponents]]
#[[MCE - Deployment and Results]]
##[[MCE - Production steps]]
##[[MCE - Flexible Fabrication or Production]]
##[[MCE - Bill of materials]]
##[[MCE - Pictures and Video]]
##[[MCE - Data]]
#[[MCE - Documentation and Education]]
##[[MCE - Documentation]]
##[[MCE - Enterprise Plans]]
#[[MCE - Resource Development]]
##[[MCE - Identifying Stakeholders]]
###[[MCE - Information Collaboration]]
####[[MCE - Wiki Markup]]
####[[MCE - Addition of Supporting References]]
####[[MCE - Production of diagrams, flowcharts, 3D computer models, and other qualitative information architecture]]
####[[MCE - Technical Calculations, Drawings, CAD, CAM, other]]
###[[MCE - Prototyping]]
###[[MCE - Funding]]
###[[MCE - Preordering working products]]
###[[MCE - Grantwriting]]
###[[MCE - Publicity]]
###[[MCE - User/Fabricator Training and Accreditation]]
###[[MCE - Standards and Certification Developmen]]
###[[MCE - Other]]
##[[MCE - Grantwriting]]
###[[MCE - Volunteer grantwriters]]
###[[MCE - Professional, Outcome-Based Grantwriters]]
##[[MCE - Collaborative Stakeholder Funding]]
##[[MCE - Tool and Material Donations]]
##[[MCE - Charitable Contributions]]

== related projects ==

* [[foundry]]
* [[Metal Casting]]
* [[Investment Casting]]
* [[Plastic Extrusion & Molding]]
* [[Open Source Fab Lab]]
* [[bicycle technology]]

[[Category:Metalworks]]
[[Category:Digital Fabrication]]

Metal Casting and Extrusion

2011-04-30T06:37:21Z

ScottSEA: /* Project Specification */

{{Site header}}

[[Image:metalcastingicon.jpg|right]]
----
Metal Casting and Extrusion (MCE)- metals from the waste stream, and eventually aluminum from clay - may be turned into valuable forms or extruded profiles. Engine blocks, structural metals, wire, and many other uses abound. This is doable with local compressed gas sources as the source of heat.

=Introduction=

==Project Specification==

The open source foundry must be able to melt [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium aluminum] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cast_iron cast iron].

;Melting point of aluminum
: ~1220°F
;Melting point of cast iron
: 2192 °F

==Babington Burner Research==

Warning: if you coil your supply fuel line around your combustion tube for preheating, then if your fuel supply runs out or the pump stops, the fuel in your fuel line will heat up to the temperature of the burner (about 1200 degrees F), which is above the flashpoint for most fuels. If your fuel flow stops for more than a few seconds, is it safest to wait 10-15 minutes until everything cools, then try restart the burner. I once didn't wait, and had superheated oil flow into my sump and start it on fire - not good![http://www.aipengineering.com/babington/Babington_Oil_Burner_HOWTO.html]

[http://www.green-trust.org/2000/biofuel/babington/default.htm]

==Foundry Research==
[http://www.backyardmetalcasting.com/index.html]
[http://www.budgetcastingsupply.com/Informative_Reading.html]
[http://www.backyardmetalcasting.com/harriette01.html]
[http://www.lindsaybks.com/bks7/chas1/index.html]

=Casting Furnaces=

There are several types of casting furnaces which include Electric Arc furnaces, Blast furnaces, Cornwall Iron Furnace, etc. The electric arc furnace can be described as a furnace heating charged materials by the way of an electric arc. The Blast Furnace can be referred to as a kind of metallurgical furnace, through which the process of smelting takes place.

Blast Furnaces produce metals, normally iron. These furnaces trace their origin to China (around 500 BC). Electric Arc furnaces exist in all the sizes-right, from the smallest one having a capacity of around 1 ton to the largest one having a capacity of 400 tons. The former one is used in foundries to produce cast iron products, whereas the latter one is used for secondary steel making.[http://www.metalcastingzone.com/casting-furnaces/]

=Collaboration=
==Review of Project Status==
== MCE - Current Work==
== MCE - Developments Needed==
=== MCE - General===
=== MCE - Specific===
==== MCE - Background Debriefing====
==== MCE - Information Work====
==== MCE - Hardware Work====
== MCE - Sign-in==

=Development Work Template=
#[[MCE - Product Definition]]
##[[MCE - General]]
##[[MCE - General Scope]]
##[[MCE - Product Ecology]]
###[[MCE - Localization]]
###[[MCE - Scaleability]]
###[[MCE - Analysis of Scale]]
###[[MCE - Lifecycle Analysis]]
##[[MCE - Enterprise Options]]
##[[MCE - Development Approach]]
###[[MCE - Timeline]]
###[[MCE - Development Budget]]
####[[MCE - Value Spent]]
####[[MCE - Value available]]
####[[MCE - Value needed]]
##[[MCE - Deliverables and Product Specifications]]
##[[MCE - Industry Standards]]
##[[MCE - Market and Market Segmentation]]
##[[MCE - Salient Features and Keys to Success]]
#[[MCE - Technical Design]]
##[[MCE - Product System Design]]
###[[MCE - Diagrams and Conceptual Drawings]]
####[[MCE - Pattern Language Icons]]
####[[MCE - Structural Diagram]]
####[[MCE - Funcional or Process Diagram]]
####[[MCE - Workflow]]
###[[MCE - Technical Issues]]
###[[MCE - Deployment Strategy]]
###[[MCE - Performance specifications]]
###[[MCE - Calculations]]
####[[MCE - Design Calculations]]
####[[MCE - Yields]]
####[[MCE - Rates]]
####[[MCE - Structural Calculations]]
####[[MCE - Power Requirements]]
####[[MCE - Ergonomics of Production]]
####[[MCE -Time Requirements]]
####[[MCE - Economic Breakeven Analysis]]
####[[MCE - Scaleability Calculations]]
####[[MCE - Growth Calculations]]
###[[MCE - Technical Drawings and CAD]]
###[[MCE - CAM Files]]
##[[MCE - Component Design]]
###[[MCE - Diagrams]]
###[[MCE - Conceptual drawings]]
###[[MCE - Performance specifications]]
###[[MCE - Performance calculations]]
###[[MCE - Technical drawings and CAD]]
###[[MCE - CAM files whenever available]]
##[[MCE - Subcomponents]]
#[[MCE - Deployment and Results]]
##[[MCE - Production steps]]
##[[MCE - Flexible Fabrication or Production]]
##[[MCE - Bill of materials]]
##[[MCE - Pictures and Video]]
##[[MCE - Data]]
#[[MCE - Documentation and Education]]
##[[MCE - Documentation]]
##[[MCE - Enterprise Plans]]
#[[MCE - Resource Development]]
##[[MCE - Identifying Stakeholders]]
###[[MCE - Information Collaboration]]
####[[MCE - Wiki Markup]]
####[[MCE - Addition of Supporting References]]
####[[MCE - Production of diagrams, flowcharts, 3D computer models, and other qualitative information architecture]]
####[[MCE - Technical Calculations, Drawings, CAD, CAM, other]]
###[[MCE - Prototyping]]
###[[MCE - Funding]]
###[[MCE - Preordering working products]]
###[[MCE - Grantwriting]]
###[[MCE - Publicity]]
###[[MCE - User/Fabricator Training and Accreditation]]
###[[MCE - Standards and Certification Developmen]]
###[[MCE - Other]]
##[[MCE - Grantwriting]]
###[[MCE - Volunteer grantwriters]]
###[[MCE - Professional, Outcome-Based Grantwriters]]
##[[MCE - Collaborative Stakeholder Funding]]
##[[MCE - Tool and Material Donations]]
##[[MCE - Charitable Contributions]]

== related projects ==

* [[foundry]]
* [[Metal Casting]]
* [[Investment Casting]]
* [[Plastic Extrusion & Molding]]
* [[Open Source Fab Lab]]
* [[bicycle technology]]

[[Category:Metalworks]]
[[Category:Digital Fabrication]]

Direct Reduced Iron

2011-04-30T06:21:33Z

ScottSEA: /* Further information is needed ! */

[[File:Small rotary kiln.jpg|400px|thumb|right|Small rotary kiln, Brazos County TX, 1966 (image from: Cushing Memorial Library and Archives, Texas A&M via CC license)]]

'''Direct-reduced iron (DRI)''' is a metallic material formed by the reduction (removal of oxygen) of iron oxide (iron ore) at temperatures ''below the melting point'' of iron. DRI is produced by the use of a reducing gas (mostly a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide). The temperatures for this process are significantly lower than those in a blast furnace, and capital requirements are also lower. DRI may have a sponge-like structure, leading to the alternative name "sponge iron".

Suitable starting materials are very high-grade iron ores (70% iron content and up) or rusted scrap steel, which is mostly iron. These could not yet be used in an [[induction furnace]], as the reduction is a chemical reaction while induction only melts the already-reduced pure metal. India is one of the global leaders in sponge iron production, having numerous small or medium-sized facilities. DRI is commonly manufactured in a rotary kiln.

HDRI ("hot direct reduced iron"): when the still-hot iron is immediately moved for melting into an electric arc furnace or [[induction furnace]], to save energy. Caution: when HDRI is exposed to air, it may rapidly oxidize (=explode!).

==Product ecology==
* first, metal oxides would be '''extracted from clay''', possibly by using hydrofluoric acid
* reduction of metals could also be accomplished in a '''solar carbothermic''' manner (see [[Metal_Refining|metal refining]] for details)
* '''[[Induction furnace]]''' -- could be fed with HDRI for energy-efficient steel production (rapid melting because metal is already hot)
* '''[[Gasifier]]''' -- to create the reducing gas: [[Compressed_Fuel_Gas|syngas]], a mixture of H and CO
* '''[[Biogas]]''' -- methane from biogas can be turned into the H/CO mix. Globally, fossil gas (a.k.a. "natural" gas) is the most commonly used fuel for DRI, therefore biogas is a possible replacement, although it may have to be upgraded first (often contains sulfur compounds, not sure if that's a problem).
* '''[[Biochar]]''' -- is a charcoal-like soil amendment. It is resistant to biodegradation, i.e. it is carbon that has been permanently removed from the atmosphere. The syngas that is released during pyrolysis could be used to make DRI. If these processes are combined, with biochar as a by-product, the whole process can become '''carbon negative''' (carbon re-fossilization). Biochar could be co-composted with spent slurry from a [[biogas]] digester, generating an excellent soil amendment.
* '''Waste heat''' -- The DRI process generates waste heat that can potentially be used for pyrolyzing further biomass (pyrolysis = heating in absence of oxygen). Pyrolysis releases yet more '''syngas''' which can be fed back into the process. Everything is thus powered by biomass, generating '''[[biochar]]'''. In cold climates, any kind of waste heat can obviously be useful for heating winter greenhouses.

==Further information is needed !==
;Is this actually feasible on the small scale?
: Sure
;Does the process take place at normal atmospheric pressure?
: Yes, it can
;Can a rotary kiln be designed for the village scale?
: Yes, but this does not have to take place in rotary kiln; the only thing that matters is good mixing.
;Are sufficient amounts of high-grade ores or rusted steel available?
: It doesn't matter. If we get the metal extraction from clays working, then we can concentrate most clays into high-grade ores.
: Scalability is feasible, but efficiency may not be as good. The processes of the largest plants can also be done on a table top. The question is - at what point does it still make sense to do so? If we have access to abundant energy, feasibility may occur at a village scale (added: CSP can serve as heat source; needs methane atmosphere).

This appears to be a good alternative for smaller scale, lower-cost process, worth adding to our general awareness.

==Other Metals==
*paper: [http://openfarmtech.org/w/images/c/c9/Halman.pdf Carbothermal reduction of alumina: Thermochemical equilibrium calculations and experimental investigation]
*paper: [http://openfarmtech.org/w/images/c/c3/Lvov.pdf Mechanism of carbothermal reduction of iron, cobalt, nickel and copper oxides]

==Internal links==
* [[Metal Refining]]

==External links==
* [[Wikipedia: Direct reduced iron]]
* [[Wikipedia: Sponge iron reaction]]
* [[Wikipedia: Water gas]] shift -> a way to increase the hydrogen content in syngas
* WW2-era (1942) TIME Magazine article on [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,796046,00.html sponge iron]

[[Category: Materials]]
[[Category:Metalworks]]

Incubating Eggs Factsheet

2011-04-30T06:04:12Z

ScottSEA: Applied Wiki formatting, removed crappy table

{{Category=Farm equipment}}
[[Category:Incubator]]
Incubating Eggs

Phillip J. Clauer, Poultry Extension Specialist , Animal and Poultry Sciences

==Introduction==

Many domestic bird owners incubate eggs to help sustain their flock over time. This fact sheet is
designed to assist those who wish to incubate small numbers of domestic poultry eggs.

The words
''fertility'' and ''hatchability'' are often used incorrectly by small producers. These terms are important and have very different meanings:
; Percent Fertility
: the percentage of fertile eggs of all eggs produced.
; Percent Hatchability''
: the percentage of fertile eggs which actually hatch out as live young.

==Care of Hatching Eggs==

Before setting eggs in an incubator, you must obtain or produce quality fertile eggs from a well managed, healthy flock which are fed properly balanced diets.
# Keep the nest full of clean, dry litter.
# Collect the eggs early in the morning and frequently during the day to prevent excessive chilling or heating of the eggs.
# DO NOT wash eggs unless necessary. If it is necessary to wash eggs always use a damp cloth with water warmer than the egg. This causes the egg to sweat the dirt out of the pores. ''Never'' use water cooler than the egg. <br />Also, do not soak the eggs in water; if the egg is allowed to soak in water for a period of time, the temperature difference can equalize and bacteria has a greater chance of entering through the pores.
#Be sure eggs are dry before storing. Never place damp or wet eggs in a styrofoam carton for storage.
# Store the clean fertile eggs in an area which is kept at 55°- 60°F and 70-75% humidity. Never store eggs at temperatures above 75°F and at humidity less than 40%. These conditions can decrease hatchability dramatically in a very short period of time.
# Slant or turn the fertile eggs daily while they are being stored. Store the eggs small end down and slanted at 30-45 degrees. Putting a piece of 2" x 4" under one end of the carton or storage container and changing it to the other end daily works well.
#Do not store eggs for more than 10-14 days. After 14 days of storage, hatchability begins to decline significantly.
# Just before setting the eggs, allow them to warm to room temperature (70-80°F) and remove any cracked eggs.

==Incubation==
Four factors are of major importance in incubating eggs artificially: temperature, humidity, ventilation and turning. Of these factors, temperature is the most critical. However, humidity tends to be overlooked and causes many hatching problems. Extensive research has shown that the optimum incubator temperature is 100°F when relative humidity is 60%. Concentrations of oxygen should be above 20%, carbon dioxide should be below 0.5%, and air movement past the egg should be 12cubic feet per minute.
There are two types of incubators commonly used:
# Forced-air incubators which have a built in fan to circulate the air.
# Still-air incubators which have no fans, so the air is allowed to stratify.
The forced-air incubator should be set at 99-99.5°F and 60-65% relative humidity (83-88°F wet bulb). The advantage of the forced-air incubator is that it is easier to maintain humidity at a constant level because of air circulation.
Still-air incubators are smaller and air flow is harder to manage. Set still-air incubators at 100 to 101°F at egg height. This is important since the air stratifies in these incubators. There can be as much as a 5° difference in temperature from the top to the bottom of some of the still-air incubators.
===Temperature===
During the warm-up period, the temperature should be adjusted to hold a constant 101°F for still air,
99°-100°F for forced air. To obtain reliable readings, the bulb of the thermometer should be at the same height as the tops of the eggs and away from the source of heat. Using two thermometers is a good idea to ensure you are getting an accurate reading.

Incubator temperature should be maintained between 99° and 100°F. The acceptable range is 97° to
102°F. Mortality is seen if the temperature drops below 96°F or rises above 103°F for a number of
hours. If the temperature stays at either extreme for several days, the eggs may not hatch.

Overheating is more critical than underheating. Running the incubator at 105°F for 15 minutes will seriously affect the embryos, while running it at 95° for 3 or 4 hours will only slow the chick's metabolic rate.

An incubator should be operated in a location free from drafts and direct sunlight. An incubator should also be operated for several hours with water placed in a pan to stabilize its internal atmosphere before fertile eggs are set. Do not adjust the heat upward during the first 48 hours after eggs are set. This practice cooks many eggs. The eggs will take time to warm to incubator temperature and many times in small incubators the incubator temperature will drop below 98°F for the first 6-8 hours or until the egg warms to 99°-100°F.

'''In Case of Power Outage'''

If you experience a power failure, do not scrap the hatch. Most of the time the hatch can be saved. The key is to keep the eggs as warm as possible until the power returns.
This can be done by placing a large cardboard box or blankets over the top of small incubators for additional insulation. To warm the eggs, place candles in jars, light them and place the jars under the box that covers the incubator. Be careful not to put any flammable material closer than a foot from the top of the candles. The heat from the candles can easily keep the eggs above 90°F until the power returns.
Embryos have survived at temperatures below 90°F for up to 18 hours. You should continue to incubate
the eggs after the outage; then candle them 4 to 6 days later to check for further development or signs of life. If, after 6 days, you do not see life or development in any of the eggs, then terminate incubation. Most of the time, a power outage will delay hatching by a few days and decrease the hatchability to 40-50 percent.
===Humidity===
Humidity should be 60-65% (80-90° wet bulb) during incubation and 70-75% (92-97° wet bulb) at hatching time. It is very easy to overheat the eggs in still-air incubators and difficult to maintain proper humidity. The relative humidity of the air within an incubator should be about 60 percent. During the last 3 days (the hatching period) the relative humidity should be nearer 65-70 percent. (Too much moisture in the incubator prevents normal evaporation and results in a decreased hatch, but excessive moisture is seldom a problem in small incubators.) Too little moisture results in excessive evaporation, causing chicks to stick to the shell, remain in the pipped shells, and sometimes hatch crippled.
The relative humidity in the incubator can also be varied by changing the size of the water pan or by
putting a sponge in the pan to increase the evaporative surface. The pan should be checked regularly
while the incubator is in use to be sure that there is always an adequate amount of water. Adding
additional water pans to small still-air incubators is also helpful to increase humidity.
During the hatching period, the humidity in the incubator may be increased by using an atomizer to
spray a small amount of water into the ventilating holes (which especially helpful when duck or goose
eggs are hatching).

Whenever you add water to an incubator, it should be about the same temperature as the incubator so
you do not stress the eggs or the incubator. A good test is to add water just warm to the touch.
Using a wet-bulb thermometer is also a good way for determining relative humidity. The wet-bulb
thermometer measures the evaporative cooling effect. If the wet and dry bulb read the same temperature, you would have 100 percent humidity. The greater the evaporation taking place, the lower the temperature reading on the wet-bulb thermometer and the larger the spread will be between the wet- and dry-bulb readings.

To make a wet-bulb thermometer, just add a cotton wick to the end of a thermometer. Then place the tail of the wick in water. The cotton then absorbs the water, and as the water evaporates from the cotton it causes a cooling effect on the thermometer. There are several online resources to calculate humidity using the wet vs. dry-bulb method.

===Ventilation===
The best hatching results are obtained with normal atmospheric air, which usually contains 20-21
percent oxygen. It is difficult to provide too much oxygen, but a deficiency is possible. Make sure that the ventilation holes are adjusted to allow a normal exchange of air. This is critical on home-made incubators. It is possible to suffocate the eggs and chicks in an air-tight container. However, excessive ventilation removes humidity and makes it difficult to heat incubators
properly.
===Turning===
Eggs set on their sides must be rotated 1/2 turn at least 3 times daily. Eggs set with the air cell end up should be tilted in the opposite direction 3 times daily. This keeps the embryo centered in the egg and prevents it from sticking to the shell membrane. If hand turning, to insure proper turning, mark each side of the egg with a pencil. Put an "x" on one side and an "o" on the opposite side.

Stop turning the eggs for the last three (3) days of the incubation cycle (at 18 days for chickens, 25 days for waterfowl, etc.) and do not open the incubator until the hatch is completed to insure that a desirable hatching humidity is maintained.
==Hatch Time==
Do not help the chicks from the shell at hatching time. If it doesn't hatch, there is usually a good reason. Also, prematurely helping the chick hatch could cripple or infect the chick.

Humidity is critical at hatching time. Don't allow your curiosity to damage your hatch. As soon as the chicks are dry and fluffy or 6 to 12 hours after hatching, remove the chicks from the incubator. It is good practice to remove all the chicks at once and destroy any late hatching eggs. Hatching time can be hereditary and you can control the uniformity of hatching by culling late hatching eggs. If you keep every chick which hatches late, in a few years each hatch could last 4 days or longer.

==Sanitation of Incubator and Equipment==
No matter what type of incubation you use, it is important that you thoroughly clean and disinfect the
incubator before and after you use it. It is just as important that the incubation room and egg storage area are kept equally clean. The lack of sanitation will decrease hatchability.

Immediately after each hatch, thoroughly clean and disinfect all hatching trays, water pans and the floor of the hatcher. Scrape off all egg shells and adhering dirt. Wipe clean surfaces thoroughly with a cloth dampened in quaternary ammonium, bleach or other disinfectant solution.
==Incubation Periods of Other Species==
One of the miracles of nature is the transformation of the egg into the chick. In a brief three weeks of incubation, a fully developed chick grows from a single cell and emerges from a seemingly lifeless egg.
{|
|+Incubation Periods
!Species ||Days To Hatch
|-
|Bobwhite Quail || (23-24)
|-
|Chicken||(21)
|-
|Chukar Partridge||(23-24)
|-
|Coturnix Quail||(16-18)
|-
|Ducks||(28)
|-
|Geese||(28-33)
|-
|Guinea||(27-28)
|-
|Muscovy Duck||(35)
|-
|Pheasants||(24-26)
|-
|Ostrich||(42)
|-
|Swan||(35)
|-
|Turkey||(28)
|}
Reviewed by Audrey McElroy, associate professor, Animal and Poultry Sciences

Incubating Eggs Factsheet

2011-04-30T06:01:52Z

ScottSEA:

{{Category=Farm equipment}}
[[Category:Incubator]]
Incubating Eggs

Phillip J. Clauer, Poultry Extension Specialist , Animal and Poultry Sciences

==Introduction==

Many domestic bird owners incubate eggs to help sustain their flock over time. This fact sheet is
designed to assist those who wish to incubate small numbers of domestic poultry eggs.

The words
''fertility'' and ''hatchability'' are often used incorrectly by small producers. These terms are important and have very different meanings:
; Percent Fertility
: the percentage of fertile eggs of all eggs produced.
; Percent Hatchability''
: the percentage of fertile eggs which actually hatch out as live young.

==Care of Hatching Eggs==

Before setting eggs in an incubator, you must obtain or produce quality fertile eggs from a well managed, healthy flock which are fed properly balanced diets.
# Keep the nest full of clean, dry litter.
# Collect the eggs early in the morning and frequently during the day to prevent excessive chilling or heating of the eggs.
# DO NOT wash eggs unless necessary. If it is necessary to wash eggs always use a damp cloth with water warmer than the egg. This causes the egg to sweat the dirt out of the pores. ''Never'' use water cooler than the egg. <br />Also, do not soak the eggs in water; if the egg is allowed to soak in water for a period of time, the temperature difference can equalize and bacteria has a greater chance of entering through the pores.
#Be sure eggs are dry before storing. Never place damp or wet eggs in a styrofoam carton for storage.
# Store the clean fertile eggs in an area which is kept at 55°- 60°F and 70-75% humidity. Never store eggs at temperatures above 75°F and at humidity less than 40%. These conditions can decrease hatchability dramatically in a very short period of time.
# Slant or turn the fertile eggs daily while they are being stored. Store the eggs small end down and slanted at 30-45 degrees. Putting a piece of 2" x 4" under one end of the carton or storage container and changing it to the other end daily works well.
#Do not store eggs for more than 10-14 days. After 14 days of storage, hatchability begins to decline significantly.
# Just before setting the eggs, allow them to warm to room temperature (70-80°F) and remove any cracked eggs.

==Incubation==
Four factors are of major importance in incubating eggs artificially: temperature, humidity, ventilation and turning. Of these factors, temperature is the most critical. However, humidity tends to be overlooked and causes many hatching problems. Extensive research has shown that the optimum incubator temperature is 100°F when relative humidity is 60%. Concentrations of oxygen should be above 20%, carbon dioxide should be below 0.5%, and air movement past the egg should be 12cubic feet per minute.
There are two types of incubators commonly used:
# Forced-air incubators which have a built in fan to circulate the air.
# Still-air incubators which have no fans, so the air is allowed to stratify.
The forced-air incubator should be set at 99-99.5°F and 60-65% relative humidity (83-88°F wet bulb). The advantage of the forced-air incubator is that it is easier to maintain humidity at a constant level because of air circulation.
Still-air incubators are smaller and air flow is harder to manage. Set still-air incubators at 100 to 101°F at egg height. This is important since the air stratifies in these incubators. There can be as much as a 5° difference in temperature from the top to the bottom of some of the still-air incubators.
===Temperature===
During the warm-up period, the temperature should be adjusted to hold a constant 101°F for still air,
99°-100°F for forced air. To obtain reliable readings, the bulb of the thermometer should be at the same height as the tops of the eggs and away from the source of heat. Using two thermometers is a good idea to ensure you are getting an accurate reading.

Incubator temperature should be maintained between 99° and 100°F. The acceptable range is 97° to
102°F. Mortality is seen if the temperature drops below 96°F or rises above 103°F for a number of
hours. If the temperature stays at either extreme for several days, the eggs may not hatch.

Overheating is more critical than underheating. Running the incubator at 105°F for 15 minutes will seriously affect the embryos, while running it at 95° for 3 or 4 hours will only slow the chick's metabolic rate.

An incubator should be operated in a location free from drafts and direct sunlight. An incubator should also be operated for several hours with water placed in a pan to stabilize its internal atmosphere before fertile eggs are set. Do not adjust the heat upward during the first 48 hours after eggs are set. This practice cooks many eggs. The eggs will take time to warm to incubator temperature and many times in small incubators the incubator temperature will drop below 98°F for the first 6-8 hours or until the egg warms to 99°-100°F.
====In Case of Power Outage====
If you experience a power failure, do not scrap the hatch. Most of the time the hatch can be saved. The key is to keep the eggs as warm as possible until the power returns.
This can be done by placing a large cardboard box or blankets over the top of small incubators for additional insulation. To warm the eggs, place candles in jars, light them and place the jars under the box that covers the incubator. Be careful not to put any flammable material closer than a foot from the top of the candles. The heat from the candles can easily keep the eggs above 90°F until the power returns.
Embryos have survived at temperatures below 90°F for up to 18 hours. You should continue to incubate
the eggs after the outage; then candle them 4 to 6 days later to check for further development or signs of life. If, after 6 days, you do not see life or development in any of the eggs, then terminate incubation. Most of the time, a power outage will delay hatching by a few days and decrease the hatchability to 40-50 percent.
===Humidity===
Humidity should be 60-65% (80-90° wet bulb) during incubation and 70-75% (92-97° wet bulb) at hatching time. It is very easy to overheat the eggs in still-air incubators and difficult to maintain proper humidity. The relative humidity of the air within an incubator should be about 60 percent. During the last 3 days (the hatching period) the relative humidity should be nearer 65-70 percent. (Too much moisture in the incubator prevents normal evaporation and results in a decreased hatch, but excessive moisture is seldom a problem in small incubators.) Too little moisture results in excessive evaporation, causing chicks to stick to the shell, remain in the pipped shells, and sometimes hatch crippled.
The relative humidity in the incubator can also be varied by changing the size of the water pan or by
putting a sponge in the pan to increase the evaporative surface. The pan should be checked regularly
while the incubator is in use to be sure that there is always an adequate amount of water. Adding
additional water pans to small still-air incubators is also helpful to increase humidity.
During the hatching period, the humidity in the incubator may be increased by using an atomizer to
spray a small amount of water into the ventilating holes (which especially helpful when duck or goose
eggs are hatching).

Whenever you add water to an incubator, it should be about the same temperature as the incubator so
you do not stress the eggs or the incubator. A good test is to add water just warm to the touch.
Using a wet-bulb thermometer is also a good way for determining relative humidity. The wet-bulb
thermometer measures the evaporative cooling effect. If the wet and dry bulb read the same temperature, you would have 100 percent humidity. The greater the evaporation taking place, the lower the temperature reading on the wet-bulb thermometer and the larger the spread will be between the wet- and dry-bulb readings.

To make a wet-bulb thermometer, just add a cotton wick to the end of a thermometer. Then place the tail of the wick in water. The cotton then absorbs the water, and as the water evaporates from the cotton it causes a cooling effect on the thermometer. There are several online resources to calculate humidity using the wet vs. dry-bulb method.

===Ventilation===
The best hatching results are obtained with normal atmospheric air, which usually contains 20-21
percent oxygen. It is difficult to provide too much oxygen, but a deficiency is possible. Make sure that the ventilation holes are adjusted to allow a normal exchange of air. This is critical on home-made incubators. It is possible to suffocate the eggs and chicks in an air-tight container. However, excessive ventilation removes humidity and makes it difficult to heat incubators
properly.
===Turning===
Eggs set on their sides must be rotated 1/2 turn at least 3 times daily. Eggs set with the air cell end up should be tilted in the opposite direction 3 times daily. This keeps the embryo centered in the egg and prevents it from sticking to the shell membrane. If hand turning, to insure proper turning, mark each side of the egg with a pencil. Put an "x" on one side and an "o" on the opposite side.

Stop turning the eggs for the last three (3) days of the incubation cycle (at 18 days for chickens, 25 days for waterfowl, etc.) and do not open the incubator until the hatch is completed to insure that a desirable hatching humidity is maintained.
==Hatch Time==
Do not help the chicks from the shell at hatching time. If it doesn't hatch, there is usually a good reason. Also, prematurely helping the chick hatch could cripple or infect the chick.

Humidity is critical at hatching time. Don't allow your curiosity to damage your hatch. As soon as the chicks are dry and fluffy or 6 to 12 hours after hatching, remove the chicks from the incubator. It is good practice to remove all the chicks at once and destroy any late hatching eggs. Hatching time can be hereditary and you can control the uniformity of hatching by culling late hatching eggs. If you keep every chick which hatches late, in a few years each hatch could last 4 days or longer.

==Sanitation of Incubator and Equipment==
No matter what type of incubation you use, it is important that you thoroughly clean and disinfect the
incubator before and after you use it. It is just as important that the incubation room and egg storage area are kept equally clean. The lack of sanitation will decrease hatchability.

Immediately after each hatch, thoroughly clean and disinfect all hatching trays, water pans and the floor of the hatcher. Scrape off all egg shells and adhering dirt. Wipe clean surfaces thoroughly with a cloth dampened in quaternary ammonium, bleach or other disinfectant solution.
==Incubation Periods of Other Species==
One of the miracles of nature is the transformation of the egg into the chick. In a brief three weeks of incubation, a fully developed chick grows from a single cell and emerges from a seemingly lifeless egg.
{|
|+Incubation Periods
!Species ||Days To Hatch
|-
|Bobwhite Quail || (23-24)
|-
|Chicken||(21)
|-
|Chukar Partridge||(23-24)
|-
|Coturnix Quail||(16-18)
|-
|Ducks||(28)
|-
|Geese||(28-33)
|-
|Guinea||(27-28)
|-
|Muscovy Duck||(35)
|-
|Pheasants||(24-26)
|-
|Ostrich||(42)
|-
|Swan||(35)
|-
|Turkey||(28)
|}
Reviewed by Audrey McElroy, associate professor, Animal and Poultry Sciences