Interesting stuff here. I have only limited experience with peltiers, but I am wondering if the vibrations caused by the light machining might cause stress to the TEC components over time?
You mentioned building a cold plate and I was wondering if you had considered using a second hand freezer and running the refrigerant lines through the cold plate, or possibly making the cold plate have channels with tapped ends into which you could couple your refrigerant lines to thus foregoing having to bond the lines to the cold plate.
You might also consider having some rigid/stable material that is a poor thermal conductor between the bottom of your cold plate and the table/bed of your mill and possibly the sides of the cold plate as well? This would help keep the 'cold energy' from transferring to your mill table and help concentrate it on your work.
Anyway just a few thoughts, good luck with it. |