Charles (Upstate NY)
Well-known member
After an 11 year break from detecting I hit the beach last weekend. Used my modified Explorer SE with 3D printed handle and battery box on an Equinox shaft. Worked great, gold was dug!
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Explorer SE 3D Printed onto Equinox Shaft
- Thread starter Charles (Upstate NY)
- Start date
Odanscoils
Well-known member
Selling ?
Will an XS fir ?
Will an XS fir ?
Charles (Upstate NY)
Well-known member
No I'll never sell it, she has dug pounds of gold and silver. You could mod an XS or any of the Explorers. 3D printers was the key. Previous attempts to reduce the Explorer's weight were marginal. It wasn't until I got a 3D printer that I made some worthwhile gains.
Odanscoils
Well-known member
Yup. Feel the same.
I meant the printed housing to put my Explorer xs into. And on that shaft.
I meant the printed housing to put my Explorer xs into. And on that shaft.
Charles (Upstate NY)
Well-known member
That's the factory Minelab housing. There's really no reducing it's weight further after removing the speaker, it doesn't weigh much most of the weight is the circuit boards. The membrane switch panel weighs pretty much nothing.
I did remove a portion of the lower housing where it attached to the factory shaft that wasn't needed. I used the side holes where the factory shaft clamp pin went as my holes to attach to the 3D printed mount. Drilled a hole up front of the housing for a 5 pin coil connector and a 5 pin X1 probe connector. Drilled a hole in the lower/right side of the housing for the X1 Prob/Coil toggle switch. What's nice is I can easily remove the probe, not really needed for beach hunting.
I did remove a portion of the lower housing where it attached to the factory shaft that wasn't needed. I used the side holes where the factory shaft clamp pin went as my holes to attach to the 3D printed mount. Drilled a hole up front of the housing for a 5 pin coil connector and a 5 pin X1 probe connector. Drilled a hole in the lower/right side of the housing for the X1 Prob/Coil toggle switch. What's nice is I can easily remove the probe, not really needed for beach hunting.
Well done and welcome back
Odanscoils
Well-known member
I guess what I'm referring to is the weight loss using the box shafts. And the adaptive parts attaching the Explorer control box the that shaft assembly. Just thinking you could make a few dollars.
Charles (Upstate NY)
Well-known member
Ah, that sounds good in theory but the 3D printed parts are extremely time consuming to print. Even with my dual print head beast of a high speed 3D printer. Happy to post some detailed pics and people could print their own.
Odanscoils
Well-known member
Awesome !!!
fwcrawford
Well-known member
That is a great mod.
I do not own an Explorer , but would like to see a couple close up shots of yours.
Where is the battery pack located?
I do not own an Explorer , but would like to see a couple close up shots of yours.
Where is the battery pack located?
Charles (Upstate NY)
Well-known member
Left/rear between the arm cup and the stand. I'm using a lightweight LiPo battery so it's small. So long 8xAA's. Headphone mono jack removed, replaced with the same 5 pin mic jack the coil and X1 probe use. If you look closely at the control box, just above the headphones you can see the toggle switch to go between the coil/probe.
fwcrawford
Well-known member
Nice design!!!
Wild Willy
Well-known member
I've never even seen a 3D printer. Must be amazing technology. Also needs an amazing mind. I'm still back in the tube days when you could see what was happening. I used to build ham radio rcvrs. and xmtrs. Boat anchors! My mind simply did not adapt to later technology. Sure glad I have 3 grandsons!