EEtwidget
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Posts posted by EEtwidget
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Pics and video coming soon.
I always try and step up my homemade gift game. Last year I build a box for my father-in-law with some photo transfer. This year I'm building a music box for my Wife. She is 10-weeks pregnet with our first child so I want this to be something special she can pass on. I have access to a CNC at work. (Maybe TIA will do a CNC giveaway soon? <hint>) .. Although I'v never done CNC inlay, my foolish self decided to try and build a music box with an inlay anyway. .. With only two days left I think I've figured out how to do it. Credit goes to Paul Zank and Damien Durrant
The process is V-Inlay. Essentially you cut a pocket with beveled walls. The purple represents the area that is routed. I chose Purple because I wanted to get an idea what it would look like with the purple heart wood inlay
and then cut the 'male' inlay with inverted bevel walls. The two pieces fit together and form a nice clean fit. ... hopefully.
As far as the design, I was going to do a double inlay, purple heart and yellow heart. Using solidworks I designed the inlays and pocket.
That method became too complicated for my first go so I decided to simplify things and use Vcarve software with only one inlay. I'll get fancy later. Now to decide on what to carve.
here are a few designs I threw together. (No TIA logo for the Wife.. sorry guys)
I can convert just about any simple-ish line drawing into an inlay, so if you have any ideas pass them along. Im not very artistic.
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I do enjoy my job, although I'll never be rich working in education, I can at least order the tools I drool over. I'm currently working with the Roland MDX-40a CNC with 4th axis. I've got a small music box project with Purple Heart & Yellow Heart inlays. Hopefully I get it done before Christmas as it's my wife's gift. ?
Meanwhile I'm teaching one of the students CNC basics. I've decided to document the process in both video & writing. I quickly put together this clip from today's endeavor. A more polished version will come.
its a multi-part series that shows the complete process of casting a part. Everything from preparing machining wax, CNC billets, CAD design, CAM programming, milling, mold making, casting, & finishing. It should be a fun project.
a sample:
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+1 more vote for Comp56. He puts in enough work on the forums to deserve it and I think he might just use the thing!
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On 12/11/2016 at 9:22 PM, Stercorarius said:
All it's missing is a snorkel. Damn nice looking and built rig you got there.
Its missing swaybars and inner fenders but I consider those 'optional' anyway. I'm probably not going to install a snorkel, the supercharger tends to collapse them.
I just upgraded to an odyssey battery. I'm thinking my alternator is bad though as voltage lags under load. ?
Had to preform parking lot modifications to get the battery to fit. New one was slightly bigger. Luckily I've got a lightly used snapon toolbox @ work. Saw/file... good enough till I can fab a bracket.
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I sold my 2010 RAM and picked up this 1986 4Runner.
5vzfe engine swap with TRD supercharger. Headers, intake, exhaust.
long travel front suspension with custom fiberglass hood & fenders. Dual battery system, winch, CB/HAM.
i preform a lot of recoverys. Always saving someone in need
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What, I've got to start writing!
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It's a valid concern. When I got out of the military I took a job working industrial automation. I worked for a large company that produced IV bags. The company was bought by a German corporation and quickly 'modernized'.
The company was literally cut in half, sold and turned into restaurants. Including a church of no denomination.
$30 million dollars automation project put 1,000 labors out of work. My workload was tripled, overseeing half the factories robotics packaging lines.
The worst part, a lot of those laid off employees were friends. They used to really appreciate me, calling me to fix the lines. The personal who remained though saw me as a threat to their job.
I have even had to report a person who was sabotaging the robotics. They figured if we thought the robots didn't work, everyone would be rehired.
Its important to remember morality when designing robots. A principal I try to instill in the students. It's equally important not to resent technology. 'War' robots aren't about killing. Taking the young soldiers off the battlefield saves lives. An interesting concept that's a bit difficult to understand, even debatable.
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One of my hobbies includes 4x4 offroad adventures & I'm part of a group that preforms recoverys & rescues. Sometimes the recovery is dangerous and when I remember to film, it makes for great photos. I thought I would share a few.
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My overall impression of the company is positive. Everyone working there seems to be happy and enjoy their job. I was impressed with the quantity of fasteners stored in their warehouse! Although I haven't used Brighton-Best hand tools or PPE; I'll give them a try in the future.
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It was inside the QC, hidden among the fancy equipment..
i found something interesting. A battery powered rivet-gun!
Nextdoor a man was busy breaking grade-8 bolts on a hydraulic force test machine.
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Maybe it was because our tour guide was the executive in charge or rivetor, we demoed a few of there toys.
The girls enjoyed the demo, although they did have some trouble using the larger model.
It seemed they had everything, even a vending machine full of useful 'essentials'
And of course fasteners,
and more fasteners,
a warehouse of fasteners
a very large warehouse!
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Located in Southern California is the headquarters to a company that specializes in fasteners. I was invited to tour the facility and talk with employees.
Almost immediately I was attracted to their hand tool wall.
Brighton-Best is new to the tool game and they are in a unique position. Profiting from fastener sales, Brighton-Best doesn't look to mark up their tools.
There target audience is the blue collar professional who shops at the Granger type stores.
It does exist!! -what I thought to be the ultimate tool, was actually designed for miners. This combo wrench, hammer, thing-a-ma-jig eliminates the need to carry an entire toolbox.
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My apologies to TIA crew. I've been busy with work & school. Burning the candle @ both ends.
1st news: I came home to find a hamburger bun in the oven. It was my wife's way of telling me she's pregnant. Only about 6 weeks so hopefully no complications. It's our first and we've been trying for awhile.
On the work front I've built another escape room. Some higher tech stuff. I'm also mentoring a robotics club at the college. Their mission is to build a rescue robot. Something to help first responders find victims.
I've also just accepted a formal position contracting directly for NASA. It doesn't pay very much but it's freaking NASA!
The goal is to develop vision based navigation, object avoidance, and mapping systems for a MARS bound flying rover. Exciting stuff.
ill update my robots post with the new toys soon. I have some updated 4x4 recovery photos too.
sorry for being MIA, I've been really busy!
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Society is tearing itself apart. Is there a tool to fix it? I'm seriously considering removing social media from my life. Maybe I won't care so much if I don't see the comments...
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I would love to move out of California but the wife doesn't want too. I'm more that small town, trees and freedom kind of guy. I don't much care for Starbucks or manbuns.
Two UTB a year seemed like a bit much anyway. Somehow though, it became part of my 4th of July celebrations.
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Last Minute Christmas Build
in Woodworking
Posted
Good to know. I was using 1/8" to test and going fast. I'll re-evaluate when I cut from the bigger stock.
I have to go to Rockler to pick up a vbit and larger stock. I always spend too much money in that place.