Well, I should be living in Bellingham by mid-October and I'd like to know a group of people to break and make shit with. I was a member of Harford Hackerspace for 2 years and we usually just met once a week in a members garage. We didn't even always build stuff...sometimes we just met to eat and drink beer. We shouldn't worry about finding the perfect place in the beginning, we should worry about finding the perfect people...the space will grow naturally from there.
On Tue, Sep 27, 2011 at 2:27 PM, Charles Banas <greyf...@gmail.com> wrote: > Nothing has happened, unfortunately.
> Few of us have the time to dedicate to it, and we haven't been able to > come up with a stable schedule for meetings.
> We did meet a couple times at ReLectronics, but little came of it.
> I'd love to get this off the ground, but I don't have the time (I'm > only free weekends), money, or the skills (I'm not a leader or good at > managing things) to take charge and get it going.
> I have given some thought to talking to the people that run the > Technology Development Center[1], because it looks like the perfect > place to have a hackerspace, but I don't have a clue who to talk to or > what we'd need to do to make it happen.
> On Tue, Sep 27, 2011 at 7:47 AM, John Smith <solo...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Is this thing off the ground yet? Any meetings? What happened?
> > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > > "bellinghamhackspace" group. > > To post to this group, send email to > bellinghamhackspace@googlegroups.com. > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > bellinghamhackspace+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. > > For more options, visit this group at > > http://groups.google.com/group/bellinghamhackspace?hl=en.
> -- > Charles Banas
> -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "bellinghamhackspace" group. > To post to this group, send email to bellinghamhackspace@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > bellinghamhackspace+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/bellinghamhackspace?hl=en.
Few of us have the time to dedicate to it, and we haven't been able to come up with a stable schedule for meetings.
We did meet a couple times at ReLectronics, but little came of it.
I'd love to get this off the ground, but I don't have the time (I'm only free weekends), money, or the skills (I'm not a leader or good at managing things) to take charge and get it going.
I have given some thought to talking to the people that run the Technology Development Center[1], because it looks like the perfect place to have a hackerspace, but I don't have a clue who to talk to or what we'd need to do to make it happen.
On Tue, Sep 27, 2011 at 7:47 AM, John Smith <solo...@gmail.com> wrote: > Is this thing off the ground yet? Any meetings? What happened?
> -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "bellinghamhackspace" group. > To post to this group, send email to bellinghamhackspace@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > bellinghamhackspace+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/bellinghamhackspace?hl=en.
On Tue, Sep 27, 2011 at 8:27 PM, Charles Banas <greyf...@gmail.com> wrote: > Nothing has happened, unfortunately.
> Few of us have the time to dedicate to it, and we haven't been able to > come up with a stable schedule for meetings.
> We did meet a couple times at ReLectronics, but little came of it.
> I'd love to get this off the ground, but I don't have the time (I'm > only free weekends), money, or the skills (I'm not a leader or good at > managing things) to take charge and get it going.
> I have given some thought to talking to the people that run the > Technology Development Center[1], because it looks like the perfect > place to have a hackerspace, but I don't have a clue who to talk to or > what we'd need to do to make it happen.
> On Tue, Sep 27, 2011 at 7:47 AM, John Smith <solo...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Is this thing off the ground yet? Any meetings? What happened?
> > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > > "bellinghamhackspace" group. > > To post to this group, send email to > bellinghamhackspace@googlegroups.com. > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > bellinghamhackspace+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. > > For more options, visit this group at > > http://groups.google.com/group/bellinghamhackspace?hl=en.
> -- > Charles Banas
> -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "bellinghamhackspace" group. > To post to this group, send email to bellinghamhackspace@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > bellinghamhackspace+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/bellinghamhackspace?hl=en.
hey, I noticed these recent messages. Being a high schooler, I hope to have this be activity open to my age group when and if it happens. That being said, I have no problem with cussing, but maybe the main meetings could be kept alcohol-free so it can be open to all ages.
I have been rather busy personaly so havent been down to reelectronics
since the last meeting we had down there. The biggest issue with using
reelectronics is the hours they are open. I know I do most of my
hacking at real odd hours so only having access during their buisness
hours has been a issue for me. I realy would like to get regular
meetings started for this group but I have a odd work schedual and
very little free time when im not working. as to alcohol/not I dont
see that as a issue regardless of where we meet, and yes this is a
youth friendly concept though not specificaly targeting that age
group. If you are a maker then age has little to do with it.
Personaly Ive been working more on my 3d printing projects and my
current experiments are focusing on a uv curing vat grown printing
system. very similar to the junior veloso printer.
On Sep 27, 3:20 pm, Kurt Apple <kappl...@gmail.com> wrote:
> hey, I noticed these recent messages. Being a high schooler, I hope to have
> this be activity open to my age group when and if it happens. That being
> said, I have no problem with cussing, but maybe the main meetings could be
> kept alcohol-free so it can be open to all ages.
Mark showed up at the BLUG picnic a while back, and he and Anthony
Penzinski and I talked about hackerspaces. I was gone for a while, but
at the next .org meeting we decided to try to get something started.
Mark has a lab on Kellogg Road where his focus is technology and young
people. I then dragged Paul into it, and we've just begun meetings on
a weekend evening; the next one is this coming Saturday. We are
starting small, with a virtual whiteboard. Unfortunately last week the
IR-pen didn't perform as advertised....
Mark is not committed to running a full-on h-space, but he's hosted
our exploratory meetings so far and we now have a nucleus of people
who intend to do real if modest projects and see what we can grow from
there. The TDC is an exciting development (thanks Charles for the
link). We'd probably need some sort of track record as a group in
order to be taken seriously, but if we can demonstrate enough
consistency and collective accumulation of skill to win some allies
there, they could be a huge help.
Welcome John (Smith), and Kurt (we won't force beer on you). And John
(Sechrist)--thanks for your input, and for the good energy you brought
here.
@Kurt - I'm not suggesting we have alcohol at every meeting, but I also don't associate the presence of beer with the exclusion of mature minors. :)
@rbisping - I'd be really interested in hearing more about your 3d printer. I've built a 3-axis CNC, but I don't think that would translate well into what is essentially a 2-D process with I'm guessing projectors and some sort of liquid. Do you have a blog about it or something you could share? I'd be really interested in helping out once I get in the area. My schedule is super flexible so I am available pretty much anytime.
@Martin (via Paul) - I agree that the participants are the most important part of any group. The physical space will come with time, but the projects we complete and the events we attend will be what gets us noticed. Also, non-profit status is a huge, huge help...we can get all sorts of free or discounted stuff, grants, etc. Some of the examples from my experience at HaHa are 50% off of makerbots, a bunch of free software, free books from O'Reilly publishing. The O'Reilly one shocked me the most since they just keep sending us free books everytime we send a list. Once we are ready, we should contact Nick Farr. He has helped start a ton of hackerspaces and was a huge help when starting HaHa. AFAIK, he currently runs Unallocated Space (http://www.unallocatedspace.org/uas/).
A physical space isn't important right now. If I meet all you guys and you don't appear to be a threat to my family then I have no problem dedicating a portion of my garage to use as a space...assuming I find a place with a garage. Maybe there is another member with a garage that could serve as a space.
Other than that, anyone else have any interesting projects ongoing? I've drawn up plans for a more user friendly reverse geocaching box ( http://arduiniana.org/projects/the-reverse-geo-cache-puzzle/) and wanted to build something to mount to my snowboard which would record GPS data that I could later upload into some sort of map of the mountain to replay my runs. I'm pretty weak in the software department...I mostly write plain ole C code for PIC microcontrollers since I you can get free samples of those. :) I'm taking Java classes...not because I care about Java, but because I think the experience will translate well into other OOP languages. I also taught my self a bit of Python by doing some of the Project Euler problems (Great way to learn a new language...I highly recommend it.). Ultimately, I'd like to write some android apps.
- Solo
On Wed, Sep 28, 2011 at 10:18 AM, Paul de Armond <paulfs...@gmail.com>wrote:
> Mark showed up at the BLUG picnic a while back, and he and Anthony > Penzinski and I talked about hackerspaces. I was gone for a while, but > at the next .org meeting we decided to try to get something started. > Mark has a lab on Kellogg Road where his focus is technology and young > people. I then dragged Paul into it, and we've just begun meetings on > a weekend evening; the next one is this coming Saturday. We are > starting small, with a virtual whiteboard. Unfortunately last week the > IR-pen didn't perform as advertised....
> Mark is not committed to running a full-on h-space, but he's hosted > our exploratory meetings so far and we now have a nucleus of people > who intend to do real if modest projects and see what we can grow from > there. The TDC is an exciting development (thanks Charles for the > link). We'd probably need some sort of track record as a group in > order to be taken seriously, but if we can demonstrate enough > consistency and collective accumulation of skill to win some allies > there, they could be a huge help.
> Welcome John (Smith), and Kurt (we won't force beer on you). And John > (Sechrist)--thanks for your input, and for the good energy you brought > here.
> martin
> -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "bellinghamhackspace" group. > To post to this group, send email to bellinghamhackspace@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > bellinghamhackspace+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/bellinghamhackspace?hl=en.
Last Sunday (9/25) Martin and I met with Mark Kuo and Anthony
Penzinski at Mark's workspace at 141 W Kellogg Rd to get to know each
other, fool around with Johnny Chung Lee's Wiiremote whiteboard and
compare thoughts on hackerspace. I had previously met face2face with
Martin who clued me into Mark. Since Mark and I were both at George
Dyson's talk http://boingboing.net/2005/10/28/george-dysons-google.html at Bellingham Technical Alliance's fundraiser on the 15th, we first
met there.
Starting with the premise that doing small projects together was a
good way to get started, Mark proposed we try to set up a Wii remote
white board http://johnnylee.net/projects/wii/
Due to a communications foul-up, we had everything we needed except an
IR pointer. We were able to install the software, get it working
through a video projector and use an IR remote to hit a couple of the
registration marks. Unfortunately, the pulse-coding of the IR remote
signal made the Wii remote think we were suffering from Parkinson's,
so it registered too many "hits" on the whiteboard to work reliably.
We had some kick-the-can-around discussion about hackerspace
organizing, not really arriving at any conclusions.
Then we kicked around the sort of build projects we might be
interested in as a group. 3-D LED cube displays were interesting.
Seeed studios has a nice kit for a 4x4x4 RGB cube as an arduino
shield. We settled on a Spoke POV as the next directio to go once we
got the whiteboard up and running.
We are next meeting at 141 W Kellogg Rd this Saturday 10/1/11 at
7pm. We'll be taking another run at the whiteboard.
-------------
So much for the report. Here's my thoughts in brief:
* This is going to happen in face to face meetings if it happens at
all. On-line is secondary to face-to-face. In fact, if on-line is a
substitute for face-to-face, on-line will delay and prevent
organizing.
* Physical space, formal organization, etc are less important at the
beginning than meetings so we get to know each other.
* Small build projects, show and tell, etc are a good basis for
initial meets. that's the sermon, but the important stuff happens
during coffee hour.
* Recruitment is a higher initial priority than resource
mobilization. Resource mobilization will happen once we have
sufficient numbers.
* Cross-linking with other organizations is a good way to connect with
numbers of people. Martin is working through the Linux users group.
I'm thinking of outreach to the bicycle community via Spoke POV.
* Our initial task is social, not institutional - people first then
resources and structure.
* I work Saturdays 10 - 4, so evening meetings are about the only time
you're going to see me other than Sunday
----------------
My current project is an apple grinder for making cider. I'm copying
with modifications an antique design that used geared cutters and
rollers to crush the apples. I'm doing the crushing between involute
gears laminated from plywood. I'm cutting the gears with a scroll saw
and then laminating them and finishing with two coats of epoxy.
A CNC router or waterjet would be better at cutting the gears. I may
later get a CNC router if I end up making several of these.
The apples first go into two rotating knives and are cut into chunks.
The chunks fall into the gears and crushed.
The drive is chain and sprocket to keep the gears in sync. It's
driven by a 1/2 HP motor scavenged from a washing machine.
I figure it will take a couple of builds to get all the details
right. The first build will have an adjustable gap between the
crushing gears to find the optimal spacing. I'd rather have a fixed
spacing, but I will need to experiment first to find how tight I can
get the gap without excessive binding of the gears.
I've previously built a plate press that uses an air-driven 8-ton
hydraulic cylinder. Our current grinder is too coarse and that limits
the yield of the press. We will typically do 15 or more gallons a
year. This year will probably be less because the trees aren't
bearing much.
> Other than that, anyone else have any interesting projects ongoing?
Actually, yeah. I've been working on a vacuum thermoforming table, but I've had to put it on hold for a few reasons: 1. I don't have the electrical capacity in my apartment to run it - it needs between 15A and 20A at the wall, and my plugs and breaker are rated at 15A. I need a space to operate this in that can provide the electricity. 2. I don't have any experience or knowledge in welding, so I need help putting the steel frame together. I've already got all of the cold-roll A15 steel I need, cut and shaped, ready to weld. 3. I don't have the room for it. My apartment is, sadly, too small to operate a machine of this size, and between ventilation and its dimensions, I need to move it elsewhere. 4. I can't find an appropriate vacuum tank. Part of the design calls for a vacuum tank that can hold a deep vacuum. AirGas has some helpful folks, but they didn't have any advice on what kind of tank could hold a deep vacuum. I can skip this part, and just use a 12A vacuum cleaner, but I wanted to use an automotive vacuum. :)
I've also got a partial plan worked out for a hands-on digital electronics course, with the goal of guiding a group through the design, construction, and programming of a from-scratch digital computer. A friend of mine at HakDC has held a similar class where he guides people through digital computation that has been very successful, but I'd like to go farther with hands-on electronics work. I'm curious how many people might be interested in that.
On Wed, Sep 28, 2011 at 7:41 AM, John Smith <solo...@gmail.com> wrote: > @Kurt - I'm not suggesting we have alcohol at every meeting, but I also > don't associate the presence of beer with the exclusion of mature minors. > :) > @rbisping - I'd be really interested in hearing more about your 3d printer. > I've built a 3-axis CNC, but I don't think that would translate well into > what is essentially a 2-D process with I'm guessing projectors and some sort > of liquid. Do you have a blog about it or something you could share? I'd > be really interested in helping out once I get in the area. My schedule is > super flexible so I am available pretty much anytime. > @Martin (via Paul) - I agree that the participants are the most important > part of any group. The physical space will come with time, but the projects > we complete and the events we attend will be what gets us noticed. Also, > non-profit status is a huge, huge help...we can get all sorts of free or > discounted stuff, grants, etc. Some of the examples from my experience at > HaHa are 50% off of makerbots, a bunch of free software, free books from > O'Reilly publishing. The O'Reilly one shocked me the most since they just > keep sending us free books everytime we send a list. Once we are ready, we > should contact Nick Farr. He has helped start a ton of hackerspaces and was > a huge help when starting HaHa. AFAIK, he currently runs Unallocated Space > (http://www.unallocatedspace.org/uas/). > A physical space isn't important right now. If I meet all you guys and you > don't appear to be a threat to my family then I have no problem dedicating a > portion of my garage to use as a space...assuming I find a place with a > garage. Maybe there is another member with a garage that could serve as a > space. > Other than that, anyone else have any interesting projects ongoing? I've > drawn up plans for a more user friendly reverse geocaching box > (http://arduiniana.org/projects/the-reverse-geo-cache-puzzle/) and wanted to > build something to mount to my snowboard which would record GPS data that I > could later upload into some sort of map of the mountain to replay my runs. > I'm pretty weak in the software department...I mostly write plain ole C > code for PIC microcontrollers since I you can get free samples of those. :) > I'm taking Java classes...not because I care about Java, but because I > think the experience will translate well into other OOP languages. I also > taught my self a bit of Python by doing some of the Project Euler problems > (Great way to learn a new language...I highly recommend it.). Ultimately, > I'd like to write some android apps. > - Solo > On Wed, Sep 28, 2011 at 10:18 AM, Paul de Armond <paulfs...@gmail.com> > wrote:
>> I'm forwarding this from Martin...
>> Hi guys:
>> Funny you should ask.
>> I'm behind on my undertaking to introduce Mark Kuo to you all:
>> Mark showed up at the BLUG picnic a while back, and he and Anthony >> Penzinski and I talked about hackerspaces. I was gone for a while, but >> at the next .org meeting we decided to try to get something started. >> Mark has a lab on Kellogg Road where his focus is technology and young >> people. I then dragged Paul into it, and we've just begun meetings on >> a weekend evening; the next one is this coming Saturday. We are >> starting small, with a virtual whiteboard. Unfortunately last week the >> IR-pen didn't perform as advertised....
>> Mark is not committed to running a full-on h-space, but he's hosted >> our exploratory meetings so far and we now have a nucleus of people >> who intend to do real if modest projects and see what we can grow from >> there. The TDC is an exciting development (thanks Charles for the >> link). We'd probably need some sort of track record as a group in >> order to be taken seriously, but if we can demonstrate enough >> consistency and collective accumulation of skill to win some allies >> there, they could be a huge help.
>> Welcome John (Smith), and Kurt (we won't force beer on you). And John >> (Sechrist)--thanks for your input, and for the good energy you brought >> here.
>> martin
>> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "bellinghamhackspace" group. >> To post to this group, send email to bellinghamhackspace@googlegroups.com. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> bellinghamhackspace+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/bellinghamhackspace?hl=en.
> -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "bellinghamhackspace" group. > To post to this group, send email to bellinghamhackspace@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > bellinghamhackspace+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/bellinghamhackspace?hl=en.
"Deep vacuum" is not going to be any more than atmospheric pressure
14.7 psi backwards. So any sort of pressure tank will be adequate. I
remember a SciAm Amateur Scientist project for a hypersonic wind
tunnel that used water heater tanks for vacuum reservoirs. Water
heaters are pressure rated to about 150 psi, so they are going to be
more than adequate.
Yeah, I remember that kind of stuff from Physics 101 in college, but my concern was that if I used an ordinary propane tank that was designed to keep 30+psi *in*, that it might not be so great at keeping 15psi *out*. Different kinds of stress usually result in the failure of different components. So I wanted something I could be confident in. :P
Regardless, it's a moot point at the moment, as I simply don't have the room to keep fiddling with it. I still need a welder's help! (And someone with a roomy truck when I finally find a new place to put it. :P)
On Wed, Sep 28, 2011 at 11:52 AM, Paul de Armond <paulfs...@gmail.com> wrote:
> "Deep vacuum" is not going to be any more than atmospheric pressure > 14.7 psi backwards. So any sort of pressure tank will be adequate. I > remember a SciAm Amateur Scientist project for a hypersonic wind > tunnel that used water heater tanks for vacuum reservoirs. Water > heaters are pressure rated to about 150 psi, so they are going to be > more than adequate.
> -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "bellinghamhackspace" group. > To post to this group, send email to bellinghamhackspace@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to bellinghamhackspace+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/bellinghamhackspace?hl=en.
@Paul- those all sound like fun projects. I've worked with the Wiimote before when I had to get it to work with a netduino which uses C#. It was my first time with anything .NET and it wasn't very pleasant. We were building a tron disc for Microsoft and the Netduino guys so they could showcase their stuff. LED cubes are a lot of fun...I've done quite a few projects with LEDs, but I primarily use the Max7219 since one chip can light 64 LEDs. I also started a project using RGB's and TLC5940 chips, but never got finished. The Arduino is an excellent platform to simply build stuff, but it isn't very good at helping you learn why things work...also, Arduinos arent cheap whereas you can sample PICs and 7219s for free. :) Either way, everyone loves blinky lights!
@Charles- A vacuum former seems like a neat project, are you basing it off of any plans or just going from scratch? Also, I don't know anything about home wiring, but could you plug the machine into two different circuits that go to different breakers? Is the 15-20A a starting current or does it need that continuously? Welding is really easy to pick up...the only thing experience nets you is how to make it pretty. I'd be willing to help out with any classes, but I doubt we would have much interest until the group became established.
On Wed, Sep 28, 2011 at 2:57 PM, Charles Banas <greyf...@gmail.com> wrote: > Yeah, I remember that kind of stuff from Physics 101 in college, but > my concern was that if I used an ordinary propane tank that was > designed to keep 30+psi *in*, that it might not be so great at keeping > 15psi *out*. Different kinds of stress usually result in the failure > of different components. So I wanted something I could be confident > in. :P
> Regardless, it's a moot point at the moment, as I simply don't have > the room to keep fiddling with it. I still need a welder's help! (And > someone with a roomy truck when I finally find a new place to put it. > :P)
> On Wed, Sep 28, 2011 at 11:52 AM, Paul de Armond <paulfs...@gmail.com> > wrote: > > "Deep vacuum" is not going to be any more than atmospheric pressure > > 14.7 psi backwards. So any sort of pressure tank will be adequate. I > > remember a SciAm Amateur Scientist project for a hypersonic wind > > tunnel that used water heater tanks for vacuum reservoirs. Water > > heaters are pressure rated to about 150 psi, so they are going to be > > more than adequate.
> > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "bellinghamhackspace" group. > > To post to this group, send email to > bellinghamhackspace@googlegroups.com. > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > bellinghamhackspace+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. > > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/bellinghamhackspace?hl=en.
> -- > Charles Banas
> -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "bellinghamhackspace" group. > To post to this group, send email to bellinghamhackspace@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > bellinghamhackspace+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/bellinghamhackspace?hl=en.
It's basically a from-scratch project, but I wanted to start with a proven design. :P
> Also, I don't know anything about> home wiring, but could you plug the machine into two different circuits that> go to different breakers?
I thought about it. But I was concerned about running long extension cables between rooms, and I'd rather just set up a mini-breaker on the table itself.
> Is the 15-20A a starting current or does it need> that continuously?
Four 48-ohm heating elements work out to 12-ohm in parallel, on 120V lines works out to 10A constant current, but having some experience with this kind of thing, I estimate peak to be around 15+A. Not to mention the vacuum pump, which would pull 15+A by itself.
> Welding is really easy to pick up...the only thing> experience nets you is how to make it pretty.
I also don't have a place to do it or access to equipment or anyone to help me get started. I'd rather have someone else do this. :)
> I'd be willing to help out> with any classes, but I doubt we would have much interest until the group> became established.That's what I would expect anyway, and thanks for the offer. I may take you up on it. :) But before doing such classes, I still need to work out my plan for the digital logic circuits I want to use, and where I want to go with it. It works out to about 13 three-hour weeks of "classes" to get from transistor to games, so I'm expecting to have some fun with it, and to spend a lot of money on it. On Wed, Sep 28, 2011 at 12:56 PM, John Smith <solo...@gmail.com> wrote: > @Paul- those all sound like fun projects. I've worked with the Wiimote > before when I had to get it to work with a netduino which uses C#. It was > my first time with anything .NET and it wasn't very pleasant. We were > building a tron disc for Microsoft and the Netduino guys so they could > showcase their stuff. LED cubes are a lot of fun...I've done quite a few > projects with LEDs, but I primarily use the Max7219 since one chip can light > 64 LEDs. I also started a project using RGB's and TLC5940 chips, but never > got finished. The Arduino is an excellent platform to simply build stuff, > but it isn't very good at helping you learn why things work...also, Arduinos > arent cheap whereas you can sample PICs and 7219s for free. :) Either way, > everyone loves blinky lights! > @Charles- A vacuum former seems like a neat project, are you basing it off > of any plans or just going from scratch? Also, I don't know anything about > home wiring, but could you plug the machine into two different circuits that > go to different breakers? Is the 15-20A a starting current or does it need > that continuously? Welding is really easy to pick up...the only thing > experience nets you is how to make it pretty. I'd be willing to help out > with any classes, but I doubt we would have much interest until the group > became established.
> On Wed, Sep 28, 2011 at 2:57 PM, Charles Banas <greyf...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Yeah, I remember that kind of stuff from Physics 101 in college, but >> my concern was that if I used an ordinary propane tank that was >> designed to keep 30+psi *in*, that it might not be so great at keeping >> 15psi *out*. Different kinds of stress usually result in the failure >> of different components. So I wanted something I could be confident >> in. :P
>> Regardless, it's a moot point at the moment, as I simply don't have >> the room to keep fiddling with it. I still need a welder's help! (And >> someone with a roomy truck when I finally find a new place to put it. >> :P)
>> On Wed, Sep 28, 2011 at 11:52 AM, Paul de Armond <paulfs...@gmail.com> >> wrote: >> > "Deep vacuum" is not going to be any more than atmospheric pressure >> > 14.7 psi backwards. So any sort of pressure tank will be adequate. I >> > remember a SciAm Amateur Scientist project for a hypersonic wind >> > tunnel that used water heater tanks for vacuum reservoirs. Water >> > heaters are pressure rated to about 150 psi, so they are going to be >> > more than adequate.
>> > -- >> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >> > Groups "bellinghamhackspace" group. >> > To post to this group, send email to >> > bellinghamhackspace@googlegroups.com. >> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> > bellinghamhackspace+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. >> > For more options, visit this group at >> > http://groups.google.com/group/bellinghamhackspace?hl=en.
>> -- >> Charles Banas
>> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "bellinghamhackspace" group. >> To post to this group, send email to bellinghamhackspace@googlegroups.com. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> bellinghamhackspace+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/bellinghamhackspace?hl=en.
> -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "bellinghamhackspace" group. > To post to this group, send email to bellinghamhackspace@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > bellinghamhackspace+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/bellinghamhackspace?hl=en.
well, i havent realy done a update on all of my projects so here is a
new list of the things im working on.
still have my makerbot cupcake #109
still running my mendel reprap
now have a metal foundry with some casting supplies.
frostruder for my cupcake that im working on using metal clay for 3d
printing of metals.
purchased a (i beleive) full set of the gingerly home machining books.
havent started building any of them.
still in the development stage of the printable organic circuitry.
still in set up of the afm and dip pen lithography system.
still in set up of the home silicon manufacturing (ala jerri
ellesworth)
biggest issue i have is living on my boat i have limited room.
Note: I have a welder and also have access to comercial welding
equipment at work and can assist in your welding needs.
I personaly tend to have the equipment I need for my work, what I lack
is the conversation with others to bounce ideas off of and maintain
enthusiism.
On Sep 28, 1:45 pm, Charles Banas <greyf...@gmail.com> wrote:
> It's basically a from-scratch project, but I wanted to start with a
> proven design. :P
> > Also, I don't know anything about> home wiring, but could you plug the machine into two different circuits that> go to different breakers?
> I thought about it. But I was concerned about running long extension
> cables between rooms, and I'd rather just set up a mini-breaker on the
> table itself.
> > Is the 15-20A a starting current or does it need> that continuously?
> Four 48-ohm heating elements work out to 12-ohm in parallel, on 120V
> lines works out to 10A constant current, but having some experience
> with this kind of thing, I estimate peak to be around 15+A. Not to
> mention the vacuum pump, which would pull 15+A by itself.
> > Welding is really easy to pick up...the only thing> experience nets you is how to make it pretty.
> I also don't have a place to do it or access to equipment or anyone to
> help me get started. I'd rather have someone else do this. :)
> > I'd be willing to help out> with any classes, but I doubt we would have much interest until the group> became established.That's what I would expect anyway, and thanks for the offer. I may take you up on it. :) But before doing such classes, I still need to work out my plan for the digital logic circuits I want to use, and where I want to go with it. It works out to about 13 three-hour weeks of "classes" to get from transistor to games, so I'm expecting to have some fun with it, and to spend a lot of money on it.
> On Wed, Sep 28, 2011 at 12:56 PM, John Smith <solo...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > @Paul- those all sound like fun projects. I've worked with the Wiimote
> > before when I had to get it to work with a netduino which uses C#. It was
> > my first time with anything .NET and it wasn't very pleasant. We were
> > building a tron disc for Microsoft and the Netduino guys so they could
> > showcase their stuff. LED cubes are a lot of fun...I've done quite a few
> > projects with LEDs, but I primarily use the Max7219 since one chip can light
> > 64 LEDs. I also started a project using RGB's and TLC5940 chips, but never
> > got finished. The Arduino is an excellent platform to simply build stuff,
> > but it isn't very good at helping you learn why things work...also, Arduinos
> > arent cheap whereas you can sample PICs and 7219s for free. :) Either way,
> > everyone loves blinky lights!
> > @Charles- A vacuum former seems like a neat project, are you basing it off
> > of any plans or just going from scratch? Also, I don't know anything about
> > home wiring, but could you plug the machine into two different circuits that
> > go to different breakers? Is the 15-20A a starting current or does it need
> > that continuously? Welding is really easy to pick up...the only thing
> > experience nets you is how to make it pretty. I'd be willing to help out
> > with any classes, but I doubt we would have much interest until the group
> > became established.
> > On Wed, Sep 28, 2011 at 2:57 PM, Charles Banas <greyf...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> Yeah, I remember that kind of stuff from Physics 101 in college, but
> >> my concern was that if I used an ordinary propane tank that was
> >> designed to keep 30+psi *in*, that it might not be so great at keeping
> >> 15psi *out*. Different kinds of stress usually result in the failure
> >> of different components. So I wanted something I could be confident
> >> in. :P
> >> Regardless, it's a moot point at the moment, as I simply don't have
> >> the room to keep fiddling with it. I still need a welder's help! (And
> >> someone with a roomy truck when I finally find a new place to put it.
> >> :P)
> >> On Wed, Sep 28, 2011 at 11:52 AM, Paul de Armond <paulfs...@gmail.com>
> >> wrote:
> >> > "Deep vacuum" is not going to be any more than atmospheric pressure
> >> > 14.7 psi backwards. So any sort of pressure tank will be adequate. I
> >> > remember a SciAm Amateur Scientist project for a hypersonic wind
> >> > tunnel that used water heater tanks for vacuum reservoirs. Water
> >> > heaters are pressure rated to about 150 psi, so they are going to be
> >> > more than adequate.
> >> > --
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> >> --
> >> Charles Banas
> >> --
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On Wed, Sep 28, 2011 at 9:02 PM, rbisping <wizzman6...@yahoo.com> wrote: > well, i havent realy done a update on all of my projects so here is a > new list of the things im working on.
[snip]
Hi guys
Look forward to meeting people F2F tomorrow. I'll most likely be coming north from Southside, if anyone needs a ride from that direction.
Robert is the professional here in the electrical trade (and that's some project list!), but I've had some experience in industrial and house wiring and can clarify a couple of issues that came up around Charles' vacuum project:
-You definitely cannot safely create one 30 amp circuit from two 15 amp sources--there are two specific hazards involved, depending upon the actual origin of the feed to each of the two outlets. What you could do is to create two separate loads (the pump and the heater, say) and then make sure that their circuits are fed from different breakers. If they were not to be started at the same instant, that would also reduce the peak startup draw.
-You are right that long extension cords are not a solution for large loads. People out in rural areas can run into this problem setting up waterpumps (voltage drop), and electric motors are stressed under load if voltage gets too low.
The best source for the novice here is the little "Wiring Simplified" handbook which you can probably still find in Hardware Sales--and Angus and the others in the electrical aisle there are very knowledgeable, and also patient with customers who have a specific question.
I may be out of date on welding, but depending on (A) The degree of accuracy required in maintaining alignment, and (B) possible risks following a failure, I'd still like to emphasize the importance of practice. If you haven't actually seen the way a careless weld will permanently tweak a meticulously prepared fabrication, it might be worth remembering the novice carpenter's frustration over boring old squareness and leveling issues.
Remember also that X-rays are routinely used where strength is critical, even when experts have done the work. And stuff often gets used for things the builder never intended (hacking!) and anything made of steel always LOOKS so strong....
I haven't built vacuum gear but I did work with it over several years. Two things I learned might be helpful:
-The professional techs on our equipment were very emphatic in saying that "you cannot store vacuum". I've learned that this sort of advice (from the people who routinely dirty their hands on the stuff they are discussing) is something to take seriously. I think what it means is that volume capacity in the system will not give you the same cushion for loads that it does in a pressure setup. How useful it is as a design principle might depend both on cycle timing and on how much vacuum your final process needs--ours (food packaging) was rather demanding. What always does matter is:
--The capacity of your source (pump, engine-manifold, venturi: how quickly in the work cycle does the level recover to specs) and --leaks.
In my experience, both with vacuum equipment, and on a long suction side of ordinary water pumps, vacuum leaks can be hard to track down. (Pressure leaks have their own collection of giveaways). Of course this is usually much worse in an industrial environment because of the noise. About the time I retired, ultrasound leak detectors were coming into use, and if I were to do anything more with vacuum myself this would be something I would check--who knows, it could be an interesting "make" project.
I haven't heard of vacuum failure of containers built for pressure. Ordinary schedule 40 pipe is good for well over 100 psi+ while as Paul pointed out, vacuum is under 15. Fittings, joints, and anything cobbled up from large expanses of flat sheet matal would be another story. Then again, what's the worst that can happen? It's not a boiler, and if a rupture won't trigger an event elsewhere or release gremlins and shrapnel....
Well now, this is a welcome email. See my responses below:
On Fri, Sep 30, 2011 at 10:10 AM, Martin Passmore <dc24vo...@gmail.com> wrote:
> -You definitely cannot safely create one 30 amp circuit from two 15 amp > sources--there are two specific hazards involved, depending upon the actual > origin of the feed to each of the two outlets. What you could do is to > create two separate loads (the pump and the heater, say) and then make sure > that their circuits are fed from different breakers. If they were not to be > started at the same instant, that would also reduce the peak startup draw.
This I was already pretty sure of, and why I wasn't even going to attempt the idea.
I redid the math, and the heaters would pull 10A@120V constant, and the vacuum pump would pull between 10A and 15A. My original idea to use it on a 15A socket was to make the two mutually exclusive - to turn on the vacuum pump, the heaters must be off. That seemed the safest and most reasonable. But, as I haven't yet gotten the frame welded, I'm not going to worry about that just yet. :)
> -You are right that long extension cords are not a solution for large loads. > People out in rural areas can run into this problem setting up waterpumps > (voltage drop), and electric motors are stressed under load if voltage gets > too low. > The best source for the novice here is the little "Wiring Simplified" > handbook which you can probably still find in Hardware Sales--and Angus and > the others in the electrical aisle there are very knowledgeable, and also > patient with customers who have a specific question.
Yes. Having some experience with electronics myself, and having had some exposure to electrical wiring, I long ago decided it's probably a Bad Idea to do this in my little apartment. I put the project on hold months ago in the hopes of getting a space where I can do this both safely and competently. :)
> I may be out of date on welding, but depending on (A) The degree of accuracy > required in maintaining alignment, and (B) possible risks following a > failure, I'd still like to emphasize the importance of practice. If you > haven't actually seen the way a careless weld will permanently tweak a > meticulously prepared fabrication, it might be worth remembering the novice > carpenter's frustration over boring old squareness and leveling issues. > Remember also that X-rays are routinely used where strength is critical, > even when experts have done the work. And stuff often gets used for things > the builder never intended (hacking!) and anything made of steel always > LOOKS so strong....
Which is why I don't want to do it myself. I'm inexperienced, and would rather an experienced welder did this for me. If I do learn how to weld, this project would be the last thing I'd do.
> I haven't built vacuum gear but I did work with it over several years. Two > things I learned might be helpful: > -The professional techs on our equipment were very emphatic in saying that > "you cannot store vacuum". I've learned that this sort of advice (from the > people who routinely dirty their hands on the stuff they are discussing) is > something to take seriously. I think what it means is that volume capacity > in the system will not give you the same cushion for loads that it does in a > pressure setup. How useful it is as a design principle might depend both on > cycle timing and on how much vacuum your final process needs--ours (food > packaging) was rather demanding. What always does matter is: > --The capacity of your source (pump, engine-manifold, venturi: how quickly > in the work cycle does the level recover to specs) and > --leaks. > In my experience, both with vacuum equipment, and on a long suction side of > ordinary water pumps, vacuum leaks can be hard to track down. (Pressure > leaks have their own collection of giveaways). Of course this is usually > much worse in an industrial environment because of the noise. About the time > I retired, ultrasound leak detectors were coming into use, and if I were to > do anything more with vacuum myself this would be something I would > check--who knows, it could be an interesting "make" project. > I haven't heard of vacuum failure of containers built for pressure. Ordinary > schedule 40 pipe is good for well over 100 psi+ while as Paul pointed out, > vacuum is under 15. Fittings, joints, and anything cobbled up from large > expanses of flat sheet matal would be another story. Then again, what's the > worst that can happen? It's not a boiler, and if a rupture won't trigger an > event elsewhere or release gremlins and shrapnel....
I'm always thinking ahead, and want to make sure that when I do something, I do it right.
The design I'm using has a valve system that "charges" a vacuum in a tank before it's needed, and the vacuum tank is used to *assist* the vacuum pump for a deep draw off the plastic. The deeper the vacuum I can store, the deeper I can get the plastic, and the thicker the plastic I can use. It would never store vacuum long-term, just temporarily for immediate use.
That's why I have such a concern over failure of the tank. I know that undue stress on metals can result in fatigue fractures, and even a sturdy tank might fail after several uses, especially storing deep vacuums in the neighborhood of 0.015 Torr (which the vacuum pump I was looking at is supposedly capable of achieving) shortly before being refilled to neutral pressure mere minutes later. I've seen the results of airplane stress - I know it's the other way around (pressurized cabin causes failure of the skin after several hundred flights above 30,000 feet), but my intuition tells me it's possible.
Anyway, thank you for the advice. I'll save this email for future reference when I start up the project again.
> m
> -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "bellinghamhackspace" group. > To post to this group, send email to bellinghamhackspace@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > bellinghamhackspace+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/bellinghamhackspace?hl=en.
ok, one thing you can do for your heater/pump issue is as you
suggested only having one of them running at a time, though you can
run your heaters off of one source and the pump off a second source
safely. another option though not realy great for non electricians
would be to power the heaters off 220v source i.e. your stove/dryer
plug. doubling the voltage halves the amp load and those circuits are
usualy 30A-50A. that is what I would do but i cant necessarily
recomend it to you.
On Sep 30, 10:33 am, Charles Banas <greyf...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Well now, this is a welcome email. See my responses below:
> On Fri, Sep 30, 2011 at 10:10 AM, Martin Passmore <dc24vo...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > -You definitely cannot safely create one 30 amp circuit from two 15 amp
> > sources--there are two specific hazards involved, depending upon the actual
> > origin of the feed to each of the two outlets. What you could do is to
> > create two separate loads (the pump and the heater, say) and then make sure
> > that their circuits are fed from different breakers. If they were not to be
> > started at the same instant, that would also reduce the peak startup draw.
> This I was already pretty sure of, and why I wasn't even going to
> attempt the idea.
> I redid the math, and the heaters would pull 10A@120V constant, and
> the vacuum pump would pull between 10A and 15A. My original idea to
> use it on a 15A socket was to make the two mutually exclusive - to
> turn on the vacuum pump, the heaters must be off. That seemed the
> safest and most reasonable. But, as I haven't yet gotten the frame
> welded, I'm not going to worry about that just yet. :)
> > -You are right that long extension cords are not a solution for large loads.
> > People out in rural areas can run into this problem setting up waterpumps
> > (voltage drop), and electric motors are stressed under load if voltage gets
> > too low.
> > The best source for the novice here is the little "Wiring Simplified"
> > handbook which you can probably still find in Hardware Sales--and Angus and
> > the others in the electrical aisle there are very knowledgeable, and also
> > patient with customers who have a specific question.
> Yes. Having some experience with electronics myself, and having had
> some exposure to electrical wiring, I long ago decided it's probably a
> Bad Idea to do this in my little apartment. I put the project on hold
> months ago in the hopes of getting a space where I can do this both
> safely and competently. :)
> > I may be out of date on welding, but depending on (A) The degree of accuracy
> > required in maintaining alignment, and (B) possible risks following a
> > failure, I'd still like to emphasize the importance of practice. If you
> > haven't actually seen the way a careless weld will permanently tweak a
> > meticulously prepared fabrication, it might be worth remembering the novice
> > carpenter's frustration over boring old squareness and leveling issues.
> > Remember also that X-rays are routinely used where strength is critical,
> > even when experts have done the work. And stuff often gets used for things
> > the builder never intended (hacking!) and anything made of steel always
> > LOOKS so strong....
> Which is why I don't want to do it myself. I'm inexperienced, and
> would rather an experienced welder did this for me. If I do learn how
> to weld, this project would be the last thing I'd do.
> > I haven't built vacuum gear but I did work with it over several years. Two
> > things I learned might be helpful:
> > -The professional techs on our equipment were very emphatic in saying that
> > "you cannot store vacuum". I've learned that this sort of advice (from the
> > people who routinely dirty their hands on the stuff they are discussing) is
> > something to take seriously. I think what it means is that volume capacity
> > in the system will not give you the same cushion for loads that it does in a
> > pressure setup. How useful it is as a design principle might depend both on
> > cycle timing and on how much vacuum your final process needs--ours (food
> > packaging) was rather demanding. What always does matter is:
> > --The capacity of your source (pump, engine-manifold, venturi: how quickly
> > in the work cycle does the level recover to specs) and
> > --leaks.
> > In my experience, both with vacuum equipment, and on a long suction side of
> > ordinary water pumps, vacuum leaks can be hard to track down. (Pressure
> > leaks have their own collection of giveaways). Of course this is usually
> > much worse in an industrial environment because of the noise. About the time
> > I retired, ultrasound leak detectors were coming into use, and if I were to
> > do anything more with vacuum myself this would be something I would
> > check--who knows, it could be an interesting "make" project.
> > I haven't heard of vacuum failure of containers built for pressure. Ordinary
> > schedule 40 pipe is good for well over 100 psi+ while as Paul pointed out,
> > vacuum is under 15. Fittings, joints, and anything cobbled up from large
> > expanses of flat sheet matal would be another story. Then again, what's the
> > worst that can happen? It's not a boiler, and if a rupture won't trigger an
> > event elsewhere or release gremlins and shrapnel....
> I'm always thinking ahead, and want to make sure that when I do
> something, I do it right.
> The design I'm using has a valve system that "charges" a vacuum in a
> tank before it's needed, and the vacuum tank is used to *assist* the
> vacuum pump for a deep draw off the plastic. The deeper the vacuum I
> can store, the deeper I can get the plastic, and the thicker the
> plastic I can use. It would never store vacuum long-term, just
> temporarily for immediate use.
> That's why I have such a concern over failure of the tank. I know that
> undue stress on metals can result in fatigue fractures, and even a
> sturdy tank might fail after several uses, especially storing deep
> vacuums in the neighborhood of 0.015 Torr (which the vacuum pump I was
> looking at is supposedly capable of achieving) shortly before being
> refilled to neutral pressure mere minutes later. I've seen the results
> of airplane stress - I know it's the other way around (pressurized
> cabin causes failure of the skin after several hundred flights above
> 30,000 feet), but my intuition tells me it's possible.
> Anyway, thank you for the advice. I'll save this email for future
> reference when I start up the project again.
> > m
> > --
> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> > "bellinghamhackspace" group.
> > To post to this group, send email to bellinghamhackspace@googlegroups.com.
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> > bellinghamhackspace+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
> > For more options, visit this group at
> >http://groups.google.com/group/bellinghamhackspace?hl=en.
I once used a 55 gallon drum as a sump/vacuum accumulator when trying
to drain an 200 gal oil tank with a plugged line. The line plugged
real hard, so the drum started developing a vacuum. After about an
hour and a half of pumping, there was a very loud noise and a 55
gallon drum crumpled like a beer can.
I think the notion of having an accumulator in a vacuum former is you
need a big volume of suck for a short time.
Back in the 60's when I occasionally worked on movie locations as a
gofer, there was never enough power when we were shooting. Studios,
like theaters, have huge amounts of power for lighting. Anywhere
else, not so much. The electrician's solution was to have an entire
breaker panel with outlets that could plug into a stove or dryer 220v
outlet. This would usually give two 30 to 50 amp 110V circuits.
If these weren't enough or the 220v outlets were in an awkward place
compared to where we were shooting, he removed the cover of the house
breaker panel, turned off the main disconnect and hooked up with hefty
crocodile clips to the buses (circumventing everything in the breaker
panel except the mains). That way you got as much power as the supply
and main breakers could handle.
So when I recently had my fuse panel relocated and replaced with
breakers, I had the electrician add an extra 30A 220V circuit with a
dryer outlet, just in case I needed a lot of power for some future
project.
On Fri, Sep 30, 2011 at 10:02 PM, rbisping <wizzman6...@yahoo.com> wrote: > ok, one thing you can do for your heater/pump issue is as you > suggested only having one of them running at a time, though you can > run your heaters off of one source and the pump off a second source > safely. another option though not realy great for non electricians > would be to power the heaters off 220v source i.e. your stove/dryer > plug. doubling the voltage halves the amp load and those circuits are > usualy 30A-50A. that is what I would do but i cant necessarily > recomend it to you.
> On Sep 30, 10:33 am, Charles Banas <greyf...@gmail.com> wrote: >> Well now, this is a welcome email. See my responses below:
>> On Fri, Sep 30, 2011 at 10:10 AM, Martin Passmore <dc24vo...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> > -You definitely cannot safely create one 30 amp circuit from two 15 amp >> > sources--there are two specific hazards involved, depending upon the actual >> > origin of the feed to each of the two outlets. What you could do is to >> > create two separate loads (the pump and the heater, say) and then make sure >> > that their circuits are fed from different breakers. If they were not to be >> > started at the same instant, that would also reduce the peak startup draw.
>> This I was already pretty sure of, and why I wasn't even going to >> attempt the idea.
>> I redid the math, and the heaters would pull 10A@120V constant, and >> the vacuum pump would pull between 10A and 15A. My original idea to >> use it on a 15A socket was to make the two mutually exclusive - to >> turn on the vacuum pump, the heaters must be off. That seemed the >> safest and most reasonable. But, as I haven't yet gotten the frame >> welded, I'm not going to worry about that just yet. :)
>> > -You are right that long extension cords are not a solution for large loads. >> > People out in rural areas can run into this problem setting up waterpumps >> > (voltage drop), and electric motors are stressed under load if voltage gets >> > too low. >> > The best source for the novice here is the little "Wiring Simplified" >> > handbook which you can probably still find in Hardware Sales--and Angus and >> > the others in the electrical aisle there are very knowledgeable, and also >> > patient with customers who have a specific question.
>> Yes. Having some experience with electronics myself, and having had >> some exposure to electrical wiring, I long ago decided it's probably a >> Bad Idea to do this in my little apartment. I put the project on hold >> months ago in the hopes of getting a space where I can do this both >> safely and competently. :)
>> > I may be out of date on welding, but depending on (A) The degree of accuracy >> > required in maintaining alignment, and (B) possible risks following a >> > failure, I'd still like to emphasize the importance of practice. If you >> > haven't actually seen the way a careless weld will permanently tweak a >> > meticulously prepared fabrication, it might be worth remembering the novice >> > carpenter's frustration over boring old squareness and leveling issues. >> > Remember also that X-rays are routinely used where strength is critical, >> > even when experts have done the work. And stuff often gets used for things >> > the builder never intended (hacking!) and anything made of steel always >> > LOOKS so strong....
>> Which is why I don't want to do it myself. I'm inexperienced, and >> would rather an experienced welder did this for me. If I do learn how >> to weld, this project would be the last thing I'd do.
>> > I haven't built vacuum gear but I did work with it over several years. Two >> > things I learned might be helpful: >> > -The professional techs on our equipment were very emphatic in saying that >> > "you cannot store vacuum". I've learned that this sort of advice (from the >> > people who routinely dirty their hands on the stuff they are discussing) is >> > something to take seriously. I think what it means is that volume capacity >> > in the system will not give you the same cushion for loads that it does in a >> > pressure setup. How useful it is as a design principle might depend both on >> > cycle timing and on how much vacuum your final process needs--ours (food >> > packaging) was rather demanding. What always does matter is: >> > --The capacity of your source (pump, engine-manifold, venturi: how quickly >> > in the work cycle does the level recover to specs) and >> > --leaks. >> > In my experience, both with vacuum equipment, and on a long suction side of >> > ordinary water pumps, vacuum leaks can be hard to track down. (Pressure >> > leaks have their own collection of giveaways). Of course this is usually >> > much worse in an industrial environment because of the noise. About the time >> > I retired, ultrasound leak detectors were coming into use, and if I were to >> > do anything more with vacuum myself this would be something I would >> > check--who knows, it could be an interesting "make" project. >> > I haven't heard of vacuum failure of containers built for pressure. Ordinary >> > schedule 40 pipe is good for well over 100 psi+ while as Paul pointed out, >> > vacuum is under 15. Fittings, joints, and anything cobbled up from large >> > expanses of flat sheet matal would be another story. Then again, what's the >> > worst that can happen? It's not a boiler, and if a rupture won't trigger an >> > event elsewhere or release gremlins and shrapnel....
>> I'm always thinking ahead, and want to make sure that when I do >> something, I do it right.
>> The design I'm using has a valve system that "charges" a vacuum in a >> tank before it's needed, and the vacuum tank is used to *assist* the >> vacuum pump for a deep draw off the plastic. The deeper the vacuum I >> can store, the deeper I can get the plastic, and the thicker the >> plastic I can use. It would never store vacuum long-term, just >> temporarily for immediate use.
>> That's why I have such a concern over failure of the tank. I know that >> undue stress on metals can result in fatigue fractures, and even a >> sturdy tank might fail after several uses, especially storing deep >> vacuums in the neighborhood of 0.015 Torr (which the vacuum pump I was >> looking at is supposedly capable of achieving) shortly before being >> refilled to neutral pressure mere minutes later. I've seen the results >> of airplane stress - I know it's the other way around (pressurized >> cabin causes failure of the skin after several hundred flights above >> 30,000 feet), but my intuition tells me it's possible.
>> Anyway, thank you for the advice. I'll save this email for future >> reference when I start up the project again.
>> > m
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>> -- >> Charles Banas- Hide quoted text -
>> - Show quoted text -
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Charles, this is the site I mentioned last night: a couple of the pieces gave some good background for understanding just how vacuum differs in practice from pressure, as vividly illustrated by Robert's and Paul's stories. #12 was the one that helped me, several others looked useful
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: rbisping <wizzman6...@yahoo.com> Date: Tue, Sep 27, 2011 at 5:53 PM Subject: [bhs] Re: What are you guys doing? To: bellinghamhackspace <bellinghamhackspace@googlegroups.com>
I have been rather busy personaly so havent been down to reelectronics since the last meeting we had down there. The biggest issue with using reelectronics is the hours they are open. I know I do most of my hacking at real odd hours so only having access during their buisness hours has been a issue for me. I realy would like to get regular meetings started for this group but I have a odd work schedual and very little free time when im not working. as to alcohol/not I dont see that as a issue regardless of where we meet, and yes this is a youth friendly concept though not specificaly targeting that age group. If you are a maker then age has little to do with it.
Personaly Ive been working more on my 3d printing projects and my current experiments are focusing on a uv curing vat grown printing system. very similar to the junior veloso printer.
On Sep 27, 3:20 pm, Kurt Apple <kappl...@gmail.com> wrote: > hey, I noticed these recent messages. Being a high schooler, I hope to have > this be activity open to my age group when and if it happens. That being > said, I have no problem with cussing, but maybe the main meetings could be > kept alcohol-free so it can be open to all ages.
> Thanks,
> Kurt
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