tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18171783158740766282024-03-13T14:53:03.850-07:00Musings: Philosophy, Tools, Science, War... WhateverRandom thoughts on philosophy, science, war, religion, writing, medicine, woodworking, metalworking, and anything else that wanders into mind.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817178315874076628.post-40226323697544195952018-08-26T23:42:00.000-07:002018-08-27T22:28:01.931-07:00Vinyl Stickers with a 1610 CNC Mill/EngraverThe process for cutting out vinyl stickers with one of these cheap CNC mill/engravers involves mounting a drag-knife and figuring out the software. It's not particularly hard. I did it and it works surprisingly well. Of course, I do have a 3D printer to make the parts I needed.
A Drag-Knife is a cutting blade mounted in a holder such that it can freely rotate to follow the cut line.&Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817178315874076628.post-83325874012486848312017-10-27T20:41:00.000-07:002017-10-30T00:26:30.678-07:00Linux Data Recovery of a Factory Restored Android DeviceSomehow, I managed to pocket-dial my way to a factory restore on my Android phone. Yeah... no idea how. Anyway, while I'm quite good at backing things up, I have lost about 10 days worth of journal entries, a few photos, and some GPS tracks. Certainly not the end of the world, but annoying.
So, I figured this is a good time to see what is recoverable from internal storage on anDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817178315874076628.post-84461156516820105332017-06-26T17:03:00.001-07:002017-07-21T14:40:13.391-07:00Why is FedEx Still in Business?So... for the 3rd time in 5 days, because they obviously don't deliver on the weekend, I get a failed delivery notification on my door. Same time every day, day after day. On the first day, I noticed the delivery notification said I can reschedule or arrange for a pickup through "Delivery Manager."
Sounds great. So, I go to the website, find out I have to make an account, and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817178315874076628.post-8291097156541965402017-05-27T18:41:00.000-07:002017-05-27T22:28:21.662-07:00Drilling Holes in all the Right Places
There are 2 common ways to drill accurately placed holes: floating or indexed.
The floating method:
Layout the part, scribing lines to the accuracy desired.
Prick punch (a fine 30-50deg punch) the scribed intersections. Done correctly, you should be able to feel the intersecting lines with the point of the punch but use a magnifying glass to confirm. An optical center punch is another option Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817178315874076628.post-4951212989377453052017-01-06T16:05:00.000-08:002017-05-27T19:10:00.693-07:00 Getting Started with a MonoPrice Select Mini 3D PrinterThis post documents my entry into 3D printing via Linux. Obviously, I'm no expert. Rather, this is where I'm recording what I learn along the way. The intent is, more or less, just sharing my study notes. I needed a place to write things down... might as well share. Nothing original here, no great insights, just organising information in a way I find useful so I can find it again. That's all. If Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817178315874076628.post-71818629250223403362016-12-19T12:15:00.000-08:002016-12-19T12:27:13.374-08:00Notes on Using Epoxy PrimerNever used this stuff, but the information is worth filing away for when the day comes.
Note that epoxy primer seems to be a great way to prevent rust on bare metal, something regular primer does not do (and I can confirm that).
Mostly an original quote, but with a little reformatting to make it easier to read.
From: Radkins from the Home Shop Machinist forum, here.
Epoxy primer is great Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817178315874076628.post-16486109992378919652016-11-24T18:44:00.000-08:002016-11-24T19:10:57.686-08:00Turning a Radius
A neat way to mill a radius on something with a through hole. Just put a pin in the hole, rest the pin on the top of the vice jaw, and then rotate, clamp, and cut repeatedly.
Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817178315874076628.post-3436440073633044652016-09-09T23:03:00.003-07:002016-09-13T21:25:53.796-07:00Enduro Computer ProjectWAIT! Before you start reading and get disappointed, this is my research blog. At this point, there is no enduro computer, it's not finished. If fact, I'm still roughing out the design. It may never get finished. And, it's low priority for me. I'm starting this now because I'm having to work through some technical issues and maybe somebody else might find my Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817178315874076628.post-38638293984125224082016-07-17T19:34:00.000-07:002016-07-18T12:56:27.298-07:00Turning the End of a Big BarSay you need to turn the end of a bar that is too big to go through the lathe headstock and too long to fit between centers (or the center-rest if you have one)...
Here are some answers:
Arcane suggests: If you have a milling vise setup that attaches
to the cross slide for your lathe and a boring head with a MT3 taper,
clamp the shaft in the vise, center it on the spindle and then use Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817178315874076628.post-13369691226421876052016-07-10T20:34:00.001-07:002016-07-17T19:35:10.803-07:00Making SS SpringsInteresting post on HSM by Dorn:
Using annealed stainless steel wire (aka safety wire) that is not springy in this state, it can be work-hardened by stretching. Once work-hardened, it can be wound into a spring.
Rich added:
I also use a "Drawing" technique when I want smaller wire for a model or repair application. I open my vise about 4 or 5 inches and then wrap the wire around Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817178315874076628.post-15860748429955285622016-04-30T01:09:00.000-07:002016-04-30T01:37:53.344-07:00My Linux for Kids NotesThis is not a "how to" guide, a definitive list, nor even a recommendation for what to do for your kid. It's simply my notes. I needed to keep them somewhere, I needed a place where I could update them easily, and I wanted it "in the cloud" so I could always find it. Oddly enough, a blog is actually a good place to do this. I don't mind sharing my notes and if you find them useful... good forDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817178315874076628.post-2077162400823551052016-03-25T01:45:00.000-07:002016-03-25T17:26:11.815-07:00Flexture ClampsIdea from a Dan Gelbart video (Building Prototypes, part 13):
If you want to clamp something, cut a slot near it, then drill in the middle of the slot, then tap the hole for a pipe thread. When threading in a plug, the taper will expand the slot, which will move the metal to clamp the part.
Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817178315874076628.post-69785028433531421062015-11-23T17:15:00.000-08:002015-11-23T17:15:43.372-08:00New DirectionsSo, I've decided to start a new experiment. I like reading about workshop tips and tricks, 'kinks' as they used to be called, and I've read a lot of them. So many, in fact, that I don't remember anywhere near half... seems the good ideas spill out faster than I put them in these days. I'm forgetting so many it's starting to bother me. Thus, I've decided to write them down.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817178315874076628.post-64892709867589284612014-11-29T00:16:00.000-08:002016-06-26T00:52:55.018-07:00KingSing S2 Review and NotesSo, I bought a new phone, a KingSing S2 to be precise. What follows is a living document that covers my impressions and the lessons I've learned with it on the way. I am not a smartphone/tablet expert and this is not intended to be a serious review of all this phones' features. I wrote (and will continue to update) this as a form of documentation for myself and I thought sharing it might be Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817178315874076628.post-84778197561032355972013-10-23T23:22:00.000-07:002013-10-23T23:22:12.561-07:00Hal 9000 will turn 16 soon, will he drive?Something silly just occurred to me...
In "2001: A Space Odyssey", the ship was run by a computer called HAL 9000. HAL, they said, was "born" in 1997, January 12th to be precise. Yes, I'm one of those geeks that celebrates HAL's birthday. So, HAL's 16th birthday is coming up. Time to get a drivers license?
Yes, a fictitious computer in an old film that really has Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817178315874076628.post-27291767409050933152013-09-09T23:12:00.002-07:002013-09-09T23:12:23.756-07:00NSA Was Here
what else can you say?
Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817178315874076628.post-85144106892701330422012-12-17T10:00:00.000-08:002012-12-17T20:40:52.339-08:00Say NO to PrivacyBig Data is the new big thing. Data collection and mining and all that this entails. We have government ministries exploring data mining possibilities while other government ministries try to protect our privacy. The kids these days have no use for this formal kind of privacy and us older folk berate them for it. We show exactly how all this data they toss about can be used against them. But, youDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817178315874076628.post-58644823304045494102012-01-31T13:38:00.000-08:002015-08-12T09:46:42.897-07:00CyberNav Mini ReviewThis is a review of the CyberNav Mini 5" Android-powered GPS tablet. Why am I writing this? Well, because I just bought one even though there were no reviews out on the web. Every page I found simply had the same sales brochure text on it, word for word. Very annoying. I decided to fix that for the next person. I'm going to break this review up into 3 parts.&Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817178315874076628.post-63164724400047571602012-01-14T00:01:00.000-08:002012-02-07T19:59:41.506-08:00How to Replace CopyrightHow can artists earn a living when people can copy their work for free?
That's the basic question everyone's asking. Here's the answer.
You make a website with a forum structure. In this structure, you have
producers of content putting up their work and you have consumers of
this content donating to the producers. "Ah..." you say, "this has
been done and Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817178315874076628.post-63569320397694537622011-12-16T23:29:00.000-08:002011-12-16T23:37:08.776-08:00SOPA ClauseThe SOPA legislation is worming its way through the US lawmakers. Yes, I'm Canadian, but I know that if this law is passed our government, no matter which one we elect, will be bludgeoned into passing "harmonized" legislation. It sucks, but that's just the way it is. So, everyone needs to help the US citizens fight this thing.
Short of a bidding war for US lawmakers, which I Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817178315874076628.post-45041889217839624152011-11-22T21:49:00.001-08:002011-11-22T22:39:58.417-08:00Pepper WarsLike many people these days, I'm laughing my guts out looking at the Lt Pike mashups from the UC Davis pepper spray videos. Even the Amazon customer reviews are hilarious. It seems a fitting rebuke to the callous nature of his actions. People like this need to understand that "following orders" is not an excuse for immoral behaviour and, these days, there is no hiding from Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817178315874076628.post-9410535322968413662011-06-16T08:17:00.000-07:002011-06-16T08:58:32.946-07:00Just Wacky EnoughAs always, the news is full of religious people doing silly things. Some predict the end of the world, then say they got their sums wrong when it doesn't happen when it should. Others report imaginary crimes to police and get the media in a silly frenzy. Around and around we go.Why do people believe such nonsense, when things go right off the silly-scale? Why are people so hard to turn when Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817178315874076628.post-90519379666961041932011-06-01T23:41:00.000-07:002011-11-27T01:38:34.683-08:00I Write For MeSometimes, I just have to write things down. I really have no choice as they just spin around in my head until I flush them out on paper. Usually, it's because I'm learning about something new and writing it down is my way of figuring things out. This results in a couple of odd things.
First, I don't generally write about things I'm an expert in. I write about things I'm learning. For Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817178315874076628.post-67221674989869721972011-05-30T06:58:00.000-07:002014-07-08T17:00:21.754-07:00Google SketchUp Notes
Scope
This
file is the result of my personal note-taking while learning SketchUp.
I am not an expert in SketchUp, nor is this a complete SketchUp
tutorial, nor is it intended to be for everyone. It may, however, be
useful for people like me that don’t have patience to watch video
tutorials and prefer to just dive into an application, figuring things
out as they go. Also, Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1817178315874076628.post-83565666945133645552010-12-18T23:24:00.000-08:002011-05-31T07:35:17.242-07:00Mitigating Good IntentionsI expect most leaders of large organisations start out with good intentions. Some carry them through, many don't. I've often wondered what it's like for a leader to make that transition from feeling like they're the answer to the problem, to thinking that their followers are too stupid to realise they're the answer to the problem, to realising that if they relinquish power their followers will Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871828550629252076noreply@blogger.com0