hobby
Going For Broke
Well, dumb me again. Sometimes I just have to learn by experience and just blame myself. I actually like problem shooting and it is something I usually do quite well. I should have been a CSI or some kind of forensic engineer.
My problem is I broke another coupling on the HB2. Same place and I am certain the same reason. There is nothing wrong with the selection or type of coupling. They are perfect for the work they were selected to do. Actually, the helical beam is one of the most rugged, with the highest torque and deflection ratings of the couplings I have researched.
My problem is shaft alignment. I am using the original slotted aluminum tubes around the couplers as debris covers. They have no affect on spacing or alignment. However, they did prevent me from clearly seeing, thus correcting my real problem on the Y axis steppers.
The first two axis I set up were X and Z. They were the easiest for me to measure and eyeball. They both have run super smooth. The double Y axis drive is what I did last and has been more of a problem. Since X and Z aligned so well, I ASSUMED assembling Y would be a no brainer. I put them together with the covers on and the open slot down. That made it extremely difficult for me to see the shaft misalignment. I used a mirror so I didn’t have to stand on my head to look up. However I couldn’t see the vertical alignment problem, only the horizontal which was fine. (The assume part.)
All the other work, end play, screw/guide alignment, was on the right track but not the major issue.
I am an energy and HVAC engineer. Motor coupling alignment is a major… Continue reading
HB2 First Project
HB2 has been brought to full functioning life with sounds not much unlike a trim router. I am kind of alluding here to a new baby cries when first born.
I am not one to choose an easy project for the very first run. What you see here is the Aztec calendar with a lot of detail. I set the design up in Vectric Aspire V2 and sized it for a 12 inch diameter. The process is known as V-Carving.
I used a 90 degree V-Carve bit. I discovered I should have used a 60 or perhaps 45 degree V-Carve bit. I would have deeper cuts and wouldn’t have had the dropout in several areas due to board warpage.
But all in all, not too shabby for a first run. I and HB2 can only get better. Enjoy the pictures.
See Video -> V-Carve Action
A Taxing Easter Weekend
Sometimes I seem to hit a slow time. I have a lot of things I need and want to do in the workshop. Some of them I consider very important. I temper that with the real fact that my workshop is just my hobby. Other real time events must come first, like taking a whole weekend just to figure out my taxes.
I also got very ill last week, upper respiratory infection. I crashed into bed rest for two days solid then struggled the weekend doing what I mentioned above. I didn’t even see Easter. When someone said, “He has arisen” I thought they were talking about me doing my taxes. I said, “So have my taxes!” What bad timing, but God understands. I remember the story in the Gospels when Jesus was asked about taxes said, “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s…” Right now I feel very well rendered.
Now is the time to do the same for God.
Shoeless
This blog is attracting a lot of European registrations. Most are just name and email registrations through gmail. It is obvious who they are. A few post inappropriate links that the filters eat. Yum!
I try to understand why but I am at pretty much of a loss. I assume it might be a way to improve standings in the web crawlers, but most seem to be private entries. Maybe it is just a game. Perhaps they just want to belong. If it is marketing, it is way off track. (Old railroad term). It does prove (I think) someone is reading this blog. Ha!
TEDEX was suffering the same flood, so I shut the door.
At TEDEX I first suspected frustrated kiddie hackers who have written or downloaded a program that crawls the web just trying to blindly enter and join open blogs and BBS’s. However, I don’t see how they get past the visual filters. So it must be live people with a lot of time.
Joining here is quick and easy but just permits replies. Not much status there. Most post nothing after joining. Those that do take the form of very strange links. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. Maybe they are barefoot like me except when I am in the shop… 🙂
Dan’l
Fading Light
TEDEX may slowly fade into the sunset. It is a web forum I started about five years ago, sharing information about machine shop hobby activities. I had already shared web space in my The Hobbyist’s Machine Shop web site with about eighteen people with projects and equipment they wanted to show off. I figured I could provide a separate forum where everyone could enter their projects and share information.
That is the reason TEDEX was born. Little did I know then that the creeping crud was laying-in-wait to slither into open forum doors. It has been a constant challenge to stay clean and probably the main reason many small forums shut down. For them, the Internet garbage collection just isn’t worth the effort.
I persevered because there were enough active users to justify the cause. That just isn’t the case any longer. I started a blog (two actually) here where I post my personal activities. I am torn to re-post again in TEDEX.
Registration to TEDEX is currently turned off. Registered users can still have full access. Non users can enter but do not see the photos. I dropped about 100 old non-participants from the rolls. The house has been cleaned and the doors locked. There are still a few resident suspects but I will see how they behave. The good guys still have the keys and can share the space.
If there are no postings or knocks at the door I will just let it set for awhile. Then…