machine
Kerk Nuts
This picture may look like a giant shock absorber for an off road vehicle but that is not even close. It is a linear drive component for my HB2 project. It is a nut that is driven left and right when the screw you see traveling through the center is rotated. It converts rotary motion to linear motion. Thus the name, “linear drive component”.
It is an amazing little piece of engineering as it is designed to self adjust as the parts wear to eliminate slop or looseness. This device will probably operate 20 years in the work I will have it perform. Find out more at this link to Kerk Motion Products. Also more info in the workshop.
Bakin’ Bench
It’s sizzling in Dallas (105 deg) but I went into the oven er… shop and painted the HB2 bench. This is close to where it will be living but the stuff around and behind it will be moved. That is the 2nd layer of the MDF top standing on edge to the left.
The heat gave me a baked enamel finish!
My daughter gave me a Texas dew (doo) rag to wear and it helped a lot to keep the sweat drops out of the paint job. 🙂 To live up to the new image I guess I will have to park the Harley out front for the neighbors to see.
The color is the standard shop color I use which is almond but looks more like light gray.
Working the Plan
I am sort of crossing the line between metal working and wood working with the HB2 project.
Building the machine is very much metal working and electrical. I just throw in the electrical without further classification. Building the HB2 bench was definitely wood working. I could have built a metal bench and many CNC gantry routers are mounted on metal benches. No problem with that. I am a qualified weldor. I believe either platform is serviceable in my environment.
The HB2 will be able to do some work in light (soft) metal. I do not consider HB2 to be a primary metal working machine. That is more suitable for CNC mills. I explained that elsewhere in my ramblings. Projects for the machine will be primarily wood or plastics. That is why I plan on posting projects from this machine over in “Sawdust” in TEDEX. I expect a lot of sawdust!
The HB2 will exceed the cost of my Powermatic 2000 table saw. That makes it important for me to plan on getting substantial use from both machines and perhaps a few more sawdust makers…
I am using my fully employed years to build up the major tools I would like to have when I don’t have to work so hard for income. By then my plan is to have the shop be at least self supporting. Metal or wood chips… I will be there in the middle.
The drawback at the moment is that the projects that can be made on these machines are on hold. The Lord willing, I will have enough time on my biological clock to enjoy my plan. If not, I am having a great time working the start-up plan…
HB2 Lives
This is the first package of materials for the construction of the HB2 CNC router project. There is a full description of this first shipment in my The Hobbyist’s Machine Shop web site.
Look in the Site Tools drop down menu and select “What’s New”. Scroll down in the pop up window until you see the “HB2 Construction” link.
This is the first of what will likely be many articles on the construction of the HB2.
It is finally out of the dream and scheme stage and into the build phase.
Update 7/6: Drill Patterns all cut and trimmed.
A Memorable Weekend
I am a veteran so first and foremost this weekend I honor and respect those who gave their lives in the duty of their country. I am among the privileged to have returned alive from wartime service. We are all privileged for the lives given for us.
So I enjoyed the long weekend. It started with something special I did on Friday, That event and result I’ll post here later. I don’t have it all yet but a hint is it has something to do with gas pains.
Cutting the grass was #2 but that is an almost continuous duty.
Here is a picture to drive wannabee hobbyist machinist a little crazy. They all tell me they want to see the “chips” Ha! 😆 I have removed the “project” and will detail what it is a bit later. For now I have to clean up this mess.
Update 6/1/08
OK! Here is the LINK to what caused all this mess.