attoparsec

attoparsec, 2 months ago to random

Got the whiffletree guides made, but there is a lot more friction in the system than I would like. At least I got the shop cleaned, though!

attoparsec, 2 months ago to random

The end panels for the spice rack arrived! And now my fingertips are shredded after several hours of filing!

attoparsec, 2 months ago to random

Remade the whiffletree rods for a third time, now with teeny tiny little M2x0.4 threaded holes to accept shoulder screws. Easier assembly, easier disassembly, and much better perpendicularity than the press-fit crossbars with snap ring solution.

Now I just need to make the frame supports for the output rods, and I can finally see if this thing is going to work. But not tonight, I don't think.

Same, but the second stage hasn't been attached yet. An M2 screw with a 8mm shoulder is sitting on the block.

attoparsec, 2 months ago to random

I really don't need to try my hand at stained glass, just because I thought it would be neat to make stained glass pieces based on classic manhole covers, right? Right???

attoparsec, 2 months ago to random

Playing with a collet stop for the first time tonight, which looks to be a very convenient addition for times when I'm cranking out a bunch of similar parts.

attoparsec, 2 months ago to random

I'm not wild that my local hardware store has a Dalek now, but this is the first time I've actually seen it out of its charger. And it's just been sitting there blocking traffic for the last 30 minutes.

MLE_online, 3 months ago to random

Sayhi to the weird little clamp that I ran over with my bike on my way to work right now. If you ever wondered who would win in a battle between a weird little clamp and a bike tire, so the answer is the weird little clamp

attoparsec, 3 months ago to random

Started work on the Asteroids: Kessler Syndrome Edition cabinet today, cutting out the hardboard template and one of the two sides. My first time using a flush trim router! Had a few problems due to the template being so thin, but I think it is fixable.

The template, clamped to a sheet of 3/4" (19mm) plywood that had been trimmed to match its outline. These are sitting on a steel welding table, with the router and PPE laying on top, and a lot of sawdust on the floor behind.

MLE_online, 3 months ago to random

I'm not at all tempted to steal a couple of the giant power line balls from the poorly guarded electrical utility yard

attoparsec, 3 months ago to random

I hadn't actually tested before, but it's official: my minivan has more cargo capacity than most modern pickups.

attoparsec, 3 months ago to random

The new dehumidifier is keeping the relative humidity in the low 40s pretty consistently now that it's sucked a good 20 liters out of the air. It was never actually causing issues that I noticed, maybe flash rusting bare steel a bit faster than otherwise, but it sure is nice not feeling that... weight in the air in here anymore. Every winter felt like I was on the edge of some terrible mildew problem. It also makes low temps less noticable, which is nice.

attoparsec, 3 months ago to random

Just finished a read through of the math/science history/philosophy book I started writing in 2018. It's mostly done, I guess, and with a bit of distance now I think I can say it does have some decent moments. I wish I knew what to do with it. That was a lot of effort to just leave moldering in the cloud. I have absolutely no ties to or qualifications in that world, though. I'm just a random dilettante who has never even been able to come up with a coherent elevator pitch for the damned thing. If it was that simple, it wouldn't have needed 100K words!

MLE_online, 3 months ago to random

Here in LA there's a controversial proposal to build an aerial gondola up the hill to Chavez Ravine where Dodgers stadium is.

The regional transportation board is proposing that in exchange for allowing the construction of the gondola, any housing built over the parking lots at the stadium must be 25 percent affordable housing.

Okay, yes, extorting affordable housing out of wealthy business interests is good, but who the hell is going to want to live on top of an isolated hill with a busy and noisy baseball stadium that's too expensive to attend for people who need affordable housing?

mcdanlj, 3 months ago to random

I've had browser tabs open to a few Hemingway #machining kits for I think over a year, thinking about buying them but wondering about cost to ship metal stock overseas. A few weeks ago it hit me that I had some UK colleagues about to visit my office, and I asked if they maybe had a few pounds worth of freeboard in their suitcases.

I have some wonderfully kind colleagues, and shipping to our UK office was quite inexpensive.

I now have kits for a rotary broach, sensitive repeatable knurling tool, and clutched die holder, and I'm busy reading the detailed instructions. I'm looking forward to these projects, including the occasional mistake I'll make.

attoparsec, 3 months ago to random

The burn-in test on the Geochron repairs hasn't turned up any problems yet. The new map band has a satellite/real surface imaging version every third day, and this is the first time I'm getting to see the whole thing. It's so convenient that the current arrangement of continents has an obvious break longitude for map displays!

attoparsec, 3 months ago to random

Well, shoot. Too wet of a night to just strap it on top of the box. Guess the endurance testing will have to wait until I can stop by with a larger vehicle.

attoparsec, 3 months ago to random

I picked this up as prep for a secret project that I need to get done in the next few months. Just to be annoyingly mysterious, I'll add that I didn't get it for the part inside.