#garfield Logs

Dec 06 2021

03:15 PM rue_mohr: snow day
03:24 PM rue_mohr: not much of one
03:24 PM Tom_L: :)
04:17 PM Tom_L: https://www.falstad.com/circuit/circuitjs.html?ctz=CQAgjCAMB0l3BWK0AcBmA7AJhQTgwCwophbYBs5ICk11tCApgLRhgBQAxuKeLljwFkBtGJAFgE0IlkiU0uXOIJZeYyBwBuIIiGE6UfEVB20CGaFVHIE7AM4Gjgp7QgAXAE4BXRuwBmIGgoBHrYOmhCYRHg0EhgkOwA7s76bAJokCEJyQTRGSG5QsRQSc5gGFRpLuxoIX6JACYeAPYADgA6AI5gluAxGGC5CDhg-CTwWCwYJmjQ+HL8BJCYBAhgKBU6iuDsAF5bVPkHoUIg9U1tXT3kpQS4VPp3DwhWt-d6L+FCnwkex+VUJ56LBZajsBrHLCfIFYEF6EANRh+ACGXgANm5btEAf9Nr9AsEToFZETXPB2H8giF9FTApkTPFyTk8vTaUdsgS
04:17 PM Tom_L: Qkcquz2NpZIZ9EKwtYliBcCZRLF7ESaST9K4QJ4fKUBUSqgqKY5UrwFcgOH9CuBNka1VL4gR2GivnpIIZTT9kHACnMKrh4ggEBh7gRBpNmNMEphXLwcSDXJsIKJVWKcUacQklmgdOQCoYEPxnLRYQB9VM5yA5paKPNLHPxLDSAs5rA12toGoYMwsgrvbmS9jNQIgVMmYsS1Nkyug9KBTt6ZO9syQbYoIfSPpCZMNru0KemWfZzKoeHGFd6Kjr-tO+AVLC4BSrNCkJDqOD4cgvKHdoSHcfTI8zgdiu8zipPpBqRAaYGyAA
04:17 PM Tom_L: rue_mohr,
04:17 PM rue_mohr: heh
04:17 PM miss0r: thats a mouthfull :)
04:18 PM Tom_L: yeah hang on
04:18 PM Tom_L: he's the one making the rail gun
04:18 PM Tom_L: err
04:18 PM rue_mohr: falstad, that rings a bell
04:18 PM rue_mohr: and is blowing up fets good
04:18 PM Tom_L: https://tinyurl.com/yyvmryy7
04:18 PM miss0r: Hello rue_mohr; I'm the sucker.. and I am having some dificulties :)
04:18 PM rue_mohr: blowing up fets Ihear
04:18 PM miss0r: some of which I cannot start to understand at this point :)
04:19 PM rue_mohr: my railgun was successfully able to get the projectile to hop and weld itself to the rail
04:19 PM rue_mohr: 100% repeatable
04:19 PM Tom_L: heh
04:20 PM rue_mohr: I think the final run I couldn't actually get it off the rail, so I left it as a momento
04:20 PM miss0r: yes. another reason I am lost here is that the design on falstad worked before adding the TVS diode(s). *BUT* if only worked if I gave it a pulse long enough to completely discharge the capacitor. Now it won't even do that(after adding the TVS), it fired once and has clamped the two parallel mosfets shut
04:20 PM miss0r: smart man :)
04:21 PM rue_mohr: are you familiar with a two transistor forward converter?
04:21 PM miss0r: I am not
04:21 PM * miss0r is googeling
04:22 PM rue_mohr: it gets around the voltage restrictions on the transistors a bit
04:22 PM miss0r: now I am somewhat familiar
04:22 PM miss0r: indeed, by having them in series
04:22 PM rue_mohr: and see the flyback diodes?>
04:22 PM miss0r: yup
04:22 PM rue_mohr: I think thats supposed to be the bigger advantage
04:23 PM miss0r: that dumps the induction back in to the cap it seems
04:23 PM rue_mohr: pretty sure you dont need the inductor to ring
04:23 PM miss0r: the way I see my design at the moment is me driving a bullet proof tank, but I get stuck in the mud(the mud is the unknown here :) )
04:24 PM rue_mohr: what fets are you using?
04:24 PM miss0r: https://docs.rs-online.com/cf7a/A700000008175394.pdf
04:25 PM rue_mohr: huh
04:25 PM rue_mohr: well
04:26 PM rue_mohr: 1k is going to really slow down the turn-on
04:26 PM rue_mohr: might be over-wattaging the fet
04:26 PM miss0r: I'm driving them with this: https://docs.rs-online.com/47ea/0900766b8137e9b4.pdf
04:26 PM miss0r: that part was just to simplify the design on falstad(which cannot do too much)
04:26 PM rue_mohr: thru a 1k?
04:26 PM miss0r: directly
04:28 PM miss0r: same setup tested and worked perfectly for MANY shots, until I decided to start timing the pulsewidth - Then I blew them up.
04:29 PM rue_mohr: simulator has no leakage inductance
04:29 PM miss0r: I replaced the mosfets and added the TVS across it, tested it with a full charge(like the first design survived many times) and blew it up again
04:29 PM rue_mohr: did it always have the 1k gate resistor?
04:29 PM miss0r: simulator is just for showing the diagram. I've never found the falstad simulator to be more then funsics
04:29 PM miss0r: it never did
04:30 PM rue_mohr: all simulators suck
04:30 PM miss0r: I run it directly from the MCP1407 gate driver
04:30 PM rue_mohr: so it'll have a lot of ring in the gate drive
04:31 PM miss0r: I guess it will (I'm don't realy understand too much about this) :) I know what you are referring to, though.
04:31 PM miss0r: but it would've had that from the get-go. it in the beginning it didn't seem to mind
04:31 PM rue_mohr: you need a bit of resistance in the gate drive
04:32 PM rue_mohr: well, wind it all back to the start
04:32 PM rue_mohr: why were you changing it?
04:32 PM miss0r: I wanted to be able to use the arduino to determin how long a pulse to each coil should last
04:33 PM miss0r: to see if I could get some better performance ect.. :)
04:33 PM rue_mohr: hmm
04:33 PM miss0r: when I completely discharged the cap through the coil, it would survive no problem.
04:33 PM miss0r: but then I decided to try and give it a 2ms pulse, that killed the two parallel mosfets.
04:34 PM rue_mohr: system would probably ring-out
04:34 PM rue_mohr: but now your opening it with a charged inductor
04:34 PM miss0r: I decided the issue must be the inductance spike escaping the snupper circuit, so I added the TVS across the mosfets. Then I gave it a full discharge of the caps, and killed the mosfets :S
04:35 PM rue_mohr: at 87A
04:35 PM miss0r: well, driving the mosfet with the gate driver in real life, it is more likely that I am looking at somewhere in the neighboorhood of 480A
04:36 PM rue_mohr: so, inductors maintain current
04:36 PM miss0r: Indeed
04:36 PM rue_mohr: if you open the inductor at 480A, it generates voltage till it gets its 480A back
04:36 PM rue_mohr: until its out of energy
04:36 PM rue_mohr: then it rings
04:37 PM miss0r: yes, and that acriss the 5 ohm resistor, gives me around 2400volt spike.
04:38 PM miss0r: yes. Why am I afraid of the ringing?
04:38 PM rue_mohr: voltage goes from -2400V to +2400V
04:38 PM rue_mohr: Dinggggg...
04:39 PM miss0r: okay, question: Why was I able to have it working earlier?
04:39 PM rue_mohr: ? luck?
04:39 PM rue_mohr: oh
04:39 PM rue_mohr: because you didn't open the fet!
04:39 PM polprog: congrats on these robot arms rue!
04:39 PM rue_mohr: polprog, heh, their old, I'm just doing a demo :)
04:39 PM rue_mohr: It took me some work to get the program working again tho
04:39 PM polprog: Ahh
04:40 PM rue_mohr: miss0r, as long as you kept that circuit closed, the cap dealt with the votlage
04:40 PM miss0r: alright. would you care to venture a guess as to what makes it die now? (after adding the TVS and not opening the fet?)
04:40 PM rue_mohr: your opening it at 480A
04:40 PM rue_mohr: not 0A
04:40 PM rue_mohr: it regnerates the 480A, but the path isn't controlled
04:41 PM miss0r: Indeed. I figured that would be the case, but I don't understand why it wouldn't survive now, when I keep the mosfet closed
04:41 PM rue_mohr: if you keep it closed it should be the same
04:42 PM rue_mohr: but if you open it before its all died out, it probably wont be
04:42 PM rue_mohr: polprog, so I set up all 4 once
04:42 PM rue_mohr: it was kinda spooky
04:42 PM miss0r: I would've thought so too, but the only change was adding the TVS. and there can be no doubt it was closed to the entire time
04:42 PM rue_mohr: like a robot army, following your every command
04:42 PM rue_mohr: hmm
04:43 PM polprog: it's verycool
04:43 PM polprog: miss0r: what's the issue? fets blow up even with a TVS?
04:44 PM miss0r: polprog: That and other mysteries :) (yeah, just fets blowing up, under what I feel is strange circumstances, but I don't know any better)
04:44 PM rue_mohr: is the tvs really a diode and reisstor or is it a black disk thing?
04:45 PM miss0r: rue_mohr: Referring to the falstad diagram, the TVS is only a diode (well, 10 49.9 volt diodes in series) the component to the right in the bottom - that is all that was added
04:45 PM rue_mohr: polprog, I still find it funny that modem got more likes
04:45 PM polprog: It's the Commodore, baby!
04:45 PM rue_mohr: yea, I didn't even have to say it
04:45 PM rue_mohr: I was going to wait for the <10 likes, THEN say "oh, by the way, its a commodore"
04:46 PM rue_mohr: but it just liked to hell right away
04:46 PM miss0r: polprog: I'm reviving a childhood dream of building a coilgun.
04:47 PM rue_mohr: rail or coil?
04:47 PM rue_mohr: mine was a rail gun
04:47 PM polprog: Im a bit skeptical but eh. Im curious to see what you get
04:47 PM miss0r: coilgun
04:47 PM miss0r: https://i.imgur.com/s1FP8ky.jpeg <- this is what the prototype in question looks like
04:48 PM miss0r: sorry for the low res. But its like a candlelight dinner, the dimmed light makes you look better
04:48 PM rue_mohr: heh
04:48 PM polprog: :P
04:48 PM polprog: I see. Nice build
04:48 PM polprog: So what are your parameters? What the voltage across the fets?
04:49 PM rue_mohr: I'm just busy making the best new AA battery holder on thingiverse
04:49 PM rue_mohr: ~50V
04:49 PM rue_mohr: on 20mF cap
04:49 PM miss0r: polprog: https://tinyurl.com/yyqz75u3
04:50 PM miss0r: rue_mohr: Are you thinking that I somehow get a spike on the gate of the mosfet? because I feel like that TVS across the drain/source should be my saviour
04:51 PM rue_mohr: I'm getting a flood of followers lately, so I'm sure my count will be unstable and shrink
04:51 PM rue_mohr: you know, thats a good point
04:51 PM rue_mohr: no wait
04:51 PM rue_mohr: the gate is pulled DOWN by the drain when your like that
04:52 PM miss0r: I would honnestly hate to declare defeat and deck out alot of money on SCRs or something simular.
04:52 PM polprog: have you tried relays?
04:53 PM miss0r: something that can take more abuse. I think this should be able to work in an ideal world :)
04:53 PM miss0r: polprog: In the realy early stage, yes. but it welded the contacts pretty quickly
04:53 PM polprog: lmao of course
04:53 PM miss0r: I used a starter solenoid from a car, actualy. One would think that should be able to handle it, but after 10 shots it went tits up.
04:54 PM rue_mohr: xeon flash I wonder eh polprog ?
04:54 PM miss0r: and relays would defeat the purpose, as I plan to do some nice'n tidy pulse width programming
04:54 PM polprog: So your TVS is the diode just under the 5R resistor>
04:54 PM polprog: ?
04:54 PM rue_mohr: miss0r, I wonder what that wavforms look like
04:55 PM miss0r: polprog: Nope, thats is an ultra fast rectifier. The TVS is below that
04:55 PM rue_mohr: zippo:/morfiles/programming/c/avr/tiny13/ADC2Quad# ohm -r 4 -i 480
04:55 PM rue_mohr: Power is: 921.600kW
04:55 PM rue_mohr: Current is: 480.000A
04:55 PM rue_mohr: Voltage is: 1.920kV
04:55 PM rue_mohr: Resistance is: 4.000Ohms
04:55 PM rue_mohr: er wait 5 ohms
04:55 PM miss0r: That is the rectifyer: https://docs.rs-online.com/01d4/0900766b800a55eb.pdf
04:55 PM rue_mohr: zippo:/morfiles/programming/c/avr/tiny13/ADC2Quad# ohm -r 5 -i 480
04:55 PM rue_mohr: Power is: 1.152MW
04:55 PM rue_mohr: Current is: 480.000A
04:55 PM rue_mohr: Voltage is: 2.400kV
04:55 PM rue_mohr: Resistance is: 5.000Ohms
04:55 PM rue_mohr: 2.4kV, 1.2M watts
04:55 PM rue_mohr: I suggest less ohms
05:04 PM miss0r: All the tests it survived earlier it was just a button pressed, I didn't time it, but you can be sure it was under a second
05:04 PM rue_mohr: it probably finished ringing by then
05:04 PM rue_mohr: just a sec
05:04 PM miss0r: probably. I just did that test here again today (again probably under a second) but it died on me instantly
05:05 PM miss0r: no bang or anything, I was just unable to recharge the caps, as the fets were welded shut
05:05 PM Tom_L: expensive button
05:05 PM miss0r: Tom_L: Indeed. At this point this project is realy only an expensive paperweight, with the potential for ruining more perfectly good silicon
05:06 PM Tom_L: well i figured he might give you a little insight
05:06 PM rue_mohr: http://ruemohr.org/~ircjunk/tempimage/InductorSaturation.png
05:06 PM rue_mohr: miss0r,
05:06 PM rue_mohr: so, this blew my mind
05:06 PM polprog: what youre doing is non trivial, and iirc even the US navy gave up after they got it somewhat working
05:06 PM rue_mohr: the top trace is a drive signal
05:07 PM rue_mohr: so I turn the transistor on for a while
05:07 PM rue_mohr: the middle trace is current
05:07 PM rue_mohr: it ramps up while power is applied to the coil
05:08 PM rue_mohr: the botton trace is voltage across the transistor
05:08 PM rue_mohr: the straight line is the supply voltage
05:08 PM miss0r: hah
05:08 PM rue_mohr: do you see what I mean about evil things and ringing?
05:08 PM miss0r: I see
05:09 PM miss0r: sadly I don't have an ampmeter or a highvoltage probe for my scope(working on getting some at the moment)
05:09 PM rue_mohr: polprog,
05:09 PM polprog: yes
05:10 PM rue_mohr: that solves a lot of the chicken-and-egg with oscillators!
05:10 PM miss0r: What would you recommend I do so I can have my toy working?
05:10 PM polprog: what? the saturiation?
05:10 PM rue_mohr: miss0r, put it back and change the capacitor charge/size instead
05:11 PM rue_mohr: polprog, that ring, the inductor pulls the damn voltage on the transistor ABOVE the supply voltage
05:11 PM polprog: yea
05:11 PM miss0r: and if I am unwilling/hesitant to reduce the power of the caps? :D
05:11 PM polprog: Maybe IGBTs could work
05:11 PM rue_mohr: well you cant break the circuit
05:12 PM miss0r: I didn't even break the circuit in the last try that also killed off the mosfets.
05:12 PM miss0r: and they are $14us each
05:12 PM miss0r: :]
05:13 PM Tom_L: big thrills, big bills
05:13 PM miss0r: Tom_L: still hanging on tight in hope of the former
05:13 PM polprog: bbl, supper
05:14 PM miss0r: rue_mohr: Well, even some masively expensive IGBTs are hardpressed when it comes to 2400volts :)
05:15 PM rue_mohr: http://ruemohr.org/~ircjunk/tempimage/p1210652.jpg <-- polprog that ring is the only reason this works!
05:27 PM miss0r: I'll call it a night. ('round here we just passed midnight). If you guys come up with the golden answer, I would still realy like to hear about it :]
05:27 PM miss0r: Thanks for your time so far! I realy appreciate it
05:33 PM miss0r: Tom_L: When rue_mohr gets back online, please be sure to thank him for me. I would not want him to feel I did not appreciate his help ;) I'm out
05:37 PM rue_mohr: the 1G card in the router just completely bailed
05:39 PM miss0r: rue_mohr: I was just about to close up shop here :) past midnight.
05:39 PM miss0r: Anyway, I would just like to thank you for you time. Much appreciated.
05:39 PM rue_mohr: good luck
05:40 PM miss0r: If you stumble across a golden nugget of an idea, let me know.
05:40 PM rue_mohr: what you have is sort a haystack
05:40 PM rue_mohr: I can point directions, but there are a lot of them
05:40 PM miss0r: Quick question: if I forego the resistor in series with the diode across coil, and just accept it will take forever to collapse, will I still have this problem?
05:41 PM rue_mohr: maybe?
05:41 PM miss0r: :-D
05:41 PM rue_mohr: at that current, I cant be sure of much of anything
05:41 PM miss0r: true. Wait till I advance to the 400volt version....
05:42 PM miss0r: I guess a solution could be to accept I will not be able to time the pulsewidth and go for some beefy SCRs. but that will also charge the caps in reverse.
05:43 PM miss0r: anyway. I will have to give this project some serious consideration. Thanks again. I'm off
05:50 PM rue_mohr: polprog,
05:50 PM rue_mohr: you see the oscillator?
05:51 PM polprog: Looool
05:51 PM polprog: Amazing :D
05:51 PM rue_mohr: it wouldn't work if it weren't for that ring
05:51 PM Tom_L: so ring is good and ring is bad :)
05:52 PM rue_mohr: well
05:52 PM rue_mohr: I was like "OK, SO IF THIS IS ACTUALLY TRUE..."
05:52 PM rue_mohr: and designed that oscillator
06:06 PM polprog: Its funky, i like it
06:06 PM polprog: Allright, goodnight hackers
06:10 PM Tom_L: heh
08:42 PM Tom_L: ok, chip guard cut
08:43 PM Tom_L: this time i measured and cut it with the cnc instead of a hack saw. turned out alot nicer
08:47 PM rue_mohr: but...its bigger than the cnc...
08:50 PM Tom_L: cut the height on the table saw then the vise cutout on the mill after i removed the side guards
08:50 PM rue_mohr: ah!
08:51 PM Tom_L: maybe it will last longer now that i have those brackets
09:11 PM Tom_L: http://tom-itx.no-ip.biz:81/~webpage/cnc/Mill_Steel/Assembly/Final/Vise_parts/Chip_guard1.jpg
09:11 PM Tom_L: http://tom-itx.no-ip.biz:81/~webpage/cnc/Mill_Steel/Assembly/Final/Vise_parts/Chip_guard2.jpg
09:11 PM rue_mohr: oo nice
09:12 PM rue_mohr: yea that blue tiny
09:12 PM rue_mohr: tint
09:12 PM rue_mohr: lexan
09:12 PM Tom_L: yep
09:12 PM rue_mohr: looks like 1/4" too
09:12 PM Tom_L: 1/4"
09:12 PM rue_mohr: haha
09:12 PM rue_mohr: $$$
09:12 PM rue_mohr: scrap?
09:12 PM Tom_L: cutoff
09:12 PM Tom_L: yes
09:12 PM rue_mohr: nice
09:12 PM Tom_L: i'll keep the old for something smaller
09:12 PM rue_mohr: putting that last cnc I did in a rubbermaid tub to contrain the mess was a really really good thing
09:13 PM Tom_L: yep
09:13 PM Tom_L: it was fine except all the cracks around the screw holes
09:13 PM Tom_L: some were completely chipped out
09:14 PM Tom_L: that stuff in the back is thin so it will give when z hits it
09:14 PM Tom_L: and 2 pieces
09:14 PM Tom_L: the V is cut in the permanent part then i clip those up
09:15 PM Tom_L: different heights depending what i'm doing
09:15 PM rue_mohr: yep
09:15 PM Tom_L: like 1/16" or so
09:16 PM rue_mohr: you had cardboard in there a few times didn't you?
09:16 PM Tom_L: in places yes
09:16 PM Tom_L: until i made the parts that stack on those and make it 2x higher
09:17 PM Tom_L: those get added when needed also
09:18 PM rue_mohr: ok I think I desgined the ultimate battery holder
09:18 PM rue_mohr: :)
09:18 PM rue_mohr: it clips the battery in and out like a ram stick
09:18 PM rue_mohr: two levers on the ends
09:18 PM Tom_L: nice
09:24 PM rue_mohr: uses magnets to latch
09:25 PM Tom_L: hnn
09:25 PM Tom_L: mm
09:25 PM rue_mohr: it kicks the battery out when you fold the tabs
09:32 PM Tom_L: mill has 2 configs now. one for the rotary and one without
09:32 PM Tom_L: pic of the holder?
09:39 PM rue_mohr: hmm
09:39 PM rue_mohr: let me try to make a kinda-complete model
09:41 PM rue_mohr: oops
09:41 PM rue_mohr: bugger
09:43 PM rue_mohr: good idea to assemble the whole thing in model before printing eh?
09:45 PM rue_mohr: stand by..
09:46 PM rue_mohr: stopping printers...
09:49 PM rue_mohr: ok 2 hr countdown restarted
09:50 PM rue_mohr: rendering, stand by
09:51 PM rue_mohr: http://ruemohr.org/~ircjunk/tempimage/main.png
09:52 PM rue_mohr: the battery cups interfeared with the base
09:56 PM Tom_L: heh good thing i wanted to see it i guess
09:59 PM rue_mohr: indeed!
09:59 PM Tom_L: got a pivot pin?
10:04 PM rue_mohr: yes, 3d filament
10:08 PM rue_mohr: I gave it 45 degrees
10:08 PM rue_mohr: should be enough to pop the battery out lots
10:09 PM rue_mohr: might need a bit more height on the handles, but it looked silly with much more
10:10 PM Tom_L: looks like it will work
10:14 PM rue_mohr: I hope so
10:14 PM rue_mohr: I got a AA battery holder from thingiverse, and I had two issues
10:14 PM rue_mohr: no strain relief for the wire (actually I forgot on the one I just made)
10:15 PM rue_mohr: and it was hard to get the battery out
10:15 PM rue_mohr: I wanted a push-eject thing
10:15 PM rue_mohr: I had been thinking just a lever under it on a button
10:15 PM rue_mohr: it evolved into this
10:15 PM rue_mohr: the pockets in the clips are for 8mm rare earth magnets
10:15 PM rue_mohr: so that holds the clips on
10:16 PM rue_mohr: wire strain relief...
10:17 PM Tom_L: even just one end would eject it
10:31 PM rue_mohr: yea
10:31 PM rue_mohr: popndering that too
10:31 PM rue_mohr: https://twitter.com/pickover/status/1467860456509526035
10:31 PM rue_mohr: thats cool
10:33 PM Tom_L: yeah
10:40 PM Tom_L: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bbp0SYEpjrg/hqdefault.jpg
10:40 PM Tom_L: my kids printed some like that at the school
10:41 PM Tom_L: just rearrange them a bit and you'd have it
10:43 PM rue_mohr: :)
10:44 PM rue_mohr: I never really thought about them not being constant ratio
10:44 PM Tom_L: Fibonacci spiral
10:45 PM rue_mohr: just not seen a video of them turning before I guess
10:45 PM Tom_L: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_spiral
10:47 PM rue_mohr: well, if I'm not going to do anything more in the shop I should shut it down
10:47 PM Tom_L: i turned the heat on to finish that guard then came back in
10:47 PM rue_mohr: http://ruemohr.org/~ircjunk/tempimage/p1220077.jpg
10:47 PM rue_mohr: http://ruemohr.org/~ircjunk/tempimage/p1220078.jpg
10:48 PM rue_mohr: I got a bit more work on the parts for the big cnc done today
10:48 PM rue_mohr: there is a problem, kinda
10:48 PM rue_mohr: my plan to grab them by the sprockets to find the center wont work, jaws are too shallow
10:48 PM Tom_L: hmm
10:49 PM rue_mohr: its going to be a job for the 4 jaws and a dowel and indicator
10:49 PM rue_mohr: it'll suck
10:49 PM Tom_L: there's always a way
10:49 PM rue_mohr: and it'll suck :_)
10:50 PM rue_mohr: see how many times I adjust the jaws the wrong way
10:50 PM Tom_L: heh
10:50 PM Tom_L: all i have is a 4 jaw
10:50 PM Tom_L: i'm used to that
10:50 PM rue_mohr: I have to fit it on a piece of galvanized pipe
10:50 PM rue_mohr: so, I'm kinda wondering if I just need it adjustable anyhow
10:51 PM Tom_L: they don't have to be perfect if you spring load a tensioner on the chain
10:51 PM rue_mohr: I'd love to give it 3 keyways at 120 degrees, and have set bolts behind them to center it
10:51 PM rue_mohr: my instructions to me are to "just build this"
10:51 PM rue_mohr: specifically to bootstrap it
10:52 PM rue_mohr: and not worry about it comming out perfect
10:52 PM rue_mohr: not supposed to be a 1 thou machine
10:56 PM rue_mohr: hmm I wonder if I'm depressed as a result of living alone for so long now
10:56 PM rue_mohr: huh
10:56 PM rue_mohr: I wondered how long till I went batty
10:57 PM rue_mohr: rue, I dont think you have changed
10:57 PM rue_mohr: but how can you be sure?
10:58 PM rue_mohr: just random datapoints
10:58 PM rue_mohr: I bet I'm off and dont know it
10:58 PM rue_mohr: why
10:58 PM rue_mohr: motivation
10:59 PM rue_mohr: you do get a lot done
10:59 PM rue_mohr: yes, but I'd swear staying awake wasn't as much of an issue before
10:59 PM rue_mohr: we could go thru the images
10:59 PM rue_mohr: maybe
10:59 PM rue_mohr: you might find your more productive than ever
10:59 PM rue_mohr: I dont feel like it
11:00 PM rue_mohr: your goal has been to go exponential, thats.... a high bar
11:00 PM rue_mohr: how do I get there
11:01 PM rue_mohr: be willing to consider this, 'your going in the right direction'
11:01 PM rue_mohr: some confirmation would be great
11:01 PM rue_mohr: maybe your just not seeing it
11:01 PM rue_mohr: how do I know the difference between looking hard and finding something vs just making it up
11:02 PM Tom_L: i kept busy when i was alone
11:03 PM Tom_L: it's not a perfect world any way you look at it. now i don't have enough time to do what i want
11:04 PM rue_mohr: it seems to me there might be a balance between time and income
11:04 PM Tom_L: there is
11:04 PM rue_mohr: kindof a faith jump off a cliff tho
11:04 PM rue_mohr: to get where I want isn't easy
11:05 PM Tom_L: nothing is easy
11:05 PM rue_mohr: like diving down a hole and needing to pass thru fan blades, and hoping you come out alive
11:05 PM Tom_L: unless you were born with a silver spoon in yer arse
11:05 PM rue_mohr: to a huge degree, life is just dumb luck
11:05 PM Tom_L: it is what you make of it
11:06 PM rue_mohr: yes, its the biggest thing to make
11:06 PM rue_mohr: to be made...
11:06 PM rue_mohr: hmm
11:06 PM Tom_L: you get much snow on your snow day off?
11:07 PM rue_mohr: it was completely clear almost everywhere but the office
11:07 PM rue_mohr: I had no work scheduled, so not a setback
11:07 PM rue_mohr: honestly, there are drivers here that only need 1 snowflake to cause a major collision
11:08 PM Tom_L: sounds like the deep south here
11:08 PM rue_mohr: one accident loses the company the whole days profits, so they prefer we just stay off the roads
11:08 PM Tom_L: that's how i look at it
11:08 PM Tom_L: it's not worth all that for a day's work
11:08 PM rue_mohr: our vans also aren't refit for weather
11:08 PM rue_mohr: dec is looking dead
11:09 PM Tom_L: how many vans do they have?
11:09 PM rue_mohr: there were two non-urgent calls waaaaay up on the coast
11:09 PM rue_mohr: oh, about 30
11:09 PM Tom_L: fair sized company then
11:10 PM rue_mohr: vans, trucks, hiab, two lift trucks, small crane truck
11:10 PM Tom_L: you get more emergency calls in winter?
11:10 PM rue_mohr: https://olsonelectric.ca/
11:10 PM rue_mohr: there are two trucks fitted for winter, for emergency calls
11:11 PM rue_mohr: oh yea, two boats
11:12 PM rue_mohr: hahah our office photo looks aweful in that set
11:12 PM Tom_L: sleep calls
11:12 PM rue_mohr: gnight