#robotics Logs

Dec 15 2012

17:16 rue_mohr hmmm
17:51 RifRaf rue_mohr g'day, how's it been going?
17:52 Tom_itx what you been up to?
17:52 RifRaf been homeless for a while, just setting up me new pad though now
17:53 Tom_itx not at the farm place anymore?
17:54 RifRaf nope, but only 1km away from there now, so pretty much next door still, funny how it turned out
17:55 RifRaf in a 'normal' place now, with room to work on projects in an organised way for a change
17:57 RifRaf how are things back homw for you these days? still making the arduino things?
18:00 Tom_itx no arduino stuff really just avrs
18:01 Tom_itx not been doin alot lately really
18:01 Tom_itx i did update my cnc mill since you've been around
18:01 Tom_itx made a new psu for it
18:07 RifRaf cool, am still driving this big cnc router every day for a living, now want to start cutting some stuff for myself, been unboxing and finding tools, cleaning off old projects like foxy to get inspired again
18:08 Tom_itx my friend had a shop full of cnc's i helped him run for a while and really enjoyed doing that
18:08 Tom_itx i got the cad cam software leftover from that i still use
18:10 Tom_itx use my little mill to cut the boxes for my programmers
18:11 RifRaf i use the software thats for the machine, is called enroute and is pretty good and full of features you need, but was clunky to learn, still finding stuff
18:12 Tom_itx http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CEqokrtFI4&feature=youtu.be
18:12 Tom_itx there's a video of it cutting the boxes
18:13 Tom_itx not as much fun as running the big ones but it gets me by
18:15 Tom_itx the page for the power supply update: http://tom-itx.dyndns.org:81/~webpage/cnc/psu/psu_index.php
18:15 Tom_itx most of the stuff was used or surplus
18:17 RifRaf this is my toy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TinOvsoPhEA, but with bigger bed
18:18 Tom_itx what stuff do you cut with it?
18:19 RifRaf stuff to make signs, alot of acrylic, aluminium and acm
18:19 RifRaf big 3d fabricated letters and stuff, i'll show you me last project
18:20 Tom_itx k
18:20 RifRaf http://cmcsigns.com.au/2012/11/park-beach-plaza-pylon-under-construction/
18:22 Tom_itx i converted my mill over to use linuxcnc which is the old emc2 cnc software
18:22 Tom_itx that's a fair sized sign
18:22 RifRaf yep 17meters tall 7m wide
18:23 RifRaf and i had to make every sheet fit mm perfect :/
18:23 RifRaf and the letters are all illuminated at night, and the lightboxes
18:24 Tom_itx yeah i figured they'd be lighted
18:24 RifRaf i get to do most of the wiring of leds and stuff too
18:24 Tom_itx i was gonna ask if they did the led signs as well
18:24 RifRaf they are nice quality as well, bright as
18:25 Tom_itx do you get into the electronics of em?
18:25 RifRaf have some nice rgb modules as well
18:25 RifRaf i mainly just do the wiring and power supplies
18:26 Tom_itx i really enjoyed running the cnc's back then.. i kinda miss it actually
18:26 Tom_itx we had to hold fairly tight tolerances though
18:27 Tom_itx all aircraft stuff
18:27 RifRaf i have just finished another job that had to be very tight, and double sided, so had to flip all parts, but worked out well
18:28 Tom_itx this was my friend's place until he retired and sold it: http://clearwateren.com/
18:28 RifRaf had to align keyholes to 0.1mm both sides
18:28 Tom_itx i helped wire up most of the macines in the shop
18:28 Tom_itx and ran / programmed most of em at one point
18:28 Tom_itx http://clearwateren.com/gallery.php
18:28 Tom_itx some of the stuff we ran
18:30 RifRaf cool, the guys that sell our router say its used in the aircraft industry as well
18:30 RifRaf i can't wait to machine some parts for myself like that
18:30 Tom_itx probably for interior parts
18:31 RifRaf i might start by remaking some of foxys parts that are there in better lighter ways, with nicer shapes than rectangles
18:31 Tom_itx the 3rd part in the Titanium/Steel section was originally prototyped from a solid block of Ti
18:32 Tom_itx we had to make 6 from solid billet until they could get us new forgings
18:37 RifRaf am on wifi broadband now, sucks but cheaper than a phone line and adsl line
18:39 RifRaf gonna go do a bit more unpacking while the sun shines
18:54 Tom_itx ok
19:36 RifRaf just mowed the lawn, is like 40°C or more out there, but is done now
19:39 RifRaf did rue_mohr finish the big hexapod?
19:49 rue_mohr not ye6t
19:50 RifRaf need any parts cut?
19:51 rue_mohr :) not at the moment
19:51 RifRaf i waste alot of 3mm aluminium plate, i need to find a use for it
19:52 rue_mohr glad to see you again, know your ok
19:52 rue_mohr kat left in a non-huff
19:52 RifRaf and yourself
19:52 rue_mohr I creaped her out
19:53 rue_mohr ~ dec 22 I should have a lathe
19:53 rue_mohr maybe
19:53 RifRaf nice, i hope to have mine back here by next week
19:53 RifRaf is just up the road at a mates place
19:53 rue_mohr good show
19:54 rue_mohr I hve to go return an overpriced mp3 player that dosn't work
19:54 rue_mohr back in a bit
19:54 RifRaf k
20:40 Triffid_Hunter RifRaf: hey ltns
20:41 RifRaf Triffid_Hunter g'day same. just been doin the life thing, getting older but back for a bit
20:43 RifRaf wanna try make sonething while i have access to a decent cnc machine
20:44 Triffid_Hunter RifRaf: where abouts in aus are you?
20:45 RifRaf mid north coast nsw
20:46 Triffid_Hunter not too far from me then, I'm out the back of mullumbimby :)
20:46 RifRaf you in se or fn qld?
20:47 Triffid_Hunter mullum is other side of hill from byron bay
20:47 RifRaf awesome, i'll be up there fore new years , and the goldie for xmas, should catch up for a drink
20:48 RifRaf i used to live at nimbin when i was a kid
20:49 Triffid_Hunter nimbin was nice a while back, it's disgusting now.. all the townies have moved in with the hard stuff, have to beat them off with a stick these days
20:50 RifRaf yep this was back in the early 80's
20:50 RifRaf even then stuff was changing
20:51 Triffid_Hunter yah my wife was in this area then, she was there when the council kicked all the hippies out of byron
20:54 RifRaf what else could i use to clean up some camera lens if no lens cleaning fluid can be found?
20:55 rue_mohr windex?
20:55 RifRaf have the usual solvents, metho, turps, hexane and fuel handy, but they may be too harsh
20:55 RifRaf i have some form of window cleaner, thanks rue
20:57 rue_mohr what do I do with 6 rack mount servers?
20:57 rue_mohr erp, nm
20:57 rue_mohr just found a new coffeetable
20:58 Tom_itx the windex would remove the coatings i believe
20:58 Tom_itx contact lens cleaner
20:58 rue_mohr pff coatings
20:58 RifRaf i have no contact lens cleaner, but since the last time i saw you guys i sure need glasses
20:59 RifRaf i will keep looking then, these are nice old lenses from a garage sale yesterday, and a bunch of filters
21:00 rue_mohr dont clean the filters with windex
21:00 RifRaf ok ok i have not moved from me seat yet
21:01 RifRaf cokin ones, all sorts of effects
21:06 RifRaf how about 'bug off' windscreen cleaner
21:06 RifRaf wish i could find some lens cleaner :/
21:06 Tom_itx how about steam?
21:07 Tom_itx no minerals to worry about
21:08 Tom_itx that reminds me, i need to check on a lens for my nikon the neighbor got at a garage sale for a buck
21:08 Tom_itx said i could have it if it didn't fit his daughter's camera and she has a cannon
21:08 RifRaf hrm as long as the lens are sealed and the steam does not over heat the plastic filters maybe
21:08 Tom_itx you just need to fog them over a bit to clean
21:09 RifRaf there is likely a canon to nikon adapter available
21:09 Tom_itx yeah probably so
21:09 Tom_itx it was a damn nice lens too
21:09 RifRaf i have so many old cameras now, has been a hobby for a bit