Early Risers.

[monkeysarefun]

9 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

 A quick 3-D scan of the semi complete part and a little computer manipulation I think would allow me to produce a 3-D printer replica of the needed part. Most useful I would say.

 

 

Unfortunately its not quite that easy!

 

 

8 hours ago, pgcroc said:

 

Hi

I am getting a 3D printer on a recommendation from a fellow MERG member.

At the moment I am stuck in Cyprus until I can get a flight back to the UK so am unable to test it.

Recommendation was for an;

 

ELEGOO Mars Pro MSLA 3D Printer UV Photocuring LCD 3D Printer with Matrix UV LED Light Source, Built-In Activated Carbon,Off-Line Print 4.53in(L) x 2.56in(W) x 5.9in(H) Printing Size

 

Available from Amazon.

Might be worth watching a YouTube video

 

As I have not tried it yet I believe what my friend says. 

Usual disclaimers.

 

They're a good printer - I've got two now. Be aware that the build area of these resin printers (that have a vat of resin that the finished part magically rises from like the arm of that shiela rising out of the lake in the King Arthur story) are quite small in these cheaper printers - about 120mm by 70 by 155mm high.

 

They do print out incredible detail though, but the standard resin is quite brittle. Tougher resin for dentistry etc is available, Ive recently got a bottle of stuff that can be drilled and machined after the part is cured, its tough as..  

 

Also there is quite  a process of after-print curing, the print needs to be washed in IPA to remove all uncured resin, then placed in an ultra-violet light source (ie, stuck on the back deck if you live somewhere sunny) to cure.  ITs quite a gooey messy process and the stupid Covid thing meant that disposable gloves and IPA - both required, either disappeared entirely off the market or shot up to insane prices...   3D prinetr enthusiasts - yet more forgotten victims of the virus. (Actually water soluble resins are starting to appear now.)

 

Resin printers with larger build areas are available but are very exxy in comparison, although Elegoo, who make the above printer have done pre-orders for their 'Saturn' printer with a sizeably larger print area. Pre-orders of 4000 spread over two seperate weekends last month both sold out in under 2 minutes -  they are very popular, mainly due to the insane low price they had on them .

Timezones meant that the orders went live midnight here, but the wait up was worthwhile as I have number 3978... Comes in September, can't wait. they are scheduled to be on general sale on Amazon in Movember.

 

If insane detail is less important and you need bigger prints, the traditional FDM printer (ie the one that builds prints up via melting  filament)  would be the way to go. And its less messy.

 

3D scanners  - you get what you pay for, decent ones that can reproduce high accuracy for dental or jewellery work start in the thousands and can go to 40 grand and up. for small detailed  items where accuracy is essential, its probably better to spend a few hours learning Tinkercad or Sketchup, and draw them yourself. Both these are simple to learn  3D modelling programmes that are free and used to teach kids 3D modelling, its like playing with lego except without the risk of stepping on the bricks in the dark.

 

For larger items, garden gnome size and above there are photogrammetry packages (also free for personal use - tis a great time to be alive!) that often produce as good or  better results that a dedicated 3D scanner but use a digital camera, even your phone camera.  All these below  were produced after spending  a day in a cemetery with a point and shoot camera, then into the free photogrammetry package then off to the printer above.

 

Its a new age in modelling, not a single 'traditional' modelling tool was used - just a camera, laptop and 3D printer!

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 15, 2020 by monkeysarefun

[newbryford]

 

Busy day at work testing things.

Being very careful not to destroy a hand built prototype.....

A careless touch of the speed controller or accidental changing of a CV could have resulted in the release of magic blue smoke.

There is a possible plan to do that at some point just to see what really will kill it - after all the functional testing has been completed!

 

I had a 5 minute break from work that coincided with this.

(At the risk of the awl, but hey-ho, first proper train since lockdown)

70000 "Britannia" on the northbound Fellsman. And before HH comments - yes it is green and definitely hasn't got panniers.

 

 

 

And my return journey home coincided with a watering stop for the southbound run. (Photo taken leaning on the fence)

 

 

And finally passing my house - it was quite a wet trek to the fields on the other side.

 

 

 

BTW - I shall declare an interest in BR Standards and have built numerous kits of them before decent RTR. Although I only now have a model of one that was a regular on the line above. (One of Lower Darwen's 76xxx that used to take up banking duties on Whalley Bank)

 

Mudelling to be done.

 

Have a good Thursday folks

 

Cheers,

Mick

 

Edited July 15, 2020 by newbryford

[Tony_S]

I have a model of Britannia in plain black. Looks quite nice. 

[Erichill16]

Evening All,

Gardening done this morning and then a trip to dump-it site with various bits and pieces. Walk in the afternoon and a very small bit of modelling but worth it. Balance not been too good today so SWMBO did the driving and eye not feeling quite right either.Think I know what that may be.

May watch a film if SWMBO hurries up from making dog biscuits in the kitchen or otherwise an early night.

Anyway I’ll bid you all a good night and hope you’ve all had a good day.

Robert

[Ozexpatriate]

33 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

A work colleague is exempted because he cannot apply ear-loops around his hearing aid.  

There are alternatives like the head band with buttons mentioned by @TheQ (which I think would be very comfortable, but perhaps embarrassing for a gent) and mask extenders which are usually plastic straps with integral hooks that go around the back of the head for the ear-loops to link into. I have the latter. They are effective, but I struggled to find ones at the House of Strong Women that were long enough, so what I have is snug.

 

There are also masks that tie around the back of the head.

 

Edited July 15, 2020 by Ozexpatriate

[polybear]

So how does Bear download "how to drive a 3d Printer to make it do very clever things" into his bonce without spending the next five years trying, swearing, shouting, throwing it thru' the window......?

 

In other news, and as I've got the guttering off the (hardwood) Conservatory I thought I'd give the fascia board a coat of paint, though it doesn't actually need it.  Only to discover the paint required for the job has "gone yukky" (technical decorating term) and is only fit for the bin.  I then discover that said paint (Jotun Demidekkk - now there's a name...) is no longer available in 1L tins, it has to be 3L.  At seventy quid a pop......

Bvgger.

Then the slate and shingle for the garden arrived - 650 kilos of the stuff.  Only 200 kilos, plus six paving slabs and 140L of Compost is destined for my mate over the road - the best part of 100 yards away.  And he has a bvggered arm (he won that in Paris some years ago, whilst on a long weekend - a motorcyclist went thru' a red light at a crossing and hit him).  Arm never the same since, and not much use now.  Brownie points earnt.  Then my 400 kilos has to go round the back of my house, the best part of another 100 yards.  Sid the Sack Barrow looking decidedly forlorn after all this excitement.  Bear looking dead.

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. This came up on Farcebook this evening, some ER's might be familiar with the story.

https://www.sciencealert.com/how-dead-girl-paris-ended-up-most-kissed-lips-in-history-l-inconnue-de-la-seine-resusci-anne-cpr-annie-death-mask

Interesting if tragic story.

[Barry O]

Goodnight all!

 

Baz

[jamie92208]

58 minutes ago, newbryford said:

 

And my return journey home coincided with a watering stop for the southbound run. (Photo taken leaning on the fence)

 

 

Mick

 

Just out of interest Mick, where was thecwatering stop please.

 

I also like BR standards.

 

JAMIE92208 

[Joseph_Pestell]

14 hours ago, AndyID said:

 

Hi Joseph,

 

What you fail to recognize is that the US is NOT a democracy. If it was Trump would never have been elected so kindly do not level criticisms at the attitudes of the majority of US citizens. If you want to throw rocks at something please throw them at the process that allowed Trump to become POTUS.

 

Andy

 

Potentially dodgy territory here. I don't think that the US, constitutionally, is any less democratic than many nations. We have had two elections here in the UK where the party with fewer votes "won" a General Election (i.e. had more MPs and formed a Government).

 

The problem is that so few people in the US actually participate in that democracy. We have the same problem in the UK. The legitimacy of any election, or a certain referendum, is called into question by the number of no-show voters. I don't want to "throw rocks" but I don't have a lot of time for people who don't use their right to vote - even if that is only to spoil their ballot paper as a protest.

 

One of the achievements in my life (few of them) that I am proud of is in local politics and democracy. A village that had not had a council election for 42 years, six electoral terms, not only got a second list of candidates together to stand up to the prevailing one-party "state" but went on to win on a 92% turnout. We only failed to have the best turnout in the departement because someone did not do their bit with the postal vote. That result saved the village school which is now thriving again as new families have moved into the village.

 

In the recent elections (which I was not involved in), not only was there a well-fought campaign between two lists of candidates, but the turnout remained high (80%+) and a good friend became mayor - an Englishman, mayor of a French village.

 

I "imported" the French list system to our town council elections in England. That has led to much improved Town Council efficiency (even if still not perfect), much better than what went before.

[tigerburnie]

G'night all

[Joseph_Pestell]

11 hours ago, chrisf said:

 

Going to the shop gets me out of the house.  I was able to examine display samples at close quarters and make an informed choice, given that I had only the vaguest idea of what I wanted.  It's so good that there is still more than one way of making purchases.

 

Chris

 

I entirely agree, Chris. But I don't think that Curry's PC World are quite playing the game honestly. They are pretending to be a shop.

[newbryford]

Just now, jamie92208 said:

Just out of interest Mick, where was thecwatering stop please.

 

I also like BR standards.

 

JAMIE92208 

 

Just south of Chatburn station. The timing point on Realtime trains is Chatburn Overbridge 65.

It is used by non-WCRC tours as the water tower at Hellifield is owned by West Coast Railway Company

 

The old goods shed is just behind me in the above pic.

The goods yard (like many others) is now an industrial estate.

 

Water is pumped from a road tanker. There is a railway connection with the coach. It is in the colours of Fraser Eagle (from Accrington). They used to have the national contract for organising rail replacement services. For Chris116 - It has since been converted into a transporter for a stock car. (Keith Clement Auto Electrics - who used to use the good shed - had offspring that raced stock cars and minstox)

 

 

This is the overbridge, the Pendle Hotel is on the left, like the station (behind us on the other side of the bridge) is now a private residence) The colour light signal just visible by the Brit is Horrocksford Junction Up distant.

 

 

[laurenceb]

Night awl

[Joseph_Pestell]

4 hours ago, polybear said:

 

How on earth can they justify treating you like that, if your only input was to see the culprit a short time earlier?  Send the Bear round to sort 'em....

 

In a small company, it is very important for the boss to have total trust in his staff.

 

When I saw the driver (colleague) in a bar earlier in the evening, he asked me not to tell the boss that he was there - rather than 200 miles away as he should have been. I agreed not to "tell".

 

Under the influence of more drink and, no doubt some pressure from les flics, the first thing that the driver said to them was that he had been with me earlier in the evening. So I was in an extremely awkward position when the boss phoned me very early in the morning to ask if I had seen the driver the previous evening. I did not lie but the whole situation caused a lack of trust and I don't blame him for that.

[Joseph_Pestell]

9 minutes ago, newbryford said:

 

Just south of Chatburn station. The timing point on Realtime trains is Chatburn Overbridge 65.

It is used by non-WCRC tours as the water tower at Hellifield is owned by West Coast Railway Company

 

The old goods shed is just behind me in the above pic.

The goods yard (like many others) is now an industrial estate.

 

Water is pumped from a road tanker. There is a railway connection with the coach. It is in the colours of Fraser Eagle (from Accrington). They used to have the national contract for organising rail replacement services. For Chris116 - It has since been converted into a transporter for a stock car. (Keith Clement Auto Electrics - who used to use the good shed - had offspring that raced stock cars and minstox)

 

 

This is the overbridge, the Pendle Hotel is on the left, like the station (behind us on the other side of the bridge) is now a private residence) The colour light signal just visible by the Brit is Horrocksford Junction Up distant.

 

 

 

I don't recognise that diagram of RK. Is it a modern conversion?

[Coombe Barton]

Dogs, water and the ultimate oxymoron.

 

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2020/07/15/conference-day-three/

[newbryford]

16 minutes ago, Joseph_Pestell said:

 

I don't recognise that diagram of RK. Is it a modern conversion?

 

Yes. Originally it was RBR 1659, now carrying Sc80044

http://www.cs.rhrp.org.uk/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=4250

 

 

 

[The Stationmaster]

G'night all

[monkeysarefun]

1 hour ago, Joseph_Pestell said:

The problem is that so few people in the US actually participate in that democracy. We have the same problem in the UK. The legitimacy of any election, or a certain referendum, is called into question by the number of no-show voters. I don't want to "throw rocks" but I don't have a lot of time for people who don't use their right to vote - even if that is only to spoil their ballot paper as a protest.

 

 

We have compulsorary voting so everyone has the right to whinge about the party in power. - though its not compulsorary to actually enroll to vote when you hit 18. 

 

One thing that has always struck me  as weird in other countries is holding elections on week days.  How are many people able to even take time off to vote, given it seems to take hours at some places if TV news is anything to go by. I guess that adds to the reason why voting isn't compulsorary and why the turn out is often so small.

 

Here all elections are held on Saturday and polling  locations are schools or community halls, so people can drop in on the way to or from shopping, kids sport, the beach and so on. It can turn into a bit of a carnival, local community groups run sausage sizzles, face painting etc  to raise funds  (known as the Democracy Sausage), they know they have a captive target audience and the  smell of sausages and onions cooking while standing in a line doing nothing makes it very hard to resist.

Edited July 15, 2020 by monkeysarefun

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[BSW01]

Good evening everyone

 

The weather has been pretty awful today, no heavy rain but lots of light showers, so it curtailed the planned bench building. However, I did manage to get the bench partly assembled, in that all the slats are in place, but not yet tightened up. I also need to fit both the stays and rear strap that prevents the slats from opening up! Hopefully, I’ll get it finished tomorrow, but it does look good underneath the workshop window though! 

 

In between the showers I continued working on the turntable, I finished making the lead, fitting an 8 pin plug on each end. Luckily I tested it once I’d done and found I’d got 2 wires crossed, this thankfully was easily rectified. I also fitted the socket and wiring in the new control panel. This still hasn’t been painted yet, but I want to mark and drill all the holes for the LEDs and switches etc first. When that’s been done, I’ll get it ready for priming and painting.

 

Goodnight all 

[Ozexpatriate]

1 hour ago, Joseph_Pestell said:

The problem is that so few people in the US actually participate in that democracy.

That's actually not the problem in the US. It may be true (and there are tactics used to disenfranchise certain groups which I won't go into) but the issue is related to the fact that a very small number of people actually influence the outcome of a presidential election with their vote somewhat independently of turnout. Generally increased turnout is a tide that floats all boats and at the end of the day the electoral college votes are a predetermined total, irrespective of turnout.

 

Of course everyone's vote counts, but there are key precincts in key swing states which usually turn the outcome. Many states will predictably have a majority for one party's candidate or another.

 

Whether there is a big turnout or a small turnout these precincts will usually swing the outcome unless the turnout is one-sided. A really big turnout by particular groups can overwhelm this sensitivity.

 

I'm not talking about the official 'electors' in the electoral college either. Recently, the SCOTUS ruled that so-called 'faithless electors' can be prosecuted but that's largely a hypothetical issue.

[AndyID]

1 hour ago, Joseph_Pestell said:

 

Potentially dodgy territory here. I don't think that the US, constitutionally, is any less democratic than many nations. We have had two elections here in the UK where the party with fewer votes "won" a General Election (i.e. had more MPs and formed a Government).

 

The problem is that so few people in the US actually participate in that democracy. We have the same problem in the UK. The legitimacy of any election, or a certain referendum, is called into question by the number of no-show voters. I don't want to "throw rocks" but I don't have a lot of time for people who don't use their right to vote - even if that is only to spoil their ballot paper as a protest.

 

One of the achievements in my life (few of them) that I am proud of is in local politics and democracy. A village that had not had a council election for 42 years, six electoral terms, not only got a second list of candidates together to stand up to the prevailing one-party "state" but went on to win on a 92% turnout. We only failed to have the best turnout in the departement because someone did not do their bit with the postal vote. That result saved the village school which is now thriving again as new families have moved into the village.

 

In the recent elections (which I was not involved in), not only was there a well-fought campaign between two lists of candidates, but the turnout remained high (80%+) and a good friend became mayor - an Englishman, mayor of a French village.

 

I "imported" the French list system to our town council elections in England. That has led to much improved Town Council efficiency (even if still not perfect), much better than what went before.

 

Let's not do politics. I come here to escape from them

 

[J. S. Bach]

8 hours ago, The Stationmaster said:

 ...snip... and there are now at least two ladybirds in residence on the plants ...snip...

I had to look that up; after through many references to the late Pres. Johnson's wife, I found that what you call ladybirds we call ladybugs. Very good ones to have around. Once in a while I find one in the house and out the door it goes when I catch it.