Sometime around May 2004 we decided we were going to get chickens. We decided to build out own coop. I researched several designs online but wanted something that wouldn’t stick out and would blend in with the existing shed it was going to be placed near. I made some measurements of where it would be placed and got to work sketching out what I wanted for a coop. I refined the design and came up with how it would be framed on paper.
3D printing and expedient household repairs
Over the last week or two I have posted several household repair items to Thingiverse.com Many of these items are trivial small designs but their value to me has really been adding up. I have saved a bunch of money by being able to repair items with pennies of plastic and a few minutes of time:
Replacement X-10 wall switch button
I recently published a new replacement part on Thingiverse. I recently found the shattered remains of the push button of one of my X10 wall switches sitting on the floor. I picked up the pieces, mocked it up in OpenScad and printed it out on my Thing-O-Matic. Works like a charm. Now I just need to order some white plastic. The model can be found on Thingiverse here:
Replacement Auto Siphon End
I recently published a new replacement part on thingiverse. If you loose your auto siphon end fear not! Just download the STL and print a new one. You can find the cad files here:
Sitcky Paws Brown Ale
A flavorful brown ale. Read more for the recipe.
CNC Engraving a sign
In this post I will be describing the software tool chain, tools and techniques I used to create a fun engraved sign I made as a gift. Read on for more information.
Dump(ster) diving for data
This is just a word of caution for anyone throwing away, donating or otherwise discarding a computer or hard disk. You may think that your data was removed with a format but you are mistaken. There are many free and easy to use forensic recovery tools that can be used to recover your data. Case in point I found a 20 GB hard disk at the dump in the swap shed. I plugged the drive into my garage/utility computer and began examining the drive. The first thing I noted is there was no partition table and several bad sectors (likely the reason for it being discarded). Being it was a parallel ATA drive I assumed that it was a PC based drive and began recovery using a tool called testdisk on in Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (CNC). This tool can recover otherwise deleted partition tables from a variety of systems. I tend to use Linux for tasks like this to reduce the risk of infection from viruses and it can be done with a Live CD if necessary.
Open Ayer Space forums now open…
Faisal has created a Google+ Group for Open Ayer Space and registered the domain http://openayerspace.org/. I had suggested this name based on my private makerspace and it works on so many levels:
- Openness promotes ideas and sharing
- Ayer and Shirley are nearby each other and the (A)yer (S)pace plays on this
- It opens a whole theme for the workspace (aka, Hanger, Admirals Lounge, Cockpit etc.)
Currently the google groups is by invite. Contact Faisal for more information.
Faisal is also planning a booth at the Ayer Fourth of July celebration with a table setup to charge cellphones and discuss the new makerspace.
Truck Canoe & Kayak Carrier
Faced with the challenge of carrying a a 16′ Old Town canoe, a kayak and all the gear and accessories and camping supplies in the 5 and a half foot bed of my F-150 SuperCrew I set out looking for options. First and foremost how to transport the canoe without being a hazard on the road to myself or anyone else. The prerequisites were as follows:
1) Should allow safe operation of the vehicle
2) No drilling or permanent modifications to the truck and should not interfere with or require the removal of the toneau cover I have installed
3) Must be easy to remove and install
4) Loading the canoe must not be difficult
5) Should hold at least one canoe – two would be better
6) Should look halfway decent
7) And the ever present engineering requirement of cost
Project – Electric Spinning Wheel
I designed and built this electric spinning wheel for my wife earlier in the year. The spinner was mocked up in OpenScad (See e-spinner.scad for the cad design and assembly). This was built out of Maple, Aluminum tube, Nylon bushings and tube and some miscellaneous hardware. The e-spinner is powered by a Singer Style sewing machine motor hooked up to a foot pedal and lamp dimmer for speed control. The aluminum and nylon tube was cut on my Atlas 10″ lathe. The bobbin ends were cut on my Shapeoko CNC Router.
You can see the spinner in action here with my wife spinning imported wool she carded herself:
Bill of Materials (all wood is maple or other suitable hard wood):
- 1″x3″x7″ (x2) wood for supports
- 1 Nylon Bushing (1″ O.D. 3/4″ I.D. 3/4″ thick
- 3/8″ x 8″ (x2) Dowel
- 1″x1″x6″ wood for flyer arm
- 1″x3″x9 3/8″ (x2) wood for frame
- Nylon Tube (1/2″ I.D. 3/4″ O.D.) 6″
- Aluminium Tube (1/2″ O.D. 1/16″ Thick Wall)
- 1/4″ x 3″ x 3″ wood for bobbin ends
- Wood Glue
- 1 1/2″ Brass wood screws for assembly (x6)
- Singer Style sewing machine motor
- Silicone Hair Ties (for belts)