Last night’s turning experiments with aluminum on the lathe went much better than before, primarily because I tightened up the gibs on the cross-slide (thanks, again, go to Walter). Turns out they should be just a bit tighter than you think to ensure there’s no play. I thought they were tight, but when I brought a toolbit up to the workpiece, it would deflect a few thousandths of an inch and end up bouncing a little bit. The finish I was left with was uneven and almost pitted. Last night’s cuts, however, were smooth and even. Woohoo!
My 4 jaw chuck is coming in the mail today (at least that’s what the UPS site says) – thanks Mom & Dad for the early birthday present! It looks like I’ll need to make an adaptor plate. The folks at work have offered to help, and it seems like a really good project to get better acquainted with the (big, nice) milling machine at work.
I lost my hat, but I guess it’s a good excuse to make myself one. Look for pictures soon (hopefully really soon since it’s been pretty cold of late).
posted February 13, 2002 – 8:50 am
Some highlights from the weekend:
- A trip to CostCo. Can you say oversized packages of chocolate chip cookies? Yum.
- A party at my friend Stan’s house involving beer and 78’s from the early eighties.
- Craft Day! Need I say more?
- Some more chip-making on the lathe – I’m getting better, I just need more free time, that’s all.
posted February 11, 2002 – 9:46 am
Is it bad that this article speaks to me? Probably.
I often feel pretty bad that I’m so unmotivated at work, but that doesn’t really change the facts. It’s nice to see someone write about it – in fact, there’s a whole slew of users who posted in response to the article that they were wondering if it was a “normal” thing. Me? I had pretty much figured out that this was how most software got written, and have been trying to figure out a good way to get around it for years. It’s a bit like the proverb that says “you only use 10% of your brain” and what would happen if people could figure out how to use even another 10%? What would happen if software (and other work, too) was twice as effecient?
[ Ok, the smartass answer is we’d have twice as much crappy software. Better we should all spend twice as much time thinking ahead and planning and then the stuff we came up with wouldn’t be so crappy. ]
posted February 8, 2002 – 7:33 am
Mmm… I want one of these. Yep, I’m becoming a lathe dork. Deal.
Check out my brother’s awesome gear simulator.
posted February 6, 2002 – 8:44 am
It’s official – I’m carless! I feel liberated & much less of a poluter than before. Also, I’m happy to be done dealing with the showing & negotiating, etc. involved in selling the car. All in all, I’d recommend it to everyone (I wish!).
I haven’t had time to play with the lathe since I got the recommendations from Walter, but maybe tonight I’ll have a chance.
posted February 4, 2002 – 12:14 pm