The Smell of Molten Projects in the Morning
Ed Nisley's Blog: Shop notes, electronics, firmware, machinery, 3D printing, laser cuttery, and curiosities. Contents: 100% human thinking, 0% AI slop.
Saw this in the Syracuse Sheraton: every stringer in the stairwell had a torch-cut opening so they could bolt the flight to the landing.
I don’t know if the flights came pre-assembled (minus the concrete, I assume), but the cutouts definitely have that “WTF do we do now?” aspect about them, don’t they?
Ah, well. I’ve been there & done that, too.
Haven’t you?
So I swapped in the snow tires and did the fall oil change a few days ago. Everything went smoothly, although the oil filter, as usual, blooshed oil over the front of the engine and, despite my padding the area with rags, onto the exhaust plumbing.
Digression: I don’t understand why the Toyota engineers felt they had to tuck the oil filter below the exhaust header, behind the front downpipe, and over the flexible coupling to the forward cat converter, with the mounting tube pointed upward. It might have something to do with their rotating the entire engine rearward to get a lower hoodline. It seems to me that angling the filter so it can’t drain and must dump its contents atop the exhaust system isn’t Good Design; I’ve been muttering about it for the last decade.
Anyway, the new filter screwed on easily, its seal ring (seemed to) seat against the block, and one final turn snugged it up just fine. The last fraction of that turn felt gritty, as though part the shell kissed the block, but I attributed that to the fact I was using a different filter style.
I added the usual 5 quarts of oil, wiped up the spills, cleaned off the exhaust pipes, declared victory, called it a day, and put away the tools. Later that evening, I checked for leaks, found nothing, and we drove to a meeting about 12 miles away. As you might expect, the van smelled strongly of hot oil: you cannot wipe all the oil off those pipes.
The next morning, Mary drove to an all-day class about 15 miles away and, about noon, I rolled out my bike to go grocery shopping… only to discover what you see in the picture (minus the sawdust patch) on the driveway.
This is what we call in the trade A Very Bad Sign.
There are three oil tracks:
Now, the fact that there’s no huge oil slick means the drain plug is in place and properly sealed. The oil evidently leaks out only under pressure, so the filter isn’t sealed against the block. This can be due to a number of causes, the most common of which is leaving the rubber ring from the old filter stuck to the block. I checked the old filter, which was still in the trash: the seal was still in place, so that wasn’t contributing to the problem.
Regardless, the car was bleeding to death. I called Mary and she reported a dry dipstick.
So I loaded a 5-quart jug of oil into the right pannier, dumped all the tools that might possibly come in handy into the left pannier, topped both off with many rags, stopped at an auto parts store along the way for a new filter, and rode those 15 miles at a pretty good clip. When I got to the parking lot, it was easy to find the van: simply follow its trail. The van sat atop a disturbingly large slick, evidently caused by oil draining off every local minimum inside the engine compartment and under the forward half of the chassis.
The filter was still firmly screwed in place, but when I got it off and compared it with the new filter, they were different: the offending filter was slightly larger in diameter and the threaded hole was noticeable larger. Although it threaded on, the threads weren’t properly engaged, the larger diameter shell did hit the engine block, and it most certainly wasn’t sealed properly.
I installed the new filter, poured in 3 quarts to the get the oil level midway into the dipstick’s OK range, wiped off some of the oil that coated essentially every part of the engine compartment, and we drove home trailing a cloud of hot oil fumes.
As it turned out, the old filter was the same brand as the one that didn’t seal, but with different numbers and a different prefix: the correct filter is a 3614, the wrong one was 3593. Of course, the boxes and illustrations are identical, with slightly different contents. I’m sure they’re adjacent on the shelf and migrate into each other’s slot. It’s worth noting that the filter I bought while on the way to fix the problem was a different brand sporting a part number totally unrelated to 3614.
The butt end of the van was covered with oil, as though the droplets blew out under the chassis and got sucked up against the rear surface; the window was a mess. I sprayed on stout detergent and wiped it clean, but I think we must treat the poor thing to an all-over car wash with the special undercarriage scrub option.
No harm done, as nearly as I can tell, although it’s an exceedingly good thing we weren’t driving off to the grandparents!
Those of you following the blog comments by RSS probably noticed a frenzy of commentary on the bed bug posts last week. Turns out that hackaday.com posted an article mentioning my Hot Box Disinsector on the afternoon of 22 November, producing this blip in the traffic numbers:
I noticed the jump shortly before suppertime, at which point the WordPress counters weren’t keeping up with the hit rate: the statistics page produced essentially random numbers for the next day.
About 1/4 of the newcomers (welcome!) read all of the bed bug articles, punching the views up by an order of magnitude. Of course, for a real website, 16k hits per day rounds off to zero, but it’s still invigorating for a simple guy like me.
WordPress.com inserts ads on their blogs, over which I have no control. As nearly as I can tell, most of my articles have such esoteric topics that they attract no ads at all, but, wow, Google sure knows exactly what to do with bed bugs!
Now, I’ll return to my usual practice of fixing stuff and writing about how that goes down…
The Great Green, one of my better IBM managers, used the ratios of key numbers to quickly evaluate proposals. Conversely, if a proposal didn’t have any key numbers, he knew the author was blowing smoke.
He attended a school budget meeting many years ago, wherein someone kvetched about the cost of and need for a semitrailer of paper every year. He estimated the number of sheets, divided by the number of students, then divided by the number of days in a school year. The answer came out to about one sheet of paper per student per day, which seemed like a perfectly reasonable number to him…
This is a stick in the ground for the current config files I’m using with EMC 2.4.5. Even the automagically generated files may have some tweakage, which is why I’m putting them here…
[Update: this is for a Dell Dimension 4550 with a latency around 10 µs, occasional glitches to 20 µs, and a very rare burp to 80 µs. Worked fine, but those rare burps were disturbing.]
# Ed Nisley - KE4ZNU # Just don't run stepconf ever again... [EMC] MACHINE = Sherline-XYZA DEBUG = 0 RS274NGC_STARTUP_CODE = G21 G40 G49 G54 G80 G90 G92.1 G94 G97 G98 [DISPLAY] DISPLAY = axis EDITOR = gedit GEOMETRY = AXYZ POSITION_OFFSET = RELATIVE POSITION_FEEDBACK = ACTUAL MAX_FEED_OVERRIDE = 3.0 INTRO_GRAPHIC = Sherline.gif INTRO_TIME = 3 PROGRAM_PREFIX = /mnt/bulkdata/ #PROGRAM_PREFIX = /home/ed/ #INCREMENTS = .1in .05in .01in .005in .001in .0005in .0001in INCREMENTS = 10 mm, 1 mm, 0.1 mm, 90 deg, 45 deg, 10 deg [FILTER] PROGRAM_EXTENSION = .py Python Script py = python [TASK] TASK = milltask CYCLE_TIME = 0.010 [RS274NGC] PARAMETER_FILE = emc.var [EMCMOT] EMCMOT = motmod SHMEM_KEY = 111 COMM_TIMEOUT = 1.0 COMM_WAIT = 0.010 BASE_PERIOD = 100000 SERVO_PERIOD = 1000000 [HAL] HALUI=halui HALFILE = Sherline.hal HALFILE = custom.hal HALFILE = Logitech_Gamepad.hal POSTGUI_HALFILE = custom_postgui.hal [TRAJ] AXES = 4 COORDINATES = X Y Z A MAX_ANGULAR_VELOCITY = 45.00 DEFAULT_ANGULAR_VELOCITY = 36.0 LINEAR_UNITS = inch ANGULAR_UNITS = degree CYCLE_TIME = 0.010 #DEFAULT_VELOCITY = 0.333 DEFAULT_VELOCITY = 0.475 #MAX_LINEAR_VELOCITY = 0.400 MAX_LINEAR_VELOCITY = 0.500 POSITION_FILE = lastposition.txt NO_FORCE_HOMING = 1 [EMCIO] EMCIO = io CYCLE_TIME = 0.100 TOOL_TABLE = Sherline.tbl TOOL_CHANGE_AT_G30 = 1 [AXIS_0] TYPE = LINEAR #MAX_VELOCITY = 0.400 MAX_VELOCITY = 0.475 #MAX_ACCELERATION = 1.5 MAX_ACCELERATION = 5.0 #STEPGEN_MAXACCEL = 1.7 STEPGEN_MAXACCEL = 10.0 SCALE = 16000.0 FERROR = 0.05 MIN_FERROR = 0.01 MIN_LIMIT = -1.0 MAX_LIMIT = 9.5 BACKLASH = 0.003 HOME_IS_SHARED = 1 HOME_SEQUENCE = 2 HOME_SEARCH_VEL = 0.3 HOME_LATCH_VEL = 0.016 HOME_FINAL_VEL = 0.4 HOME_OFFSET = 9.1 HOME = 4.5 [AXIS_1] TYPE = LINEAR #MAX_VELOCITY = 0.400 MAX_VELOCITY = 0.475 #MAX_ACCELERATION = 1.5 MAX_ACCELERATION = 5.0 #STEPGEN_MAXACCEL = 1.7 STEPGEN_MAXACCEL = 10.0 SCALE = 16000.0 FERROR = 0.05 MIN_FERROR = 0.01 MIN_LIMIT = -0.5 MAX_LIMIT = 4.90 BACKLASH = 0.003 HOME_IS_SHARED = 1 HOME_SEQUENCE = 1 HOME_SEARCH_VEL = -0.3 HOME_LATCH_VEL = -0.016 HOME_FINAL_VEL = 0.4 HOME_OFFSET = 0.0 HOME = 4.0 [AXIS_2] TYPE = LINEAR MAX_VELOCITY = 0.333 #MAX_VELOCITY = 0.400 #MAX_ACCELERATION = 1.0 MAX_ACCELERATION = 3.0 #STEPGEN_MAXACCEL = 1.2 STEPGEN_MAXACCEL = 6.0 SCALE = 16000.0 FERROR = 0.05 MIN_FERROR = 0.01 MIN_LIMIT = 0.0 MAX_LIMIT = 6.930 BACKLASH = 0.005 HOME_IS_SHARED = 1 HOME_SEQUENCE = 0 HOME_SEARCH_VEL = 0.200 HOME_LATCH_VEL = 0.016 HOME_FINAL_VEL = 0.3 HOME_OFFSET = 6.93 HOME = 6.5 [AXIS_3] TYPE = ANGULAR ###WRAPPED_ROTARY = 1 MAX_VELOCITY = 40.0 MAX_ACCELERATION = 250.0 STEPGEN_MAXACCEL = 275.0 SCALE = 160.0 FERROR = 1 MIN_FERROR = .25 MIN_LIMIT = -999999999.9 MAX_LIMIT = 999999999.9 HOME_SEARCH_VEL = 0 HOME_LATCH_VEL = 0 HOME = 0.0
;common end mills T1 P1 Z1 D0.1225 ; 1/8 T2 P2 Z1 D0.1535 ; 5/32 T3 P3 Z1 D0.1870 ; 3/16 T4 P4 Z1 D0.2500 ; 1/4 T5 P5 Z1 D0.3122 ; 5/16 T6 P6 Z1 D0.3755 ; 3/8 - 4 flute long T7 P7 Z1 D0.4374 ; 7/16 T8 P8 Z1 D0.4720 ; 1/2 ;random metric equivalents T20 P20 Z1 D0.09787 ; 2 mm ;number drills 1xx = xx T107 P107 Z1 D0.201 ; 7 5.11 10-32 clear T109 P109 Z1 D0.196 ; 9 4.98 10-32 clear T118 P118 Z1 D0.170 ; 18 4.32 8-32 clear T121 P121 Z1 D0.159 ; 21 4.04 10-32 tap T127 P127 Z1 D0.144 ; 27 3.66 6-32 clear T129 P129 Z1 D0.136 ; 29 3.45 8-32 tap T136 P136 Z1 D0.107 ; 36 2.72 6-32 tap T132 P132 Z1 D0.116 ; 32 2.95 4-40 clear T143 P143 Z1 D0.089 ; 43 2.26 4-40 tap T141 P141 Z1 D0.096 ; 41 2.44 2-56 clear T146 P146 Z1 D0.081 ; 46 2.06 good for 2 mm pin T148 P148 Z1 D0.076 ; 48 1.93 1-72 clear T150 P150 Z1 D0.070 ; 50 1.78 2-56 tap 0-80 clear T152 P152 Z1 D0.064 ; 52 1.63 0-80 clear T153 P153 Z1 D0.060 ; 53 1.52 1-72 tap ;fraction drills 2xx = xx/64 T203 P203 Z1 D0.047 ; 3/64 1.2 0-80 tap ;inch decimal drills for eagle drilling ; 1xxx = xxx/1000 T1000 P1000 Z1 D0.000 ; center drill T1024 P1024 Z1 D0.024 T1025 P1025 Z1 D0.025 T1032 P1032 Z1 D0.032 T1039 P1039 Z1 D0.039 T1040 P1040 Z1 D0.040 T1045 P1045 Z1 D0.045 T1047 P1047 Z1 D0.047 T1052 P1052 Z1 D0.052 T1067 P1067 Z1 D0.067 T1125 P1125 Z1 D0.125 T1140 P1140 Z1 D0.140 T1150 P1150 Z1 D0.150
# Include your customized HAL commands here # This file will not be overwritten when you run stepconf again #-------------- # Get buttons and joysticks from Logitech Dual Action gamepad loadusr -W hal_input -KA Dual #-------------- # Home switches are all in parallel, active low net homeswitches <= parport.0.pin-10-in-not net homeswitches => axis.0.home-sw-in net homeswitches => axis.1.home-sw-in net homeswitches => axis.2.home-sw-in #-------------- # Probe input is active low net probe-in <== parport.0.pin-15-in-not net probe-in ==> motion.probe-input
#-- empty
# HAL config file automatically generated by Eagle-CAD ULP: # [/mnt/bulkdata/Project Files/eagle/ulp/hal-write-array.ulp] # (C) Martin Schoeneck.de 2008 # Mods Ed Nisley 2010 # Path [/mnt/bulkdata/Project Files/eagle/projects/EMC2 HAL Configuration/] # ProjectName [Logitech Gamepad] # File name [/mnt/bulkdata/Project Files/eagle/projects/EMC2 HAL Configuration/Logitech_Gamepad.hal] # Created [11:51:27 10-Nov-2010] #################################################### # Load realtime and userspace modules loadrt constant count=16 loadrt and2 count=17 loadrt flipflop count=4 loadrt mux2 count=5 loadrt mux4 count=1 loadrt not count=8 loadrt or2 count=10 loadrt scale count=7 loadrt timedelay count=1 loadrt toggle count=1 loadrt wcomp count=6 #################################################### # Hook functions into threads addf toggle.0 servo-thread addf wcomp.1 servo-thread addf wcomp.2 servo-thread addf wcomp.3 servo-thread addf and2.0 servo-thread addf and2.4 servo-thread addf and2.3 servo-thread addf and2.2 servo-thread addf and2.1 servo-thread addf constant.6 servo-thread addf constant.5 servo-thread addf constant.4 servo-thread addf constant.3 servo-thread addf constant.2 servo-thread addf constant.1 servo-thread addf constant.0 servo-thread addf constant.7 servo-thread addf constant.8 servo-thread addf scale.1 servo-thread addf scale.2 servo-thread addf scale.3 servo-thread addf mux4.0 servo-thread addf mux2.0 servo-thread addf scale.4 servo-thread addf scale.0 servo-thread addf wcomp.5 servo-thread addf wcomp.4 servo-thread addf wcomp.0 servo-thread addf flipflop.1 servo-thread addf flipflop.0 servo-thread addf and2.5 servo-thread addf and2.6 servo-thread addf and2.7 servo-thread addf and2.8 servo-thread addf flipflop.2 servo-thread addf flipflop.3 servo-thread addf or2.4 servo-thread addf or2.8 servo-thread addf or2.7 servo-thread addf or2.6 servo-thread addf or2.5 servo-thread addf or2.3 servo-thread addf or2.2 servo-thread addf or2.1 servo-thread addf or2.0 servo-thread addf not.1 servo-thread addf not.2 servo-thread addf not.3 servo-thread addf not.4 servo-thread addf not.5 servo-thread addf not.6 servo-thread addf not.7 servo-thread addf not.0 servo-thread addf constant.9 servo-thread addf mux2.1 servo-thread addf mux2.2 servo-thread addf mux2.3 servo-thread addf mux2.4 servo-thread addf constant.10 servo-thread addf constant.11 servo-thread addf scale.5 servo-thread addf scale.6 servo-thread addf constant.12 servo-thread addf constant.13 servo-thread addf timedelay.0 servo-thread addf constant.14 servo-thread addf constant.15 servo-thread addf and2.16 servo-thread addf and2.15 servo-thread addf and2.14 servo-thread addf and2.13 servo-thread addf and2.12 servo-thread addf and2.11 servo-thread addf and2.10 servo-thread addf and2.9 servo-thread addf or2.9 servo-thread #################################################### # Set parameters #################################################### # Set constants setp constant.0.value +0.02 setp constant.1.value -0.02 setp constant.2.value 60 setp constant.3.value 1.00 setp constant.4.value 0.10 setp constant.5.value 0.50 setp constant.6.value 0.10 setp constant.7.value +0.5 setp constant.8.value -0.5 setp constant.9.value 0.0 setp constant.10.value [TRAJ]MAX_LINEAR_VELOCITY setp constant.11.value [TRAJ]MAX_ANGULAR_VELOCITY setp constant.12.value -1.0 setp constant.13.value 0.1 setp constant.14.value 0.020 setp constant.15.value 0.000 #################################################### # Connect Modules with nets net a-button-minus input.0.btn-trigger or2.2.in0 and2.15.in0 net a-button-plus input.0.btn-thumb2 or2.2.in1 and2.16.in0 net a-buttons-active or2.2.out or2.3.in0 or2.4.in1 net a-disable not.7.out and2.5.in1 net a-enable or2.4.in0 flipflop.3.out not.7.in mux2.4.sel net a-jog wcomp.2.in input.0.abs-z-position mux2.4.in1 net a-knob-active not.2.out and2.7.in1 net a-knob-inactive wcomp.2.out not.2.in and2.6.in1 net a-select and2.8.in0 and2.7.out net a-set flipflop.3.set and2.8.out net angular_motion or2.4.out mux2.0.sel net any-buttons-active mux4.0.sel0 or2.8.out net az-buttons-active or2.3.out or2.8.in1 or2.9.in0 net az-reset flipflop.2.reset and2.6.out flipflop.3.reset net button-crawl scale.4.out mux4.0.in3 net button-fast scale.2.out mux4.0.in1 scale.4.in net jog-crawl toggle.0.out mux4.0.sel1 net jog-speed halui.jog-speed mux4.0.out net knob-crawl mux4.0.in2 scale.3.out net knob-fast mux4.0.in0 scale.1.out scale.3.in net n_1 constant.10.out mux2.0.in0 net n_2 and2.0.in0 input.0.btn-top2 net n_3 and2.0.in1 input.0.btn-base net n_4 and2.0.out halui.abort net n_5 halui.mode.manual input.0.btn-base3 net n_6 wcomp.0.max wcomp.1.max wcomp.2.max wcomp.3.max constant.0.out net n_7 halui.program.resume input.0.btn-base4 net n_8 wcomp.0.min wcomp.1.min wcomp.2.min wcomp.3.min constant.1.out net n_9 mux2.0.in1 constant.11.out net n_10 constant.12.out scale.5.gain scale.6.gain net n_11 input.0.btn-base5 or2.0.in0 net n_12 input.0.btn-base6 or2.0.in1 net n_13 constant.9.out mux2.1.in0 mux2.2.in0 mux2.3.in0 mux2.4.in0 net n_14 mux2.1.out halui.jog.0.analog net n_15 toggle.0.in or2.0.out net n_16 constant.2.out scale.0.gain net n_17 constant.5.out scale.1.gain net n_18 constant.3.out scale.2.gain net n_19 constant.4.out scale.3.gain net n_20 scale.4.gain constant.6.out net n_21 halui.jog.1.analog mux2.2.out net n_22 mux2.2.in1 scale.5.out net n_23 scale.6.out mux2.3.in1 net n_24 constant.13.out halui.jog-deadband net n_25 wcomp.4.max constant.7.out wcomp.5.max net n_26 constant.8.out wcomp.4.min wcomp.5.min net n_27 mux2.3.out halui.jog.2.analog net n_28 halui.jog.3.analog mux2.4.out net n_29 timedelay.0.out and2.9.in1 and2.10.in1 and2.12.in1 and2.11.in1 and2.13.in1 and2.14.in1 and2.16.in1 and2.15.in1 net n_30 and2.9.out halui.jog.0.minus net n_31 or2.9.out timedelay.0.in net n_32 constant.14.out timedelay.0.on-delay net n_33 constant.15.out timedelay.0.off-delay net n_34 and2.10.out halui.jog.0.plus net n_35 and2.11.out halui.jog.1.minus net n_36 halui.jog.1.plus and2.12.out net n_37 and2.13.out halui.jog.2.minus net n_38 and2.14.out halui.jog.2.plus net n_39 and2.15.out halui.jog.3.minus net n_40 and2.16.out halui.jog.3.plus net vel-per-minute scale.0.out scale.1.in scale.2.in net vel-per-second mux2.0.out scale.0.in net x-buttons-active or2.7.in0 or2.5.out net x-disable not.4.out and2.4.in1 net x-enable not.4.in flipflop.0.out mux2.1.sel net x-hat-jog wcomp.4.in input.0.abs-hat0x-position net x-hat-minus wcomp.4.under or2.5.in1 and2.9.in0 net x-hat-plus or2.5.in0 wcomp.4.over and2.10.in0 net x-jog wcomp.0.in input.0.abs-x-position mux2.1.in1 net x-knob-active not.0.out and2.1.in0 net x-knob-inactive wcomp.0.out not.0.in and2.2.in0 and2.3.in0 net x-set and2.1.out flipflop.0.set net xy-buttons-active or2.7.out or2.8.in0 or2.9.in1 net xy-reset flipflop.0.reset and2.2.out flipflop.1.reset net y-buttons-active or2.6.out or2.7.in1 net y-disable not.5.out and2.1.in1 net y-enable flipflop.1.out not.5.in mux2.2.sel net y-hat-jog input.0.abs-hat0y-position wcomp.5.in net y-hat-minus wcomp.5.under or2.6.in1 and2.12.in0 net y-hat-plus or2.6.in0 wcomp.5.over and2.11.in0 net y-jog wcomp.1.in input.0.abs-y-position scale.5.in net y-knob-active not.1.out and2.3.in1 net y-knob-inactive not.1.in wcomp.1.out and2.2.in1 net y-select and2.4.in0 and2.3.out net y-set flipflop.1.set and2.4.out net z-button-minus input.0.btn-thumb or2.1.in0 and2.13.in0 net z-button-plus or2.1.in1 input.0.btn-top and2.14.in0 net z-buttons-active or2.1.out or2.3.in1 net z-disable not.6.out and2.8.in1 net z-enable not.6.in flipflop.2.out mux2.3.sel net z-jog wcomp.3.in input.0.abs-rz-position scale.6.in net z-knob-active not.3.out and2.5.in0 net z-knob-inactive not.3.in wcomp.3.out and2.7.in0 and2.6.in0 net z-set and2.5.out flipflop.2.set
# Generated by stepconf at Sat Aug 23 12:10:22 2008 # If you make changes to this file, they will be # overwritten when you run stepconf again loadrt trivkins loadrt [EMCMOT]EMCMOT base_period_nsec=[EMCMOT]BASE_PERIOD servo_period_nsec=[EMCMOT]SERVO_PERIOD traj_period_nsec=[EMCMOT]SERVO_PERIOD key=[EMCMOT]SHMEM_KEY num_joints=[TRAJ]AXES loadrt probe_parport loadrt hal_parport cfg=0xecd8 setp parport.0.reset-time 60000 loadrt stepgen step_type=0,0,0,0 loadrt pwmgen output_type=0 addf parport.0.read base-thread addf stepgen.make-pulses base-thread addf pwmgen.make-pulses base-thread addf parport.0.write base-thread addf parport.0.reset base-thread addf stepgen.capture-position servo-thread addf motion-command-handler servo-thread addf motion-controller servo-thread addf stepgen.update-freq servo-thread addf pwmgen.update servo-thread net spindle-cmd <= motion.spindle-speed-out => pwmgen.0.value net spindle-enable <= motion.spindle-on => pwmgen.0.enable net spindle-pwm <= pwmgen.0.pwm setp pwmgen.0.pwm-freq 100.0 setp pwmgen.0.scale 1166.66666667 setp pwmgen.0.offset 0.114285714286 setp pwmgen.0.dither-pwm true net spindle-cw <= motion.spindle-forward net estop-out => parport.0.pin-01-out net xdir => parport.0.pin-02-out net xstep => parport.0.pin-03-out setp parport.0.pin-03-out-reset 1 setp parport.0.pin-04-out-invert 1 net ydir => parport.0.pin-04-out net ystep => parport.0.pin-05-out setp parport.0.pin-05-out-reset 1 setp parport.0.pin-06-out-invert 1 net zdir => parport.0.pin-06-out net zstep => parport.0.pin-07-out setp parport.0.pin-07-out-reset 1 net adir => parport.0.pin-08-out net astep => parport.0.pin-09-out setp parport.0.pin-09-out-reset 1 net spindle-cw => parport.0.pin-14-out net spindle-pwm => parport.0.pin-16-out net xenable => parport.0.pin-17-out setp stepgen.0.position-scale [AXIS_0]SCALE setp stepgen.0.steplen 1 setp stepgen.0.stepspace 0 setp stepgen.0.dirhold 60000 setp stepgen.0.dirsetup 60000 setp stepgen.0.maxaccel [AXIS_0]STEPGEN_MAXACCEL net xpos-cmd axis.0.motor-pos-cmd => stepgen.0.position-cmd net xpos-fb stepgen.0.position-fb => axis.0.motor-pos-fb net xstep <= stepgen.0.step net xdir <= stepgen.0.dir net xenable axis.0.amp-enable-out => stepgen.0.enable setp stepgen.1.position-scale [AXIS_1]SCALE setp stepgen.1.steplen 1 setp stepgen.1.stepspace 0 setp stepgen.1.dirhold 60000 setp stepgen.1.dirsetup 60000 setp stepgen.1.maxaccel [AXIS_1]STEPGEN_MAXACCEL net ypos-cmd axis.1.motor-pos-cmd => stepgen.1.position-cmd net ypos-fb stepgen.1.position-fb => axis.1.motor-pos-fb net ystep <= stepgen.1.step net ydir <= stepgen.1.dir net yenable axis.1.amp-enable-out => stepgen.1.enable setp stepgen.2.position-scale [AXIS_2]SCALE setp stepgen.2.steplen 1 setp stepgen.2.stepspace 0 setp stepgen.2.dirhold 60000 setp stepgen.2.dirsetup 60000 setp stepgen.2.maxaccel [AXIS_2]STEPGEN_MAXACCEL net zpos-cmd axis.2.motor-pos-cmd => stepgen.2.position-cmd net zpos-fb stepgen.2.position-fb => axis.2.motor-pos-fb net zstep <= stepgen.2.step net zdir <= stepgen.2.dir net zenable axis.2.amp-enable-out => stepgen.2.enable setp stepgen.3.position-scale [AXIS_3]SCALE setp stepgen.3.steplen 1 setp stepgen.3.stepspace 0 setp stepgen.3.dirhold 60000 setp stepgen.3.dirsetup 60000 setp stepgen.3.maxaccel [AXIS_3]STEPGEN_MAXACCEL net apos-cmd axis.3.motor-pos-cmd => stepgen.3.position-cmd net apos-fb stepgen.3.position-fb => axis.3.motor-pos-fb net astep <= stepgen.3.step net adir <= stepgen.3.dir net aenable axis.3.amp-enable-out => stepgen.3.enable net estop-out <= iocontrol.0.user-enable-out net estop-out => iocontrol.0.emc-enable-in loadusr -W hal_manualtoolchange net tool-change iocontrol.0.tool-change => hal_manualtoolchange.change net tool-changed iocontrol.0.tool-changed <= hal_manualtoolchange.changed net tool-number iocontrol.0.tool-prep-number => hal_manualtoolchange.number net tool-prepare-loopback iocontrol.0.tool-prepare => iocontrol.0.tool-prepared
My shop assistant bears most of the hair in the household, so it seemed entirely appropriate that she clear the clog from the shower drain. She says she’s going to take a picture of the hairball and show her friends what her parents make her do…
I pointed out that plumbers are ecstatic when they get a call for this sort of problem and will charge maybe 150 bucks to make the clog Go Away. When she’s writing the check, she can make whatever choice she wants.
For now, this is how it gets done; the snake hangs on the garage wall.
While shoveling things off the workbench, I encountered a old wooden ruler with brass-colored metal edges, one of which had popped out of its groove. No wonder: the poor thing was bent into an arc the hard way. I have no idea how that happened, honest.
Anyhow, I figured I could fix it with the same technique I apply to straighten copper wire: grab one end in the bench vise, the other in a Vise-Grip, and whack the pliers with a hammer to stretch the wire a percent or two. So I did that and failed completely: the metal strip is actually copper / brass plating on steel.
But it was straight enough to tuck back into the groove, where friction seems to be holding it in place, and all is well.
(If I’d found it before I put a dot of epoxy into the sunglasses hinge, I’d have dabbed some dots along the groove and secured it in place forever. No such luck… the workbench is really buried this time.)
The Smell of Molten Projects in the Morning 