Making Art Every Week in 2021

December 31, 2021 in Artwork

In 2021, I created and shared some type of art every week. I learned a lot about making vector art with an iPad but now I’m ready to change it up for 2022.

Making Art Every Week in 2020

December 31, 2020 in Artwork

In 2020, I created and shared some type of art every week. I learned a lot about myself, what I enjoy, and how to improve my process for the future.

Critical items for organizing a shared shop space

October 15, 2019 in Infrastructure, Prototyping

Running a shared prototyping space is challenging. Aside from the major tools, there is some supporting equipment and infrastructure that you should really have. They’ll make your life in the shop more organized and safe.

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Making the CNC Mill Enclosure, Part 1

January 16, 2018 in CNC, Prototyping, Infrastructure

The 26,000 RPM spindle in my Othermill Pro can make a lot of noise when a tool is cutting. Even with the 1/8" diameter tools, milling a small metal part can still take awhile, so I began thinking about a way to dampen the sound of the machine. Enter the CNC Mill Enclosure, which was milled out of a 4x8 sheet of plywood on a ShopBot CNC router. It includes an isolated cabinet for the mill, areas for stock bins, and some generic storage.

Looking back at the first Maker Faire in Atlanta

October 20, 2017 in Events

I started the Atlanta Mini Maker Faire back in 2011 and am so proud to see that it’s still going strong. The annual event is going into its seventh year, is still free to attend, and is happening this coming weekend. Let's look back at how far it's come since the first event, which took place in a parking lot at Georgia Tech.

The Whitworth Three Plates Method

July 30, 2017 in Science, Manufacturing

A key contribution to precision machine tools was the understanding of the importance of flatness, and the now-common surface plate acted as a great stepping stone towards greater precision. The neat thing about surface plates is that they do not require precision tools to create...

Making the Ranger Tab

March 10, 2017 in CNC

I made a replica Ranger Tab as a birthday present for my Dad, who was a US Army Ranger. The letters are hardwood, a little under a 1/4" thick, and were milled on my Othermill. The outline and back pieces were too large to fit in the mill, so I had those lasercut out of birch plywood.

1 Week of MIG Welding

January 22, 2017 in Prototyping

Recently, I had the opportunity to spend almost a whole week MIG welding. Before this, I'd never spent more than an hour or so with a MIG machine, so it was fun to see my progress throughout the week.

BOINC: Software for Volunteer Computing

November 30, 2016 in Research

Do you have a computer that sits idle for some portion of the day, unused and unloved? Well, I did, and recently started putting it to work while I'm away or asleep. BOINC is an open-source software project that allows anyone in the world to utilize the idle time on their own computer to contribute to scientific research.

Making a Quick-Change Bed for the Othermill

August 22, 2016 in CNC

I've recently found myself lazily leaving the Othermill's Spoilboard in place and using tape for milling thick material, instead of switching to the more-rigid Precision Fixturing Set. So I set out to make the transition between the two fixturing methods quicker.

Resin Casting: Part 1

August 07, 2016 in Casting

I've recently started resin casting a few parts, after wanting to try it for awhile. It's clear that finding good equipment and developing a repeatable, refined process are key. I've learned a lot already and I'm looking forward to more.

BMW i3 Factory Tour Highlights

July 15, 2016 in Manufacturing

This BMW i3 Factory Tour is pretty incredible. It's full of glorious automation and a few tools I never thought I'd see in a factory setting. It is long, though, so I made a list of highlights.

Microscope Zoom Mechanism

June 06, 2016 in Teardowns

Overall, the microscope we use at work is fantastic, although photographing what you see through the eyepieces is extremely challenging without an attached camera. Removing the main viewing assembly was the best way to decide if we could build an adapter ourselves, but it also revealed these glorious barrel cams.

Microsoft Arc Mouse Teardown

May 26, 2016 in Teardowns

The Arc Mouse from Microsoft is an affordable, battery-powered mouse that folds up for portability. Unfortunately, I recently lost the little USB dongle that came with mine, rendering it useless. I've seen the inside of a mouse before, but was intrigued by the fact that you can turn this one off just by folding it, so I took it apart to find out how it works.

Dial Test Indicator Teardown

May 12, 2016 in Teardowns

We use Test Indicators all the time at Other Machine Co; whether it's during incoming part inspection or during final QA, they get a lot of use. Unfortunately, we recently had a casualty, and I was able to bring it home and tear it down.

Handlebar Plugs Build

January 18, 2016 in Cycling, CNC

I wanted to push the limits of the Othermill by making custom handlebar plugs for my commuter bike. I couldn't think of a great way to make this in only two milling operations, so it required three separate fixturing areas - one for each Op.

Welcome

January 16, 2016

Hello! Here on the blog I'll post periodic updates to share a thing that I'm working on. I will also post more in-depth coverage of a project, if it's exciting enough. Possible topics include machining, CNC, 3d design, bicycles, juggling, and outdoor activities.