Jim – Milwaukee Makerspace

Wood Hold Down

Jim — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 14:16:14 +0000

I needed a way to keep some parts from moving around while I drilled and sanded them so I turned to Youtube and found this idea and copied it. I redrew the original plan with Cam Bam and CNC’d the parts.

Easy RTC Time Set

Jim — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 00:50:44 +0000

I made a few RTC / LCD clocks and disliked setting the time using an Epoch converter so I found a solution that uses 2 buttons to advance the Hours and Minutes. I substituted toggle switches for the buttons because I didn’t want to have to hold down the button while the Minutes were advancing, thus enabling me to move on to determining how long it is until Spring!.

Two Handle Tool Holder (THTH)

Jim — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 02:43:20 +0000

The two handle tools were too tough to handle so I made a different holder.

I cut, drilled, deburred and painted some conduit and screwed them to a board and mounted them on the pegboard.

Vacuum Forming

Jim — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 00:02:03 +0000

Due to repeated collisions with the ground, walls and every other structure in the area, my miniature Quadcopter required some plastic surgery. I contemplated using the large vacuum former at the space to make replacement bodies, but my quad is only 4 in. 101.6mm in length, so I decided to make a mini vacuum former.

My first step was to aquire a heating source, so I picked up a toaster oven for $6.00 US, at a local thrift shop.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/90705910@N06/8236346286/in/photostream

I used CamBam to design the frame to fit in the toaster oven.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/90705910@N06/8235277147/in/photostream

I used the CNC Router to cut the pieces.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/90705910@N06/8236347072/in/photostream

I assembled the base and inserted a piece of Non Glare Picture Glazing in the frame. The first time I tried it I set the oven at 400 f /5 minutes. The plastic was too pliable and turned out very brittle. The next attempt was using 300 f /3 minutes (using some thicker plastic I found in the scrap heap. That didn’t seem to be enough heat or time. The final attempt I used more of the Non Glare Picture Glazing at 350 f / 4 minutes, and that turned out to be perfect. [See image gallery at milwaukeemakerspace.org]