I plan on releasing my flagship product, WallChanger, as open source. The applications all run on Windows, and I only use MacOS, so it might take a while for me to post the source somewhere and rebuild a “freeware” version. If someone wants to build it for me and remove the reg code stuff, let me know…I’ll send it to you.
Screen shots of my old website in QuickLook (boy, I designed that a *long* time ago):
Before “Blue Tree Software” I called “Blue Software” (even older! Cool main font):
Playing around with designs:
And while I’m at it, old screenshots of corbinstreehouse.com, designed when I was in high school back in 1995/1996:
The fruity rainbow design when I was learning Adobe Illustrator and playing with dynamic javascript stuff. Back in 1997/1998ish (and around for quite a few years):
“Imaginary Internet Websites” when I made web pages for people in college:
I recently moved my blog and website from one server to another (hopefully better, where I have less downtime, and no data loss!). My Pictures gallery is down, but let me know of anything that doesn’t work (comments work again!)
Every machinist needs a good vise stop. Here is mine, 100% completely made from raw steel, except for the bolts bolting it to the vise (which are too long — I need to buy new ones):
The knurled wheels use split collars to tighten the bolts down. The larger knurled ones work much better than the smaller ones (require less force to tighten the things down), and I may make some more larger ones.
So, how did this project come to finally being finished? I searched the net and found some great links on things people had done. I initially found A Vise Stop for the Kurt Vise on “CNC Cookbook” (excellent website!), which is based off of a post from CNC Zone. I decided to use the basic designs, but modify it slightly to avoid turning too many different sized rods, using the stock I had at hand, and also making it work for my Bridgeport vise. The Bridgeport vise has no tapped holes on the back, so I had to use some tapped holes on the top instead. I started up Sketchup and did some “quick” drawings. Feel free to download the file: Vise Stop and modify it, but here is a short picture of one of the two stops (they are different sizes):
I made split collars similar to how the guy on CNC Zone makes them, except I didn’t see a need to machine a small lip on them. Instead, I machined them to exact diameter and length, and then tapped it all the way through with 1/4-20 threads. I used a 1/4-20 brass thread that has nuts (and washers) on both sides. This held the split collar tight while I machined the half moon circle on it:
After I machined the circle in the collar, I split it by using the parting tool on the lathe and then drilled out one side’s threads (otherwise, it wouldn’t clamp tight!).
Overall, most the operations were simple, but it all taught me a lot: squaring up stock, machining it to size, drilling accurate holes, tapping, threading (with a die), knurling and turning between centers with a lathe dog.
Overall a great first “real” project (I have made other stuff, but mostly small things that I needed for other projects).
My 1990 Enco Milling machine was starting to get quite a bit of shake at certain speeds. It has a variable speed head, and one of my friends, Bevan, recommended against getting the vari-speed, since they are sometimes prone to having trouble. But, I really do love being able to dial in the speed with the turn of a small wheel, and even though it was a pain to do, I tuned up the head and now it runs smooth again.
I took the head apart, carefully labeling stuff on my bench:
The main problem was a bad v-belt. The old one somehow managed to twist backwards, and was getting all chewed up and tossed a bunch of dust into the head cover:
Yikers, look at that mess of a belt:
Some more details of what a milling machine head looks like:
I also had to take the quill and quill housing off to fix a broken bolt that rotates the head left/right (we broke it when we moved the thing into my shop). It wasn’t too hard to replace, but it was a pain getting the quill back on (the thing is heavy!). Ultimately, I set the quill on a board and raised the knee up to get it into place, while Louise pushed the bolts in (no pictures of the process, sorry!). Getting the motor back on top of the head was a pain! The motor is very heavy, and I couldn’t get the variable speed disc off the motor, so I had to work the variable speed belt around it, which took some muscling and luck.
I also cleaned up some loose wires I noticed, and once the thing was back together it started purring like a happy kitten.
I picked up a used MIG welder a few weeks ago. The thing is totally cool; MIG is the way to go (Bronson was right!).
I already used it to weld a few little things; a custom grinder stand, and a little piece of steel to a nut. These are things that would have been a pain to do with the oxy-acet torch.
