Hundred and two. The heat hits like a wall and the humidity is there to finish the job. It is the price we paid coming home to Texas. In NH, it was the ice/snow and freezing for the winter months.
Up at 4 AM, breakfast at 06:00 and outside chores were done by 08:00. We do not complain this season as summer has been mild by historic measurements. Most folks who make a weather comment during the day in passing acknowledge that it has been a mild summer. But August into September is summer at its peak.
--------------
I have entered into re-learning all that I have forgotten in the past 15 years regarding computer-generated drawings. I taught Autodesk Inventor and thoroughly enjoyed the learning and building objects using computer programs. In the mid 2000s, this technology was well integrated into the high school curriculum with 3D printing/prototyping in its infancy. We had demonstrations brought into the classroom so students could see the next step in computer design. To "print" an object representative of a student design and be able to hold it in our hands was a marvel. Today, it is commonplace for high schools offering robotics as a norm. Design in the computer, print parts and pieces that fit together with movement around three axis. Single ideas developed into working models.
I have shared a few posts of a hobby of designing and building self-sailing pond yachts. A sport developed in the late 1800s with all parts and pieces made by hand, I have enjoyed the historical aspect and the associated work in my small shop. Why not bring today's technology into this hobby experience? But first I need/needed to re-learn all that I have forgotten inside computer design and drawing. Just maybe adding a small 3d printer to bring all of this full circle.
My first pond yacht build sits on my desk collecting dust and urging me on to the next model.
A few parts and pieces have been designed as a part of my new learning curve. Every day a new small problem solved with seemingly a million miles of learning yet to travel.
Second drawing of Braine Steering Quadrant completed. Maybe a 3D print next week. I am still not happy with a final design.
Not many folks will recognize this set of tools. This is what I used to learn how to make engineering drawings in Jr. College, 1964/65. The old mechanical pencil, lead, dividers and an the ink pen that was the last step in completing any working engineering drawing.
Every line, dimension and all lettering was overwritten using that pen. One mistake with blotchy ink rendered the drawing "broken" and was every draftsman's worse nightmare. The whole drawing had to be tossed away and started over. No pressure there!!
Today I make mistake after mistake as I re-learn computer design drawing. I push escape, right click delete or highlight a large area and remove it all with the push of a button. I double click the dimension to change it and can populate all the dimensions of a large drawing so that every aspect of the design adapts correctly to a single dimension change.
I push a button to complete a working fully dimensioned paper drawing. I can send the drawing over the net to anyone anywhere. And like the copies in the photo above, someone somewhere else can make my designed parts and mail them to me. And for the most part in today's world, this is just child's play compared to the advances in this industry.
Even better, I can purchase a printer that will build these parts for me on a near by desk. I am sure you will see all of this develop over the months ahead. Bumping 80, the mind is still alive and working. No memory, but the mind in the moment seems to be fine.
Did I mention that I am bumping 80 and the mind still seems to be working?
"Make me a sammich? Just hit enter." I am sure my day will come soon, when I drive in to pick up a robotic made sandwich. I will have to do it just to say that I did. Why not?
------------
Slow and quiet days here. Simple gifts. Thanks for the visit.
No comments:
Post a Comment