Member postings for Martin King 2

Hi All,

Just started to 3D print the PRUSA RC£ face masks to forward to the NHS, can manage 10 or so I hope, maybe more. Not much but I guess every little helps?

Cheers, Martin

Hi All,

A pal just sent me this, it may lighten things up a bit!

The English are feeling the pinch in relation to the recent virus threat and have therefore raised their threat level from “Miffed” to “Peeved.” Soon, though, the level may be raised yet again to “Irritated” or even “A Bit Cross.”

The English have not been “A Bit Cross” since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies nearly ran out.The virus has been re-categorized from “Tiresome” to “A Bloody Nuisance.” The last time the British issued a “Bloody Nuisance” warning level was in 1588, when threatened by the Spanish Armada.

The Scots have raised their threat level from “Pissed Off” to “Let's Get the Bastard.” They don't have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line of the British army for the last 300 years.

The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its alert level from “Run” to “Hide.” The only two higher levels in France are “Collaborate” and “Surrender.” The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.

Italy has increased the alert level from “Shout loudly and excitedly” to “Elaborate Military Posturing.” Two more levels remain: “Ineffective Combat Operations” and “Change Sides.”

The Germans have increased their alert state from “Disdainful Arrogance” to “Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs.” They also have two higher levels: “Invade a Neighbour” and “Lose.”

Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual; the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels.

The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.

Australia, meanwhile, has raised its alert level from “No worries” to “She'll be alright, Mate.” Two more escalation levels remain: “Crikey! I think we'll need to cancel the barbie this weekend!” and “The barbie is cancelled.” So far, no situation has ever warranted use of the final escalation level.

Cheers, Martin

Hi All,

Yes we get 54p per kWh. Plus 3p per unit based on 50% of each quarters reading for energy sent to the grid.

We are lucky to be in South Dorset and have an optimum incident angle and roof alignment for best "reception" of the incoming rays!

Our Fronius inverter works really well and has a removeable drive to allow monitoring of the statistics.

Cleaning never seems to be a problem.

The installation has a 10 year warranty for the panels, contract is 25years.

Now looking at a Tesla PowerWall now that the prices are coming down.

Cheers, Martin

Martin

Hi all,

We have had ours for a few years now and get the full index linked tariff, currently 54p.

Just had our worst of the year quarterly payment on a 4kW array, came to £250; best quarter was £825 this year.

The yearly average since we got it is approx £2400- £2700 pa which is great for an initial outlay of £11k and 25 year contract.

The actual savings in our electric bill are harder to compute as the energy cost have gone up quite a lot.

Real no brainer though!

Cheers, Martin

Neil,

I get what you say but still a GREAT extra earner for EB all the same.....

We always use recycled packaging as much as possible, all our neighbours and friends save stuff for us but we still spend approx £1500 pa on new packaging etc.

We have very good postage ratings for our stuff which is nice.

Martin

Hi All,

Not sure if everyone knows this:

EBay take 10% of ALL shipping charges from business sellers on ALL shipping, APART from the normal fees for a listing and sale.

Does not sound much? It does up when we spend over £17,000 annually on postage in our local post office!

Cheers, Martin

Many years ago I was standing on the dock at the Moorings Marina in Tortola BVI where a couple of local mechanics were working on a small Perkins diesel in a 43.foot sailboat. Suddenly the engine revs rose really quickly with lots of white smoke, Got to a point where it let go and the flywheel exited through the side of the boat about 3" above the water line, went under the dock and into the side of the 43 next door where it embedded itself on the waterline. Only the fact that the flywheel kind of plugged the hole saved the boat from sinking at the dock.

I have never seen two face so scared when the guys came out!

Martin

Hi All,

With all this crappy weather I spent some time indoors drawing this Dial Gauge holder in Fusion 360 and had a go at printing on the Ender Pro.

The first one was done using supports but they were not really needed as the second one without them came out OK in half the time. I had misaligned the fixing clamp hole in the drawing and also found out that the dial gauges I have are all different sizes and back lug positions. Came up with the idea of fixing them in place with hot melt glue which works a treat, if not exactly elegant!

Doing a second "universal" version without the clamp which should take any diameter gauge and lug configuration and drew it using parameters to make alteration easy.

Cheers, Martin

WOT Book please, cannot find it for some strange reason?

martin

Just bought this, looks useful!

Happy New Year Everyone!

Martin

Here is an original hard to find cast iron plane fence and the 3D print taken from its measurements:

Dimensions were all good within acceptable limits.

Cheers, Martin

Hi All,

I also treated myself to one of these just before Xmas and the initial setup was OK until testing time when the z axis was found to be binding.

Found an excellent YouTube source for a careful rebuild: The Edge of Tech

Then printed the dog which was perfect. Went on to do the top plate for a small tripod which was good but though holes a little undersized. Will post some pics after the new yea when we get back home.

Overall very impressed with the unit.

Happy New Year to ASll!

Martin

All the very best to everyone and my thanks to all on here who have helped me out this last year!

Martin

John F, I got a TROJAN alert on that link?

Martin

Hi All,

The plot thickens!

It would seem so far that there is no real impediment to getting previously owned hearing aids reprogrammed apart from any types that are moulded one offs inside the ear where there MIGHT be bacteriological contamination issues.

The aids that I have been given are by SIVANTOS and it would seem that private audiologists have access to the required programming software.

EXCEPT the version that SS uses is apparently "tweaked" to allow only SS to access it.....

Cannot imagine why they would do that can you....?

My investigations continue apace....

Martin

Neil, Many thanks for that, have left them a message to call me. Looks like just the job!

Martin

Clive,

It certainly sounds like "protectionism" at its worst!

A bit like my local Peugeot dealer charging £99 for every Sat Nav update. The service dept got really shirty when I told them to look at my purchase invoice from the Sales Dept for my 3 year old car and I had insisted that the next 4 updates were to be gratis just before I signed the invoice and paid for the car.

At the time the sales guy said "Surely you are not going to walk away from this car just for paying for sat nav upgrades" I said "Watch me going out the door for your answer!"

Another point on the hearing aids is if they were donated to a charity they would be reconditioned and reused so the "medical item" bit about NICE regs just does not hold water...

Cheers, Martin

John Haine, You have a PM

Martin

RichardN,

I suspect that the "rules" are very different for NHS supplied aids. My deceased friend originally had NHS aids and they went straight back to the suppliers (SS!) when he ordered the next ones

Clearly THERE IS a mechanism for refurbishing, reconditioning and reuse of these items. It just seems that there is a commercial imperative from the suppliers/manufacturers to not promote this for obvious reasons ie MONEY!

Cheers, Martin