Member postings for An Other

Hi, Mark - apart from the shape of the block, the bits of my table look exactly like yours. I don't have the big cutout in the eccentric cylinder for the handle/worm grubscrew location - mine is just a shallow groove all the way round the cylinder.

I also got no instructions. (Suspect Chinglish would have been hard to follow anyway). When I reassembled mine, I gently turned the entire eccentric handle mounting cylinder (Don't know what else to call it), until I could feel that the worm was engaged with the table gear (turn the handle a bit), then adjusted it until I could fell no backlash in the handle or by trying to turn the table. I don't know if this is correct, but lack of instructions.... After I had used it for a while, I repeated this process, as it seemed to have 'bedded' in or settled down a bit.

I assume yours used to work before you dismantled it, so the handle should fit back in approximately the correct position because of the slot for the grubscrew, so you should only have to turn it a short way to get the correct position. Since I set it up like this, it has worked fine - no perceptible backlash.

I suspect the big slot is to allow some In/out adjustment as well as rotary adjustment, so a slot would be cheap and easy to machine. I can't adjust mine in the In/out direction: it must fit fully home so I can get the grubscrew to locate in its groove. Check the grubscrew is OK - threads and hexagon - be a shame to get it back together only to find later that the grubscrew is knackered.

If you find things are touching that shouldn't, try putting it together 'one piece at a time'. Fit the table without the handle, and ensure that it rotates freely. If that is OK, then push the handle into place, and ensure it all turns freely and smoothly before tightening the grubscrews and locking screws. I don't know if it correct, but I used some grease on the worm/table thread (didn't like the idea of it turning 'dry', and thin oil on other bearing surfaces. Maybe someone else some advice on this.

Sorry about the 'technical' terms - I can make it work, but I don't know what the bits are called, so I hope you can follow my description.

Edited By An Other on 30/03/2016 19:45:58

Russel Eberhart,

You are right, Russell - I actually meant that the machine did not use TTL. I have tucked away in a drawer somewhere 3 or 4 of the precursors to TTL Logic - They look like 74TTL, but about 20 times bigger. Each block contains a logic circuit built up from discrete components, then encapsulated. I think the ones I have are NAND gates (a SINGLE gate in each block, but I'm not sure, because the blocks are unmarked, I also have two of the very first transistors manufactured by Bell Labs after Shockley invented the things. They are top hat shaped, about 1cm diameter. (PNP)

Some of the kids nowadays don't know what computing is () - To get our 803 going, I once had to drive from Malvern to RAF Brize Norton to collect a set of batteries which where used to start the thing up - We later found out (from the markings on them), that the batteries had come from one of the first Concordes.

We eventually ended up with two 803s. We had a Welsh guy working with us (I won't identify him to save him and me some embarrassment). He played the bagpipes as a hobby, and wrote a 'playable' bridge program which ran on the 803 in 1Kx18bit memory (all our 803 had). Most of it was transcribed to 5-digit tape using a hand-punch. Hardly surprising that I think ALL modern software should be re-named Bloatware. I can sympathise with Mark C and his Mark 1 Hammer and Chisel. Surface Pro? Whats that? Sounds like something used by a plasterer. (Don't Flame me, I know what it is )

Anyone remember the Atari 260 and 512 computers (Motorola 68000), which used an early version of the original Windows spec.? (not the Gates rubbish).

Hi, Mark,

First, I have to apologise - after looking at my table, it looks as though it may be the same manufacturer, but slightly different design. The handle assembly and seating for the table seem to be identical, but the block looks slightly different.

In the side of the block, where the handle/worm is mounted (I think that is the side facing away from the camera in your bottom picture) is an M4 grub screw. This locates in a groove turned in the cylinder carrying the handle/worm.

The hole the cylinder fits into has a split on each side for about 2 cms, and an allen head screw fits to one side of the hole through the split. When it is tightened it clamps the cylinder in the block. I have to loosen the allen screw to slacken the clamping off, then remove the grub screw completely to be able to withdraw the cylinder/handle/worm. Just slackening the clamping screw allows the cylinder to be turned, and to set the worm/table gear engagement.

I'm sorry if I've misled you, but I guess that if it is the same manufacturer, then same or similar clamping arrangements will apply. In that case, is there a grub screw anywhere around the block close to the handle. One word of warning - my 'grubscrew' was more like a piece of soft metal with grooves in it, and it was difficult to tell it had a hexagon in its end. I replaced it with a better quality one - at least the thread in the hole was OK.

Hi Ajohnw,

This takes me back - been there, done that, got the t-shirt, as they say. At one point (1970-ish) I had to set up a Honeywell computer which had originally been designed to fit inside a tank for aiming the gun - we modified it so it could be used to control a fully steerable parabolic antenna to track satellites. It used a paper tape reader to load tracking data that fed the tape so quickly that it came out as confetti. Great fun if we forgot to make a backup tape. No integrated circuits in those days either - all the logic circuits were built up using transistors operating in non-saturated mode, so they would switch quickly enough. This meant they ran very hot, so the cooling unit for the computer was bigger than the computer. I never did find out how they got it all into a tank.

Just to put it all in perspective - some years later I used a homebuilt Sinclair ZX81 with modifications to do the same job. Them were the days!

Hi, Mark,

If your table is the same as mine, the handle and worm assembly is mounted in an eccentrically drilled cylinder. If the screw we are talking about is loose, then the cylinder can be turned to adjust the engagement of the worm and table gear. The hole the cylinder fits into is split, and allows the hex screw to slightly close the block and clamp the cylinder.

That raises the point that if the screw head has broken off, there should be no clamping, so the handle/worm/cylinder assembly should pull out. Mine was quite stiff, and took quite a pull to get it out.

If this is your case, you may then be able to get the bolt shank out of the hole without drilling it, if the cylinder is out of the way.

Sorry - need to sleep now, but I'll look at mine in the morning, and see if I can take a picture with it dismantled. I have to admit that I'm giving you advice from memory, so I will check to be sure.

Hi, Bandersnatch,

Linux fallback is similar to the Windows version. (at least Mint and Ubuntu). I suppose better is a relative word. I tend to keep separate backups of important stuff, and in worst case (as someone else said here) a complete new install of Linux is very fast, less than 20 minutes on my home machines). As someone noted, it doesn't help if you have a virus infection - fortunately (so far) rare in Linux.

Ajohnw:

A good summary of Linux. I had much the same experience as you, but after the abuse floating around I couldn't be bothered to reply to the individual in question.

In my case, like you, it was poor experience with Windows, so I originally began playing with the very early versions of Linux (paid for) such as Redhat and Suse. This happened because at that time I was working on a 3d Geo mapping system for use with point to multipoint radio systems (later developed into the backhaul systems for mobile phones). This software was based on a commercial product, which had been written in Unix. Using this software led to an interest in Linux development, and so on. I think the move into free distros and the Open system years ago was one of the best things to happen to software for general use. It certainly helps people who would not otherwise be able to afford overpriced software get into computing.

For the record, my first experience of 'programming' was in early 1964, on an Elliott 803 serial machine (core stores, 18 bit 'words' - the lot. The language used was what nowadays would be called machine code, and a (slightly) higher level level language called Autocode (input on 5-hole paper tape. Been programming as an engineer on and off ever since, on all sorts of mainframes and PC-type kit.

Sorry about going off-thread - just reminiscing.

SpeedyBuilder: - your input makes me wonder now what is happening with my 'disconnected meter - hope they can't alter readings online, because as you say, if the connection is via the power lines, my next step is to take an axe to them, while wearing rubber boots!

Edited By An Other on 29/03/2016 19:50:51

Michael beat me to it - maybe I should have said - i think these things are Chinese, and I've had problems with both the size of the hexagons (too loose for the correct key), or soft metal. Maybe I shouldn't admit it here; but I ended up finding an old key that was too big, grinding it to 'a close fit', then hammering it (gently!) into the screw.

That said, do as Michael suggests first. If the key isn't slipping in the hexagon, then it looks like a stripped thread. I'll take a look at mine in the morning and see if there is any other solution. (sorry - its very late evening here).

Hi, Mark,

Your table looks very similar to the one I have. Looking at your top photograph, there is a hole in the base just above the axis of the handle. On my table there is an allen-head screw in the hole, which retains the handle and worm drive. If I take it out completely, then the complete handle/wormdrive assembly pulls out of the block.

Anna 1,

Your post interested me - where I live, we already have 'smart' meters - no choice. I own some land, with a small house at one end which is unoccupied and somewhat decrepit. As I intend to demolish it when time permits, I asked the local electricity company (a monopoly) to disconnect it. After a lot of argument they finally disconnected it, as I later found out, 'internally'. That meant they disconnected the cables from the meter on the user side. I also got a certificate stating what the reading was at the time of disconnection. Now it is about one year later, and the meter reading (with nothing connected) is 6 kwH higher. It is possible to see that the cables are physically disconnected.

A complaint to the company resulted in a demand to pay for the power used, with a threat of disconnection if I didn't!. Guess what my reply was. I still don't know why this happened - maybe a 'feature' of smart meters? You are right to be cautious.

Ok, Russ - better things to do than talk to brick walls. Enjoy yourself.

Interesting, Vic - cost is probably a deterrent.

Some info about W10:

**LINK**

Ady1:

Windows has a handy feature if your computer starts to behave differently called "system restore"

(start/ all programs/ accessories/ system tools)

You can "go back" to a previous configuration and it's great for when any weirdness suddenly appears

Just like Linux!

This discussion about OSs all seems a little...unnecessary?. I like to use my computer(s) to do productive work, so far more important to me that I can run various applications on it - I don't really want to spend the short time I have free messing about trying to get the stupid tool working - after all, if a spanner won't fit the nut, I don't modify it, I go and get the right spanner - and the same with whatever OS I am using. That was why I dumped Windows. I do not deny the right of anyone to continue struggling with it if they wish.

Oh Dear, Russ B has got a problem. He makes a lot of adverse comments about Windows, then tells people it is the best, and insists:

(Quote Russ B) I'm green with envy at Linux users, because the software and CAD packages I use require me to have Windows. I'm not green when it comes to working out Linux system problems, it is an alien language to me, once it stops working, I'm lost and unable to help myself (Unquote)

So - you know nothing about Linux, but feel free to criticize? At least the Linux users on this thread appear to have used Windows, and rejected it because of its short-comings.

(Quote Russ B.) Also, there are other options in win10 that make your machine a host for updates to other machines, Microsoft have reduced their data hosting by making its users share updates with oneanother, so they just plant the seed and the update availability grows exponentially.

Again, you can disable all these options. (Unquote)

(Quote Russ B) So start here with regards to the major download offences: etc, etc (Unquote).

The Linux Users on this thread have pointed out that the steps necessary to make Windows work as required are simply not necessary with Linux, reducing the necessity for an inexperienced user having to mess about with the OS, and possibly cause more problems.

(Quote Russ B) My other half got a "windows" tablet for presentations and what a worthless piece of (expensive) junk that is. (Unquote)

So Windows is marvellous, eh? I guess you are welcome to your opinion, confused as it seems to be - try and remember that other people, possibly with more experience and knowledge than you, have expressed their opinions without abusing yours.

Edited By An Other on 29/03/2016 10:33:45

Linux Mint has (default) a PDF Reader called Evince - if you simply click a pdf file, it will normally open quickly in Evince - there is no need to waste time installing Foxit Reader. Adobe does NOT come with Mint, although I agree it is big cumbersome (and a security risk).

LibreOffice is also the default installation for Mint (using the Cinnamon desktop). OpenOffice disappeared long long ago. Note that Linux usually comes with a default list of Apps installed by default, so you get networking, browsing, office tools, music and graphic tools from the install - you don't have to buy them, unlike MS.

It is also possible to install almost any Linux distro as a dual-boot option to Windoze - you then get the option to boot either Linux or Windoze at startup.

Note you can also try most Linux distros to see if it would suit you by downloading onto a USB stick (most distro sites will tell you how to do this), then you can run Linux from the stick, without loading it onto your computer.

For those who insist on using Windoze, there is an app known as WINE for Linux which allows many Windows apps to run in Linux - it is NOT an emulator - it works by redirecting Windows calls to Linux. This means not all Windows apps will work. Personally, I find WINE fairly useless, but another alternative is to run a virtual machine under Linux, such as Oracle VirtualBox. This is available for free download for almost all OSs (Linux, Windows ,Apple, etc), and sets up a virtual machine under your OS. You can then install any other operating system (or even multiple OSs) in the VM, and it runs exactly as if it was installed on your machine, usually with the added advantage of access to the Hosts files if set up for that. I have been running Mint for years now, and still run XP in the virtual machine because I am stuck with some work-related software which does not run on Linux.

The best move I ever made was to dump Windoze - it is slow, cumbersome, far too bloated, too slow too update (ref this thread), too buggy, and prone to virus attack. (are there any good things about WIndows?).

I should note that some software/hardware producers apparently will not support Linux, despite its growing user base. I recently had trouble setting up an Acer netbook - the video drivers were not made openly available, so the Linux install had to drive the display in software rendering mode - a bit slow, but at least it worked.

Hi Ivy,

My Linux Mint 17.3 +Firefox 45.0 is fine. I assume you can get to other sites (to post on ME), so is the URL for Homeworkshop.org OK?

Seems to be a lot of remarks about people and personalities here, but very few postings addressing what is lacking in magazine content. I admit to stopping subscribing several years ago because I felt that most of the articles at the time seemed to take what I can only describe as a "professional approach". I don't mean this as an attack on the standards - but as a pensioner, I cannot afford to take the expensive approach to model making which many of the articles take. I tend to spend a lot of my time 'faffing about' to see what I can do with what I have available, or scrounging around to try and find something to do the job. This is not to say I don't enjoy it.

I think this is reflected in some of the articles in the older magazines. Many of LBSCs articles (for example), contain descriptions of making items which in which he clearly describes what could be called 'an alternative' way to do things. I am sure this was probably caused by the lack of certain materials and tools in his day, so he did whatever was necessary to achieve a result, but I would argue that for some of us the situation has not changed - I admire some of the models featured in the magazine, but will never be able to afford to buy the necessary tools and materials to build something like them.

I also happen to think that Health and Safety diktats contribute to the problem. I am not proposing we ditch H&S, but many things which I still do, and will continue to do, would never be approved by H&S. That is my risk - I do not insist anyone else should do the same. I have just read an article in an old ME about producing an air-driven spinning top rotating at over 200,000 rpm - interesting to me, but I can just imagine the furore if ME printed that today.

I can only aspire to do the best I can with what I have so one consequence was that since I could not afford them, I stopped buying a magazine that was increasingly expensive and contained less and less interesting material compared to earlier times (and I think that is a subject for another post as to the reasons.)

End result is that I now still lurk here occasionally, simply to keep in touch, but have no interest in the magazine. I just mess about doing what I can in my workshop. It would be good to be able to talk to people in a similar position, and discuss what we do, but that seems not to be possible.

Okay, Rant over - back to the shed.

Seems to me that the globe is made up of about 16 lengths of wire all the same shape, distributed around the sphere. Would it be possible to make a jig for one piece (probably take a bit of faffing to get the shape right), then just make as many as you need. Also probably need a jig to hold them in place for welding, but if you are going to turn the top and bottom finials, it shouldn't be hard to drill them to support the wire in the correct place using a divider in the lathe. Bending 4 or 5 mm wire by hand is not so hard. Agree with Bazyle - attach it to the fitting at the top so it can be dropped to fit the bulb - much better than the ugly equatorial break.

Another Linux Mint 17 supporter. I have used MInt for years now on a range of machines (one was an old 486).

Some points worth mentioning (I think) - Linux Mint takes a more 'traditional' menu-based approach as opposed to Ubuntu, so is more familar to ex-XP users than Ubuntu, which uses the 'dash-panel' type access to applications. This can take a little getting used to for ex WIndows users.

Both LinuxMint and Ubuntu come with a default selection of applications, such as the complete LibreOffice suite (closely resembles uSoft Office for users), media players (such as VLC), and a full range of accessories. Both OSs can be run (and installed) from a USB stick, so provide a useful check if your machine has compatibility problems before you actually carry out an install. (this may be an issue if you have an old machine which cannot be booted from USB or do not have a DVD drive - I believe the live download versions of both OSs is now just too big for a CD.

As well as Wine to run Windoze stuff, it is also possible to install Virtualbox, which will create a virtual machine under Linux, and allows you to install any other OS in the virtual machine. I have found Wine sometimes will not run some Windoze stuff. Virtualbox takes more space than Wine, but personally I find it much better in that so far I have never seen any issues with it. I run an old copy of XP, and Windows 7, because I have some old software which I still need to use.

Another useful application I use under Linux is Gambas - this is a free, Visual Basic like object-oriented programming language, which allows me to access the ports of the machine. I have written my own software to support a homebuilt EPROM and PIC programmer, at virtually zero cost - most Linux software is free under Open Source.

Edited By An Other on 27/01/2016 18:43:18

Another Firefox user + Adblock (on Linux). If (like me), you are annoyed about the intrusiveness of Google, you can switch off Google Analytics (on any site you visit - and Google Analytics is on hundreds of sites) - visit the following link:

**LINK**

There is also an alternative to Ghostery to stop tracking sites, as an add-on to Firefox, called Privacy Badger. (search Addons in Firefox)

I have a similar unit bought in Germany - they can be bought in any hardware shop there, and I have always found mine to be useful - very fine, hot needle-like flame. Biggest problem seems to be as already mentioned - I always take off the oxy bottle when not in use, because it seems to leak from around the regulator, so you end up with empty oxy bottles quickly - that leads to the second problem - I have three full, useless oxygen bottles, because the thread on the connectors are all different - they visually look almost identical, but don't fit (and they are expensive). Maybe I'll get round to making an adaptor one day....