Member postings for Nick Clarke 3

But don't all products have a design life? - certainly it is foolish for business to expect people to be able to buy a product once and never again isn't it? A 2003 vintage Toshiba laptop upstairs now is not used because it cannot have its memory expanded more than its current 512Mb (it came with 128Mb) and the operating system, Windows XP needs more that 512Mb to run well. It was not booby trapped or anything, only designed to run the day it was made and with what expansions and update that could be predicted for X years - I suspect X was about 6. It had built in obsolescence after that time, presumably because to allow infinite expandability and upgradability would make it too expensive and complex for the market - and Toshiba would not be able to sell a new laptop as well.

Looking at just two of the things you suggest - I manage a number of printers - some have timers in consumables that will only allow a certain number of pages to be printed - built in obsolescence. Others start to print badly - you shake the toner cartridge and print a second copy OK. The first has built in obsolescence, but all the copies it prints are good while the second is a hassle and wastes time and paper. The other example that makes me think is a car without rust protection. I had to drive a Moskvich pickup in the 1970s that had cost the small firm £431 new. It rusted away while you watched, but a more expensive vehicle could not have been afforded by the company. Planned obsolescence or an engineering solution to 'How do you provide a vehicle to transport fridges at next to no cost?'

I think one problem is that in the past many products were ridiculously over engineered and our expectations have risen to suit. My hundred year old project Drummond round bed lathe is an example. The Chinese mini lathe on the bench won't last that long, but I don't think it should, and I certainly couldn't have afforded it if it had been designed to do so.

Edited By Nick Clarke 3 on 04/01/2019 17:36:47

Its not just planned obsolescence - the life of many things is far shorter that we would like them to be - only cars made after 1992 HAD to be able to run on unleaded fuel and leaded was banned in 2000 (and LRP which never really became reliably available in 2003) so an 8 year old car might not have any fuel in 2000. What about analogue TV? What about Analogue mobile phones? all of these were not a lifetime buy but became unusable after only a few years.

I suppose we expect things like a computer system to last forever - and they basically will provided that nothing within the system changes.

Unfortunately new software versions, supplies and consumables, cables, peripherals and anything like the internet form part of a computer system, and these all change so unless you stay completely isolated adding nothing and needing nothing so must we all too.

Planned obsolescence is a fact of life in the computer world - look at this link (down the page) and you will see the planned dates for different versions of a Linux distribution stretching forwards to 2028 at present.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_version_history

The latest version, still in development is only planned to last until the end of 2020.

This is at least honest and up front - I am certain that a similar timeline exists for every operating system, only Linux (Ubuntu) seem to be able to tell you about it up though.

Talk to your club's boiler inspector - not only will they be experienced but also they are the one who will have to certify your completed boiler for insurance purposes.

In general most of LBSCs boiler designs can be certified with little modification, if any - However the contruction methods he suggested (eg the use of brazing alloys such as SifBronze or Silbralloy and the use of soft solder to caulk stays) in the magazine instructions are far more likely to need changing to meet todays boiler code. But it is your boiler inspector who is the guy to talk to.

If you are not yet in a club join one. It is worth it!

Edited By Nick Clarke 3 on 04/01/2019 08:26:22

While the first two are familiar I have not heard of the third. Taking the others as examples what, for heavens sake is a mickey?????

Don't answer please!

Hi Michael -

The point I was thinking about was that while an electric window works as you suggest a vice would surely need to stop at a threshold load but NOT retract slightly or it would not grip.

Dunno - Just thinking aloud online.

Take care

Nick

Edited By Nick Clarke 3 on 02/01/2019 20:51:03

Edited By Nick Clarke 3 on 02/01/2019 20:55:27

Stuart Turner perhaps?

May not be quite the same as an electric window needs to stop at any resistance greater than the friction of the channels it slides up but an electric vice would need to stop at a predetermined pressure, but greater than nominal, to hold something tightly.

There is Moderator Neil's article on MEW 204 that I have found very useful (Thanks Neil)

It is available here:

http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/reviews/MEW204-P31_P36-Thread-Cutting.pdf

If that is the only damage, at that price it is a repairable lathe - working round beds are up for between £200 (OK) and £500 (silly)

So you could probably more than make your money on a spares/repair one. The change wheels seem to go on eBay for between £5 and £12 unless unusual (eg metric conversion)

Important reminder - The pins that link wheels together on a Drummond are tapered and while they will drive or press out, trying to do it from the wrong side the taper will split the gear in two!

Edited By Nick Clarke 3 on 02/01/2019 13:49:33

Happy New Year to everyone - I would also like to be more productive this year but at present distracted by the sound of pigs flying by and the crackling noise of ice as Hell freezes over.

Ah well I can try.

While the metric system has now taken over here in the US imperial still rules (can I say that after the trouble George III had with our American colonies? - who knows )

But in my opinion the biggest innovation is not the change of units, but rather the unification of all units into one system - so we no longer have fluid ounces, pipkins, gills, tuns, hogsheads pints etc, but just litres and multiples thereof. Similarly it is grams etc not drachms, troyounce, ounces, pounds quarters, tons, long tons etc

Not so long ago (even in my parents time) every trade or profession had its own favourite units of which few now remain - points for type perhaps, although that is often wrongly applied and carats for gemstones spring to mind.

Edited By Nick Clarke 3 on 31/12/2018 19:40:13

If you go to lathes.co.uk you will see information on many machines, but look at the page on Rolls Royce precision lathes.

I think you may find it to your taste!

In the day job I buy and use 50 or so memory sticks every year, most of them Kingston, but I have never heard of any issues with Integral as has already been suggested - PROVIDED they are genuine!

The only fake stick I have ever had time to investigate was marked up as Sony (it wasn't). I bought it very cheaply to see what had been done to it. The controller chip had been re programmed to tell the host it was 64Gb but there was only 1Gb of memory present. It worked perfectly with small amounts of data but as soon as the chip was full everything became corrupted and the stick could not be used or reformatted.

Very small capacity sticks are now relatively expensive but I would not recommend the largest ones as solid state memory has a limited life and I have seen sticks 'wear out' as the directory or equivalent gets constantly rewritten. I suggest 8-32GB is the size to go for at present where the cost/capacity balance is about right and if a stick fails you do not lose everything in one go. But even so please back it up often.

One final thing, if you hold personal data (eg address book, club membership info or similar) Data Protection legislation requires you to keep this secure and a hardware encrypted memory stick, though expensive, is a good way to do this.

Oh and finally, finally, if you are using a stick away from 'home' remember to take it with you. I often fit cheap keyrings or tags from the stationers to them to make them more visible.

Edited By Nick Clarke 3 on 31/12/2018 11:18:53

Phones and ipads etc are inherently difficult to hold steady IMHO

If you are using a camera monopods are a good idea as is also a length of cord with a fitting for the tripod bush on the camera on one end and loop for your toes at the other. Tension the string and the camera is suddenly a lot steadier. (Works best when the camera has a central tripod bush)

Began the day by picking up off the floor and sorting a box of nearly 500 stainless washers and another of about 200 20mm glass fuses.

Had to pile everything up on one end of the workbench in a heap to clear space to temporarily move a tumble dryer and install a new washing machine after removing the dead one.

Laundry reorganisation done and I retire to kitchen for cup of tea when I hear a crash. Cat has decided this is new I must climb on top to investigate - so I am picking up off the floor and sorting a box of nearly 500 stainless washers etc etc… See above

Edited By Nick Clarke 3 on 30/12/2018 10:01:34

Edited By Nick Clarke 3 on 30/12/2018 10:04:45

Jason - While it doesn't affect your argument I can't get your figures to add up to your second total??

Edited By Nick Clarke 3 on 30/12/2018 09:53:48

I collect old cameras and lemon juice or citric acid applies with a cotton bud is what I use after having seen it recommended on camera collecting forums elsewhere.

Meths and WD40 will both leave a deposit and the latter is frowned upon by camera repairers. Switch cleaner may be ok if it is designed to leave nothing, however some contain lubricants to keep the contacts clean. This can migrate inside the camera. Personally after the citric acid I always spray it onto a cotton bud or use petrol lighter fuel instead. This will normally clean the contacts of chemical, however if there is corrosion or rust this can be removed by gentle application of a glass fibre pencil.

Sometimes you may need to bring a contact up to size and here a small section of the metal covering the cork of a prosecco or cava bottle can work - I haven't tried it with champagne as with model engineering and camera collecting as hobbies I can't afford the good stuff!

Edited By Nick Clarke 3 on 28/12/2018 19:37:01

Just had a blinding flash of inspiration!!!

What about other things than Junior hacksaw blades that might fit this frame? - like Abrafiles!

Look at this (ended) listing on eBay:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Abrafile-End-Clips-9-Blades-/202523976174

Abrafiles are 9" long and need special clips to fit a 10" hacksaw frame!

The things some companies do to keep business to themselves.

Predictions for the next 50 years???

Domestic laser cutting - we already have the CNC routers so it is only the cutter we need

A process combining metal spraying with 3D printing to enable metal products to be printed - will be essential if small scale castings become unavailable