Member postings for Sam Stones

Thanks Nick, you've made an old man happy.

By the way, I tried to balance the pairs for colour and contrast in Photoshop (CS3), but got myself hopelessly lost.

"Could try better!" comes to mind.

Cheers,

Sam

Hi Nick,

Sorry if I appeared picky, I didn't mean to be.

I certainly look forward to your next steps with identical cameras and lenses.

Then after that ... dare I say ... synchronised shutters?

Your a man after my own heart.

Cheers,

Sam

Back again Nick.

This was the (L to R) switch I did. Hope you don't mind my leaping in here.

Sam

Hi Nick,

A great idea and setup.

Just one problem. As a 'cross-eye' viewer, and unless my eyes deceive me, both pairs are identical.

I switched the lower pair (L to R) in Photoshop and (for me) they looked 3D.

I could be wrong.

Sam

Not so much Imperial versus Metric …

My guess is that this (five to ten-minute), well-circulated story of horses and asses might already have appeared in the ME forum …

**LINK**

Sam

After a ‘once through’ of the video with clever graphics including whirlpools/plugholes and Scott Manley’s description, I can (sort of) get a sense of the dynamics. (Must try harder.)

However, I struggled far less with the slingshot effect used to accelerate space probes on their way out of the solar region.

I’ll more than likely run through it again if it continues to peeve me.

Euler should get more credit. I only knew of him from his ‘Columns or Struts’ formula.

Thanks for your input MichaelG and Mike, and apologies Alan Charleston for dipping into your thread.

Sam

As usual, ‘many thanks’ for your superlative guidance Michael.

At first glance, I thought “Whoa!" Too much information, I'll need a clear head to get through this"

I'll let you know how I go.

Cheers

Sam

Good one Mike

Sam

That I understand Mike.

What is holding JWST in its own (perpendicular) orbit around L2?

Some sort of whirlpool or plug-hole effect perhaps?

Thanks for your quick response.

Sam

The telescope is in an orbit around L2 (Lagrange 2).

The orbit is some 1.46 million km from earth on the side of the earth away from the sun, but not in earth’s shadow.

The axis of the orbit is perpendicular to the earth’s surface.

Having tried but failed to understand what forces keep the scope in orbit (besides occasional adjustments), I’d be pleased if someone could provide a clear explanation or an Internet link.

Sam

Maybe old hat Colin, but is thin lead sheet still used to surround the noise source?

WH - Although one click spring is like another, it will be clear that I'm talking about my John Stevens' skeleton clock and not Mr Wilding's 8-day.

Irrespective, I had several types of brass, e.g. round and flat bar, thin sheet, and for the frames CZ120. However, I'm not sure which brass I used.

At a guess I probably commenced with an off-cut of CZ120 although the drawing shows a thickness of 3/32 inch (2.4 mm). Although not obvious in this photo, the drawing also shows the spring as a lightly tapered section to be curved (bent) later. I now have a feeling that CZ120 was not the grade after all, but a somewhat softer (leaded) grade.

Did I anneal before bending it?

I can't remember.

Sam

PS - Get a load of those non-descript great wheel tooth profiles; neither involute or cycloidal but a beginner's choice.

It worked and has done for years.

Edited By Sam Stones on 24/11/2021 02:45:50

Adding to the above, this was a paragraph I wrote when I described building John Stevens' skeleton clock. (refer Model Engineer #4526 - Jan/Feb 2016)

To transfer the power from the barrel to the fusee I had used braided plastic fishing line. The (yellow) fishing line was rated as having a breaking strength of 80 lb. My fairly rough measurements had suggested that the main spring was exerting a tension in the line equivalent to a weight of about 10 kg (22 lb). There was plenty of strength to spare, or so I thought.

I trust this helps.

Sam

This happened to the 80lb fishing line I was goaded into using. Only our dog was there at the time it broke, but I imagine from a near full wind, it must have got off with quite a din.

BTW, from my background in plastics, I should have known it could happen (creep before failure).

Here's the result of a three-year stretch -

I replaced it with steel, generously supplied by a local antique clock repairer east of Melbourne.

PS - I wasn't the only one that got the winding direction wrong. It turned out to be how the barrel arbor had been drawn, and my lack of knowledge.

The knots on the ends are a mess, and will stay that way.

Sam

Bob,

I sent you a message regarding the British Museum and their use of Renaissance Wax.

Cheers,

Sam

Rob, I have been tempted to regurgitate an eleven-year-old thread I opened back in November of 2010. I called it ‘Over the counter’.

It wasn’t about 12" hacksaw blades but primarily, the 6" (150mm) type known as 'Junior' hacksaw blades. I bought the blades at one of the major hardware stores known throughout in Australia.

You can, if you wish find the thread here - **LINK**

Unfortunately, the images did not appear and my initial post was largely incoherent. Not until August 2017 when (for some odd reason), the thread was revived did I discover that the photo (this one)

was missing.

For convenience, here’s the second (2017) page of the thread - **LINK**

Buyer beware!

Cheers,

Sam

PS I can't remember the original Latin expression, but someone will

Edited By Sam Stones on 16/11/2021 21:08:03

David,

I used this method as nominated by Mr John Stevens in his skeleton-clock article. It was a breeze.

Just take it steady

Pardon the pun

Thanks for your input and link djswain1.

Thanks Clive for making me think.

I now admit to having egg on my face as to their correct function.

It seems likely that what I observed with a high degree of ignorance, was either complete misuse or ‘clever’ re-purposing.

With some relief Tim, you might have got me off the hook!

Keep safe,

Sam

Edited By Sam Stones on 05/11/2021 19:09:12

Another for your further amusement from the program 'My Word', was when either Frank or Dennis offered this gem -

"La Donna è Mobile" … "The Bird Rides a Motorbike."

Derek,

Sorry to be labouring the point but ...

I’ve no idea what they are called or their prime/original use. However, they were (perhaps are with the right name) available in a range of diameters and lengths.

Between experimental trials, technicians in our plastics laboratory used them for cleaning out extruder barrels. They would insert steel wool and other slightly less abrasive materials than emery cloth.

Perhaps they were originally designed for gun barrel cleaning as Bob suggested. I'd be concerned about altering the bore size.

An alternative practice I've used before (nothing new here) was to saw down the length of a rod into which the end of a strip of emery could be inserted. Same principle, less complex.

Sam