Member postings for Michael Gilligan

John,

Thanks for responding:

I was looking at some of those sites last night ... the Panasonic document is particularly good.

The problem appears to be that equipment manufacturers make a special charger for almost every product [and they don't disclose the details].

A Thermistor is a temperature dependent resistor so [presumably] with four connected battery packs to charge; I could connect the |T| terminals in series, or parallel, or a mixture; or just rely upon one thermistor to monitor the four battery packs. And, of course, I don't know if eveyone uses the same values !

There is probably a design for a "universal" intelligent charger out there somewhere ... but I have yet to find it.

Thanks again

MichaelG.

I have just purchased some genuine Sharp Viewcam BT-L12 Battery Packs, at a very reasonable price.

3.6 Volts 3900 mAh ... and made in Japan!

I plan to use four of them in series, to produce a nominal 14.4 Volts, which will then be regulated down to 12 Volts.

So far, so good ... but I need some advice regards charging.

Each pack has three terminals | + | |T| | - |

I know that |T| connects to a thermistor, to protect against overheating when charging ... But ... what do I do with FOUR of these |T| connections ?

Grateful for any guidance from those that know how.

MichaelG.

Thanks Derry,

I will sit back and wait for the Geeks to do something amazing.

MichaelG.

Ady,

Thanks for that ... There are definintely some similarities.

Maybe the manufacturer of mine borrowed some design ideas from Bomey.

MichaelG.

Three weeks, and not a single response

Surely someone must recognise that headstock.

MichaelG.

O.K. "Cool Tool" suddenly gets very interesting.

Would this install and run on a Raspberry Pi ???

MichaelG.

First thoughts are here

GPIO looks the way to go

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 08/08/2012 08:15:40

One interesting point ... mentioned in the text under that You Tube Video

The availability of [very] long beds and cross-slides.

That's a significant advantage of using extrusions ... I wonder if they are available individually ?

MichaelG.

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The availability of [very] long beds and cross-slides.

With a nod to Michael Williams' comments on the Metalmaster thread ... obviously there would be terrific problems with alignment at those distances ... but it would be very useful raw material.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 08/08/2012 07:43:16

Here is Cool Tool website

and there is a promotional video on You Tube, dated 04-Dec-2007

[not for me, thanks]

MichaelG.

Alan,

Excellent points and, as I have remarked in other threads; your Stepperhead concept is superb.

What I should have mentioned in my last posting was Gordon Gekko's famous line:

"Greed is Good"

MichaelG.

Michael,

An excellent summary of multi-function machines in general.

Regarding your (3), I think the reason this concept keeps getting reinvented can be best identified as Greed.

The punters are greedy to get as much functionality as they can, in terms of (i) financial expenditure, and (ii) allocation of space. ... They want it to be possible.

The manufacturers are greedy to Sell a lot, whilst Providing only a little ... If I can persuade you that my multi-machine is three machines in one; then I can easily charge you for [say] two of them. <etc.>

MichaelG

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For those who may not have looked ...

Mr Urwick's Patent, although it uses the metalmaster as an example of implementation, really concerns the triangular gib key. This, as Michael indicates, is nothing very special in terms of its apparent function ... but the important thing [and the patentable invention] is the novel approach to obtaining alignment on a cylindrical shaft.

It is generally much easier and cheaper to make matching 'shafts and holes' circular in section; but then there is no positive alignment in rotation. Users of the small mill/drill machines will be familiar with the problem. ... hence my earlier comment in response to KWIL.

The patent offers a low-cost manufacturing solution ... the end result cannot be "better" than the equivalent square or triangular alignment mechanisms BUT; for a given level of accuracy it will be much cheaper to manufacture.

Be that as it may; the people who insist on building "mini Mills" with round columns could learn a thing or two from the designer !!

MichaelG.

I do like it when manufacturers put their Patent numbers on machines.

MichaelG.

I've just looked in an old "Newnes Engineer's Reference Book"

4 BA 1/16" 3/32"

3 BA 5/64" 1/8"

2BA 3/32" 5/32"

1BA 3/32" 5/32" .... That's interesting!

0BA 1/8" 3/16"

Smaller size is for set-screws

Larger size is for cap-screws

MichaelG.

Graeme,

I can't help with that dimension; but you might find some useful info here

... scroll down the page a little.

MichaelG.

Of course ... you might just find what you want here

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 05/08/2012 21:14:29

Andrew,

Predictably enough, there is a page about these, here

Looks a very useful piece of kit.

MichaelG.

Maybe more helpful, there is a link to the Manual, here

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 05/08/2012 09:52:43

Sorry for the duplication; Ady1 beat me to it.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 05/08/2012 09:54:05

I must congratulate Richard Gordon

His article is extremely well written and illustrated, and the design is truly ingeneous [which is, of course, the root of engineering].

Using readily available materials and basic hand tools, he has produced a machine capable of significantly better accuracy than the tools that made it.

I am unlikely to build this machine, because I already have a BCA Mk. III, but that's not the point: It is an interesting project, that makes us think ... i.e. exactly what MEW needs.

It would make an ideal project for Schools or Clubs, and may also be of interest to the "Appropriate Technology" folks who assist developing countries.

Thank you, Richard

MichaelG.

Ian S C

I found this, which gives the OED explanation of the origins of Snap Shot

... seems reasonable to me.

MichaelG.

Ian,

I'm not sure when the term "Snaps" came into use, but yes; many Brits talk of Holiday Snaps, and many professionals refer to themselves as Snappers [witty false modesty I presume]

MichaelG.

David,

Very fair comments ... I have a couple of 5x4 cameras myself ; a Crown Graphic which is like a Speed Graphic but without the focal-plane shutter, and an MPP monorail which is a heavy beast.

What you say about lens resolution was certainly true a few years ago, but some of the recent "digital" lenses by Schnieder have amazing specifications.

Of course the KI Monobar would be too flexible to do them justice ... it is really just a delightful little dinosaur. ... This Linhof is much more suitable, but way out of my price range

MichaelG.

Bob,

I don't know if you are aware, but there is an interesting page about Snaps, here

I have the greatest admiration for your wife's father and his fellows, and the quality of their work continues to amaze me.

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 04/08/2012 07:09:19