Best Apps and Software for the Workshop?

Hi Neil,

Izal medicated that brings back painful memories what about Bronco !

For android apps

electrodroid : useful electronic and electrical data handbook

ifixit : Helpful info on repair a whole range of items

torque: for car maintenance ODBII dongle required

Hugh

This 'Divider Wheel Generator' is very useful, for those impromptu dividing jobs.

**LINK**

There are many ways to skin that particular cat, but this one is very quick and easy.

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 18/05/2016 23:38:07

Izal medicated Luxury! When I were a lad we used British Bulldog 220 bog roll both to wipe our backsides and to rub down the paintwork on our cars. Obviously too many effete southerners on this thread (only joking chaps)

I'll come clean, I was hoping to publish a 'review' article covering useful resources for the workshop. there are some good ideas here, but it seems a bit incomplete to em. Perhaps we should expand this to include reference books (e.g. Tubal Cain's Handbook, Zeuss Tables, Machinery's Handbook) I'd exclude how to guide like the GHT books of Sparey on the lathe. Any suggestions that don't include cloacapapyrology?

Neil

I downloaded it but the install to the default C:\Programs folder failed due to insufficient authorisation. I then tried installing to my own folder, which seemed to work, but then Windows Defender removed it because it detected malware. At this point I gave up. I'm using Win10.

I use Convert all the time - it doesn't need installing, just runs from the .exe file. Sorry, don't know if there's an equivalent for non-Windows systems.

FSWizard has online and smartphone versions. The online version seems to be complete and free while the iOS / Android version has a limited selection (3?) of materials unless you cough up ($7). Calculates speeds and feeds for different materials, cutters and conditions. Looks pretty handy although I can't pretend to have any experience of it here in my armchair workshop.

There is also a related product called HSM Advisor that has a whole variety of tools from something like £50.

Edited By Muzzer on 19/05/2016 13:04:11

For those exploring the potential of their 'Dividing Head' ...

This 'Factor Calculator' is:

1. Very useful, and
2. Astonishingly fast

**LINK**

MichaelG.

Crikey.

cheers

Bill

Fusion 360. Brilliant, powerful, free for small businesses and individuals, and there are some good Youtube videos from users, particularly John Saunders at NYC CNC.

Given up trying to use an old laptop in the workshop - usually too much clutter to find space to put it down anywhere.

However, IMHO a couple of useful apps for the Android phone offered (via "Playstore":-

(1) "Toolbox" - contains a surprisingly useful collection of little apps including a heart-rate monitor for when you discover that cock-up after hours of machining some part

(2) "Thread Pitch" - initial expectations were low for this but once you've calibrated the phone's screen it's quite useful compared with fiddling around trying to find the thread pitch gauges. Have to watch you don't scratch the screen though.

The study of bog-roll, apparently.

Android App: Bubble Level by Antoine Vianey (free).

As well as the bubble it has an angle readout so I can use my phone as an angle gauge.

This is 'Gear Generator' is astonishing: **LINK**

MichaelG.

I can recommend the Guhring Optimising speed/feed calculator app for iOS (iPhone/ iPad). Saves a lot of mental calculation.

Mark.

Machinery's Handbook. Any age but lathe 60's on probably have a bit of an advantage. Not used all that often but hard to find anything remotely like a similar source on all sorts of subjects. Calculations on all sorts of things are well covered as well.

For Linux users Wine as there are lots of older applications about that are "engineering" related and they will often work under Wine. I'd suggest installing PlayOnLinux and maybe Q4Wine that might be Q5forWine now but give Swine a miss. PlayOnLinux installs lots of dll's easily - a big plus and worth trying to run anything under it.

Some of the Workshop Practice series are worth having. Some in my view aren't worth the paper they are printed on. They are probably generally better on specialised on the fringe subjects such as Plating, Foundry work etc.

Old engineering books found in 2nd hand bookshops can be worth a look.

John

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I agree with John on this - Machinery's Handbook is a mine of info. - but a bit eye watering new at around £ 80 !

However you are unlikely to need the latest edition and there are lots of offerings for older editions at reduced prices.

I bought a second hand copy of the 25th edition some years ago ( it looks to be unused so I suspect it is a "remainder" - once the new edition was issued) . It contains LOADS of info. - far beyond what I need. Answers to pretty much anything though and always available to while away a few hours !

Not a comfortable book to read in bed - but could serve as a doorstop in an emergency!

Norman

It is rather fun.

Not perfect though, the DXF is made of separate lines so I can't figure out how to make it into a 3D gear.

I have a 15 or 16th ed. of Machinery's old enough to have some interesting stuff on flywheels, leather belts etc. (can't check the edition as it's in the car as reading matter for when waiting for my daughter...)

Neil

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 14/06/2016 15:31:58

I'd guess that the new versions aren't so useful as the old - standards are worth money these days so if needed have to be bought. The original aim of Machinery's was one book with all that might be needed in it. The UK equiv was Kemps - waste of money.

An eg of the sort of thing where it might be more than just useful. My Pultra came with round belt drive. I've discounted it's use now but the info on rope drives in it was rather useful. When I had a Myford I toyed with the idea of making a clutch. At work I have needed to do stress calc's. Maybe at home at some point. There are loads of things in there that are still useful even in my fathers edition which goes back to the 40's.

John

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Edited By Ajohnw on 14/06/2016 16:03:24

... Interesting to see that a thread specifically about Apps & Software has already morphed into a discussion about real Books.

MichaelG.

Comment only ... Without Prejudice