Who is SMAC?

I occasionally spot the odd error that creeps into MEW articles but I control the pedant in me and refrain from commenting mainly because I don't think it would be fair on the author.

The article on page 55 of MEW 325 seems wrong on so many aspects but this time I don't feel guilty about commenting on it as the author is not identified.

Initially I presumed it was an advert for the product but if it was I would have expected to see the manufacturer or suppliers details as the end of the text.

If it was an article submitted by a contributor to MEW the authors name (and often a picture) usually appears on the first page of the article.

Whilst the MEW index has a sensible title for the article the text article text itself begins as if its about 'improvised tailstocks'. It not a big boo boo but I'm surprised it slipped through.

Whilst the author does give any more details than the supplier being called LINN Tools and being findable with an online search, its not going to help readers (especially non UK) who do not have internet access.

The pictures in the article look to have come out of the 'could do better' category in the current 'Workshop Photography' article currently running in MEW. They are very poorly lit and do not even show details that are 'illustrated in photo 3'.

If I was considering purchasing the LINN DRO (or any digital caliper type device) is whether the reading is retained if the caliper blanks the display, whether it is by manual or auto power off.

Am I being to critical?

Ian P

Linn Tools

Ebay shop, with a physical address shown on the "about" page.

Nigel B.

Possibly see above.

Robert Butler

The latest on on pocket mags is 323, am I missing a trick?

Typo in my heading. Its issue 325 of MEW

IanP

and anyone without internet access......

IanP

Hi Ian P, I had no trouble understanding the article, the statement which is made about many people improvising seems valid to me, as many have shown digital calipers that they have fitted to their tailstock. I've very often improvised by holding a steel rule in place. OK the photos won't win any prizes, but I could see what it was all about. Just because there are those that don't have the internet, doesn't mean it can't be shown or spoke about.

Regards Nick.

It just seemed a poor article to me.

The heading text on the article referred to people improvising tailstocks, rather than DRO's on tailstocks.

Not many people are without internet access these days but since MEW is read in other countries a pointer to the suppliers address and contact details would not be out of place. I found the seller on ebay but not everyone trusts, likes or wants to buy off auction sites. (I'm fine with it!)

Ian P

P.S. I still don't know what SMAC is

Phone call to mortons has sorted it, but the lady at the other end is convinced that MEW doesn't have a number on the front

and anyone without internet access......

...... in 2023 is at a definate disadvantage !

Nigel B.

A few contributors use a pen name for personal reasons, this can be for many reasons. Some are just very private people; others have a long history of using a pen-name and want to keep continuity; others are nervous about being criticised by their peers; and some are professionals publishing peer reviewed engineering papers and don't want to muddy the waters with less formal articles. Some prolific writers (in the past) use multiple pen-names to distinguish between different areas (e.g. ET Westbury who had a whole bagful). And all points in between.

I know who SMAC is, but as is customary I respect their wish for anonymity. That was an independent review and as such the editing was 'light touch' as I didn't want to change the author#'s perceptions.

The images weren't perfect. Our contributors are not all expert photographers, and that's why we are running a series on workshop photography in the hopes of helping people submit better images.

Neil

Can't see anything wrong with the heading, the summary just below probably could have done with saying"............inprovising a tailstock DRO." but clear enough to me that it was a review of a Tailstock DRO.

I think Linn only sell through e-bay and I found them easy enough with Google and that is international so should not be hard for others to find and buy or simply copy the idea if they have a 3D printer.

If the photos were not of a Myford I may have thought SMAC was Stub Mandrels Annon Cousin

SadoMasochisticArticleContributor

… perhaps

Beat me to it…..( sorry).

And then we wonder why Neil sometimes runs short of articles.

Neil, it is not immediately obvious from the article headline / intro that SMAC is a person vs a club or firm. Might have resulted in less confusion to say "model engineer SMAC from the <area locale>" or "hobby machinist SMAC" .

Doesn't matter at all to me who or what SMAC is, just saying I can see where some confusion may arise.

It's his sixth article (I think), although his first review. Let's hope this response doesn't put him off writing any more, eh?

Neil

typo

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 23/02/2023 14:30:15