2293 Handbuilt Crystal Generator With Instant Gears

Introduction Animation provided by Mateusz Baran
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[@K9JT]

This is why you're the most underrated DIY creator on KZbin. You just acquired a fancy new tool and instead of focusing only on new content with it, you still make content for people who can't and probably won't ever own one of those tools. Every video from you is always a nugget, never change your core Rob, thank you.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

oh wow - cheers mate

[@brookestephen]

i am so sorry for your loss, mate. Finally noticed the picture behind you!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

thank you mate - it was 6 months ago she passed and with her there i feel she is always watching over my shoulder

[@Roguescienceguy]

I noticed it a while back. She would be so proud of him picking himself up like this. It's amazing

[@unicornadrian1358]

An old sensei of mine would often say, " There are many paths to the top of the mountain, but you always see the same moon when you get there. Enjoy the journey." Thanks for another great video, Rob!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

oh i like that mate - i am going to use it future if that's ok

[@unicornadrian1358]

@@ThinkingandTinkering Go for it mate. 😊

[@shadetreemechanicracing22]

For inexperienced people, always clamp the work piece down on the drill press. That hole saw can grab the work piece and slice you open.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

oh good point mate - thanks for making it - sometime you do things so often you don't think about stuff you should mention - so i really do appreciate this post - cheers

[@TomFarrell-p9z]

Yes! Plastic and large drill bits in a drill press (pillar drill) require respect. I learned that the hard way a few years ago!

[@undernetjack]

Corin Half-Hand approves this message...

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

@@undernetjack lol - oddly enough i am rewatching the game of thrones right now!

[@industrialmonk]

I love watching you make things almost as much as making things myself. I have just made a bottom block & cylinder side plate+ skids for my ransoms vergecutter 76 using solar power welding up to 10 mm steel plate. It's just so satisfying repairing or making things.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

I agree making stuff is awesome

[@paulrunell7821]

The joy of tinkering

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

absolutely mate

[@andrewalexander4024]

Thanks Robert for your patience

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@William_Hada]

Nice build Rob ! Possibly one way to prevent acrylic melting when being drilled is to use a technique that is used in drilling holes in glass. Build a dam around the area with modeling clay and fill it with water. This would keep it cool, lubricate, and help clear chips away.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

nice one mate - cheers

[@brucefulcher953]

Your enthusiasm relating to your builds is absolutely inspiring. Further, your ability to make the what would be deemed difficult, simple, is second to none. Thank you. Thank you Thank you.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

wow - thank you mate for taking the time to say that - it's awesome to hear - cheers

[@douglascalhoun6471]

The old saying of there are many ways to skin a cat comes to mind. Thinking outside of the box is very useful. Never limit yourself to what conventional wisdom says is possible, look for ways to achieve your goals. Ask why not instead of why it should not be possible. Brilliant summation of how to reproduce an idea from a laser cutter to conventional machining.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

absolutely spot on mate - cheers

[@VeniceInventors]

Another inspiring video! The timing belt seems to be very quiet compared to the laser-cut gears. The rough edges of acrylic can be brought to a smooth shiny finish with a blow torch or heat gun. Electric screwdrivers can provide a makeshift lathe for parts that have a center hole. Laser cutters may be too expensive for those who'd use it rarely, but it can also quickly pay for itself by making all sorts of easy to sell items. Maybe more so than a 3D printer.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

nice tips mate - and yes i agree - thousands if not tens of thousands make a good living from laser cutters

[@qbitsday3438]

It looks like your Kitchen is now your workshop , cooking your Ideas here.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lol

[@DudleySmith-ht7nr]

Thanks for showing an alternate manufacturing approach for those of us without a laser cutter. Old school, but works fine!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

i am glad you liked it mate - cheers

[@martinchapman6670]

Nice video, quick tip for drilling any plastics, if you back off the rake angle on the drill, (a couple of strokes with an oil stone), the drill will not tend to self feed. most plastics, particularly thinner pieces, try to climb up the drill because of the self feeding action, causing cracks. I used to have a complete set of drills kept just for plastics, back when I had a workshop, which I must admit I miss a lot.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

nice tip mate thanks for sharing - I am sorry you no longer have your workshop

[@jwalt1984]

Good job putting both the tool and yourself to the test. It’s inspiring to see somebody “put their money where their mouth is” with such transparency. Love the channel, long time, first time

[@yourworkshopmate372]

Hi Rob. Sorry for your loss, my condolences. I love your channel. This is a fantastic way to do gears. Ive always wanted to know an easier way to make them thanks for this video. From South Africa.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

Thank you mate and thank you for taking the time to say that - cheers

[@dungbetel]

Blueing the steel and using a scribe... Wow, that brings back memories!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

thought it might mate - in a select few lol

[@SierraNovemberKilo]

Brilliant. The joy of tinkering, oh yeah!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lol - yep absolutely mate

[@DudleySmith-ht7nr]

PS... for safety, use some form of clamping of the material when using the drill press. Personal experience (not always good) was a learned experience. Cheers!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

sorry mate I don't want to be rude but don't be such a safety sally - there is a level of safety that becomes anal if taken too far - i have repeatedly told people to take it slowly - if they take it slowly they will be fine - if they don't then they probably are in for a shock - but they are probably not listening to your safety warnings either - learning is often better first hand and a cut finger will certainly teach more than a warning they didn't listen to.- Actually if i think about it in 40 years I don't think I have every clamped anything for purely safety's sake - I clamp it for accuracy in machining and high speed machining for sure - but this drill is rumbling along at about 600rpm - hardly high speed - i have never clamped a piece of wood, plastic or acrylic and I have never had a cut finger from it.

[@saiello2061]

Been a while since I watched one of your vids, great to see you still at it...! 😁👍. I've used those improvised acrylic shaping 'hacks' ... the Stanley blade and the clamped belt sander, many times... 😁. With the sander I ended up mounting it vertically with the belt running downwards next to a perpendicular horizontal plate and it improved my edge fashioning no end... 😁.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

good tip mate - thanks for sharing

[@xennabrittain-baker9141]

Thank you, this is why I love this this channel 👏

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@overunityresearchchannel]

Awesome 👍 thanks so much Robert I already order the hole cutters and have them already I have a drill press pretty much the same exact as yours again thank you so much for making this video it really helps I definitely will share this video to anymore who wants to make pulse motors or generators i reached out to you because i had recently bought a 40 watt CO2 laser cutter I spent alot of time aligning the laser mirrors took me a couple days messing around and finally got clean acrylic cut rotors BUT the laser cut walls are coming out in a slight angle the laser still need aligning somewhere Man I wish I had money to get an xtool machine laser Diode I could only afford the old school water cooled machine so I went to plan be got my 3d printer up and running and went another learning curve so I went from not knowing anything about CO2/3d printing/and manual cutting to getting the ball rolling in 2 weeks thanks you showed me some great techniques in this video to fill in the gaps thanks you so much Robert you really are a good friend 👍❤️

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

I am really happy you found this useful mate - as you know I made it because you asked and to know it helped is great to hear. I am impressed by the stuff you got together and so quickly - you can always combine techniques - for example where the angle isn't critical you can use your laser and dot centers on your disk with the laser then cut the holes needed for the magnets with you hole cutters - people seem to want to use a tool for every job but the trick is to use them for what they are good at - all the best mate

[@overunityresearchchannel]

@@ThinkingandTinkering thank Robert your absolutely right 👍 I want to ask you to please look at my circuit and try it out it out it will make a great wind generator if do d decide to try the circuit I have to mention that the trigger coil needs to be a separate coil from the power coil and you can move the trigger coil around the rotor for best output the generator circuit is a coil shorting circuit basically the trigger coil the on a transistor like Bedini sg circuit but in mine when the transistor is turned on the power winding get dead shorted between the collector and emitter you want to use all north or south magnets for this circuit I have to make another circuit that will NSNS so you can charge a capacitor and use a dumping circuit to charge a battery you want to short the coil on the peak maximum voltage of the power coil you can adjust the time when it shorts with the trigger coil 👍 check out my video where I demonstrate the circuit charging a capacitor I'm spinning the rotor by hand very very low drag pretty much none I'm using bifiler coils but you don't have to use bifiler just use single coils in series for power winding all monopole magnet nnnn sssss and 1 trigger coil 👍

[@strongforce8466]

You are so bright Rob ! 😄💡

[@derrickthatcher8150]

It made me since seeing you hand-holding the acrylic sheet whilst cutting big discs.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lol - why - there is nothing that is going to happen - well I might stall the drill if i press too hard

[@BinaryJoe]

Oh, this was great! Love your tip about the DIY hole saw. I had never seen a generator set-up like this before either and it's what I've been looking for. Thanks tor this, subbed for more!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@terrypearson8350]

You're a genius 👏. Instant gears. Good job.. I will definitely remember that.. thanks.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

wow - cheers mate

[@stewartpalmer2456]

Hole saws really are a tool set everyone needs. Must have. I also learned how they used to make the gears for pocket watches. Not something I will try. LOL

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

i agree they are an awesome bit of kit

[@1234ToddgMr]

I drill acrylic with plenty of soapy water as a coolant and lubricant. Do not put too much soap in the water just enough to make it a bit slippery.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

nice tip mate - thank you for sharing

[@benjaminhedderly4495]

I wish I could think like you 🍻 If we ever meet drinks and chips are on me🍻

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

awesome mate - you are on lol

[@user-fl8yv7rz6f]

Excellent build, i sat patiently waiting to see what part the crystal would play in the build and now realise that you just misspelled acrylic 😂. Worse still, I was wondering to myself whether it would be crystals generating electricity or something to generate crystals, and it was neither.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

this is part of a series mate - you might have missed the earlier videos

[@user-fl8yv7rz6f]

@@ThinkingandTinkering I did indeed, it's been a while since I watched your channel last, I wasn't slagging your video so much as ridiculing my own expectations.

[@bartronicsecurity]

I always like the chearful workshop tips you always have. I trim perspex with a big sanding disk on my bench grinder, works a treat. Btw there is no such thing as cheating in engieering, only smart thinking.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lol - i like the way you think mate lol

[@jonsworkshop]

Well done Rob! It must be a generational thing where we seem to have lost the knowledge of everything that went before us by saying "it can't be done". A trip round a locomotive museum should be a standard part of school education so people can appreciate that very complex machines can be made without the need for modern technology. All that said, technology definitely has it's place. Great build and thanks for showing that traditional methods of manufacture are equally good, if a little slower. Cheers, Jon

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

I think you are right mate - it was an odd thing to say lol - anyway glad you like the video - cheers

[@karlmccreight8172]

Hi! Haven't seen you for long. I feel sorry to learn from your loss. Have lost my mother in May 24 and keep worrying about my Daddy since then... Hope you keep your spirits. Take care...

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

thank you for taking the time to say that mate and my heartfelt condolences to you too

[@chrissscottt]

Nice one. There must be a large warehouse somewhere in Kent housing all of Rob's discarded contraptions.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

i usually give them away, recycle them or keep them myself mate

[@michaelrichey8516]

Them: You can't do that... RMS: Hold my Guinness

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lolol - yeah that about sums me up lol

[@scloh1]

That instant gear hack is so useful.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@Vibe77Guy]

Acrylic can also crack, which is why I prefer polycarbonate.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

nice suggestion mate - cheers

[@jsmythib]

I tried to use an Acrylic cover for my first diy solar panels years ago. Hard set into a wood frame. Lasted until the first freeze!

[@philipvecchio3292]

I have an Otour Lazer that cost around $200. It certainly had some problems with being steady enough to consistently cut, sometimes the Servos moved too fast and the torque moved the machine. But ot also opened up a lot of capabilities for the Price of am inexpensive table saw.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

that is a very point and a goo dpost mate - thanks for sharing

[@ch5139]

I thought I was the only person clamping my hand belt sander upside down in a vice! 😄

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lol - trick of the trade mate lol

[@grendel1960a]

if you dont feel up to a laser cutter, everything a laser cutter can do can also be done with a cnc router a bit cheaper

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

there is the truth mate - you are 100% right i think - the only real difference is a laser is a bit cleaner and quicker - end of story

[@richardseelye9938]

WOW Very very nice. I love your creativity and mind

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@l0I0I0I0]

Here's a challenge. Make a portable geocentric device! No, there are better things you can do with your time. lol

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

we made one mate - take the feet off finisht he box and stick a handle on!

[@l0I0I0I0]

@@ThinkingandTinkering Nice!

[@overunityresearchchannel]

Love the antikythera mechanism I remember seeing that when they discovered it they did multiple 3d layer scans to creat a 3d render and now here we are in 2024 and you replicated it man that's awesome it truly is a something special people don't know actually I remember they showed that same device I the new indiana Jones movie check it out 👍⚡

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

i am going to have to now lol - cheers mate

[@satibel]

you can probably use an inexpensive box and fill it with water to avoid your acrylic melting

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

i have been told soapy water

[@Allwestconstruction]

Very nice mate, thanks for sharing

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

I am glad you liked it mate - cheers

[@paperburn]

you have a laser cutter in you livingroom...I am so jealous

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lol - i am finding it useful mate

[@perkins1439]

Be sure to wear your mask if you're grinding anything stuff goes in your lungs but it don't come out

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

to be honest mate - it more chips and melts than creates a dust - but sure wear a mask

[@pixelrancher]

A project without a downloadable .stl file!!! A friend of mine creates mounts for museums and the interior design trade. After sanding and scraping, she fires up a torch and flame polishes the edges to make them crystal clear.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

I tried flame polishing - i am not very good at it lol - quite a skill that one

[@pixelrancher]

@@ThinkingandTinkering I guess that's why she charges the big bucks!! 😂

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

@@pixelrancher now i know that - i am going to learn how to do - even if it takes weeks lol

[@pixelrancher]

@@ThinkingandTinkering Keep the camera rollin'!! 😂

[@patcummins6036]

Thank you Robert!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@fruitcup01]

I seen some acrylic disks for sale in ebay. Maybe thin ones can be glued up.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

you could indeed mate - nice thinking!

[@Vibe77Guy]

Glues up with just acetone quite well.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

@@Vibe77Guy dichloromethane is better if you go for pure solvent

[@stevecollins4567]

Dj TNT jus dropped the Mike.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lol

[@davidvwilliamson]

bloody brilliant. thank you.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

I am glad you liked it mate

[@mofoq]

there's that old saying about the toolmaker that comes to mind 🤔 Patti's watching over all of us in this video and videos to come 🙏

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

she very much is mate - cheers

[@LiveWire937]

that's neat and all, but tbh I feel like I'm more likely to buy a laser cutter than a drill press or a lathe; this way feels less accessible to me, not more.

[@freedomsailer]

Excellent

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@islandsedition]

Ok...point proven. Now do it with preindustrial revolution hand tools and materials 😂 Fantastic demo mate.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lol - cheers mate

[@matsuz100]

Great stuff Robert.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@TheElectronicDilettante]

Great video, as always. Gotta say, first time I’ve seen a Porthole Saw…. Ha! Attempt at humor aside, thanks for the video. Keep on, keepin’ on…

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

it's a beast of a saw lol

[@TheZitherish]

A belt drive gearing would simplify the build.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

yes it would - but i was asked to replicate the laser cut version so that's what I did - but you make a very good point mate and thanks for making it

[@michaelsohocki1573]

HOORAY for HAND TOOLS! thankyouthankyouthankyou! :D

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lol - my pleasure mate

[@recumbentrocks2929]

There you go, you don't need to spend hundred of pounds on a fancy 3D printer in order to make stuff.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

no you don't = it makes things quicker and easier - but you don't need to do it

[@amphibiousone7972]

Have ever thought of showing how to make an indexing tool/jig to index and cut fingers ?

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

there are always cabinet scraper! lol

[@bungaloboynes]

Wise man great video

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@dav1dbone]

Acrylic sheet is pretty expensive, do you know where to buy it for less?

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

you could do it wood exactly the same way mate - in fact that might be fun!

[@bikerfirefarter7280]

Skip diving, rescue from TVs/monitors etc, local tip/recycle centers.

[@grendel1960a]

I once needed a 12" pulley and required some 1 1/2" aluminium discs, i went on ebay and there was a place with some and a very low starting bid, turned out the place was just 3 miles from home, and the discs they had were the holes left after cutting a circle from a large sheet to make roulette wheels, and these discs were the scrap- in the end i placed a bid and won, got 12 of them (they threw in a couple extra free when i went to collect- they had scrap bins full of them) the price I paid- less than the scrap price of aluminium, I put one on my big 13" lathe and made the pulley, and have 11 more to play with, one i cut discs from using hole saws. but the moral of the story is if you want something cheap, have a look around, ebay is good, look for what they call drops- the mechanical processes used in manufacturing cant use the last bit of a bar- the bit they hold onto, so they accumulate a pile of odd short lengths- these are the drops, and can be bought by the kilo on ebay- or finsd a local company that manufactures in the material you want, and ask them if they have a scrap bin you can have a pick through, you might have to pay a small amount- or you might give the person a beer. i get sheet timber at my local timber supplier- anywhere that cuts sheets to a size will have odd sized leftovers, mine throws them in a bin and has a charity pot, yes I have picked up near half sheets of plywood for just a few quid in the pot, a local boot fair had a chap selling 30"x15" 9mm plywood sheets for £1 each, I took 24 home with me as basic building stock. its all out there if you keep your eyes open.

[@dav1dbone]

@@bikerfirefarter7280 That's right, I forgot about scrap TVs, a load of acrylic panels and a laser cutter would be a creators dream.

[@PWIZZLE7]

wonder if polycarbonate could be worked similarly for a stronger result or would it be much more difficult?

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

about the same from both aspects i think

[@il51diablo]

Nice Job Rob!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@gerryplayz4532]

Great video Rob 😎👍

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@PhilWaud]

Thanks for another smashing video Rob, but the sound was awful again, out of step with the lip movement. It was almost unwatchable

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

yeah i saw that - the original video was fine but the upload came up out of sync - i have no idea why

[@travismoore7849]

I have been thinking of a poly vinyl alcohol and glycolic acid gel electrolyte for a battery. I don't know if carbon and potassium would work or if it would be better for potassium or a zinc iodide or something else. I came to this idea while playing with google ai. So I know that the pva and glycolic acid should be soluble in water so do you let the mix dry or add a salt to it epsom, alum or and iodide to make the battery of aluminum and carbon electrodes? This is spam. But the goal is a solid state electrolyte or gel electrolyte.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

true solid state electrolytes are a challenge - the only ones i really know that are successful are LISICON, NASICON and silver iodide - gel electrolytes or pseudo solid electrolytes offer much greater opportunity in my opinion - even if it is a simple as fumed silica in H2SO4 - improvements can be made - but whatever you choose - and PVA + GA is a good one you are going to need an ion carrier - so, basically unless the gelling agent is an ion carrier with sufficient ion mobility in itself you are going to have to add a salt

[@travismoore7849]

​@@ThinkingandTinkering Thank you, I wish I had a chemistry cad program.

[@bemiyorchor3035]

Great Men

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@gingerdude94]

Awesome

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@crazymonkeyVII]

Hi mate, what happened to the video/audio sync? It's way off! Are you doing experiments to mess with time?

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

i noticed that - the original video is fine but the upload is well out of sync and i don't know why!

[@overunityresearchchannel]

Man that's an awesome hand crank generator how much do you want for it seriously can you ship it to me to Texas I would love to have something you made let me know thanks mate 👍

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

that's really awesome mate - but I don't sell them - i do however give stuff away - if you are ever in England you would be welcome to something

[@overunityresearchchannel]

I'll keep that in mind if I ever have money for a trip definitely will let you know my friend 👍

[@lennvanniekerk]

Good afternoon from South Africa. How can one send you an email css as n not find an address? Regards Lenn

[@Groucho_Marxist_ASMR]

Frost Perst!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

?

[@aussie_Logic]

go bob

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

lol - awesome - will do mate lol

[@theoriginalrecycler]

Audio delay

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

i noticed that - the original video is fine but the upload is well out of sync and i don't know why!

[@bemiyorchor3035]

People!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

for sure

[@Mark_Linford]

🙂

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@growleym504]

So your crystal generator uses no crystals and has no crystals. Okay. Right. I was hoping you were doing something really far out with piezo-electric quartz crystals, which would be quite an interesting trick. I got to say this, sorry. When you cut something, even soft acrylic, with a big hole saw, you really ought to clamp the part to your drill press work table so it doesn't grab and spin your part and injure the hand that should not be holding the part in the first place. Safety. It's a good thing. Remember, children and childish adults could be watching. Monkey see, monkey do. Set a good example. Your output, then... it is single phase AC, right? Nice project, good visual appeal. I like it. You could gear that higher and put pedals on it for an exercise bike that actually does something useful, like charge a cell phone or something.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

you don't need to clamp it mate - if it catches the pillar of the drill stops it turning - in fact all that happens if it catches is you stall the drill - there is safety then there is being anal a pillar drill like this is only dangerous if you stick your han under the bit and press the lever down - so for safety's sake - don't do that lol

[@davidl.howser9707]

Hello Robert, A unrelated to the video interesting static electricity research paper read, if you wish to read it. Please Read at : "Science Alert" Date : 25 September 2024 Article Title : "We Finally Know What Creates Static Electricity, After Thousands of Years" By : Michelle Starr

[@orpheuscreativeco9236]

Beautiful work Rob! 👏 Great palm on the hand crank assembly ✌️😜 All messing aside, its an impressive build. Thanks for sharing your process!🙏

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

I am glad you enjoyed it mate

[@Warp9pnt9]

Loved the video and the comparison of methods. For prototypes of a certain size and modest structural requirements, the acrylic is probably fine. For other jobs where you need big and/or steel or other alloys, you need other tools. It's always about picking the right tool for the job and also gettinh the most out of the tools you have access to. Even in manufacturing, you can use laser or water jet cutters or an oxyacetaline torch and grind the edges, etc. Depends on the tools in place, budget, skill, materials on hand, engineering specs, etc. One could absolutely do all of this with flint tools (minus the metal work, i.e. wood or plastic shaping).

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

very nicely put mate

[@AndreaDingbatt]

Thank you so much Robert!! This was very Encouraging!! Sometimes I forget that just because Im not great with computors (Yet!!) ~that many of the skills I learned, earlier on in life can still be useful!! ":0)X

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

definitely - it's really just a matter of repurposing them - skills are usually cross transsferrable

[@MND22]

Im sorry for your loss, I just noticed the framed image behind your desk

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

thank you for taking the time to say that mate

[@fetchitnowuk]

Ah Robert, always great to watch your videos. Instant Gears what a great solution. I do like the lazer cutter though but I need to behave with my spending.

[@pedrojorge4684]

Come on, you have "the knife and the cheese in your hand" and you're not using it! Make a large set of gears to make a huge conversion of torque into speed BUT due to the fragility of the material you DO NOT use it at maximum torque, on the contrary, the best idea is precisely that it rotates slowly at the input and you connect the input to a gravity battery. In this way, the weight will spend more time "falling" and then take advantage of gravity more efficiently! 😁 Anyway another excellent video of yours, I love your videos that bring the construction closer to a level that anyone can do! \o/

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@Indianasolo-my7yc]

This is my third video I've seen of you I'm impressed with you but I'm not quite smart enough to keep up with you good job though sir. Do you live in Scotland sir?

[@Supamic1]

Thanks for every vid you put out! Do you think using Acrylic has any electrostatic properties that make it preferable or would wood, pvc or other insulated materials work better, worse or the same, as I suspect, in this design?

[@yourmother4236]

Awesome but not breaking the sound barrier. You would have a very, very large and loud concussion, probably destroying your shop. Your close thiu

[@PrajnaPranab]

Hi Rob, I know you now have a fancy laser cutter, so you get nice clean edges on your acrylic, but I have a little hint for cleaning up acrylic edges: HHO, or Brown's Gas, does a superb job of turning sanded or scuffed acrylic back into crystal clear acrylic again. You need some HHO (electrolysis will make that) and a jeweller's torch. Just play the flame on the edge. Btw, I cringed a bit when you were using those hole saws. I know you're a careful guy but really that acrylic should be clamped down if you're going at it with a hole saw, especially a large diameter one, if that melts and grabs you might be turning your hand to making prosthetic fingers. ;)

[@BiscuitWaite]

Not to mention Chris (Clickspring) built the Antikythera by hand, including making the tools to make the parts by using techniques that would not be out of place in ancient Greece. As a machinist, acrylic is a little finicky but compared to inconel it's roll face on keyboard easy to work with.

[@rjung_ch]

Thanks 👍💪✌

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@timlorlor6888]

Ace

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers mate

[@hunnybunnysheavymetalmusic6542]

2 hints for cutting acrylic to keep it from splitting, spalling sticking or melting: Hint 1: After drilling the pilot hole, (if you have the type which will do this [some do, some don't and you can, on some models, just flip the drive belt]) run the blade backwards,which is the same as flipping a plywood saw backwards on a skilsaw type saw. Hint 2: Use a light cutting oil or kerosene to keep the cut cooled and lubricated. Either of these will decrease the chances of damaging the acrylic.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

cheers - awesome tips

[@JohnIsodore]

Great video as always. I have been attempting to make generators with varying success, but your videos made me understand what i was doing wrong :) And your Serpent coil videos also helped a lot. Thank You!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

That is awesome to hear mate - thank you for taking the time to post that

[@amazac9869]

ROB sorry for your loss i just noticed the picture and been away for a while from following your content. RIP

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

thank you mate and thank you for saying so

[@hunnybunnysheavymetalmusic6542]

You can also screw the acrylic to a board, and rotate it against a table saw and gradually raise the blade [works in reverse for a radial arm saw]. Also, you can cut a wooden template and cut it using a router, or you can cut it with a jigsaw.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

that's a clever idea mate - i forgot about that one - nice tip thanks for sharing

[@ollierobin]

Quick tip for cutting plexi: use a lube like thread cutting fluid or other, it helps cool the tool and the plex and cuts will come out clean with minimal melt. Thank you.

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

nice tip mate cheers

[@marcfruchtman9473]

It is pretty interesting to see the "traditional" method. Thanks for the build!

[@ThinkingandTinkering]

glad you liked it mate - cheers