Engraving Instrument Scales with a LASER. Old Machinist - New challenge!

[@devdhamija7585]

Hidden gem of a KZbin channel

[@drewcagno]

Glad to see you back sir. I've recently learned 2 and 3 axis cnc milling. I don't make anything nearly as cool as you do, but it's so rewarding to bring a project from a drawing to a finished product. Doing it on a fancy new machine must feel quite good.

[@AdityaMehendale]

Might it help to: (two SEPARATE suggestions): 1) Print a pointer in the diametrically opposite direction too (on the moving inner circle), perhaps with a different icon. This helps to eliminate error coming from axial misalignment 2) Print a vernier scale on the inner ring *simultaneously* while printing the outer ring. Any errors (from quirks in the engraver) shall be identical on the tro parts, and shall tend to cancel out. Obviously, two vernier-scales too one at the "pointer" and one at the 6 o'clock.

[@MachiningandMicrowaves]

I thought I'd replied to this earlier, must have failed to press enter. It's certainly useful to have two pointers because the reverse beam direction for the other station to reach me is approximately 180° different at this latitude, so if they don't have a computer or other way of finding the correct path to me that gives a very quick approximate heading. i'm not sure if there's any advantage of simultaneous printing because the stepper motors are very repeatable at least within a single session and getting the gap between them to be accurate without any overlap would be rather tough. Any small misalignment of the Vernia, he's only going to cause mechanical problems, I think from my first calculations that a lateral offset of the Vernier has such a small impact on the overall precision that it is not really worth taking special measures. I really should do a model of this and work out what the actual error is at any point around the circle, if the Vernier is offset laterally or is at a slight angle to the main scale. Interesting question thanks

[@AdityaMehendale]

@@MachiningandMicrowaves Dan Gelbart (UBC) has a masterclass, where he talks about this and other tricks to improve the precision of theodolites and such.

[@AdityaMehendale]

@@MachiningandMicrowaves Hiatus?

[@MachiningandMicrowaves]

@@AdityaMehendale Life has been coming at me fast. I had an accident and was unable to type or hold tools for a couple of months, plus I've been working on this huge project for TV, and trying to learn how to use the CNC and CAM software. I've shot around 70 hours of video and 300+ since March, but the Day Job and everything else means zero time to edit and publish videos. That will all change one the TV project is in the can, although I can't show any detail of Project Narwhal, other than elements that could be part of anything.

[@MachiningandMicrowaves]

@@AdityaMehendale I had an accident where I had serious burns on the back of one hand, and a huge contusion on the other forearm, plus ribs, knee and ankle damage, so that meant I couldn't type or use a mouse or hold a pen or screwdriver for a couple of months. Details in a community tab post a couple of weeks back. Then I was asked to make a replica instrument for a national TV channel (300+ hours work), and the Day Job got insanely busy, and there just wasn't time to make videos. I have at least 70 hours of video and 300+ stills in the datastore that I haven't looked at yet, never mind edited! Once the TV thing is out of the way and I've caught up with manufacturing work and got the Day Job business through the annual security re-certifications and health checks, I'll get back to making vids.

[@bucurionutrusu3260]

The legend is back❤❤❤❤

[@botavictor5832]

Nice light work! xD

[@Rustinox]

Well, you have some really nice results here.

[@MachiningandMicrowaves]

I cut the first chips on my new Syil X5 CNC today, I'm getting too old to learn all this new-fangled stuff! Actually I'm having huge fun creating g-code macros and enjoying a machine that is 60 years newer than my Bridgeport. The precision is amazing, and the 20k rpm spindle is scary! It's only day three of the learning curve, so it might be a week or two before I'm ready to get a video out. I really want to use the laser to do electroless copper deposition on ceramics, but I have about 50 jobs lined up for the X5 first!

[@Preso58]

Some nice results there. I tried and failed with that brilliance laser ink. I baulked at the price of the minuscule spray can and bought the powder instead. Despite trying multiple speed and power settings with a 50W CO2 and a 22W diode laser, the black marks just rubbed off. Anodised aluminium and the 50W CO2 works best for me.

[@MachiningandMicrowaves]

I was pretty surprised how little power it took to fuse the spray, having tried Cermark previously on a CO2 50 watter. with mixed results. I think the fine satin surface helps, that finishing paper gives an RMS roughness of around 0.2 micrometres, which is about half the wavelength of blue light, so it scatters very well, and that seems to help fuse the material. A CO2 laser has 25 times the wavelength, so it would see the metal finish as being an excellent mirror. The results on brass, aluminium and stainless were almost identical, but then I used the same abrasive paper, with some light oil. I tried on mirror-finish brass and it was much less successful, but mirror-finish stainless worked well. I suspect that's because of some sort of photochemical interaction with the iron/chrome/nickel. I should try a test with multiple materials and surface roughnesses. I have some Titanium sheet and some copper heatspreaders that I'd like to mark up. Grandson Hal has a nice 50 watt CO2 that I can use, but I REALLY want a serious Q-switched/fibre laser to make large resonant arrays of slots and holes.

[@jimsvideos7201]

Nice. I'd like to get one of these sometime, if only for doodling on biscuits and toast.

[@theradiorover]

Superb Neil. I just noticed your CEE mug. The other machining channel I love. 😊

[@MachiningandMicrowaves]

Now I just need a clone of Karen to do my camera ops and editing. Hoof GP as well of course. I must get some merch sorting!

[@graemebrumfitt6668]

Rite Microwave Dude, I had to watch a few times to understand what you were trying to do. If you make another circle in the center of the big circle then when you create the array you tick the box "use last selected object position as center" it will then rotate the lines around the center of the circle in the center of your big circle. Hope that makes sense! TFS, GB :)

[@MachiningandMicrowaves]

I kinda worked it out after a few tries, but I hadn't got it clear enough in my head to attempt to explain it to anyone else. Also it was 3am local time and I hadn't slept for 36 hours at that point and had WAAAAAAY too much coffee in me. Makes total sense now, Ta v much!

[@MCsCreations]

Man, I'm happy I've found your channel again! Subscribed this time! 😃 But yeah, that would be great for so many tools! Even those made out of wood, it would increase the precision a LOT! Anyway, stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@MachiningandMicrowaves]

I'm finding that I'm making all sorts of jigs and fixtures from plywood and black acrylic. Finger joint boxes, even in quite thick wood, are so easy to make without all the dust and setting up time of my woodworking tools. Silly things like marking up metal sheet to bend and cut and drill while making electronics enclosures, and marking parts with QR codes linked to documentation or software, all convenient and simple.

[@MCsCreations]

@MachiningandMicrowaves Absolutely, there are sooo many applications!

[@ptonpc]

They look very pretty :)

[@horsthacker9990]

I find you channel.. today ! Finally.. after years stumbeling around .. I got one thing to ask, because your brain look very smart and also your fingers look like they do, what you tell them to do..: Did you ever thought about a tool to cut parabolic things on a lathe without cnc ? If not, please consider to do so. I am the one who give you the first thumb-up or two.. (thats all ??!?!? sure :-) ) Such a tool didnt exist till now - as far as i know. It would be a great thing to have for cutting light reflector or some type of gears or metal precisely cut to realy fit the home made scrap bin. I tried to do it, but failed, because it had to be small (and also cheap) to cut parabol inside and so it is not stiff and also it cant be to big for home used lathe. And i also dont know if it would be that precise to make it usefull or even if it will work anyway. May be you like that challange or someone who read this.

[@MachiningandMicrowaves]

It isn't simple to make a linkage that can do this, partly because the linkage needs a parallel linkage the runs behind the parabola. The only practical solution I've found is to make a flat plate with a very accurate parabola, then make a follower pin for the cross-slide that's 10 mm diameter and use a 10mm round button insert. It's a lot of work to make the accurate parabola, but it can be made with hand tools if you take a lot of care. Now I have the CNC machine, life is much simpler when making offset parabolas, hyperbolas and laterally-displaced ellipse antenna reflectors

[@Sigmatechnica]

Interesting. I was considering getting a fiber laser to do this sort of thing, they are a bit spendy though.

[@MachiningandMicrowaves]

The lower-power versions of the desktop LED lasers are certainly capable of most of these techniques, but a nice Q-switched kilowatt machine would be a useful tool to have around.

[@lohikarhu734]

Maestro of Microwaves 👋; Have you tried doing a vernier scale? A 10:1 is useful, i guess that a 60:1 would require very fine "ticks", and a magnifier...I guess, with the precision you seem to have, you could put the ticks with a hairline at the base, for all of them, and the "normal" ticks about 2 mm offset? As one says: "it's just a thought.."

[@MachiningandMicrowaves]

Definitely going to try making a vernier, although getting better than 0.2 degrees is going to depend on the resolution of the steppers at 256 per inch

[@lohikarhu734]

@MachiningandMicrowaves; Thanks, sir... Right, I guess that the laser positioning is a limitation...the bigger the "dial", the less effect(methinks), and the more readable a vernier. Nice work! (BTW, I found a site that can make PDFs of almost any kind of polar plot that you want...I used it last year to prototype a dial for a dividing head... I'll try to find it, in case anyone is interested)

[@jordantekelenburg]

Where can i get the excel spreadsheet?

[@migalito1955]

Nice.....

[@peterhadfield873]

Its all gone quiet. What aren't you showing us? 🙂 seriously, hope everythings ok. Cheers

[@MachiningandMicrowaves]

@@peterhadfield873 I had a rather nasty accident enrolling a septic tank a pressure washer my ankles some hoses are low brick wall with a sharp edge and a kettle full of freshly boiled water. multiple trips to the hospital, lots of attention from a Burns specialist as the entire contents of the kettle landed on the back of my left hand. My right forearm hit the edge of the brick wall at a high rate of knots but did not break however the resulting contusion looks like I had, half a melon strapped to my forearm. My arm went black from bicep to palm but I also damaged ribs knee and ankle. I haven't been able to type or use a mouse screwdriver or soldier iron for many months. However, my recovery is progressing. Project Narwhal is approaching completion. It's another historical reconstruction of a piece of technical equipment, but this time it's from the 1920s. The documentation is even scarcer than that of the great seal bug. In addition I have about 80 hours of video of projects that I've been working on mostly using, the new SYIL X5 CNC mill , but also the laser and Bambu X1C 3D printer. Being unable to use a mouse makes editing videos extraordinarily difficult. I've got quite good at using my left hand to operate the mouse, but it's very inaccurate and unsuitable for delicate edits. As soon as narwhal has finished being filmed by the TV company, I should be back in full production. I've posted a few teasers on the community tab and there's also the full story of the septic tank incident on there. It's all been a bit of a wake up call about doing moderately dangerous things, where I have no cell phone coverage and no other humans within yelling distance! Driving myself to the hospital with a badly scalded left hand, an almost in operable right arm and a wrecked right leg, while high on adrenaline, was "interesting". luckily my car is an automatic and I can drive it using only my left foot and right hand. I realised I was going into shock and that trying to hop to one of the neighbours houses wasn't really feasible and I could see that at least five of them were not at home, so it could've been a long hop! being unable to phone an ambulance without hopping 900 feet to the end of the field to get a signal didn't seem an attractive option either. I can't remember anything about the journey but the small local hospital saw me within four minutes of staggering through the door and had multiple specialist nurses on hand to deal with my various abrasions contusions and burns. The NHS did a magnificent job of managing my recovery. I never had to wait more than 15 minutes for any of the appointments and I was usually seen within five. Right coffee break over, I'm hoping the glue will have set on the tiny rare earth magnets that I've fixed into shallow 6 mm holes in this sensor ring which fits on the high-speed shaft of the Narwhal devices. Time to give it a test. I'm hoping that the device which that shaft spins isn't going to grenade itself and embed shards in the floor bench and ceiling. Wish me luck.

[@peterhadfield873]

@@MachiningandMicrowaves Wow, an epic tale. Sorry to hear it but I'm glad to hear your recovering. I had a similar excellent experience with the NHS when I dropped a knife on my foot while chopping carrots (nothing in life is risk free), they see you really quickly if your making a mess... Thanks for the reply and all the best.