[ELECTRON] New Member

Thu Jun 4 17:19:17 BST 2015

Great!

On 4 June 2015 at 16:10, Andrew Beattie <andrew at tug.com> wrote:

> On second thoughts, I *will* be there.
>
> Andrew
>
>
> > On 4 Jun 2015, at 09:24, Andrew Beattie <andrew at tug.com> wrote:
> >
> > The Flight Test designs are  based of the features of paper-skinned foam
> (to make the “A” and “B” folds etc, so that is whet we are using in the
> first instance.
> >
> > Although we may open with FT plans for paper-coated-foam, we have
> several areas that we may expand into and have been discussing which to do
> first.  Options include:
> > Adapting the FT plans for uncoated foam
> > Designing our own planes from scratch
> > Cutting balsa for wings with wooden ribs and a skin
> > If my ammeter turns up, I am likely to be doing laser fitting long into
> the night.  First a test of the tube with it’s new PSU on the bench.  Then
> physical fit.  Then I have a new 100mm focal length lens to fit in the
> head.  Then calibrate the angles on all the mirrors.
> >
> > Next, by trial and error i find the best working height for the laser
> and print a nozzle the right size so that we can pump compressed air right
> at the cut.
> >
> > Then I re-calibrate the power map and cutting settings.  We do this by
> cutting a grid of squares with different settings, changing Z-height and
> cutting speed to discover the best combination to use.  The grid turns into
> a physical bar graph of the effectiveness of different settings.  The grid
> is repeated in different areas of the board to identify the change in power
> delivery.
> >
> > Then we cut a sheet full of 20mm squares to prove (or disprove) that the
> cuts are consistent all over the bed.  I’ll be at it for hours…
> >
> > And then I need to be up, bright eyed and busy tailed in the morning -
> I’m taking a whole school assembly at the primary school on the isle of
> Cumbrae.
> >
> > Andrew
> >
> >
> >> On 4 Jun 2015, at 07:08, Nathan Collins <mr.nathan.collins at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >>
> >> I'm a big fan of the Flite Test <http://flitetest.com/show> guys, so it
> >> will be great to be able to get hold of their designs without having to
> pay
> >> for shipping from the US, or go through the hassle of cutting my own.
> I'm
> >> curious about the type of foam you are using. Is is still paper backed
> >> foam, or are you using Depron?
> >>
> >> Feel free to drop in to the Open Source Hardware Group tonight.
> >>
> >> On 4 June 2015 at 04:17, Andrew Beattie <andrew at tug.com> wrote:
> >>
> >>> Hi Nathan,
> >>>
> >>> The Foamies project is just about to go live.  I don’t have the exact
> date
> >>> but it has been “within the next week or so” for about a month :-)
> >>>
> >>> We have built a 3-axis A1 cutter for doing it.  Full featchured tull
> chain
> >>> for efficient production control.  Single interface for reading SVG
> >>> drawings, managing the relationship between drawn lines and actions
> >>> (library of “black for cut, red for score, blue for engrave” etc and
> how to
> >>> interpret that in foam, flat card, corrugate, plywood etc).  We
> understand
> >>> containment (so the toolchain spots that curve A is inside curve B and
> cut
> >>> A first, so that materials that warp or fall out during the cut don’t
> cause
> >>> problems).  The G-code generation is very efficient to minimise head
> travel
> >>> time.  We map the power delivery in different parts of the board and
> modify
> >>> cutting speeds to compensate.  We can deal with anisotropic materials
> (like
> >>> corrugated board) that require different cutting speeds in different
> >>> directions.  I think “fully featured laser cutter” if a fair
> description :-)
> >>>
> >>> Our starting range will be the the freely available Tiny Trainer,
> Funjet,
> >>> Speedster and Scout from the good folk at FlightTest.  Indeed it was
> the
> >>> thing that kicked off the whole project was the fact that if you want
> to
> >>> build a FT kit in the UK, you end up giving more money to the postie
> than
> >>> to FT..
> >>>
> >>> The kits are re-constructed fro their plans.  We change the layout so
> that
> >>> the sheets can be cut from European A1 size sheets and cut them up so
> that
> >>> we stay within a 61cm maximum dimension in order that we don’t get
> gouged
> >>> by the post office.  We cut our own custom packaging for the foam and
> the
> >>> various “bits” (pushrods, bbq skewers, velcro etc.  We include a 3D
> printed
> >>> scraper for helping to scrape foam out from channels during the build.
> >>>
> >>> Our foamboard is a lot better quality than the FT stuff and there is a
> >>> weight penalty to pay for this, so our prop/motor specs are beefed up a
> >>> little to compensate.
> >>>
> >>> So, i have been all over the technology end of manufacturing the
> things,
> >>> but the actual flying and testing of them has been by my co-designer,
> >>> Damian, down in Swindon.  I have been working flat out on getting the
> >>> production running sweetly while he has been doing all the actual
> testing
> >>> and flying.  I don’t even have a transmitter.  Once we actualy get into
> >>> production and I can breath a little, I guess that will chage pretty
> >>> quickly.
> >>>
> >>> All that stands in the way of project launch is fitting of the new
> laser
> >>> (today I hope, but it will probably take all weekend...) and some final
> >>> tweaks to the web site...
> >>>
> >>> Andrew
> >>>
> >>>> On 3 Jun 2015, at 22:17, Nathan Collins <mr.nathan.collins at gmail.com>
> >>> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>> Andrew,
> >>>> I'm an RC flying machine enthusiast and could help but have my
> interest
> >>>> piqued by this thread. What foamies do you build/deliver? It would be
> >>> great
> >>>> to hear more from you. Do you fly locally?
> >>>>
> >>>> Nathan
> >>>>
> >>>> On 3 June 2015 at 19:49, Andrew Beattie <andrew at tug.com> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>> It is a while since I saw a Stratoscoop in the air…
> >>>>>
> >>>>> The laser is not delivering the 25W that it is meant to today.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> I have a higher quality 40w tube on the desk ready for installation
> but
> >>> I
> >>>>> am waiting for a microammeter panel display that I want to install at
> >>> the
> >>>>> same time that is due to be delivered tomorrow.  Then I’ll find out
> if
> >>> it
> >>>>> actualy fits in the space :-)
> >>>>>
> >>>>> It is primarily going to be for cutting foamies (ultralight model
> >>>>> aircraft).
> >>>>>
> >>>>> But I also cut:
> >>>>> Plywood (control horns and firewalls for the foamies)
> >>>>> Cardboard (we make our own packaging for the foamies, carefuly
> designed
> >>> to
> >>>>> give the right protection and fit within UK postage rules)
> >>>>> Kite fabric (to make “feathers” that kite fliers tie to their hats)
> >>>>> Hardboard (I am re-cladding the laser-cutter in hardboard as we
> speak)
> >>>>> Andrew
> >>>>>
> >>>>>> On 3 Jun 2015, at 19:02, Rob Spencer <spencer.rob at slvi.co.uk>
> wrote:
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Welcome Andrew,
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Love the kites! My dad still has a huge Stratoscope that we used to
> get
> >>>>> pulled on the beach with.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> What power is the lazer cutter? Is it for acrylic or will it so
> metal
> >>>>> aswell? I've been thinking about hooking up a lazer head to my cnc.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Cheers
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Rob
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> On 3 Jun 2015, at 16:36, Martin McGrath <mcgrath.martin at gmail.com>
> >>>>> wrote:
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Welcome Andrew Beattie:
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> "Hi, I guess that in this context, You would probably get a good
> idea
> >>>>>>> of who I am if I list my favourite toys: 1) Kites. Big ones. Words
> >>>>>>> don't do justice, so have a quick look at http://tug.com/kites/ 2)
> >>>>>>> Computers. A passion in my younger years. My living later but now
> >>>>>>> mostly just a tool for getting stuff done. I am on the Unix side of
> >>>>>>> the divide and OS X as a result. 3) Photography. Lets just say 85mm
> >>>>>>> f1.2, 200mm f2, 800mm f5.6 on the front of my 1DsIII 4) Sewing.
> >>>>>>> Specialist, straight stitch only Industrial machine which is
> happiest
> >>>>>>> sewing through 2 tonne Spectra. 5) Kossel. 6) A1 scratch built
> laser
> >>>>>>> cutter. (designed and built by a friend in Swindon hackspace) 7)
> Van.
> >>>>>>> 3 ton worm drive winch fitted with 120m of 8mm Dynex for kite
> flying.
> >>>>>>> 8) One of the worst internet connections in the developed world :-(
> >>>>>>> Every day I look at
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>
> http://www.superfast-openreach.co.uk/where-and-when/default.aspx?pc=pa17%205da
> >>>>>>> to see if the cabinet at the end of the road is ready yet. Until
> then
> >>>>>>> I live off a horribly congested 3G tower. Since moving (back to) to
> >>>>>>> Scotland a few years ago, my face-to-face contact with technical
> folk
> >>>>>>> has been severely limited. I'm looking for the opportunity for both
> >>>>>>> online and meatspace interaction with local(ish) people."
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Andrew, you can check out future events in the calendar, we're
> also on
> >>>>> IRC:
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> http://www.electronclub.org/calendar/
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> http://www.electronclub.org/doku.php?id=howto:irc
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Thanks
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Martin
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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