What’s Happening Now – October 2021

I’ve been working with RhinoCAD again, which is like visiting an old friend (or enemy really) since it’s the first CAD software I used extensively for design. It’s nice because it leads you to more organic designs instead of square blocky designs. I’ve been exploring Grasshopper as well, which allows you to create parametric and mathematically driven designs which can be cut out on the CNC Router. It’s been an interesting diversion…
Solidworks has an interesting deal for Makers. I might check that out.
I redid the “Doorbell” sign which points people to the humongous doorbell button outside our studio. The original was done in cheap baltic birch plywood, which was not weatherproof at all. The new one is done in cedar, which will hopefully last a bit longer. It’s funny that delivery drivers can’t find our doorbell.

I got a Prusa MK3S+ 3D printer, which I’m using to prototype some designs and ideas. It works well. 3D printing has improved a lot.
More work on some methods for creating patterns using computer algorithms. In addition to using Rhino/Grasshopper I’ve been using the Processing computer language, which is designed for artists and creatives. There’s a web-based version of Processing called P5, which works in javascript on a web page.

I had big concrete pad installed at our back door. Our forklift got stuck in the loose, crumbling asphalt a few months ago when trying to enter the garage door back there. The concrete will provide a stable surface to move equipment and machines around.

I refined the random circle algorithm for generating panels. Now it generates fewer circles at first, and grows them, then adds another batch of circles are grows them all. Doing it all at once meant that there were no larger circles. There’s a greater variety now. It deletes small circles that can’t be cut with the cutter in the CNC Router.

I added a page to the site with a gallery of projects that we’ve worked on.
Got the Chain Drive Clock going more smoothly! Turns out there was a broken coupler on one of the sprocket drives. This provided enough resonance in the system that the Clearpath Servo motor would howl noisily and couldn’t be calibrated. It’s nice to have this clock working well again.
Clock built with servos and a large chain drive.
Back into the thick of the programming for the Bells project. A lot of Python on a server and Raspberry Pi. Lots of low level driver stuff at this point, trying to prove out the hardware and make sure it’s sufficient for the needs of the project.