Pictures from Cyberia

My project bench

Pottery Kiln and Mig Welder and Plasma cutter.

3 in 1 sheet metal machine 

Metal lathe and one of the milling machines

The wood working area

Large format CNC machine under construction

Laser cutter

A couple of 3D printers

 and a bench just full of interesting.

Estate Sale

Step 1. Cut an interesting shape using a plasma cutter.

Step 2. Decide that shape is not sufficiently appealing and that a rusty saw blade would be a better choice.

Step 3. Find an estate sale where circular saw blades are available.

Step 4. Go shopping at the estate sale. Leave behind only  $10

Step 5. Come home with two saw blades and plumbing plugs

and aluminum tubing 

and spray paint

and baby food jar full of set screws

and copper wire brackets

and shrink tubing

and switches

and many many more things.

Frankly, it was a surreal experience. It was kind of like looking through my work shop after I abandoned it. The shop was similar to mine down to the drill press that had funky wiring.

Step 6. Put a saw blade in salt so it will rust up quickly.

Step 7. Wait for rust to happen.

After a couple of days setting in salt, it took on an interesting mottled appearance. It looks more interesting than the orange rust coating I was expecting.

Drilling the hole that would allow me to add a bearing was more difficult than I anticipated. The blade was very hard steel.

  

Small step for me, giant step for ???

I am now a member of Club Cyberia!

The next item  to use on "Learning Piece #1" wants to be cut out with a plasma cutter.  My membership should provide access to the tool. Next step will be to get some instruction on how to use the cutter.


Other accomplishments today include getting the bearings secured into the connecting rod.

And, a bearing secured in a drive wheel.

Maybe it will all make sense when the components are mounted.

A Banner Day for Parts Acquisition

 A "quick" stop at the Salvation Army store netted me this pile of goodies.

I don't know the original purpose of the aluminum tubing and the brass fittings they came with, but they are definitely interesting enough to re-purpose. One of the anniversary clocks seems too nice to dismantle for parts but that is a decision for another day. Admittedly the Risk game is not about building parts. On the other hand, it is the version with cast metal figures so there nay be some potential there.

With so many clock parts on hand, I was thinking I should get working on another clock project. Within hours of that decision, I was gifted with three of these clock faces. A little smaller than my original clock project but a very good size to work with.

And... to top things off...  the miniature bearings I have been waiting on arrived.

The search for space took a new turn today.

I recently visited a "maker space" called Club Cyberia. The social environment was less artistic and more techno-geek than I was expecting. On the up side, that means I fit in pretty easily, but on the other hand it doesn't provide an obvious connection to the artistic community that seems to be available in other places.

Club Cyberia has lots of tools available, including CNC machines, a laser cutter, 3D printers etc.

I learned today that  there is a 200 square foot studio space available in the same building that Cyberia is in.

It is a little small, but the price is right and it is beside the Cyberia tools, so it is kind of tempting.

I don't want to move every couple of years, but I can visualize this being a first step.  

It could be a launching point for "moving on up" or at least an opportunity to discover whether my constructionist ideas are build-able.  

Sometimes the question answers itself

I'm still puzzling whether it is better to buy interesting items because of their potential or wait until there is a need and search for the items. Perhaps there is not a universal answer to the question. My supply inventory is as big as it needs to be right now, but some opportunities are too tempting to walk away from.


This little peach discovered today for only $25.00.  

It is a commercial grade model 185K.

These packages were on clearance at 90% off.

Turns out that when an idler pulley became necessary for this project

 it was good to have them on hand.

This project has stalled a bit because some parts (bearings) I ordered have not yet arrived. Perhaps this is another clue that "on hand" inventory has its advantages.