Let's have a discussion...
Kevin Wood
Posts: 1,266
Okay guys. I posted a suggestion thread for the creation of a new sub-forum that would be dedicated to machining & mechanical topics.
My thought is that for many or most projects, there is usually for form of building & manufacturing involved, and it would be nice to have a place in this community to discuss these things.
I'm thinking of things like... CNC stuff, manual machining, how to build stuff, CAD/CAM topics, mechanical design issues, etc. Basically, a place to discuss stuff that the mechanical engineers would focus on, as opposed to stuff that the electrical engineers would focus on.
I know that these things can be discussed to some degree in other sub-forums here, but having similarly focused threads in one place makes for a (IMO) more effective long-term knowledge repository.
So, with that in mind, I'm asking for some discussion and feedback on the thread that i started... http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?131713-New-sub-forum-possibility
Thanks.
My thought is that for many or most projects, there is usually for form of building & manufacturing involved, and it would be nice to have a place in this community to discuss these things.
I'm thinking of things like... CNC stuff, manual machining, how to build stuff, CAD/CAM topics, mechanical design issues, etc. Basically, a place to discuss stuff that the mechanical engineers would focus on, as opposed to stuff that the electrical engineers would focus on.
I know that these things can be discussed to some degree in other sub-forums here, but having similarly focused threads in one place makes for a (IMO) more effective long-term knowledge repository.
So, with that in mind, I'm asking for some discussion and feedback on the thread that i started... http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?131713-New-sub-forum-possibility
Thanks.
Comments
Parallax sells products that require some mechanical know-how to cause an effect, so sharing building suggestions sounds good to me. I left my "vote" for it on the link you provided.
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Parallax_Numeric_control
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This will cover every thing from a BS1 to a Prop II.
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Do a Google search and you'll see why I bring this up.
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I'd really like to see this SUB FORUM go.
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I have a friend thats really good at Parsing out G-CODE to SPIN.
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From his technique I've been able to PARSE-out G-CODE to PropBASIC and to the BS2's
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So I think its a win-win for everybody.
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I can also write G-CODE in BASIC for some simple designs
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I'm all for this FORUM!!!!!
I think a mechanical technology sub-forum is a solid idea!
Besides that, I wouldn't mind seeing Parallax actually carry various pieces of mechanical prototype hardware along the lines Eitech, Erector Set, Meccano, but with the assorted types of gears and whatnot available with LEGO Technic.
There's so much positive overlap between electronics and fabrication. Ben Heck comes to mind, among many others. I'm totally in support of this idea. However, I think we should do a couple of other changes at the same time, like wrap the PropScope forum into the Propeller (or Stamps in Class) forums. The Projects forum needs some clarification, too.
Do you really think a machining forum would generate enough traffic? It certainly has two sides: (a) using microcontrollers for driving CNC equipment and (b) fabrication processes themselves. One of our UPEW presenters is bringing massive electro-mechanical projects to show: a 2000 paintball/minute Gatling gun; an R/C submarine and robotic tentacles. Another is coming to share the second phase of his extrusion-based CNC machine. It's questionable, but likely that we'd have enough traffic to sustain an interesting forum.
Ken Gracey
I'm not sure if just machining by itself would keep it going, because I'm not sure how many people here have machines. Maybe a small percentage?
But I think if it encompassed CNC machines & controllers, manual machines, electronic fabrication, soldering, welding, mechanical design, CAD/CAM, tooling questions, materials, and stuff along those lines, then it might work.
Don't know. My first response to this is somebody machining oriented might pass us on for the heavy comp-sci / tools, etc... discussions. That's enough to warrant hanging a forum out there to see where it leads.
I would enjoy that topic broken out as I have CNC experience, and find the topic interesting.
Now that I think about it, one other advantage of a sub-forum is the ability for a few projects to get some running commentary, like our established ones do now, along with some stickies to CNC relevant material.
In reality, I suspect that Parallax needs to seriously consider supporting this direction. After all, in how many directions can a micro-controller developer go?
1. education in fundamentals of electronics
2. digitally controlled machines
3. video games
4. network computing
The real dilemma is simply that micro-controller are very economical, but setting up a machine shop of any sort is rather costly. I've often felt my biggest mistake in life was to not become a machinist. These guys have all the cool toys and are empowered to build all sorts of fascinating things.
That could cover the topics above and others such as making PC boards, soldering with toaster ovens, labelling, Front panel design , welding, mounts, gears, etc.
I see the east coast is thinking the same way, Bob.
Cheers,
I really like this idea. One of my primary hobbies is machining. I belong to several machining forums. My "home" machining forum has several members interested in microcontrollers. Some of them are newbies like me (well, probably a lot better than that!) and some have products on the market.
As a person having at least a bit of machining experience and some equipment, I would love to be able to get ideas from others concerning machining and general construction techniques in pursuit of their robotics endeavors.
It is possible that a Parallax Robotics Machining Forum would attract at least a few professional machinists. Machinists are wonderfully inventive people. (Ha! Just look around you!) An experienced machinist or two or three would add great value to a Parallax forum. (I don't have a clue how it would help Parallax, directly. But, that's not important right now.)
--Bill
ps There may be Parallax forum members that are experienced machinists. Such an expansion of the forum would allow them to help the rest of us. I KNOW there are people on this forum with fantastic solutions to design and mechanical problems.
-dan
C.W.
Why would you want to weld wires together?
Hahahaha. Just kidding, I assume you mean you have a GMAW welder as I doubt you would have a FCAW welder (both are wire process). I can help with welding advice, its what I do.
I'm also all for this section. I would love to see how people manufacture their own enclosures and plastic work.
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This is the coolest of welding.(GTAW)
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No sparks, No smoke, No noise, Just a pretty little blue light and a world of welding control.
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Just add argon or helium.(don't forget the Tungsten) 2% throated for steel and stainless/ Pure for Aluminum
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I see this forum topic working already, And it hasn't even started yet.
Peter
If you want to relocate with microcontrollers, you just toss things in a box and go.
If you want to relocate with machinery, you hire a forklift and flatbed truck for moving day.
I did have a Unimat lathe, which a deeply regret selling. Shirline offers good lathes and milling equipment. Some welding equipment is handy as well. But one really has to have a shop space that can tolerate heat and the abuse of metal working. Serious machinist also have some serious power requirements, usually 3 phase electrical supply.
Still, I suspect that a good chassis supplier would compliment Parallax's products. I mean a steel chassis that could either mount stepper motors or geared motors for wheel drive and carry lead acid batteries in a low center of gravity.
Still, Parallax is very aware that their core customer is very price sensitive and likely to be a beginner that doesn't have these ambitions. But proving a forum for the more advance machinist would certainly be an added attraction to even those of us that are not willing to learn to weld and fabricate metals.
I DO NOT think a generalized fabrication forum that combines circuit board fabrication with mechanical device fabrication is a good idea. The two are very different topics for the most part. They may share some discussion in CAD - computer aided design. But for the most part, we already know the board fabrication is very divided between those that merely use a service and those who are comfortable with DIY with chemical etching. '
Nonetheless, there is a crossover in that Parallax has had several people create computer controlled milling machines for making boards. I guess there will always be a grey area between all and any of the forums
This might not be a bad idea for and how to control any and all types of machinery <..... Just an idea
Some day soon I hope I would like to get a small
Please don't get hung up on "machining" as just milling machines and welding and such. Hand tools were used for thousands of years to build stuff. Whether you're using a file or a CNC grinder, there's still a need to have some kind of understanding of the mechanics of what you're trying to accomplish.
C.W.
I used a drill press to make a bunch of dual bearing blocks for my first robot, Ugly Buster. I am glad I got them finished before I learned it was impossible. They worked perfectly. (They STILL work perfectly.)
I suppose I could make "better" ones now with the mill.
The neatest stuff is made by people that don't have the neatest stuff with which to make neat stuff.
--Bill
How To's are one of the biggest help a hobbyist can get.
KK
I think if things were more segregated, then the forums really wouldn't get much traffic. Basically, this could be a forum for people discussing how to do things once they get their hands off the keyboard and the breadboard.
There are other forums (non-Parallax) out there that discuss these topics, but it would be useful to have one here. There are a lot of beginners who frequent this forum who would benefit from some of the expertise that is present in these forums. It would also make it easy to tie projects together, with threads in the propeller forum, for example, discussing the code and threads in the new forum discussing the manufacturing, etc.
[1] And certainly milling and drilling circuit boards (as opposed to etching) easily fall under machining.
You guys have done a great job defining the scope of this possible forum. It includes machining, fabrication, assembly, or whatever processes we need to use to make our projects and products. There is a benefit to getting it all information from one place, too. Many of our customers (you) have talents far beyond electronics, and often use electronics to achieve a larger goal where electronics is only a sub-system of the whole project requiring anything from proof-of-concept fabrication through production needs.
Knowing bits about the people on this forum I am pretty sure that there's enough for a critical mass of Q/A to make this forum idea work successfully. I'll make sure the forum managers see this thread.
I just took delivery of a wood R/C airboat that I can't wait to build: http://www.claserdesigns.com/airboats.html but I'm very much an end-user in this case. I'd much rather make the time to MIG-weld my own high-powered creation and round it out with our processors but Parallax owns me right now. If we create this forum I'm sure I'll live in it too.
Ken Gracey
I'm assuming this is the same, or similar, subject I saw pop up on the suggestions forum? - http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?131713-New-sub-forum-possibility
Now that I'm starting to pry some more time away from the Parallax Semiconductor project we can start looking into these other pending requests; let's get this one underway. I know we have a bunch of other fixes/additions/etc scheduled for the forums, but adding a new box is simple enough.
We'll keep everyone abreast with other modifications as they occur.
-Matt
http://forums.parallax.com/forumdisplay.php?89-Builders
Hope this fits the bill.