ramblindan.orgRamblin' Dan

-- Renaissance Man Comments Posts Associated Links Other websites associated with this blog. ________________________ In the Family Shelley's KautzPhoto Ramblin' Places 's Store T.E. Datum RD's Blog Roll A THMS Blog Blognasium Dimensional Art Studio Dimensional Print Studio W5EHS Workshop Web Sites KautzCraft Studio 's Workshop The Hobbyist's Machine Shop Meta Log in Entries feed Comments feed WordPress.org RD’s Pages 3D Print Training About Privacy Policy Blog How-To My Personal Computer Viewpoint Determining Standards Le’go My Linux Orwellian Exposure Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Email is for Real Spam Blocked 8,926 spam blocked by Akismet Giant Suck Raw Sewage I have abandoned Facebook for (I think) the third time. FB has some good points and I enjoy keeping in touch with “real” friends and family. I do not judge my self-worth by how many long-lost and stray-cat “friends” want to join me. My real friends know how to otherwise keep contact with me if they desire. The political climate and vicious personal attacks have driven me away again. The fraudulent advertising is also no attraction. There is more raw sewage in Facebook than I can withstand. I don’t desire the exposure when it is so easy (and hard) to just turn it off. It may last six months. More likely a year. Right now forever is fine with me. Facebook is exploitive. tracking and devouring ones every Internet move and personal posting. Follow a link outside of Facebook and Facebook remains attached, tracking every move and interest. Browsers like Firefox have now added “privacy tabs” for viewing Facebook. Of course Googler (sic) and Chromey (sic) are partners-in-crime with Facebook. There is little to NO privacy the moment an internet connection is made. I remember when postal “ Mail Fraud ” was a federal crime. That concept is long gone on the Internet. We have given away privacy because “ Big Brother ” can better protect… what? August 18th, 2020 | Tags: culture , customer satisfaction , Government | Category: Musing, Observation | Leave a comment Ramblin’ On Creative Manufacturing Art and My Personal Philosophy Best of Both I have one outstanding way of creating wax masters for lost wax casting. I use a high-speed spindle (up to 25,000 RPM) on a Taig Micro Mill. If I can draw it properly, I can machine it in 3D. The limitation is the 4-axis ability of this machine. That doesn’t sound like much of a limitation to most machinist. 4 axis means X, Y, Z movement with an additional rotary A axis. There is a huge amount of work that can be accomplished with 4 axis milling. But there are some designs that can benefit from additional movement freedom. No way am I going to do 5 and 6 axis machining. Not in the realm of this hobbyist. Machining is a subtractive manufacturing process using a solid blank of material and removing material until the desired form remains. There is another way to achieve greater design freedom and that is by three-dimensional printing. I have ventured there with some success. Three-dimensional printing is an additive manufacturing process of building a dimensional model by using a computer, virtually slicing very thin horizontal (X/Y) layers of the computer model and stacked in the Z axis direction. Then using a 3D printing machine to create all the layers, one layer at a time “stuck” together. Start with nothing and add layers of material building the tangible model. Complex shapes can be created that are impossible with subtractive machining. Areas that a milling tool cannot reach. As a hobbyist, I have the time to develop alternative creative processes. My hobbies are as much about enjoying the process as admiring the finished product. My current desire is to explore both the subtractive and the additive process of creating wax masters for the lost wax casting process. Neither process is perfect. Both together provide more than either alone. Worth my time to explore as I have said, I enjoy the process as much as producing the finished product. A Bit of Philosophy Therein lies one of the great comforts of life, for those privileged to reach it. Totally enjoying the work in process as much or more than the rewards at the finish. The product (the score at the end of the game) is the reward. The work (playing the game) is where most of life is experienced and where it is best enjoyed when fully embraced as what we do and who we are. Life is not perfect. I understand. Not for me, anyway. But I do my best to enjoy the journey when I can choose the route. Additive or subtractive manufacturing? Why not enjoy the best of both! It’s the reason I chose the moniker “Ramblin’ Dan”. Rambling is moving from one topic to another, enjoying the journey. The destination is perhaps somewhat obscured by those observing. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rambling Rambling may not be an admirable trait. I get upset with others who never seem to come to a point when I want a straight-path yes/no answer. So, it is a kind of soul cleansing confession to admit I enjoy going in many directions in my blogging and hobby activities. Not an indication of my total lifestyle. Just one of many traits or faults(?). However, an indication of my comfort zone. I enjoy the journey and want it to continue. The end is so final. A sign to start another journey! Keep on Ramblin’ July 9th, 2020 | Tags: 3D , 3D Printing , blog , CNC , hobby , lost wax casting , Model , silver , wax carving , workshop | Category: Hobbies, Musing, Observation | Leave a comment Mindless Wandering? I mentally wander off while looking at the things I like to make, wondering if I can do (make) them better. Kind of a wondering wander I suppose… Ha! Tool lust is something of which I am well aware. I love well made good working machine tools. I actually, love any tool that works well for creating the tangible items I create. I assume it is a normal desire for any creative person. That kind of lust does need to be understood and kept within reasonable bounds. How I manage it is a mental exercise. I examine the reasons for the lust (desire) and compare […] Continue reading » Mindless Wandering? June 30th, 2020 | Tags: 3D , 3D Printing , hobby , machine , professional , Thought , tools | Category: Hobbies | Leave a comment Following a Map, Learning or Training? Learning Learning is a process about trying things to see what happens. It’s a process of experience. The learning is in the realization there may be other actions that produce more desirable results. Testing the alternative actions is part of a learning process. Experience is understanding results, the cause and effect, of both correct and incorrect actions. The testing does not have to be physical. Einstein and many other great thinkers run “tests” mentally. But most people gain experience from real world tangible actions. Teachers are folks who know from their personal experience, what actions work and what dangerous actions need […] Continue reading » Following a Map, Learning or Training? June 26th, 2020 | Tags: aircraft , business , CSI , customer satisfaction , Schneider , TAC | Category: Asides | Leave a comment A20M Repair The A20M is my Geeetech (brand) dual color 3D printer. I also own and operate a Geeetech A20T which is a triple color 3D printer. The new dual extruder The A20M has been an excellent quality printing output. However the dual print head as been a fairly serious issue. I just installed the second replacement printhead so it is now running on its third. The second head is identical to the first but the third is anodized black (see pictures). Geeetech has not said what is different on the new black extruder. (print head). They do claim it has been improved and I […] Continue reading » A20M Repair June 11th, 2020 | Tags: 3D , 3D Printing | Category: 3D Printing, Musing | Leave a comment Older Entries » Header photos are originals, created by "Ramblin'" Dan Kautz __________________________ Posts by Category Asides (38) Family (44) Hobbies (317...