December 1, 2019 Shop Log

I installed the second shelf lift. This one is for my belt and disc sander. Two power tools off the floor…

With the help of Nick Dodson, the electrician we use at the Amphitheater, I made up an quad box extension cord from my 240-volt service, splitting the 240-volt service into two 120-volt dedicated circuits.

With the FSL Muse Laser Cutter, I created mounting plates for my Ridgid battery chargers on the IKEA Skadis peg board. Actually, I used this as an opportunity to get David, my helper, to figure out how to design custom items to meet one’s specific needs. I tried to teach David how to use a calipers and SketchUp to create a drawing. However…

We ran into some mis-measurement issues. Not once…

But twice before getting it right.

I lost a cordless drill today. It did last sixteen years, so I got some use from it.

The Stacker 500 3D printer was put to work today. The poop bag holder went missing some time ago and decided to print a replacement.

July 19, 2019 Shop Log

I finally was able to spend some time at the shop, using the X-Carve to create a battery pack storage tray for all my USB battery packs.

I also fired up the Stacker 3D Printer to print a lid for the Ender 3 Universal Rear Electronics Enclosure.

A couple of days ago, I finished making another Solar Charging Station.

June 2, 2019 Shop Log

For awhile, the MakerCave Octopi has been warning me of a under-voltage issue. I have noticed this issue on several of my Raspberry Pis. Finally, I ordered an UM25C USB Meter from Amazon. Though, while not under load, the USB micro power connection (from the USB power ports of the UPS) reported just over 5 volts, as soon as the MakerCave Octopi was plugged in, the voltage dropped down to 4.6 volts, triggering a under-voltage warning. I switched over to a 2.5-amp power supply, and that resolved the issue.
You plug in the power source into the meter, in this case into the micro USB input. Then you plug in the device you wish to measure into the USB A female connection. The meter shows you the voltage and amperage the device is drawing. So this wireless charging pad is drawing 5.162 volts and .2715 amps to charge my AirPods.
I finished cutting the parts on the FSL Muse Laser Engraver and Cutter for the Eiffel Tower model. I will pack it up and send it to my brother and nephews as a gift.
I have had an idea festering in the back of my mind to get my fly-fishing equipment organized.
Since I had tools running and was working on shop organization and clean-up, I put the Stacker 500 to work, creating more spray can storage brackets.
Of course, I didn’t notice that the holes in the top and bottom trout were slightly different until I finished the cutting job, so I had to recut the top trout to match the bottom. Assembling went well I think. Now just to mount it in the garage at home…

January 27, 2019 Shop Log

I came into the shop, and the Stacker 500 finished printing out the model of the Sagrada Familia Nave.
Picking up where I left off yesterday, I used the Muse Laser Engraver and Cutter to starting making the work-holding L-brackets.
I exported my SketchUp design into a DXF file and then imported that file into Inkscape. As you can see, I ran into a bit of a scaling issue.
After searching the SketchUp Extension Warehouse, I discovered the FaceSVG: SVG Export for faces extension in order to export faces in SVG format. This corrected the scaling issue I had when exporting from DXF in SketchUp and then importing the DXF file into Inkscape in order to create a SVG file for the Muse.
I glued the layers of the L-bracket together.
The L-Brackets and Cam Clamps worked out well.

January 26, 2019 Shop Log

I decided to start making some work-holding tools I found on the Shapeoko User Group on Facebook, some cam holding clamps and holding L-brackets.
While the Shapeoko ran its job, I cut some additional directional signage for the Amphitheater on the GCC Expert24LX Vinyl Cutter. However, I just noticed a mistake. The signage was to read Main Gates, not Plaza Gates.
I also fired up the Stacker 500 to start printing the nave of the Sagrada Familia model.
I finished drilling the mounting holes and installing the mounting T-nuts on the backings for the Amphitheater Parking Lot Solar Work Light Panels.
The L-brackets I found on Facebook weren’t designed from my X-Carve CNC Router, so I decided to design one myself. It will be 3D-printed rather than cut from MDF.