Alt-BEAM Archive
Message #08595
To: beam@sgiblab.sgi.com
From: Bruce Robinson Bruce_Robinson@telus.net
Date: Sat, 25 Dec 1999 00:37:29 -0800
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: New to list
Nathaniel Martin wrote:
> ... Unfortunately, it looks like the FAQ at beamtek is down. Can
> anyone recommend another FAQ, or beginner's site?
Hi, Nathaniel.
If you wander over to
http://www.serve.com/heretics/
You'll find he has a mirror of the beamtek site.
Regards,
Bruce
8596 Sat, 25 Dec 1999 01:59:07 PST [alt-beam] Re: Carbon fiber, very dangerous and construction overkill + dont forget M beam@sgiblab.sgi.com "Timothy Flytcher" I just don't get it... whats all the fuss about any one material... all are
pretty much the same to work with... just different techniques... Yes I have
used carbon fiber... both in model aircraft and full sized... But if you
want simple and cheap ever tried poly ester resin and a brown paper bag???
Works just fine and makes compound curves easily...
Timothy...
> >>you don't
>build a golden gate or Fourth bridge to cross a stream! or perhaps you
>would
>on
>the grounds that its Aestheticly pleasing.... to your eye.
>The use of carbon rod is both expensive and not required, from a cosmetic
>perspective black painted glass rod would be strong enough and cheaper.
>
>
>BS cowboy!
>
>The very thin carbon fiber rod is extremely light and strong for it's
>mass... I feel it a superb frame material and quite easy to work with,
>regular wire cutters work just fine - remember it's only 1mm diameter.
>
>If some of the more bitter sounding individuals out there deem it 'too
>dangerous' or 'unnecessary overkill', then maybe it is not right for you...
>
>I have had excellent luck with it and use it all the time with great
>success. Some of the designs would simply not be as efficient without such
>a cheap, light, strong material.
>
>Expensive? try 4 feet of 1mm rod for $3.75!
>
>Please note, it's the ROD that i'm advocating, not the woven mesh - which
>would be wonderful too, but MUCH more difficult to use.
>
>Why for such an interesting and creative hobby as this are there so many
>people resistant to new ideas? Look how long it took the superior
>chloroplast circuit to gain acceptance. weird.
>
>/Adam
>
>
>
>
>
>
>NO im not forgetting the A only prioritising the M - Mechanics.
> the structural mechanics of an object have to take presidence or the
>thing
>will
>be either unreliable or open to breakage in its normal working environment.
>Its also a case of the right application of a construction technique, you
>dont
>build a golden gate or Fourth bridge to cross a stream! or perhaps you
>would
>on
>the grounds that its Aestheticly pleasing.... to your eye.
>The use of carbon rod is both expensive and not required, from a cosmetic
>perspective black painted glass rod would be strong enough and cheaper.
>If its the woven effect your after on a sheeted area there are car body
>supliers
>that do stickers ,
> and to be honest using a sticker for small areas would be a lot easier
>than
>making your own sheet from the fabric or pre fabricating from a purchased
>sheet.
>The sticker prints also emphasize the woven effect in the way it is lit in
>the
>print.
>
>
>Rob D
>AKA "Powerbuilder"
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>"Dane Gardner" on 21/12/99 18:50:10
>
>Please respond to beam@sgiblab.sgi.com
>
>To: beam@sgiblab.sgi.com
>cc: (bcc: Robert Draycott/FS/CPL)
>Subject: Re: Carbon fiber, very dangerous and construction overkill
>
>
>
>Do you forget what the A in BEAM stands for. As long as all safety
>concerns
>are addressed...I don't see any reason not to use such a beautiful
>construction material. BTW: I'd recomend a face mask and goggles, along
>with a cutting fluid...instead of just soap.
>
>CYA,
>
> Dane the Great
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From:
>To:
>Sent: Tuesday, December 21, 1999 3:56 AM
>Subject: Re: Carbon fiber, very dangerous and construction overkill
>
>
> >
> >
> >
> > re the recent chat on carbon fibre
> > as I pointed out before carbon fibre splinters dont tend to be visible
>to
>the
> > naked eye and once in your skin migrate around your body,
> > the recomendation is that when handling the raw cloth or strand rubber
>or
>latex
> > gloves are worn,
> > when cutting the stuff as some have described large coluds of the stuff
>become
> > airborne so when cutting rod lubricate with washing up liquid (soap)
>that
>way
> > you will keep down the stuff , NEVER NEVER NEVER sand the stuff
>without
>a
> > wetting medium.
> >
> > The use of carbon in our context is downright stupid since its just
>overkill for
> > the task, I remember the chaps that made a walker in 1/8 th carbon sheet
>!!
> > they dont even use stuff that sort of sheet dimension often aircraft let
>alone a
> > mincing little bot. These fools apparently sanded the stuff to shape
>!!!!!!
> >
> > This stuff is only of any value if you use it in the correct places for
>the
> > right reason rather than for the sake of using it !!!!!
> > Remember that Carbon Fibre is stiff but britle and in rod form the resin
>that
> > surrounds the inividual fibres will delaminate from the fibres long
>before
>the
> > actual fibre snaps.
> > I recomend that beamers stick to safer alternatives that are plenty
>strong
> > enough for our task unless you know the PROS and CONS of Carbon,
> > have a valid reason to use it ,
> > and intent to use it in sensible construction techniques.
> >
> >
> > Rob D
> > AKA " Powerbuilder"
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
______________________________________________________
8597 Sat, 25 Dec 1999 02:09:45 PST [alt-beam] Re: Carbon fiber, very dangerous and construction overkill + dont forget M beam@sgiblab.sgi.com "Timothy Flytcher" Hay Adam,
I wonder what he would say to my having used kevlar for the cable bracing in
one of my solar powered mobiles???
Timothy...
> >>you don't
>build a golden gate or Fourth bridge to cross a stream! or perhaps you
>would
>on
>the grounds that its Aestheticly pleasing.... to your eye.
>The use of carbon rod is both expensive and not required, from a cosmetic
>perspective black painted glass rod would be strong enough and cheaper.
>
>
>BS cowboy!
>
______________________________________________________
8598 Sat, 25 Dec 1999 02:25:49 PST [alt-beam] Re: New to list beam@sgiblab.sgi.com "Timothy Flytcher" Hi Nathaniel,
>and I'm waiting to get some small gear motors to start
>building (does anyone know where to get some good cheap gear motors?)
>
Have you checked out sheldons??? they are in San Jose and carry a full line
of cheap hobby servos...Well worth the short drive down...
And welcome aboard...
Timothy...
Atascadero, Ca
______________________________________________________
8599 Sat, 25 Dec 1999 12:48:26 -0500 Re: New to list David Perry
>
> >Hi Everyone.
>
>
> Hi!
>
>
> snip!
> >building (does anyone know where to get some good cheap gear motors?)
>
>
> the most reliable source is using servos, but you have to remove the
> circuitry (not hard). Other good gear motors are rather hard to find or
very
> expensive.
>
> >I've been looking around the 'net trying to find some good beginning
> >information. Unfortunately, it looks like the FAQ at beamtek is down. Can
> >anyone recommend another FAQ, or beginner's site?
>
>
> BeamTEK is most likely the best, it will be up again soon (it always does
> this at the end of the month). Just keep surfing around picking up little
> bits of info as you can, there aren't really any other definitive sites.
>
> >Two more questions:
> >
> >1) How does feedback from the motors affect the microcore? I understand
the
> >basics of the microcore, but I don't see how the microcore "knows" that a
> >leg is stuck, etc.
>
>
> I'm not sure of the exact mechanics of it but when the motor is being held
> back it draws more current which makes the NV neuron stay on longer.
>
> >2) What is a hextile? I've heard of these and seen pictures of these
> >several times, but I don't know what they are.
>
>
> They are these really cool circuit boards shaped like a hexagon, they have
> various pads and links and can be joined together. In other words they are
> universal circuit boards that can be used on lots of projects. The
original
> ones by Mark Tilden were gold plated and looked really cool. Other people
> have designs for you to make, Dennisons site had some i think.
>
> >I have been doing a lot of work with electric vehicles lately, so I know
a
> >good amount about (big) motors, batteries, and motor control. Maybe I can
> >use this knowledge to answer someone else's questions, and I won't be
only
> >asking them!
> >
> >Sorry for the newbie questions, I look forward to the answers!
>
>
> thats okay, your questions are good!
>
> merry xmas!
>
> David Perry
>
>
>
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