Category: Uncategorized

I’ve always held myself to a different standard than I hold others to.
Not better.
Not looser.
Not higher.
Different.
Other people build railroads. I have to have a purpose. I have to hand build everything. I have to come in with a different aesthetic. I have to come in cheaper.
That being said. Rails. Funny note, my phone auto-corrected Rails as Tasks. Speaking of, fondle during my commute, I should map out the tasks to get a base proof of concept.

Wheels. Wheels and rails, but really, wheels.
Really, determine scale. Once I have the scale figured out, I can go from there. Scans will be determined by book size, bottle size, and the masses there of. Once I have that figured out, build the first trolley, add wheels, add rails, and start running up and clean the tracks.
I’m considering a roller coaster style hook system for steeper inclines. That will probably be one of the easier things to jankineer.

Assist anything is cheaper than actual model trains. That’s a terrifying world of expensive. Also, people take that way serious.

So, hand make track. This leaves the question of monorail or not. Either way, I’ll still need at least two electricity transmission lines. This could be overhead, the rails themselves, or a dreaded third rail in conjunction with 1 and 2.

I’m feeling a cyberpunk London underground theme. Maybe have illuminated signs to convey other information as needed. Time, weather, stuff like that.This could also be another great addition to the modular den idea. Have the tools come to me.

So about those rails… it seems life I’m not finding I the in depth research I want in regards to slip (of wheel to rail that is). Going to have to do that bit experimentally.

Conductive tape (2x length) vs model train track: energy transmission efficiency and price

What look do I want? Steam and fairly silly to me. Not that stream engines are silly, but I was going to do a steam engine, I’d do a steam engine. A futuristic look would be cool, but what citrus look.

Load bearing of different methods. In some weird way, I almost want this to be a book caddy. Paperbacks get loaded on at my desk, the train circles the room, bringing my next book to me. It’s be a combination of storage and delivery.

How much does a paperback weigh?

How many paperbacks do I have?

How an I going to clarify a paperback versus a non-paperback? I’m looking at you anthologies. And you Les Miserables.

On some disturbed level, I’m considering a mouse ball.
Take the platform, supporting it from above and below all the way around, but just on the power edge of your build size. Then in the center of that enclosure, add a ball on the bottom. Have two weeks, your x and y axis, turning the ball. I think that would make for some super shitty accuracy and energy transfer.
Right, one bolt under the build platform, one bolt moving the rotary tool.
I should look at the mouse ball for a robot though.

Threaded rods, timing belts, or long bolts (ie cheap threaded rods). I’m leaning towards bolts, not just for price, bit too see how accurate it could be. Especially if I added in some profiling of the bolt itself, it might be perfectly accurate for what I’m doing.
I’ll never understand why I’m so irrationally against timing belts. It’s not like I have a rain for my bias, never having designed anything using timing belts out threaded rods. It’s just something about them. Maybe it’s the perception of slop. Lord knows I never think slop sounds appealing. Come get it, fresh slop, dinner time! Nope, not tasty.
So bolts it is.

Went to Fred Meyer to get embroidery floss and a staple gun. Got dryer sheets and Christmas lights instead. There embroidery floss consisted of a pack that was marketed for doing friendship bracelets. I declined. Their staple guns were $20 on the cheap end. I think I’ll hit a craft store I know of tomorrow.
I’m having my vision flesh out a bit better. Dark night. Buildings with twinkling lights. A Starry Night kind of background done only in dark colors. Sharp angled faces of a poly above. The edges are sometimes picked out in the conducive thread. LEDs on done if the vertices.

It’s needlepoint.
B. I need stuffs: black embroidery floss (other chokes wouldn’t hurt), a new staple gun (don’t know why mine is being a butt)

This is all inspired by my need to remind myself one simple truth: don’t volunteer knowledge. I get a lot of bulk questions in my life, things like “does anyone see a problem?” Since I’m helpful chap, I answer and that just ends badly. Simple solution, keep my mouth shut.

The maelstrom that consumes all thought.
Do a (Embroidery? Cross stitch? Needlepoint?) Project. Almost all dark? Highlights to give the hint of form. A bare inverse shadow. Some of the highlights will be done in conductive thread. These threads will give light to the other elements.

It looks like I can drive unipolar stepper motors with nothing but a simple circuit, so in the flavor of bootstrapping, that’s what I’ll do. I’ll order those when I order parts for…
When we first got our second kitteh, I pointed out that if there was issues with their cohabitating, that I could build an RFID based safety doors. Since the younger of the two likes to eat the food of the older, it looks like that’s what I’m doing. Now to spec that out and get purchasing.