secondsuitor

I want a claw that doesn’t apply torsion to the book. This means we can’t have angular motion, at least not without a lot of tomfoolery. My initial(ious) thought is a servo driven grabber. Add some feedback and we can make sure we always have the right amount of pressure (one I get that calibrated, and probably add a mass value per title). Or, maybe I should do a load cell. Huh.That might be a good idea…

Last night the Wif and I went to Tru-Value for some sundry hardware. They didn’t have wire what I wanted on trends if bolts and nuts, but I picked up what was closest so I could do a trial concept at a minimum. The problem is the length of the threads are nowhere near add long as I want (for using as a threaded rod). The fun bit is that I’m thinking they are long enough for the grabber.
Happy little accidents.
I’m still visualizing how this is ask going to work. I’m starting to visualize the style though, so glue me that’s half the battle.
Grabber.

So that going to be my part 1.

Started thinking about the book storage facility. That’s right. I’ve thought about this problem before, never got anywhere, and note I’m back to nowhere.
The issue is that I have over (and this is off the top of my head, and being very discriminatory regarding what is a paperback book) 3 cubic feet of paperback books. Done on end, and now we’re looking at (mental arithmeticcing like a madman on the bus) over 20′, and this will only get worse.
So I need a train car that…
(Time passes)
Oo! I was taking out loud while a file processed.
Train car
Goes between two sets of shelves
Each set of shelves has a rail aligned with the shelf itself
Grabber on pivot
Grabber turns to desired book
Backside of grabber braces against rail
Arm grabs book
Arm pulls book in
Debrace (totes making up word again)
Grabber pivots inline with train
Roll out

Now I see how this is going to work, this is going to need to be my first trial. This is the thing that’ll make or break the deal.

Books aren’t too delicate, so I’ll start by building a grabber
Put grabber on an arm
Put arm on a pivot
Add brace to pivot
Add train under pivot
Add track under train
Add shelves to either side of train

3′ wide is probably the max on the shelves. If I have a derailment or standard maintenance, I don’t want to have to tear apart things.

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.