I like this time at night on HBT

[Airborneguy]

My wife just texted me that she's up with ours. Her teething is just beginning now. Gonna be rough from here on out.

 

[snaps10]

Ouch. Mine is on her 7th and 8th teeth. I almost wish they'd all come in at once and just have one week of hell.

 

[Varmintman]

Oh teething time. That deserves a song

 

[Varmintman]

I know weird that a German would like Flogging Molly but I do

 

[bottlebomber]

Ok I'll take a guess. Because the center of the round piece is threaded. The posts you machined are threaded. The connecting piece is a clutch? Or a pump?

I'm not totally sure which piece you're looking at but the one that is on the granite between centers is for a piece of equipment that is inserted down a hole that has been drilled into the earth, where is spins at 80,000 rpm while emitting microwaves. It's used once then it's dead. It is used in assessing the yields of oil and gas reservoirs. The Astrolab stamped piece is some sort of an electrical component I'm pretty sure because it actually had to be silver plated over the brass which is what you're seeing.

I know you're not trying to be, but that is pretty impressive BB. Making stuff is pretty cool. I make things in the garage but not to any specs. Being a machinist is an art and science I believe.

It is a very satisfying job, and I'm fortunate to have it. It does take an interesting mix of skills to be good at it, because like you mentioned it takes both creativity and precision. It's becoming increasingly hard to find people who are able and willing to do this work. A lot of smart people don't like being on their feet for 10 hours a day, etc. Kids these days don't want to have to work hard.

Dang BB I dable a bit on my mill and lathe but it would take me a month of Sundays to machine that one rack. Dang last time I chucked anything up in a mill it took me 45 minutes to get it within .001.

I have used a point to point some and wrote code for them but you know the tech changes so fast that if you do not keep on top of it you loose it. So I just tinker around making useless stuff I will use someday:cross:

Things change constantly. A thou would be hard to work with on a lot of these parts, it probably wouldn't be wise to post the print I'm working from on the Internet but I'm holding .0002 on many of the dimensions on what I'm currently working on. That cart full of parts is these things, they are actually two pieces which I make separately then machine together at the end, them do a little assembly work. Here's a few other things I've been working on. Ok I am showing off now Dan

 

[45_70sharps]

Sharps - I keep meaning to ask you: did you make that Union Jack clone? If so, how'd it turn out?

Wow! Last night got out of hand. Never made it back to here.

I haven't made it yet. I couldn't get everything I needed when I went to the brew store so I bought stuff for a few other beers.
I need to email him and see if he can't put together what I need plus the ingredients for some barleywine.

I also need to change my info since I don't seem to keep it updated.

 

[45_70sharps]

Just tonight, out of nowhere my son came over to me and gave me a huge hug. Definitely made my night! And I had grounded him today so it was all the more a surprise (and no Creamy - I'm not trying to fool you - last night was a *much* different experience )

Yeah my daughter does that but in places like school it embarrasses her.

A hug and I love you daddy does make you feel pretty good though.

 

[45_70sharps]

My wife listened to my son talk about how his step dad really loves him, and I don't. And I'm weird and don't understand because I don't like video games. (His mom is a video game addict and me her husband online gaming while we were still married. I'm obviously not a fan)

I got to sit down and tell him that even though I didn't buy him a 42" tv for his room and I don't let him play video games has nothing to do with me loving him. And explain that he's only spent 3 1/2 weeks with him in the 2 years he's been their step dad. That he doesn't know what he'll be like.

Aaaahhhh parenthood.

Man, that is a hard one to deal with.
Being the responsible parent can be tough.
The kids can tend to think that the irresponsible one is more fun and maybe he loves them more.
If the other parent doesn't pay any attention to the kid sometimes the kid even gravitates toward them more.
All you can do is keep trying.

 

[BobbiLynn]

Damn, bottlebomber, those are some intricate parts. Like Cad and then set the machines to press them out? Fancy machines you got there....

 

[BobbiLynn]

I have 2 kids, one in college, one goofing off. My son spent 4 years in the Navy training as an electrician's assistant, his college paid for but he's still taking a break. Daughter is finishing up her first year of college.

 

[bottlebomber]

Damn, bottlebomber, those are some intricate parts. Like Cad and then set the machines to press them out? Fancy machines you got there....

I get a .pdf solid image from the customer along with the blueprint, which I import into our CAD/CAM software and then when I've decided how I want to machine it I plot the tool paths onto the image and it generates code that represents what I told it to do. Basically I am virtually machining it first and it gives me the code that the machine needs to see to do the same thing. There is a lot of editing to do and it can get pretty scary the first time you run a part, but after that it's pretty much gravy. When I started here in 2000 my boss made me program everything using trig, paper and a calculator. I like this way better. Basically the machine has a tool magazine from which is selects the appropriate cutter and does a machining operation. Then it changes tools and does the next tool. Spot face, drill, tap, etc. This machine fully outfitted runs a little over half a million dollars. I haven't crashed it yet

 

[BobbiLynn]

This machine fully outfitted runs a little over half a million dollars. I haven't crashed it yet

Yep, that's what I thought, damn fancy machine. I'm impressed they let you program it.

 

[bottlebomber]

Hey what are you saying??

 

[snaps10]

I need some Heady Topper. Any night owls able to help me out with this? I keep hearing about it, but it is unavailable to those of us out here. Perhaps a bottle trade?

 

[bottlebomber]

I need some Heady Topper. Any night owls able to help me out with this? I keep hearing about it, but it is unavailable to those of us out here. Perhaps a bottle trade?

There are some that can get it. Even for those that are within the distribution area it is difficult to get evidently because the stores that get it sell what they've gotten within hours. You'll probably just have to start a thread and see what you can rustle up. Hopefully you can get some good beer to barter with.

 

[45_70sharps]

I need some Heady Topper. Any night owls able to help me out with this? I keep hearing about it, but it is unavailable to those of us out here. Perhaps a bottle trade?

I keep hearing about beers I can't get too.
Of course I live in the sticks so there's a lot I don't have access to.

 

[Leadgolem]

My wife just texted me that she's up with ours. Her teething is just beginning now. Gonna be rough from here on out.

I have two words for you. Frozen waffles.

 

[BobbiLynn]

Hey what are you saying??

You are a smart guy.

My Dad worked at a machine shop in his younger years and worked with CAD. He could practically walk into that huge shop and go back to his computer and have all those machines running, making stuff. I'd help him and run around and make sure nothing was getting stuck, holler to him if it was, around ages 6-12. He started the company Kingston Metal South.

 

[45_70sharps]

Slow night on here.
I was out being stupid last night and this thread was busy as hell.

I'm home tonight and nobody's here!

 

[BobbiLynn]

Well, I thought I was somebody...

 

[45_70sharps]

Well, I thought I was somebody...

Sorry! No insult intended.
Just very quiet on here tonight.

 

[opus345]

Snaps,

I have two step kids that are now out of the house, married and making babies. Still working on accepting the title of Grandpa. I try not to say grandkids, I refer to them as the kid's kids. We also have one finishing up college.

I've been through the whole realm of "your not my real father", to spontaneous "I love you"s. When we got married, the kids wanted to change their last name also. We had to have one of those hard talks where I explained that I was not the natural father and it would be wrong. That I was going to be a second father that would love them unconditionally, but we would have rules in this world. For the record, her ex was mess. Alcoholic, cheating, gambling addiction, stealing from the kids savings bonds. After a visit, the kids came back and said that they "got to see horseys". We asked them if they went to the zoo. "Not the zoo, but it was a big place and the horseys all ran around this big circle" was the reply. Great, he took them to the track.

I think Dan had the best advice that if you stay the course, love the kids unconditionally, and communicate honestly with them, they will know what is real and what is not. Then they will surprise you sometime when you least expect it with their understanding. The clouds part, the light shins down, and boom, you realize they got it.

Of course, there will be some days when you understand why lions eat their young.

 

[Leadgolem]

Gnome body no's the trubble I've sea'n.

 

[BobbiLynn]

Sorry! No insult intended.
Just very quiet on here tonight.

I was just joking, no insult taken. I was thinking the same as you, at least I didn't miss much!

 

[BobbiLynn]

Hello Dad, I'm in Jail

That song makes me feel a lot better about when my son calls me, he has said, "Mom, I just need to come stay for a little while, maybe get a couple bucks." Even had to go pick him up because his motorcycle was broke down, plus, he couldn't carry all his stuff on it. Drop everything, go get him. Feed him, send him on his way within a couple months. Go forth into the world, son, make thyself your own money... He's in his early 20s.

 

[BobbiLynn]

P.S. It doesn't stop when they turn 18...

 

[Leadgolem]

That song makes me feel a lot better about when my son calls me, he has said, "Mom, I just need to come stay for a little while, maybe get a couple bucks." Even had to go pick him up because his motorcycle was broke down, plus, he couldn't carry all his stuff on it. Drop everything, go get him. Feed him, send him on his way within a couple months. Go forth into the world, son, make thyself your own money... He's in his early 20s.

Huh, the opposite happened to me. I moved out on my own with a full time job at 18. At 28, my disabled mother lives in my house.

 

[opus345]

One year we got the 1AM call. The middle son said he had an accident, he was alright, could we come. I remember flying out of the house and speeding through the neighborhoods. He turned left on a greenlight, but a red left arrow. Oncoming Explorer totaled his Honda. After exiting the police car from the interview, he climbs in the back and asks if we are mad and hate him. I respond with, "Tommy; no drugs, no alcohol, no 10 kids in the car with the radio blearing. You made a bad judgement and we are glad your safe. Let's say we are a little disappointed. And he replies, "I'm really glad you guys were here for me". My wife and I did a "low five" so that he couldn't see us.

 

[45_70sharps]

P.S. It doesn't stop when they turn 18...

Yeh, that's the scary part.
When my daughter is out of college I'll be at least 62!

 

[45_70sharps]

One year we got the 1AM call. The middle son said he had an accident, he was alright, could we come. I remember flying out of the house and speeding through the neighborhoods. He turned left on a greenlight, but a red left arrow. Oncoming Explorer totaled his Honda. After exiting the police car from the interview, he climbs in the back and asks if we are mad and hate him. I respond with, "Tommy; no drugs, no alcohol, no 10 kids in the car with the radio blearing. You made a bad judgement and we are glad your safe. Let's say we are a little disappointed. And he replies, "I'm really glad you guys were here for me". My wife and I did a "low five" so that he couldn't see us.

Well handled!