Machining ← Tangent Audio

Bicycle Disc Brake Caliper Mount

Oct

2013

It’s no secret that I can get pretty wrapped up in projects. Witness a “small” project that I took on for a friend, which happened to combine my love of bicycles, mechanical design, and CNC machining work. I ended up spending a 12 hour day, and then a 4 hour day in the shop – ...

Camera Slider Track Part 1

May

2013

I have long wanted to work on some motion-controlled camera rigs, for time lapse and moving video shot purposes. The longest-brewing idea I have had is for a motion-controlled cable camera rig for setting up some elaborate mountain bike shots, but there are a lot of engineering hurdles for that project and I just haven’t ...

More Microscope Hacking: Camera Output!

Mar

2013

Apparently hacking around with my microscope has turned into something of an obsession. The other day, I wondered if I could easily add a camera output to my microscope. I had a tiny composite video security camera lying around in my parts bin, and somewhat by accident also had a collection of C-mount lenses that ...

Epic Builds: Articulated Stereo Microscope Arm 2

Feb

2013

I’ve wanted a stereo microscope in my home lab for ages. In the last couple of years, it’s become an increasingly urgent need as I’ve hit the age where my eyesight is beginning to change. Soldering and inspecting fine-pitch SMD work is becoming difficult without the aid of magnification. So, I finally picked up a ...

CNC Electronics Enclosure Work Commences… 1

Dec

2012

Santa’s workshop was busy today. I finally got some motivation and time to continue work that I started a year ago, but really, has been a nagging task since day one of getting the CNC up and running. I have the machine up and running enough to make parts, with all of the controlling electronics ...

HOWTO: Tormach TTS Conversion Kit Installation

Dec

2012

Here is a quick how-to video I put together using some really old footage I shot in May of 2010. It shows how the Tormach Tooling System Conversion Kit is installed onto a Maritool brand ER25 tool holder, converting it for use with my CNC milling machine. This allows tool heights to be measured and ...

CNC Mill Telescoping Way Covers, Take 2

Dec

2012

Quite some time ago (May 2011) I had managed to track down a telescoping way cover for a close relative (Sieg KX3) of my milling machine (Sieg X3), one which happened to come from the factory with CNC capabilities. The two machines share some dimensions and have at least similar castings, and a lot of ...

More Custom Mountain Bike Parts

Dec

2012

I finally got the CNC mill running well enough to actually run a couple of parts. My friend had trashed the skid plates that we made for his mountain bike, and he need a couple of new ones. My machine has been out of commission for a while, since I took it apart last year ...

Back from Summer Break: Droid Razr Maxx Car Dock

Dec

2012

Summer is long over here in New England, and with snow falling from the sky, naturally my thoughts return back to the machine shop, the electronics lab, and the pile of projects waiting to be completed. About two years ago, I designed a universal dashboard mounting system for my car. The basic idea is that ...

Encoder Coupler Idea

Feb

2012

I have been trying to come up with a good way to attach a rotary encoder to the spindle of my CNC milling machine, so I can have closed-loop control of the spindle speed. I found a potentially good spot in the gearbox where I could possibly mount an encoder, but I’d need to make ...