Showing posts with label Scratch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scratch. Show all posts

Monday, November 4, 2013

Make a Scooter from Scratch

Before I do any real modeling, first I do rough sketches for most of my projects, this one included. I use these to figure out the basic dimensions I need. Once I had an idea of what I was actually going to be making, I went around my college campus with a notebook and tape-measure and took measurements off of all the scooter styles I liked. I ended up choosing the Razor A5-Lux to base my scooter on. I also decided early on that I wanted to make this out of aluminum, with a laser-cut acrylic deck, and possibly LEDs for night cruising. 

After 20 minutes of taking measurements off of someone's A5-Lux, I had all the dimensions I needed to do another round of sketches. Then I moved to Google SketchUp and made a full 3D model. Even though the nitty-gritty construction details were not 100% accurate in the SketchUp model, I used the model to figure out the different stock aluminum I needed, and specific cut lengths for some pieces. 

Later on in the build (about 5 months later) I learned SolidWorks in an engineering class. By this time in the build, I had most of the pieces made, so making an accurate model was much easier this time around. I used this model to figure out the exact length and placement of the "folding support bar", but I'll get into that later. However, I'll open each step from now on with a picture of the part from the Solid Works model. 

Once I had my SketchUp model, I made a materials list and ordered all of the aluminum from Online Metals. I also took time to figure out generic screw sizes, and ordered these from McMaster-Carr.com. I used mostly 8-32 socket-head and 8-32 button-head, with several 5-40 button-head screws for the little things. 

I was originally going to purchase the replacement 8 inch A5-Lux wheels from the Razor store, however, I decided against it after I found out they were back ordered and 60 dollars. After much online research, I found that large wheel-chair casters are cheap, durable, and pretty available. I got two 8 inch wheels from some guy on eBay for less then 20 dollars. 

Early on I decided I wanted the deck to be clear acrylic, so I also ordered a piece of 1/4 clear-green acrylic from E-Street Plastics. I'll use my school's laser cutter to cut out the deck. Laser cutting acrylic is great because it likes to crack and chip when you machine / cut it with regular saws, and the laser cutting also 'flame polishes' the edge when it cuts it, so it's just an all-around great way to cut acrylic!


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Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Smoked Bacon from Scratch

8607805603_6fc396469f.jpgEvery meat-eater I've ever met has a very special place in their belly for bacon. Quite simply, it is delicious, almost any way you cook it. In fact, we love it so much that we raise a couple of pigs each year to meet all our bacon needs, not to mention ham, lard, sausage, pork chops, ribs, etc.

Within this article we hope to run you through the real basics of bacon. How to raise pigs holistically, a summary of butchering, curing the ham and bacon, and finally how to smoke it (we even have another Instructable on how to build a smoker). Admittedly, this isn't for everyone, but the quality of meat you get from happy, healthy, pastured pigs is unsurpassed. If you don't have the space and resources to raise a pig yourself, it pays to get in touch with someone locally who can, or organize a pig-share.

Unfortunately, all our photos of smoked meat, seem to be of the shoulder or of hams. Sorry, you'll just have to think bacon when you see them!

For more information on raising and processing pigs, click here.
For other stuff we do, visit our website here.

5643505764_b98b0dd39b.jpgHere's a few facts about pigs for those of you who are considering raising your own pig or finding someone else to do it for you. The size of a litter varies with each sow, her age and breed playing a big role. But let's say the average is 8 piglets. Of those 8, there will normally be a runt (which will always be on the smaller side and is best to avoid buying if you can) and a couple of extra big ones. The latter is what you want ideally when buying a piglet to raise.Any pig will produce bacon, but a Landrace is usually longer than most breeds and thus will produce more bacon. It is also a fast growing breed.Piglets are usually weaned between 4 and 6 weeks, and this is when they are sold to people to feed up. Prices for a feeder pig vary according to your location. Near us, they sell for about $40.The perfect butcher size for a Landrace is about 240 lbs, which will give you about 150 lbs meat. A healthy animal on a good diet can achieve this weight at 6 months old, so 4 1/2 months after purchasing a Feeder pig.If you have to buy all the pig's food (no pasture, kitchen scraps, etc.) you will need between 650 and 750 lbs of feed, costing roughly $150. This puts the cost of your meat at about $1.30 a pound, for all kinds of different cuts.Pigs are omnivores, which means they eat a large variety of food, including grass, weeds, vegetables, grains, all sorts of kitchen scraps, any slaughter wastes from other animals (like poultry or rabbits). To grow well, they need a fairly high percentage of protein in their diet. So if you can't give them something like slaughter waste or meat scraps, give them a high protein plant like soy. For one or two feeder pigs, you can supplement their food considerably by picking weeds for them and giving them scraps. This will bring down the cost of raising them, and pigs love the variety.Pigs are easy to house. They don't need much shelter really, except when they're small or about to give birth. They do however get sunburned, so shade is absolutely essential. Rain isn't much of a problem - our pigs always run out in the rain to play in the mud.Pigs can't climb, so you don't need to make your fencing very tall. We use a three-strand electric fence, which they respect very well once they learn what it is. Pigs are very intelligent and usually learn fast.For more information on managing, breeding and feeding pigs, click here.

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Tuesday, July 23, 2013

How To Build a Space-Saving Folding Desk From Scratch

You don't need a bunch of square footage to have a great workspace. As Instructables user Jake Richardson shows in this step-by-step folding desk tutorial, a little bit of creatively-used space can go a long way.

How To Build a Space-Saving Folding Desk From Scratch

My room is fairly small, and it's a squeeze to fit things in. So when I found I needed a desk to do many of my projects, I had to think about space conservation. I decided to affix the desk to the side of my Ikea bookshelf. It's heavy, thick, and wide enough to attach a decent sized desk to.

How To Build a Space-Saving Folding Desk From Scratch

The pieces of wood I needed were pretty easy to find—I just used scrap wood from my garage. I settled on a piece of 30cm by 75cm plywood for the actual desk and an 8cm piece of pine for the hinge brace.

How To Build a Space-Saving Folding Desk From Scratch

I cut two 5cm-long pieces off of the strip of pine and nailed to the underside of the piece of plywood with fine nails. Then I sanded the pine blocks smooth before being attached, and used wood glue to strengthen the bond.

How To Build a Space-Saving Folding Desk From Scratch

I stained the desk with a satin mahogany wood stain. Three layers were used, with a light sanding after the second layer. The third layer was a very light coating. Then I gave the desk three layers of tough polyurethane varnish. (As with the stain, I used two initial layers with a light sanding, followed by a final light layer.)

How To Build a Space-Saving Folding Desk From Scratch

After the desk had ample time to cure, it was time to mount it to the side of the bookshelf. I used two brass door hinges, affixed with six steel screws each. I used a 1m-long, 3cm chain to hold the desk upright. The chain is hooked onto a small brass hook that's screwed onto the edge of the desk, while the other end is held in place at the top of the bookcase.

How To Build a Space-Saving Folding Desk From Scratch

How To Build a Space-Saving Folding Desk From Scratch

To finish the desk, I added a cutting surface that was also heatproof. I used a piece of slate tile that I cut to size and held in place with several lines of trade-standard Evo-Stik adhesive.

I now have a compact working space that can be folded away at a moment's notice!

How To Build a Space-Saving Folding Desk From Scratch

(For a bonus tutorial on Jake's refurbished chair, check out the original post in the link below.)

Fold Out Desk From Scratch & Chair Refurbishment | Instructables

Jake Richardson is an 18-year-old, soon-to-be apprentice from North Yorkshire, England. He's a maker and fixer of all things, from retro electronics to model furniture, as well as an enthusiastic model-maker.

Want to see your work on Lifehacker? Email Tessa.


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