Casting Test

The first sand casting test is a simple one:

To hold it I have made a  box on the CNC using some custom  Gcode:

This box fits the casting really well (the peak of the cap had to have it's own cut out, this keys the box lid as well:

It's quite plain on the outside:

The box gcode was generated using a Tcl script, and I'm going to create a parametric top level script that drives the lower level gcode scripts so that I can generate boxes like this of any dimensions just by running the top level script.

Zip Up bag For Ongoing project Support

I bought some material for making bags a while ago, and made a zip up bag for holding some essential items for an ongoing project.

Some of you may recognise the elastic straps...


The last bag I made had a twist to it. That isn't the case here.

Epaper For A Current Project

There was a need for some information in photos for one of the current projects, so as my epaper kit had arrived from Kickstarter, I adjusted the code to allow for larger text and we have this:

This display isn't connected to a controller in the picture, which is useful. It really is like an electronic piece of card. It'll be interesting to see how long the text remains on the display...

Canopy Fittings Finished

The canopy fitting replacement is done, and I've reinforced the original broken one with a couple of aluminium plates.

Hopefully the newly manufactured fitting will fit the extrusion it lives in OK, and if for some reason it doesn't work then there's the reinforced original fitting that can be used instead.

Metal Melting

So far melting of metal in the kiln has included lead, and these two:

Top ingot is aluminium from scrap. Bottom ingot is brass from old electrical fittings.  I've machined the tops off to see what the quality of metal is below the surface. The lead casting is just to reduce the space the scrap takes, I've no idea what to use it for at the moment.


Under the microscope the aluminium has some inclusions, but it's still pretty good, easily good enough for things I want to make form it.

The brass is better, with no inclusions visible. It pours well too.

Moses Basket Stand

It looks like a Moses basket requires a stand, so, after perusal of a well known search engine, we have a design.

Some curvy wood.

And we have a stand. Some sewing required