How necessary is 3D?

[Peter G. ShawParticipant @peterg-shaw75338]

John, You've put it a lot better than I did. Thanks.

Everyone, it's a fact that I simply want to be able to use the tools, the basic, hand-controlled tools that is. I don't have CNC or DRO's. Yes, I'm a backwards looking old codger, but I'm in this game to learn how to use the mechanical tools, including the measuring gear. I don't particularly want electronic gear since this to me takes away some of the interest for me. Don't get me wrong, I can see how electronic measuring makes life easier especially to the wrinklies with less than perfect eyesight (which is why I have magnifying lenses of various types), but at the same time my limited experience with electronic calipers is that the batteries (cell actually) don't seem to last two minutes and then I have to spend time scrabbling around changing it. And if I haven't got a spare, going out and buying one and making sure that the dimwitted shopkeeper who thinks that the LR44 is the same as a 357 doesn't fob me off with the LR44. Plus the stated accuracy/resolution which is always stated as being plus or minus one digit. And so on. But hey, if you're ok with that then go ahead, I'm not.

Yes. I like using the mechanical tools and attempting to create something myself without relying on electronic goodies.

You could argue, then, why am I bothering with CAD? Why am I indeed? Well for one thing, it's a darn sight neater than what I can do by hand. Secondly, it's a darn sight easier to modify and do a reprint. And both arguments could well apply to using the tools, ie why not let the tools do it for you? Suffice to say that doesn't do anything for me.

Let me just say one other thing. I do this for me, no-one else, just me. I get the satisfaction from, if you like, creating a drawing (which I could do by hand but see above), and then making it. (Actually, it always seems to be the other way round – make it, then draw it!) And seeing what a rubbish job I've made of it. And before anyone poo-pooh's that last statement, the article that initiated this correspondence, is not particularly well made. I hope it will do the job when it is finally assembled, but some of the surfacing shows evidence of chatter. But, it's my chatter (!), on a piece of metal I have formed by my hand-eye-brain co-ordination. If it doesn't work, then I'll have to have another go.

Which brings me back to learning 3D. And the possibility of learning Python to write a Linux program to replace a DOS program I'm using via DosEmu. I rather think that in both instances I may end up doing like the gentleman John mentioned, the one who was building a full size steam loco on the computer. Similarly with trying to investigate both mine and my wif'e's parentage via the genealogical websites. It's all down to accepting that at some point in the future I won't be able to do practical things, but hopefully I'll still be able to use my brain and computer.

And with that ramble around the houses, ta ra for now.

Peter G. Shaw

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

> It's all down to accepting that at some point in the future I won't be able to do practical things, but hopefully I'll still be able to use my brain and computer.

I'm hoping that 8-bit microcontrollers will still be available for much the same reason!

Neil

[Mark CParticipant @markc]

"I'm hoping that 8-bit microcontrollers will still be available" do they have a use by date on them?

Mark

[ANDY CAWLEYParticipant @andycawley24921]

What is an 8 bit micro controller?

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