Three Arms … better than Two

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

I’ve put this in “Manual machine tools” because it really concerns the manual activity.

Having been interested in Ergonomics for almost sixty years, I was rather impressed by:

https://3armamerica.com/enhanced-ergonomics-and-productivity-for-aerospace-and-defense-machining-centers-with-3arm/

Yes, it’s a ‘product page’ … but I doubt it will have any adverse effect on our advertisers !

What it might bring to the table, however, is some useful background-thinking for how we might cope in our inevitably enfeebled state.

Discuss/Ignore … whatever

MichaelG.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

If only I had spare time to get into my workshop!  And my last visit nearly ended badly.

Doing a quick bench tidy, a screwdriver fell into an awkward space between the wall and a tool-cabinet.  Without thinking I crooked down slantwise and stretched to reach the screwdriver, wedging myself into the gap.  Success except I painfully pulled a muscle in my arm and then found my legs weren’t strong enough to lift me out from a cramped squat, and my arms had no leverage.   Stuck fast with daughter’s next visit a fortnight away!

Got out by wriggling my shoulders until I eventually overbalanced and fell out backwards, fortunately not landing on anything spiky.

Lesson learned:  my brain still thinks I’m a slim, fit young man who will survive any and all dangers.   Brain is wrong: I’m an overweight unfit pensioner who gets hurt and should avoid taking careless risks!

Whilst looking after mum I sometimes sneak some Cutting Edge youtube video viewing.   He repairs big earthmoving equipment and everything is heavy.  The way he manages hefty parts safely and installs massive new machines is an education and – so far I’ve not spotted him taking any unwise short-cuts.  Helps if the workshop is in a converted hanger with an overhead crane, with a fork-lift, and two mobile cranes, but everything he does is well thought out.

I enjoy everything about being retired apart from my physical and mental decline.   Chucks are becoming uncomfortably heavy, an hour in the garden is exhausting, electronics are full of SMD components too small to see, I no longer enjoy learning new computer languages, and I wish young people would stop mumbling and changing everything…

🙂

Dave

 

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

Oh Dave, I can identify very much with your observations!!

The late Duke of Edinburgh said once that as you get older, bits start to fall off! How true.

Creaking ever onward   Brian

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

You remember the Startrek episode with Scotty making a whale tank out of “transparent aluminum”. He failed to mention that “transparent lead” was discovered in the 21st century as it mysteriously appeared and attached itself to objects. I have recently discovered a major lode inside my 21ft scaffold tubes which used only to weigh 61lbs each.

[jaCK HobsonParticipant @jackhobson50760]

I’m looking forward to exoskeletons like the Festool one becoming better and cheaper: https://www.festool.co.uk/products/exoskeleton/exoactive-exoskeleton/577811—exo-18-4,0-i-plus-gb#Overview

[simondavies3Participant @simondavies3]

Michael,

Surely Four arms would be better still – then you could at least be four-warned…..
I’ll close the door when I go out….

Simon

[larry phelan 1Participant @larryphelan1]

Dave, you need to build a simple lifting platform for those heavy chucks ect. I made one years ago , a copy of one I saw in M E W, and it has served me well ever since. Chucks, machine vises, rotary tables, heavy workpieces are no problem, nor is loading/unloading items from my van, no heavy lifting involved, so well worth while making one. I think there is still a photo of it in my album, but it,s still in one of the past issues, being made by Mike ????, can,t recall his name [old age, again ]

Believe me, you will wonder how you ever got along without it.

One slip when handling a big 4 jaw chuck, is no joke, dont ask how I know !

Take care.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Finally got round to the original link. Good to see in the second video that the operator wears a mask to avoid the machine getting a virus.

I think in that scenario I would be developing a standard robot arm , AI, and video. Operator points to workpiece and destination. Video observes and AI understands what a human means by pointing and the move is carried out. The operator can give instruction to multiple manipulators when not having to do the slow work of actually moving the parts.

[larry phelan 1Participant @larryphelan1]

Correction, I think it might have been Dave Fenner who made that platform.

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