mike everman's tech corner http://mikeeverman.com My Technical Interest Blog see also: www.bell-everman.com or I can be reached at everman@bell-everman.com posterous.com Wed, 23 May 2012 14:52:03 -0700 First ornithopter wing warping demo http://mikeeverman.com/first-ornithopter-wing-warping-demo http://mikeeverman.com/first-ornithopter-wing-warping-demo
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I'm embarking on an ornithopter project.  

This is an initial test of a neat wing warp mechanism.  Warring for time in my head are two types of flyers, VTOL like a hummingbird, or more of a soaring type.  We'll see how it shakes out.  

Coming next is an expanded demonstrator of the wing warp method, which is very cool, if I do say so.  The more I think on it, the deeper it goes, which is what I live for.  It's all about the process, man.  Sometimes I've just got to put some things together to see if my mind's eye is calibrated or not!

I've been mentally designing wings for myself since I was a teen.  My career has been all about light and powerful actuators and power transmissions, and deployable and dynamic structures for space.  That being the main hurdle for something like this, it's time again to start thinking about all that goes with the power source, and eventually make myself a flying ornithopter.  

Much has been done over the centuries, not much of it elegant or particularly practical.  Human power has worked, but certainly not practical.  Powered man carrying ornithopters have worked, but not very elegant or compelling.  There's very nice work being done making bird and insect like spy drones, which is far easier than a man carrier, to be sure.

What got me back into this was Jarno Smeets recent hoax video of "human birdwings".  In a way, I was glad it is a hoax, as my first reaction was "Damn, someone beat me to it!"  Not really reasonable, because I didn't work on it seriously in the first place.  My next reaction was "I know how to do this, so why wouldn't I?"  And I feel that now the race is truly on, since I am certainly not the only one inspired by this.  I think I've got the method of getting power to the wings in an elegant and failsafe way.  Making RC models as a first step will be fun!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/417588/mre_closeup.JPG http://posterous.com/users/5eCq1EK1v7G1 Mike Everman mike Mike Everman Fri, 24 Feb 2012 10:03:58 -0800 Mike's Discovery Channel "Top Engineer" Audition http://mikeeverman.com/mikes-discovery-channel-top-engineer-audition http://mikeeverman.com/mikes-discovery-channel-top-engineer-audition
Heres an audition video I did for the upcoming show by the guys that do "Top Shot".  I managed to get things in there on my clock, pulse-jet and space station work.  There wasn't time to talk too much about my bread and butter, robotics, but maybe next time.

Normally, entertaining something like this would be impossible, but the timing and support seems to be good, against all odds, or more precisely, the world seems indifferent about whether I drop out for a month.  I think my dog will notice I'm gone...

It was fun making the video.   It's very odd to consider being one of "those guys", on a set for a month with other tech nerds playing "survivor with a buffet".  Very surreal.  I don't know what the format will be, and the live audition is in April.

It would be a kick to do this!  I hope it will help further my plans to mentor some young entrepreneurs, which is a kick I'm on or want to be on by next year.  Couldn't hurt.
Funny, but the engineers I know who's propellors spin faster than mine are so unlikely to be able to make time for this.  I'm feeling pretty lucky.

I hope I do not come off as too much of a nut.  They want something a little more than bland.  Tough order for engineering types, I'm thinkin'.  Ha, I'll probably be known as "Pool Guy".

This will also be up on my blog site at mikeeverman.com  Any updates on my progress will go there instead of broadcasting again by email.  Subscribe to my blog if you are interested.

-Mike

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/417588/mre_closeup.JPG http://posterous.com/users/5eCq1EK1v7G1 Mike Everman mike Mike Everman Mon, 12 Dec 2011 09:29:56 -0800 Video of third place winning shot http://mikeeverman.com/video-of-third-place-winning-shot http://mikeeverman.com/video-of-third-place-winning-shot
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]]> Sun, 11 Dec 2011 06:30:33 -0800 Final swish seals up third place http://mikeeverman.com/final-swish-seals-up-third-place http://mikeeverman.com/final-swish-seals-up-third-place ...and a photo of our team, Masha, Greg, Robbie, Jocelyn, Jay and Davey. A great time had by all!

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]]> Sat, 10 Dec 2011 19:35:02 -0800 Playoff round http://mikeeverman.com/playoff-round http://mikeeverman.com/playoff-round
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Rules for the playoff were:
90 seconds to set up and fire one shot into a reduced size hole
60 points for a swish
50 points for hitting the edge and in
30 points for bouncing off the top

We tried to adjust backward for a swish by looking at the videos of the first run. Unfortunately, I should have videoed it from the side. We didn't know it would be important later! One team swished, another lipped and in, we bounced off. So first and second were set.
Jocelyn accosted the director to make sure there would be a runoff for third against the two other teams that bounced the top.

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]]> Sat, 10 Dec 2011 19:15:06 -0800 JPL Challenge Finals http://mikeeverman.com/jpl-challenge-finals http://mikeeverman.com/jpl-challenge-finals
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Our team want on Friday To JPL for the finals. Here's video our first round, three successful shots putting us in a five way tie for first out of thirty teams!

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]]> Tue, 22 Nov 2011 14:11:33 -0800 JPL Invention Challenge, our team going to the finals! http://mikeeverman.com/jpl-invention-challenge-our-team-going-to-the http://mikeeverman.com/jpl-invention-challenge-our-team-going-to-the We competed at Manual Arts High School against 54 other teams last Saturday.  Not a great showing compared to all of our practice sessions, sinking one and two off the lip for a score of 110.  Held on to second place through the first 16 or so teams.  Went to lunch at Fillipe's for some amazing French dip sammiches, then came back to find we were out of the trophy race, but found out later that we were going to the finals anyway.  Between the two venues, there were only 6 teams with scores higher than us, but several like us at 110 points.
In practice before our time slot, we hit 8 for 8, then moved to the competition area, which was sloped in two directions!  I do not think that was the killer, though.  Our trigger mechanism, if you can call pulling a loop off of a hook a mechanism, has a bit of sensitivity to technique.  That's something we will fix this weekend for the finals on the 9th of December.
My team is great!  Hats off to the gang and our fearless physics teacher leader, Jarrod Bradley!

Phillipesgroup Jplgroup
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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/417588/mre_closeup.JPG http://posterous.com/users/5eCq1EK1v7G1 Mike Everman mike Mike Everman Sun, 23 Oct 2011 23:02:34 -0700 JPL challenge update http://mikeeverman.com/jpl-challenge-update http://mikeeverman.com/jpl-challenge-update >

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]]> Fri, 23 Sep 2011 06:25:26 -0700 San Marcos Engineering Team JPL Challenge first test http://mikeeverman.com/san-marcos-engineering-team-jpl-challenge-fir http://mikeeverman.com/san-marcos-engineering-team-jpl-challenge-fir
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A small group at San Marcos High is doing the JPL challenge; a machine that kicks a football into a trashcan 5m away, over a 2m barrier.  I am enjoying advising the students on the project!

I find it very helpful to do little tests like this, so that if we were to calculate the metrics of this motion, we will have a real life verification of our math model, or point out where it is deficient. 

This was a good shot, maybe a little low, but just about dead on the 5m distance.  Students can make measurements from this video for angle of inclination (look to the bookshelf in the background for a vertical line reference), and determine acceleration of the ball and the velocity of Mr. Bradley's fist at impact.  The video is shot at 300 frames per second, so check what frame rate your computer is playing, divide 300 by the frame rate to get the time factor.


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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/417588/mre_closeup.JPG http://posterous.com/users/5eCq1EK1v7G1 Mike Everman mike Mike Everman Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:38:13 -0700 POLAR MINI CNC http://mikeeverman.com/polar-mini-cnc http://mikeeverman.com/polar-mini-cnc The polar CNC is getting closer to full production ready. Our customer is making their own enclosures and HMI panel, so we have that to create that as well for our metal cutting version. I think that before I put this out there as a full cnc, I'll want to have a solid spindle and some sort of tool changer available. Lots to do, so it's good to be a subsystem for now.
Mike

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Sent from my iPad

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]]> Wed, 13 Apr 2011 05:52:00 -0700 ServoBelt goes Semicon (again) http://mikeeverman.com/servobelt-goes-semicon-again http://mikeeverman.com/servobelt-goes-semicon-again
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This is a set of ServoBelt stages stacked to be an XY for a semiconductor application.  This video is just a burn-in move. The critical move of 12mm can be done in 180msec, settled to 5um.  Payload is 34 lb.  Motors are Teknic NEMA34 4-stack on the bottom and NEMA23 4-stack on the top, with Teknic Eclipse 350R amplifiers, and Renishaw RGH41 linear encoders.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/417588/mre_closeup.JPG http://posterous.com/users/5eCq1EK1v7G1 Mike Everman mike Mike Everman Sun, 28 Nov 2010 20:51:43 -0800 First push on the Inverted Pendulum http://mikeeverman.com/first-push-on-the-inverted-pendulum http://mikeeverman.com/first-push-on-the-inverted-pendulum
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A little closer view from the first push. Still need to take data, but I've got to travel for a bit. On close inspection, I see I need to dress the critical surfaces a bit for smoothest contact, so I'll take a quick data set, then clean it up. I may take it from .003" to .001" flexures while I'm at it.

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]]> Wed, 24 Nov 2010 10:28:46 -0800 Inverted Cycloid Pendulum photos http://mikeeverman.com/inverted-cycloid-pendulum-photos http://mikeeverman.com/inverted-cycloid-pendulum-photos
Here are some photos of the build-up of the Inverted Pendulum.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/417588/mre_closeup.JPG http://posterous.com/users/5eCq1EK1v7G1 Mike Everman mike Mike Everman Wed, 24 Nov 2010 10:27:25 -0800 Inverted Cycloid Pendulum http://mikeeverman.com/inverted-cycloid-pendulum http://mikeeverman.com/inverted-cycloid-pendulum
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As I progress toward building a unique clock, it occurred to me that the "rodless" cycloid pendulum I had previously built could have supports of virtually any length.  What has come of it is a very interesting inverted pendulum which I will be testing over the Thanksgiving holiday to see how isochronous it is.  The bob still follows a cycloid path, and will have a (roughly) 1.2sec period.  The supports however, require a different treatment to make them isochronous at that period, considered alone, without the bob.  That is an upcoming experiment.

This hardware is simple breadboard stuff, using segments of a 6.75" diameter bearing race, which will eventually all be replaced by jewel shoes among other exotic materials.  I plan to build 6 clocks, one for each of the artisans that contribute to the case, the faces and the machine work.  I will plan on 2-3 to sell at some point.  This whole project will be years in the making, as I will be designing a completely mechanical movement that I hope will be as unique as the pendulum itself.

This is a very satisfying engineering exercise!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/417588/mre_closeup.JPG http://posterous.com/users/5eCq1EK1v7G1 Mike Everman mike Mike Everman Mon, 04 Oct 2010 09:28:52 -0700 Some alignment photos of Mini Polar CNC http://mikeeverman.com/some-alignment-photos-of-mini-polar-cnc http://mikeeverman.com/some-alignment-photos-of-mini-polar-cnc Just some random photos of the Polar CNC going together, and a video of the spindle coolant and air feed lines simply managed.


Zeroing_spindles Verifying_indexer_180 Unit_with_bucket_and_prelim_wi Installation_of_coolant_bucket Verifying_spindle_spacing Setting_b_axis_concentricity Setting_a_axis_concentricity Setting_b_axis_orthogonality Servonut_cable_routing
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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/417588/mre_closeup.JPG http://posterous.com/users/5eCq1EK1v7G1 Mike Everman mike Mike Everman Sat, 02 Oct 2010 17:01:08 -0700 Mini CNC first coordinated moves and circle interpolation http://mikeeverman.com/mini-cnc-first-coordinated-moves-and-circle-i http://mikeeverman.com/mini-cnc-first-coordinated-moves-and-circle-i
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The boys at Delta Tau have gotten the bugs out of the coordinate system.  Looking wonderful so far!  I'll post up some more pics of the mechanics soon.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/417588/mre_closeup.JPG http://posterous.com/users/5eCq1EK1v7G1 Mike Everman mike Mike Everman Tue, 07 Sep 2010 08:30:24 -0700 Mini CNC Progress http://mikeeverman.com/mini-cnc-progress http://mikeeverman.com/mini-cnc-progress The mini CNC is coming along very nicely.  Friday was first light, and over the coming weeks, the forward and inverse kinematics will be fine tuned.  Our goal is to be taking XYZ moves coming in, and process into the ABZ polar coordinate system.  The spindles shown are not the final ones, however, as these have been discontinued by NSK.  The search continues for an inexpensive air driven spindle of greater than 150krpm.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/417588/mre_closeup.JPG http://posterous.com/users/5eCq1EK1v7G1 Mike Everman mike Mike Everman Thu, 20 May 2010 19:41:03 -0700 Very Nice ServoBelt gantry bridge during burn in http://mikeeverman.com/very-nice-servobelt-gantry-bridge-during-burn http://mikeeverman.com/very-nice-servobelt-gantry-bridge-during-burn
This ServoBelt is a variant that has the bearing rails attached on adjacent faces of the Bosch extrusion.  It is adjusted to track a straight line in the Y-axis to within +/-.0002" when up on edge, used as the bridge in a gantry setup.  Since we are operating within the dimensional limits of an extruded beam, this bearing mounting allows us to tune in one axis perfectly, so in this case, the customer needed dead straight in Y axis (along this beam), and the Z axis then is limited, but still, amazingly within .002".  Sealed encoders are used as this is a laser cutting gantry.  

Next time, I think we will pitch the customer on Renishaw magnetic encoders.  It will be far less expensive than the Heidenhain sealed glass scales, which were selected solely for the environment.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/417588/mre_closeup.JPG http://posterous.com/users/5eCq1EK1v7G1 Mike Everman mike Mike Everman Wed, 19 May 2010 07:45:00 -0700 ServoNut Lowboy Granite Base CNC http://mikeeverman.com/servonut-lowboy-granite-base-cnc http://mikeeverman.com/servonut-lowboy-granite-base-cnc

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/417588/mre_closeup.JPG http://posterous.com/users/5eCq1EK1v7G1 Mike Everman mike Mike Everman Mon, 05 Apr 2010 21:42:31 -0700 My new lathe/mill http://mikeeverman.com/my-new-lathemill http://mikeeverman.com/my-new-lathemill
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It was a childhood dream of mine to have the mythical German U-boat multi-tool that could make anything.  Well, this one's a passable Chinese.  It's 7 years old with little use, and is far better than reviews I've read of more recent ones.  I had to sell my other lathe to make room for it which went to a friend.  

I've taken it all apart for cleaning and lube, and I've now made my first mill cut at home!  Loving it.  Nice dovetail ways on it with a good amount of surface area.  The mill is a bit anemic; I might throw a dedicated 1 hp motor up there, but for now, it's got everything I need in my little space.  Just need a decent vise for milling and a quick change tool holder for the lathe.
It's got the old school tool holder that makes you shim the cutters to height, so I'm going to make some brass wedges to make that a breeze.
I was going to buy a bunch of tooling for it, but now think I'll make it an NC, since I have most of the stuff; motors, amps and a DeskCNC card.  I'll see how it goes.  If that one is no good, I've got a few others to try.
At the office, the NC choice is Extratech.  I've got a ServoBelt gantry with that control going on soon, but need a Z axis for the spindle, which I may just make at home as as warm-up for the CNC conversion here.
Cool!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/417588/mre_closeup.JPG http://posterous.com/users/5eCq1EK1v7G1 Mike Everman mike Mike Everman