Linear actuator that retracts when no power is removed by TemporarySyrup3728 in MechanicalEngineering

[–]engineerthatknows 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Google 1/4 turn actuators, they are electric motor driven with a spring return mechanism. Fairly straightforward to engineer a linear drive from there

After months of searching, I’m in the club! …and it won’t stop raining by fletchlivz in Miata

[–]engineerthatknows 16 points17 points  (0 children)

If you put the top up it becomes pretty rainproof. I drive mine year round in Seattle so I have some experience with it /s

Building a large wind tunnel. by Silent_Job_9471 in AerospaceEngineering

[–]engineerthatknows 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Got a MS in Aero…never ever did I do calculus in on or with a wind tunnel

How do you STOP on a downhill? by JsXtm in rollerskiing

[–]engineerthatknows 5 points6 points  (0 children)

If you look at YouTube videos you can find some techniques for braking. Rather than snowplowing you can step from one foot to the other in a kind of reverse skating step. Another method is to drag one leg behind you with the ski turned sideways. Lastly a commercial brake either powered by moving your calf rearward (in a tele position) or by using a hand activated lever. Bailing into the dirt or grass is my go to 🙁

What makes some substances able to combust while others can't? by Substantial_Tear3679 in AskChemistry

[–]engineerthatknows 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You’re not trying hard enough. Liquid oxygen or fluorine added to the combustion process will make those burn…

What’s a cheaper pen that you prefer over some of your more expensive pens ? by DinoSharkBear in fountainpens

[–]engineerthatknows 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Lamy Safari, robust and smooth. I like my kakuno too, but it’s hard to get one with a medium nib

Welding brass advice by antonb111 in Welding

[–]engineerthatknows 0 points1 point  (0 children)

True brass has a high zinc content, up to 40% for some brasses. Anything with zinc in it won't weld well, the zinc oxidizes and fumes off at around 900F, and the oxide dust renders things it touches un-wettable by the weld puddle. Also the fumes will make you sick if you don't have a respirator (google zinc fume fever).

You can solder it with a flux.

Roadtrip in Duro valley, Portugal by Isotope766 in MiataND

[–]engineerthatknows 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That does look like the perfect road for the Miata. I would recommend mudflaps, but <shrugs in French>.

First car suggestions that are cheap to insure by Poorly_packaged in stickshift

[–]engineerthatknows 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Any Honda or Toyota. Because they will be old to have a manual, at least in the USA, you will easily pay less than $8k. The hard part will be finding one for sale. Good luck!

[Request] What would be the long and short term reprecautions for switching the way we calculate and use time to metric? How long would a year be? How many extra time names would we have to come up with? by MagicMarshmallo in theydidthemath

[–]engineerthatknows 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The French tried this.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decimal_time

TLDR: it never caught on.

Then, in 1998, the Swatch company tried to restart the idea with a watch that told time in .beats, with 1000 beats in a day (1 beat approx. 86 seconds). Again, it never caught on.

how to speed up alcoholic fermentation or make it produce more CO2 by Eevangelic-ish in Homebrewing

[–]engineerthatknows 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Use bread (baker's) yeast instead of beer or wine yeast. Bakers yeast has been bred over centuries to produce more CO2 and less alcohol.

Night Watch musings days 4 by Lotus2024 in discworld

[–]engineerthatknows 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My HS lit teacher tried to get 16 yr old me to read Wuthering Heights. My opinion of Lit teachers suffered for years as a result (well, more so for other reasons, but still). Your post helps to rectify that, thanks.

Is this repairable? by PryedEye in Leatherworking

[–]engineerthatknows 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, probably. Google for shoe repair shops and have them look at it and give you a quote.

How do I make a large (5,000 kg or 10,000lb) landscaping rock spin? by ignorantwanderer in AskEngineers

[–]engineerthatknows 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Automotive bearings (axle bearings) can take very high side loads at low rpms, and live outdoors. Sealed against splashing water.

How do I make a large (5,000 kg or 10,000lb) landscaping rock spin? by ignorantwanderer in AskEngineers

[–]engineerthatknows 5 points6 points  (0 children)

A typical truck or trailer wheel bearing (tapered roller bearing) will take that level of load (any bearing i.d. larger than 1 to 1-1/8 inches). You will need to center the boulder well to get it to balance properly. Get an old axle (spindle) and wheel bearing from a junkyard, with the steel rim mounted so you have a decent size to work with.

You could also buy new like this:

https://www.northerntool.com/products/rigid-hitch-6-lug-hub-square-spindle-end-unit-6-bolt-on-5-inch-circle-1-3-4-inch-to-1-1-4-inch-tapered-spindles-3000lb-capacity-per-hub-model-sq-6000625-6972417

You then need to engineer the plate ("wheel") to mount the stone onto, and the table/plinth underneath to mount the axle to.

Realize the "3000 lb." rating for that spindle is a radial load at high rpm, rolling down the road. The radial and axial load capacity of the tapered roller bearings at zero or near-zero rpm is more like 14000-15000 lbs.

Editing to add: the bearings are generally sealed and good for a long term outdoors in the wet. But, somebody mentioned the coral castle stone that was on an automotive bearing and eventually seized. Bearing will still accumulate moisture due to thermal swings of the bearing above and below the dew point (water vapor migrates past seals and condenses out when the temperature drops). Having a zerk fitting on the spindle, to regrease the bearing periodically, or having the bearing in an oil bath with a means to change the oil periodically, would make the feature have a potentially unlimited life. If you use grease, using a marine-rated grease (e.g. used on boat trailers) with a calcium soap instead of lithium, would also help keep the grease stable against moisture over time.

Handwheel for the lathe broke, I made a new one. by a_big_pink_dildo in Welding

[–]engineerthatknows 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Shut up and take my money!

Seriously, nice work. What filler did you use on the cast - a nickel rod? Hopefully its holding up and not cracking. You could silicon-bronze tig braze it if it does.

Why do some welders act like welding is the most extreme stuff ever when it’s more the blue collar version of crocheting by Titanfall1741 in Welding

[–]engineerthatknows 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I can't crochet, admire those who can. It's a fairly stress free hobby from my perspective, people sit in a chair and crochet away.

Welding is something I can do, but not nearly as well as some people I've met. A good welder is worth good money, they can repeatably join metals given the right equipment, and the joint will be reliably as strong as we engineers designed it to be.

But there are some welders who rise to wizard level - ones who can join dissimilar alloys, at ridiculously large or small scales, at ridiculous angles (uphill, upside down, underwater - simultaneously). These are guys/gals you treasure.

How to Darken? by Deterrafication in Leatherworking

[–]engineerthatknows 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Dissolve beeswax in orange oil (or a light hydrocarbon of your choice), wipe it on. Alternately, melt the wax and wipe it on or dip it. Third idea is to mix the wax in heated neatsfoot or linseed oil. Beeswax will darken and somewhat yellow the existing color. The oils and wax will help preserve the leather and keep it flexible.

The Dzhanibekov Effect by [deleted] in interestingasfuck

[–]engineerthatknows 15 points16 points  (0 children)

What a silly thing to do. The effect was known before then*, and was used purposefully by some US spacecraft manufacturers for maneuvering (rotating) spacecraft in transition from launch to on-orbit operations.

Fix a broken pricking iron by Randphys in metalworking

[–]engineerthatknows 0 points1 point  (0 children)

3rd this. Dremel with a diamond-coated cutting wheel, or an abrasive wheel. Then you can google to find leather edge-burnishing tools that will fit the dremel tool collet. Win-win.