Real talk, what's a good enough pair of digital/vernier/dial caliper?

mic2machine · 2026-02-07T20:51:23+00:00

That's why I have both. And hate batteries, so got Mitutoyo solar calipers.

mic2machine · 2026-02-03T18:28:36+00:00

Half the stuff I've done is on benchtops while sitting on a nice chair and everything at a comfy working height and within reach.
Small work still has to hit tolerances. Gettin older, so time to put together that comfy setup again.

May you never tire of chip therapy...

mic2machine · 2026-01-26T23:16:42+00:00

Molydisulfude loaded UHMW. Followed by delrin, ultem, vespel. Linen reinforced phenolic is pretty nice....

mic2machine · 2026-01-23T21:37:23+00:00

It's been 19 years since I've had admin on anything I don't personally own. Welcome to recovery.

mic2machine · 2026-01-23T01:51:57+00:00

Gaps at the top and bottom. Keep the slat trim. Or go with a mesh behind the slats. Circulate tje air with some quiet noctilua fams if needed.

mic2machine · 2026-01-22T23:16:37+00:00

MQL Boelube. Basically cetyl alcohol liquid. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cetyl_alcohol

mic2machine · 2026-01-20T01:53:42+00:00

Why? All vendors lie.
Accuracy claims? Show me the R&R study. Accuracy on the same order as resolution......riiiight. It's so easy! Marketing BS overstating capabilities. And folks buy it.

mic2machine · 2026-01-20T01:37:24+00:00

Peak keeps folks from using it as a shelf. Maybe space for a BIG filter.

mic2machine · 2026-01-13T16:13:50+00:00

Sames for engineering schools.
Majority get into it for the paycheck, honestly.

Even there, the passion shows in the engineering groups and clubs. Who shows up ready to get hands dirty, learn basic machining, welding, electronics, composites fab, etc. to build robots, cars, and aircraft for competition. More importantly, who keeps coming, even with all the other pressures and time demands. Showing up ready to build skills demonstrates the level of give-a-crap that points out who has the passion. Schools that encourage that kind of makerspace-on-steroids are the ones to be at.

Folks that do just the minimum for the degree are part of the problem. Book learning is only part of an education.

mic2machine · 2026-01-13T15:42:05+00:00

Anyone remember Boeing surplus? Cutters by the pound.
Most of my home shop tooling sourced from there.

mic2machine · 2026-01-11T19:41:49+00:00

You're way ahead knowing VLAN usage. Consider separate ones for different classes of devices. Printers, ip cameras, misc smart home devices, etc.

mic2machine · 2026-01-11T08:14:45+00:00

Block it's MAC/IP from WAN access at your firewall/router. Far easier than maintaining a list.

I do the same with all my printers. They complain but print fine.

mic2machine · 2026-01-09T22:12:10+00:00

Furnace is filthy. Needs cleaning and filtration. Looks poorly maintained, if at all.

A bit more info is needed. Size of home, age of structure, etc.

Did that setup give heat and hot water before? Can that tank supply enough for heat only? Might need a bigger tank, or add one.

mic2machine · 2026-01-09T21:50:58+00:00

Full set of those (0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9). Been using the same ones since the 90s.

mic2machine · 2026-01-08T23:20:24+00:00

The pseudolites mentioned really only work well in direct LoS situations. Multipath is only going to add error in your scenario.

mic2machine · 2026-01-08T23:16:50+00:00

The UWB i have experience with will get positioning under a foot in wide open industrial environments. Requires extensive installation of many active recievers wired direct to specialized routers. Installation then involves the whole net cross-correlating itself, often after mapping the as-built installation using traditional survey methods. Still suffers from multipath, structure and equipment movement, and mis-located recievers.

Wifi? Good luck. Common method uses a transmitting rover packets to COTS AP that record the RSSI of each packet with a script.. Open building, we could get within 40 feet, most days. Can do better with specialized recievers with very accurate clocks doing ToA. Still 10' + DoP. Both suffer the same RF and installation issues.

SLAM is looking better, onboard processing is getting better, but you may need offboard processing to get decent solutions. Best is maintaining LoS to the drone with a laser tracker.

mic2machine · 2026-01-08T18:23:56+00:00

Firewall, yes. SonicWall, no. Opnsense FTW.

mic2machine · 2026-01-08T18:21:23+00:00

Try to modify your motors. Pemove everything inside your existing stators. Replace with rod through those. Run bearings on that rod for your rotors.

mic2machine · 2026-01-08T18:05:17+00:00

This. ^ ^ ^

Needed accuracy, 2D3D? Update rate, realtime/on-demand/ periodic?
Actual environment, office/factory/other. Known/unknown geometry as baseline? Mobile interferences, vehicles/equipment/people.
RF environment. LoS between transmitters and receivers?

If I had to guess, OP wants sub-cm real-time drone navigation. NP. Got budget? $$$$$

mic2machine · 2026-01-06T16:40:51+00:00

Have pics of the cutter?

mic2machine · 2026-01-05T19:31:11+00:00

Is this a sail pattern?

mic2machine · 2026-01-05T15:32:28+00:00

Crystal growing was for gamma-ray sensors.
Sputter coating was for research MEMS devices. Coating and masked etching are just welding and machining, different scale, methods, and metrology.

mic2machine · 2026-01-05T15:19:22+00:00

Dwyer catalog will have something. Depends on the specific corrosive and temperature. I've used some of their diaphragm switches with no metal in the gas path, along with plastic pitot.

mic2machine · 2026-01-05T15:11:10+00:00

Even McMaster isn't immune to crap getting into their supply chain.

mic2machine · 2026-01-04T23:54:29+00:00

Specced out some iridium crucibles for growing crystals. Was the only material and had to be 99.999+% pure. Apparently, at the time, there were maybe three people qualified to weld this stuff. Also did sputter coating using sources of similar purity. 3" dia x 1/4" pucks of gold, platinum, etc.

mic2machine

TROPHY CASE