Friday, September 23, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Tuesday 20th of September
More than half way through the second week of AutoCAD. I feel as though I am on the cusp of gaining a degree of competence - but just when Chris asks us to do an exercise I seem to be slow or can't remember the key commands or else my mind gets a bit fuzzy on the dimensions! Still nothing like time on it to get better and I will have a practice tonight.
More than half way through the second week of AutoCAD. I feel as though I am on the cusp of gaining a degree of competence - but just when Chris asks us to do an exercise I seem to be slow or can't remember the key commands or else my mind gets a bit fuzzy on the dimensions! Still nothing like time on it to get better and I will have a practice tonight.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Then Chris said: "every year there are students who forget to save and back up their work". Well I won't let that happen to me I thought to my self. I will just finish the long board then work out where to save it to. A bit later and without physical input from me ( I have witnesses) my computer "spat the dummy" and I saw the blue screen of death, then a very blank screen. Not a great way to finish my first day's introduction to Autocad - though it can be argued it was a good lesson!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Reflection on the Drawing Exercise
While finishing my drawing (on Friday) I was thinking that when you have the choice, there is quite a bit of detail in the "ducks". For example some I used early on had their "beaks" bent down below the base, and when (as seemed to happen a lot) they all fell of the spline just as I was about to draw in my curve, they then indented the drawing paper, just to add insult to injury!
Other thoughts in no particular order: rounded tips to the "beaks" meant they fell off the spline easier than a flat tipped "beak". Non vertically aligned tips fell off easier. Not enough ducks meant asking for trouble. The thinness of the spline was critical - I had made a few thinned ones by hand sanding - the better technique is to use the sanding disk - carefully avoiding a flat spot by moving the curved portion of the spline against the sanding disc. Put your ducks on the outside of the curve (you get more on the spline and they are not in the way of drawing the curve.
It seemed to take me quite a while to get my curves both accurate and fair. Analysis showed I sometimes lost concentration and measured using my tick stick from other than the LWL (Load Water Line) at times.
I found it worth buying my own eraser guard (for working on Thursday and Friday) - note eraser not "rubber".
While finishing my drawing (on Friday) I was thinking that when you have the choice, there is quite a bit of detail in the "ducks". For example some I used early on had their "beaks" bent down below the base, and when (as seemed to happen a lot) they all fell of the spline just as I was about to draw in my curve, they then indented the drawing paper, just to add insult to injury!
Other thoughts in no particular order: rounded tips to the "beaks" meant they fell off the spline easier than a flat tipped "beak". Non vertically aligned tips fell off easier. Not enough ducks meant asking for trouble. The thinness of the spline was critical - I had made a few thinned ones by hand sanding - the better technique is to use the sanding disk - carefully avoiding a flat spot by moving the curved portion of the spline against the sanding disc. Put your ducks on the outside of the curve (you get more on the spline and they are not in the way of drawing the curve.
It seemed to take me quite a while to get my curves both accurate and fair. Analysis showed I sometimes lost concentration and measured using my tick stick from other than the LWL (Load Water Line) at times.
I found it worth buying my own eraser guard (for working on Thursday and Friday) - note eraser not "rubber".
Enjoyed the All Black versus Tonga game on Friday night. Had a great bike ride on Saturday - from Mt Albert into town on the cycle track then down Symonds St and onto the waterfront then along the bays to Achiles Point, and back again up Queen Street.
Then had a lazy day reading and eating in the sun and got a bit sunburnt!
Then had a lazy day reading and eating in the sun and got a bit sunburnt!
Friday, September 2, 2011
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Lofting
Just a note to remind myself to write up the problem that Jabreel and I had when lofting today!
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Ideas on my next Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP) Board
My last design/build (ply catamaran) with me as paddler finished in the top 10 out of over 140 in the 2010/11 Beach Series Races. The main objective with my next one is to place higher. Last time I tried the cat for stability, low wave resistance and accepted the higher wetted surface area. I could beat medium performers on the latest commercial race boards (mainly from Starboard - http://www.star-board-sup.com/ the fastest being this one 2011 - 12-6-x-25-ace but could not better the top athletes on these boards - hence going to the gym to train during the winter! However I am never likely to be stronger than the best athletes hence the desire to design build my way to the finish line!
Basic parameters:
1.Build WAY lighter. The Cat SUP board was about 30 kg's versus less than half that of the commercial (single hull boards).
2. Optimize waterline length for optimal speed for power (me, low!) - by using far less wetted surface.
3. Compromise stability to (some degree) for less wetted surface and practice more to optimise balance.
Construction
Skin on frame is current favourite. Its very light, resilient, flexible, reasonably quick to design and build.
Basic parameters:
1.Build WAY lighter. The Cat SUP board was about 30 kg's versus less than half that of the commercial (single hull boards).
2. Optimize waterline length for optimal speed for power (me, low!) - by using far less wetted surface.
3. Compromise stability to (some degree) for less wetted surface and practice more to optimise balance.
Construction
Skin on frame is current favourite. Its very light, resilient, flexible, reasonably quick to design and build.
Video of intro to skin on frame kayaks
and another (time lapse) - it doesn't seem to take long!
Time Lapse - S.O.F. kayak build workshop
I will be exploring this site for ideas: http://www.seawolfkayak.com/
and another (time lapse) - it doesn't seem to take long!
Time Lapse - S.O.F. kayak build workshop
I will be exploring this site for ideas: http://www.seawolfkayak.com/
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