Housekeeping

tahanson43206 · 2020-08-08 06:33:37

For SpaceNut ...

johnjorge is a new registrant who appears ( to me at least) to have missed an opportunity to contribute positively to this forum. His zeal on behalf of a software service is commendable, but this would not appear to be the best place for advertisement.

The burgeoning field of Open Source software is potentially of value to members of this forum who are attempting to solve significant problems associated with design of products and services needed for development of Mars as a going enterprise.

I would like to see OpenFOAM developed by a team of members interested in addressing some of the many challenges of the Mars undertaking.

There may already exist Open Source software developed to help with planning navigation of spacecraft, but I am not aware if it. A forum reader who is knowledgeable in this area would be welcome to post links to such resources. There are members of this forum whose background would prepare them to learn how to use such software effectively.

(th)

SpaceNut · 2020-08-08 07:26:45

Removed and saved post not banning to see what will come next.
You second suggestion is more to the societies level of desiring to believe that it fits going to Mars.
It is a needed engineering group.

tahanson43206 · 2020-08-08 11:42:53

This is a follow up on #158 (from 2020-07-20 14:33:22) by GW Johnson ...

I've been trying to add a battery tester to my tool collection, since GW Johnson recommended one. Yesterday I was driving by Harbor Freight, and since an acquaintance had suggested looking at their offerings, i stopped in. It is possible to invest more in an instrument, but I brought home a simple, hefty, sturdy unit that fires up what looks like a miniature hot dog grill to test the battery.

The instrument confirmed that the retired automobile battery I'd used to try to start a generator is "weak".

However, the battery held the load for an extended period while the hot dog grill baked off its paint, so I figure it can still serve for emergency lighting for a while longer.

(th)

Last edited by tahanson43206 (2020-08-08 11:45:51)

SpaceNut · 2020-08-08 12:27:46

The typical low resistance elements are used as they will not change as a function of heating from conducting the current through this type of load.

SpaceNut · 2020-08-11 18:05:37

back tracking ip for host name of recent new poster is tor-exit-anonymizer.appliedprivacy.net so will watch
another tracking ip for host name of recent new poster is no-rdns.offshorededicated.net

banning both

and again
pool-77-222-112-176.is74.ru

tahanson43206 · 2020-08-12 08:23:29

For SpaceNut ...

Re #205 ... thanks for looking at that new poster!

***
Per your request, here is a list of candidate posts to be copied into a new topic, if you are willing.

The new topic would in Interplanetary Transportation, and it could have a title like: Big Wheel Gyroscopic Space Transport

I have started the series with a post I created, so that it will head up the new topic.

My idea is to edit that into an index/table-of-contents for future readers who may see the title and wonder what it's about.

Here comes the list:

That's a lot of work if you have to copy each item separately.

If you have tools that allow you to bring a group of messages, then just start with the first in the list and copy through the last.

Then, after the new topic is set up, if it seems necessary, we can remove the posts that are not related to the new topic.

Thanks for offering to consider this request.

(th)

SpaceNut · 2020-08-13 16:38:18

banned

Antoniolem wrote:

Where is administration?
It is important.
Thank.

SpaceNut · 2020-08-14 15:19:55

gigajoehail123 content seems more like spam gibberish, what do you all think.

kbd512 · 2020-08-14 16:32:19

SpaceNut,

I can't really tell. It could be him trying to point out some specific ship design he really likes or maybe he hasn't read the forum rules that thoroughly or maybe it was just a spam account that was operated by a real person at some point. I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt until they prove me wrong. That last post didn't make much sense to me, but I only glanced at it briefly.

SpaceNut · 2020-08-14 16:51:19

I consolidate the posts all into Fix Earth First use Teraforming Science made by gigajoehail123 including those inside it.
There were 4 posts in this topic made less than 2 minutes apart as if test the server response, which I combined back into the first of them..

tahanson43206 · 2020-08-15 07:17:58

For SpaceNut re #210

Thanks for giving gigajoehail123 a place where he can work on whatever he's doing without bothering the existing topics.

This forum has room for a wide variety of folks.

***
I'm wondering what you are thinking about my inquiry for a separate topic for the Big Wheel transport design.

It is markedly different from the ongoing development work by RobertDyck in his Large Ship topic.

It is not fair to RobertDyck for posts that depart from his vision to continue to show up in his topic.

Do you want me to simply create the new topic? That would be a lot less work for you.

(th)

tahanson43206 · 2020-08-16 07:05:55

For SpaceNut ... Thanks again for all the work you invested in the new Big Wheel topic ... I think it has potential for development alongside the work of RobertDyck with his "Large Ship" topic, and that of kbd512 with his vision of contra-rotating habitats.

This is a new inquiry ...

Do you have an existing topic where discussion of the design of robotic hands is part of the archive?

I have need of a (simple) 3D Printable mechanical "hand" able to mimic a small subset of human hand motions to control a piece of equipment.

There are machines in the $3000 range that are capable of multiple degrees of freedom and manipulation of kilogram level loads.

I'm interested in finding a hand-mimic solution that costs a lot less.

Application of this technology would extend to Mars, where remote operation of equipment is going to be routine.

(th)

Last edited by tahanson43206 (2020-08-16 08:10:13)

SpaceNut · 2020-08-16 08:43:18

The robot hand search for the forum came up with false topics but we do have posts with them.
Might try another method to create a topic on them.

tahanson43206 · 2020-08-16 09:57:39

For SpaceNut re #213

First ... thanks for taking up this question!

Under your guidance, the forum seems (to me at least) to be moving slowly but persistently toward a more practical culture.

While the "blue sky" imagination that has been the culture here for many years must (and surely will) continue, I think there is room for a set of members who are young enough to imagine themselves participating in the Mars adventure, and therefore keenly interested in practical knowledge and insight that they (and their collaborators) will need to bring to bear.

Please continue thinking about how you might like to introduce robotics as a practice into the deliberations of the forum

The mechanism I am looking for already exists in the form of multi-thousand dollar robots used in industry, and in medical practice.

What is needed (from my perspective and perhaps others who are readers of this forum) is a way to collect (and then find) information specific to the design and construction of inexpensive (ie, 3D printed) robotic systems for home or small business use.

The specific item I am currently looking for is a mechanism that can mimic the movement of the operator's hand (ie, up/down, side/side, rotate) so that a remote (a meter away or so) actuator is able to perform the pointing operations that the hand would perform.

An example of the application of such a system is sealed environments where toxic gases are needed for working with materials.

The classic solution is the use of a set of rubber gloves that open to the outside and reach into the sealed work area.

The solution I am looking for is adaptable for teleoperation. If a solution can be found that is affordable for an individual or small business, then that individual or small business can provide services to customers via high speed Internet.

Medical Doctors have been able to perform precision surgery remotely for some years. The equipment to support those operations is affordable by nation states and a few very large organizations.

I am looking for comparable capabilities that are affordable for individuals or small businesses constrained by budgets.

(th)

GW Johnson · 2020-08-20 20:38:18

Tahanson43206:

Just to let you know, I published another article over at "exrocketman". It is about how to do routine under-hood checks on cars. I thought you might like to see it, because the earlier battery article helped you.

GW

kbd512 · 2020-08-20 21:33:17

tahanson43206,

There are already a myriad of resources available to people who wish to use more affordable 3D printers and desktop lathes or CNC machines to make their own parts / tools / robots, but if you want professional grade robotics then you're going to pay for professional grade engineering services. There's no such thing as a low-cost high-quality robotic "hand". That may not matter, dependent upon what you actually need it to do, but for human-like dexterity, be prepared to pay through the nose for such devices. Only mass-manufacture would appreciably reduce the costs of devices that tens of millions of R&D dollars have been sunk into.

Incidentally, we've used human-directed machines that perform materials handling and cleanup type tasks at nuclear facilities for quite some time now. Here's one of the latest and greatest such machines:

The Mainichi - In Photos: Factory unveils 'muscle robots' for Fukushima nuke plant

Unfortunately, that's probably not something you're going to build and test in your garage unless you have a machine shop, a fairly sophisticated CAD program, and several engineers working on the design of the robot.

All of these machines we need for living on Mars are likely to be government R&D programs of record. If people were willing to pool their resources and knowledge together, then maybe we could produce something like that, but it won't be cheap and years of concerted effort by the team members will be required to deliver a viable product to demonstrate to NASA or private investors. Even if we did get to that point, there would have to be a valid use case in order to justify the government spending the money to send the robot to Mars for an operational evaluation. The moon is a much closer testing ground, so if it could gather resources on the moon, then you might have something they'd pay for. As for NASA, NIH is very strong there and they probably won't use it, even if they need it.

Edit:

For pipeline work, we have things like this (also made with 3D-printers, apparently):

Inside the innards of a nuclear reactor - Tiny robots may monitor underground pipes for radioactive leaks.

Last edited by kbd512 (2020-08-20 21:42:37)

tahanson43206 · 2020-08-21 06:40:57

For GW Johnson re #215 : Todo item: Read article on automobile repair < >

Edit#1 after first visit: That oil quality test using the fingertips is (to me at least) ** really ** interesting. I'm looking forward to trying it!

For kbd512 re #216: Todo items: R=Follow link "The Mainichi" < > Follow link "Tiny robots" < completed>

Reserved for feedback on links ... The "Tiny robots" article from 2011 was new to me and definitely interesting!

One takeaway was the lack of foresight on the part of nuclear plant designers, who buried pipes instead of running them through tunnels where then can be inspected or repaired, as New York City does with its many miles of underground service tunnels.

I wouldn't be surprised to learn that New York City learned to use tunnels after many many episodes of digging up pipes caused someone to have the bright idea to make the pipes permanently accessible.

The learning process does not have to stop with New York City. It ** could ** be carried to Mars, if it reaches the right people.

For kbd512 ... the solutions you've described are at the high end ...

The prototype under construction has simple machine elements that combine to provide the degrees of freedom needed for the application.

The base holds a sliding bar assembly made to work with drawers in cabinets. This provides horizontal movement in X.

Mounted on the track is set a small board used to hold the next element.

A small board projects from the sliding support to provide movement in Z axis.

The piece I am working on now is rotation of the "wrist", using a small 12 VDC motor. A worm gear arrived yesterday, and it fits the shaft of the motor. A set of miniature pillow blocks are on order. The interior gap of the spur gear is too small for the diameter of the rod that is coming with the pillow blocks, but I'm hoping the axle rod can be ground down (carefully) to the right diameter. The combination of the slow rotation rate of the motor and the effects of the worm gear interacting with the spur gear should provide precise rotation for the tool.

A small webcam provides a view of the work area.

It is possible a small commercially manufactured robot for the education market could handle the loads, but I'm more interested in proving the practicality of the method using locally available resources. It seems possible there might be a commercial use for a system like this, but most inventions like this disappear into the past because it is too much effort to find the market.

Thanks to both of you for your suggestions!

(th)

Last edited by tahanson43206 (2020-08-21 20:41:45)

SpaceNut · 2020-08-21 20:09:12

GW I am now solving what is happening with my computerized vehicle but the starter seems shorted and in need of replacing as well as its not turning.
The multiple computer modules that are designed for functions like anti/theft sends a signal to the computer that controls the spark to make the engine not run if the key is wrong for the vehicle can even come on when running down the road which is a bad thing to have happen...Its also got a defective coolant temperature sensor and a thermostat that appears to be sticking. It seems to have a small leak of oil near where the oil pressure sensor is as well. Hopefully there are no other problems to fix....

kbd512 · 2020-08-21 20:33:57

SpaceNut,

That sounds like quite a few problems to solve. What kind of car do you have?

SpaceNut · 2020-08-21 20:46:57

2005 Ford escape but none of its hard just the ground that I have to do the work on....

Starter is on the back close to the firewall, with coolant sensor and thermostat are relatively easy but the oil sensor is behind the ac compressor and not sure if I can get that out with out pulling more of the vehicle appart....since splash guards need to be removed to gain access to it.

GW Johnson · 2020-08-21 20:56:58

My expertise is from about a quarter century ago when things were not so computerized. But, a coolant temperature sensor either works or it does not. They are usually not all that hard to replace, and not very expensive. It'll be on one of the cylinderheads somewhere.

A sticking thermostat is a real serious problem if it sticks closed, not so much a problem if it sticks open, unless it screws up the computer with bad inputs. Either way, it is usually near the front of the engine on the intake manifold, and feeds into one of the big radiator hoses. Most of the time, they are not too difficult to replace, and they should not be very expensive. Be sure it comes with a gasket or O-ring seal.

Oil pressure sensors are electromechanical devices potted into plastic, cast within a metal shell, that threads into a hole in the block somewhere. No telling where, these days.

With age, the plastic fails, and it detaches partially from the metal shell, causing the oil leak. The longer you let it go on, the bigger the oil leak gets. Most oil pressure sensors are rather inexpensive. Screw the old one out and screw in the new one. These are usually 1/8-inch pipe threads, and you need to use teflon tape on those threads. Access can be a problem, especially on the newer cars.

Most of the newer cars are so badly designed, that it is my considered opinion that those designers, and the CEO's that encouraged them, should be hung up by their own entrails (alive) from the nearest light pole. They have made access and repair of parts that need routine replacement very difficult, by packing stuff too tightly into engine compartments. And by tucking stuff back into spaces underneath a firewall cowl space where you cannot see or have access. That should be a capital crime, and the associated death penalty should preclude an easy, painless death.

The other problem is low-quality crap parts from China. Things that used to last the life of the car no longer do. And you no longer can get American-made parts that would last longer. That's unregulated outsourcing for you.

That gets greatly compounded by designs that make routine replacements extraordinarily difficult. I just spent more than a full day (instead of an hour) to replace a stupid alternator built in China that failed before 5 years had gone by. I had to remove the cooling fans off the radiator and the oil dipstick tube, just to get access to do the f***ing job!!!

It was almost impossible to move those parts out of the way, because too damned big an engine was stuffed too tightly into too small a space. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THAT !!!!

GW

Last edited by GW Johnson (2020-08-21 21:12:23)

kbd512 · 2020-08-22 09:32:11

SpaceNut,

I don't have any experience with Fords, unfortunately.

You probably already have this taken care of, but:

2005 - 2007 Ford Escape XLS 2.3 Thermostat and Housing Replacement

Ford 2.0L 2.3L 2.5L Engines P0125 P0128 Insufficient Coolant Temp: Thermostat Housing Replacement

Ford Escape Oil pressure sensor replacement (easy! no AC removal)

GW Johnson · 2020-08-22 10:39:17

Hi Kbd512:

The approach to the oil sensor behind the oil filter was ingenious. Thanks, I'm going to file that one away and use it.

The buried thermostat on the Escape is an example of the bad design that I was complaining about. The only reason to bury that thing is to stuff too much engine/accessories into too small a space. My contention is that if you design it that way, the buried part should outlive the car. These parts do not.

Spacenut:

I hope you can get those things fixed. Living where you do, you are going to run into severe salt-induced corrosion. Nearly every bolt or screw you remove will break. You'll have to drill a lot of broken stuff out.

You are probably lucky you don't have a Ford truck from about that year. Ford really screwed those up with a two-piece spark plug design that nobody else uses. They always break during removal, and it takes a special tool to get the broken part of the plug out. It was a very bad deal, and (fortunately) they went back to one-piece plugs. But not for those vehicles!

That being said, I'm still pretty happy with my 1995-vintage F-150. Most everything I need to maintain is fairly accessible. It's old enough technology that the computerized stuff doesn't screw up very often at all. And it comes from a time when fewer low quality parts were being used from China. Downside: it's old enough that Ford may or may not have those parts that I cannot get from a parts store. I ran into that with a failed anti-knock sensor. Had to use JB weld and a tap to get the more modern part to fit; they had gone to metric threads.

GW

kbd512 · 2020-08-22 11:18:48

SpaceNut,

Whatever you do, do not over-torque the bolts going into that Aluminum block and use anti-seize if you think you'll have to remove them again.

GW,

Apart from a 1996 Ford Ranger I had that was practically bullet proof, my only experience is with Chevrolet and Cadillac. I think I had to replace the spark plugs and some headlamp bulbs, but that was about it. A torque wrench and Haynes manual was all that was required. I miss those days. I think it ultimately went about a quarter million miles. My parents bought it from me after I bought my Impala and gave it to my little sister, and she continued to drive it for years afterwards.

We had so many problems with the Ford Escort and Taurus my parents had when I was a kid that I made a mental note of the difficulty of repairing them at the dealership using their own mechanics, so I only bought one (I was just out of the Navy and it's all I could afford), but remarkably, the Ranger never had any major problems and almost everything on the engine was easy to get to. That thing did quite a bit of hauling, too.

SpaceNut · 2020-08-22 12:08:46

Thanks GW & Kbd512 for the words....

Did trouble shooting of the starter so far and by touching the +B post power to the s connection on the starter was able to learn that its not bad. Went next to trouble shooting the computer to S connection and there are some circuit items but thanks to a horrible electrical diagram learned that the computer puts out a low signal that turns on the relay that brings power into the s connection point. There is a diode between the computer and the coil of the relay on one side while the other is switch ignition start power. The power side of the relay was good and then I placed a bypass to ground for the diode and the starter would turn when the key is turned.

The dash lights of the anti theft is indication by a rapid flashing that its in enabled mode... Which stops the ignition spark.

Now off to google bypassing that signal fault....
Looks like thats going to be an item to look out for in the future.

I also have owned an escort wagon plus a Taurus as well which were trouble free in the past. Both vehicles were totaled by accidents one was due to slippery icy roads into a toll both barrier and the other was by being t-boned on the drivers axel by driver that did not stop at the sign.

New Mars Forums

Announcement

#201 2020-08-08 06:33:37

Re: Housekeeping

#202 2020-08-08 07:26:45

Re: Housekeeping

#203 2020-08-08 11:42:53

Re: Housekeeping

#204 2020-08-08 12:27:46

Re: Housekeeping

#205 2020-08-11 18:05:37

Re: Housekeeping

#206 2020-08-12 08:23:29

Re: Housekeeping

#207 2020-08-13 16:38:18

Re: Housekeeping

#208 2020-08-14 15:19:55

Re: Housekeeping

#209 2020-08-14 16:32:19

Re: Housekeeping

#210 2020-08-14 16:51:19

Re: Housekeeping

#211 2020-08-15 07:17:58

Re: Housekeeping

#212 2020-08-16 07:05:55

Re: Housekeeping

#213 2020-08-16 08:43:18

Re: Housekeeping

#214 2020-08-16 09:57:39

Re: Housekeeping

#215 2020-08-20 20:38:18

Re: Housekeeping

#216 2020-08-20 21:33:17

Re: Housekeeping

#217 2020-08-21 06:40:57

Re: Housekeeping

#218 2020-08-21 20:09:12

Re: Housekeeping

#219 2020-08-21 20:33:57

Re: Housekeeping

#220 2020-08-21 20:46:57

Re: Housekeeping

#221 2020-08-21 20:56:58

Re: Housekeeping

#222 2020-08-22 09:32:11

Re: Housekeeping

#223 2020-08-22 10:39:17

Re: Housekeeping

#224 2020-08-22 11:18:48

Re: Housekeeping

#225 2020-08-22 12:08:46

Re: Housekeeping

Board footer