Reduction Gears

Sorry, this is not an Amateur Radio post.

After many months of working with a 3D Printer, I have finally successfully created a working set of interlocking reduction gears, each section provides a 7:1 reduction. This device is about 2 inches in diameter, the total reduction is 14:1.

The original Ring Gear from Thingiverse was modified to create this multi-stage Reduction Gear. My contribution was to modify it as necessary and join two sets together.

Sketchup Model

The transfer plates (with the connecting pins) were assembled by adding the center HEX pin after printing.  Each of the two Reduction Cluster were printer as an assembled single object on the printer. No cleanup or filing was necessary.

Silicon grease is used for lube.

I may increase the size (and with other modification) this could be used as a Light Weight Field Day Antenna Rotor.

-- Home Page: https://WA0UWH.blogspot.com

Minima - User Interface Module

Updated with 3D Model Link, see below.

Thus far, I have been working on the Minima Alternate Tuning Method with push button switches that were hay-wired on a Protoboard.  Reliability of the switches and connecting wires were always suspect.

To solve this problem I have created a Modular User Interface (UI) that will be used with the rest of my Minima Modules. The UI will plug directly onto the Processor Board.

Here it is as designed in DipTrace,  and presented in 3D:

The UI in DipTrace 3D

And, as plugged onto the Processor Board:

As Installed

 (sorry for the poor photo quality, it was taken late last night)

The UI board was produced via the Toner Transfer Method, it is double sided and contains 23 40mil via's.

Wardy at http://wardyprojects.blogspot.com/ has rekindled my interest in building 3D component models for DipTrace.

DipTrace provides over 3500 component in their 3D Library, but rarely are the components that I use found (like simple headers, POTS, and buttons).

DipTrace uses the newer VRML2 format (and a few others) for their 3D components.

In the past I have used AC3D from http://www.inivis.com/ for my 3D needs , but I had let my License laps on an old forgotten dead workstation.

Wardy inspired me to re-purchase the AC3D software and start playing in 3D again (I hope that was a good idea!). The POT and push button switches seen in the design image above were recently created. The following is the most recent 3D part that I have created, it is a SMA PCB Edge Connector. It will be seen on future projects.

A 3D SMA PCB Edge Connector

To use AC3D, I save the component in the native format (*.ac) and then export the same part in VRML2 format, and which is saved in the same directory. Because AC3D does not read (import) VRML2 format, I have to re-export the parts if changes are made to the original.

Although AC3D does read (import ) the older VRML1 format, it does NOT read the VRML2 format (only export), the 3500 3D parts supplied by DipTrace can not be used as a template or starting point for my parts (what a waste).

I need to find a VRML2 to VRML1 converter, so far, googling has not helped.

My 3D Model Library

To promote the use of 3D Models in Published Documents I will share all of my 3D Models, the following Dropbox link is my "working and storage" space for my Electronic Parts.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ypy79mola96qwwg/AABjKrsqBtQYh41ZJkInyKPta?dl=0

Feel free to use my 3D Models as you like, but if they are used in your Published Documentation, please give me credit.

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More Fun with 3D

I recently updated a previous post showing the outside view from my loft. The original photo was taken on Sep 16th, and now the second was taken on Nov 2ed, These photos are arranged for Cross-Eye 3D viewing (CE3D). I took this last photo just because of the very bright fall colors. Not wanting to bore my blog readers with "just another one of my 3D photos", I decided to attach it to a previous blog page (nobody other than myself will really notice).

But, I inadvertently discovered a very interesting artifact of publishing them on the same post page; after clicking on the first image for the expanded browser view, you can quickly flip between the two views with a gentle roll of the middle mouse button. For this scene, only the season's colors change (and maybe a slight unintended zoom scale). The effect can be seen in 2D, but it is not nearly as dramatic as seen in 3D.

Even with only two photos, the time lapse photography is very intriguing in 3D. I now plan to take similar photos at regular intervals to expand the time frame. Maybe a new photo set each week.

I use ImageMagick to combine the Right and Left images into a CE3D view. For example:

convert R.JPG L.JPG -splice 10x0 +append -chop 10x0 -resize 1200  CE3D.JPG

Note: the Right/Left order of the two original images is very important.

Oh, I have been viewing so many Cross-Eye 3D Viewed photos that I now can quickly switch to Cross-Eye 3D mode and without Eye Strain. The images are photos that I have taken, or created from the raw Mars Mission photos, and others found on the web,  I view most online images from about 30 inches (distance to the computer screen).

I like 3D photos, they provide so much more revealing detail, that just can not be perceived in 2D. It is similar to the different listening pleasures of; an AM Mono broadcast, and good a FM Stereo Music Station.

I plan to do a lot more with this interesting viewing mode.

Here is an interesting Cross-Eye 3D Video that may help explain the viewing technique.

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Curiosity's First Major Rock Photos

On Sol0038 Curiosity took the first photo of a major rock along its path. Although, it may be just a layer of hard crusted dirt.

Curiosity's First Major Rock

From this and previous photos, it appears the Curiosity has been climbing up a very slight slope, with a some distance to go to the crest.

On Sol0040 it appears that Curiosity has almost made it to the the crest of the rise and then it will be going down hill for a while.

Near the Crest of the Rise
On the way to Mount Sharp

The slope of the land is not real apparent in the individual 2D images, only in 3D is it obvious.

Disclaimer: Raw Curiosity photos are available from the NASA web site,  Cross-Eyed Images above were constructed by Eldon Brown, with Image-Magick.

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More Local 3D Views

I have been playing some more with Cross-Eye 3D photos. This time the subject is the view out of my loft window. The lighting is not very good, but there are two Deer in the frame. They are very small and seen; below, and slightly to the right of the closest branch of the foreground tree. One is forward a little and laying down, the other is standing a little further back, looking over her left shoulder.

Deer Seen From My Loft
Sep 16, 2012

If I had known the deer were in the shot, I would have tried to use some zoom.

I found a easy way to take the two photos, slide the camera along a small angle of wood or something that is stable. My camera sits nicely and square against a supporting back lip. Between the two shots, I slid the camera about 3 or 4 inches.

Note: if you do not look at this in 3D, you may not determine the branch that I refereed to and therefore may not be able to see the Deer.

Here is an interesting Cross-Eye 3D Video that may help explain the viewing technique.

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UPDATE:

Fall is in the air:

Nov 2, 2012

Nov 8, 2012

Nov 15, 2012

Nov 25, 2012 13:15

Dec 18, 2012 10:00
First Snow

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My 3D IC-730 Station

I have had so much fun creating Cross-Eye 3D (CE3D) Images from the Mars Curiosity photos (see previous posts), that I thought I would try it with my own camera.

Here is a CE3D image of my IC-730 Stations:

Cross-Eye 3D Image of
My IC-730 Station 

Click the image to view in a larger format.

To create the CE3D image I took two photos of the same scene, from a slightly different camera position (displaced about the width of my eyes). The camera was atop a tripod with the three legs almost vertical but yet stable. The right two of the legs were inline with the photo's subject. For the second shot, the third (left) leg was moved sideways a few inches on the floor. The tripod provided a simple yet effective stable platform for both shots.

Yes, this third leg tripod technique does introduce a little miss-alignment, but it is quick and easy. I may investigate a simple sliding-mount adapter for the tripod.

Then I used ImageMagick to combine the two images into a CE3D image:

convert Right.jpg Left.jpg  -splice 10x0 +append -chop 10x0 -resize 1200  CE3D.jpg

This was fun and interesting, I may try this technique for some future electronic projects.

Here is an interesting Cross-Eye 3D Video that may help explain the viewing technique.

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UPDATE

Here is one of my Prop Projects, which has a lot of depth and therefore may make for an interesting CE3D image.

CE3D Prop Project

Interesting; If you see the time on the CE3D Image as "10:31:19" then you are probably - Right Eyed, but it you see time as "10:30:59", then - Left Eyed. The difference is course, is the time laps between two photos and you Dominate Eyes perception.

If you have trouble using the Cross-Eye Viewing Method for seeing the CE3D images, try this:

• Click on the above image to obtain a large image.
• While viewing at a distance of about 24 inches from the display.
• Stick your two index fingers straight up, within an inch of your eyes, one finger in front of each eye. 
• While closing you left eye, adjust the location of your right finger to block out just the right image, but still see the left image. Hold that location. 
• While closing your right eye, adjust the location of your left finger to block out just the left image, but still see the right image. 
• Now with out moving your fingers, open both eyes and gaze between your fingers at the 3D image, adjust your eyes to focus.

For some reason, this is less stressful on the eyes, even though it is exactly the same thing as un-aided Cross-Eye viewing.

Return to this page, I may soon have a few more CE3D photos to share.

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HB PCB 3D Models

With time and work, I have created a few missing 3D components (see previous post) for my current project as shown via DipTrace (Beta) 3D PCB Layout program. The difficult task was finding a 3D modeling program that was easy to use and that can write the correct file format that DipTrace uses for it 3D Display.

I have now created the missing; Headers, Binocular Core, Trimmer Caps, and Trimmer Resistors 3D models to complete my current PCB project.

I used the AC3D Modeling Program to create the components. Unfortunately, AC3D can not read the resulting saved files. AC3D can Export VRML-2 file formats (which I need for the DipTrace PCB program), but it can not read the resulting VRML-2 file.

It would be nice if AC3D could also Import VRML-2, so that the Standard DipTrace 3D components could be used as reference or updated. Currently, I have been also saving all of my new components in the native AC3D format for later updates.

I have used AC3D for many previous mechanical projects, but to be more productive here, I need to continue to my search for a easy to use 3D Modeling program, that can natively Read and Write VRML-2 file formats.

It is interesting how productive the new DipTrace 3D View has become. Because of the 3D view, I have been able to modified the layout, by moving components closer and therefore saving space.

Waiting the 6-10 days for my PCB to return from the Chinese Manufacture has been a little frustrating, compared to building my own HB PCB. But, building the 3D components to complete my 3D model has been enjoyable.

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UPDATE:
I just received e-mail notice that my Chinese Manufactured PCBs are complete, and now in the mail, Woohoo!

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