how to make your own special potentiometers Accidental Science 2026-09-20 | how to make your own special potentiometers
Why grounding solar panels could be problematic? Accidental Science 2024-05-01 | Undestand what's inside a solar inverter, how it works and its critical elements that may severely affect your whole photovoltaic and electrical installation of your home.This is a two-parts video, previous one is about photovoltaic systems, link below.Two years ago I installed a solar system on my house, and because of shortage of available technicians (and even materials!) I had to do everything myself, including some hardware components. It was an istructive experience from which I learnt some things that I did not expect to find. So in this two-parts presentation I share with you what I learnt, hopefully providing useful for you.In this video you will get into the typical inverter, skipping the details and focusing on the conceptual blocks and how they may affect the whole photovoltaic system.Why RCDs trips, why you may find unexpected voltages on the frames of your panels, and more.The presentation does not address some topics such as overloads, reactive loads, and surge load such as those caused by induction motor start up. Maybe I will add another video for those topics if enogh request comes from you all.First part, "Photovoltaic Systems and MPP (Maximum Power Point) ": youtu.be/TwyHmL_N5rsWatch the full series of electronics: youtube.com/watch?v=ye9dguKy_Cs&list=PLwbCeSU2Kq_zORt4un2iQ3JUYxzWF3cTJFor more related/complementary content please visit my website: accidentalscience.com .Follow me on Facebook or Instagram
What are the #MPP, topology and configuration in #Photovoltaic systems? Accidental Science 2024-04-23 | All about Photovoltaic systems and Max Power Point of #solar panels. In this presentation I share what I've learnt from my experience in installing myself a solar (photovoltaic) system.This is a two-parts video, next is about how solar inverters work, link below.Two years ago I installed a solar system on my house, and because of shortage of available technicians (and even materials!) I had to do everything myself, including some hardware components. It was an istructive experience from which I've learnt some things that I did not expect to find. So in this two-parts presentation I share with you what I learnt, with the hope it will be helpful to you.In this video you have the opportunity to understand the various topologies and configurations, and their differences so you might make an idea of what would be best for you, if ever interested in installing one, or making further considerations if you already own one.Furthermore it is discussed the Maximum Power Point: why it exists and how to deal with it.Photovoltaic cells have limits due to their physical characteristics, so solar inverter or specialized equipment called MPPT is used to get the maximum amount of power from panels under every circumstance.Second part, "How Solar Inverters Work and Avoid Mistakes": [link not yet available]Watch the full series of electronics: youtube.com/watch?v=ye9dguKy_Cs&list=PLwbCeSU2Kq_zORt4un2iQ3JUYxzWF3cTJFor more related/complementary content please visit my website: accidentalscience.com .Follow me on Facebook or Instagram
How to #faultfinding #electronics in 7 steps when NO schematic is available Accidental Science 2024-04-12 | How to spot a fault on an electronic board following a methodological approach in 7 steps.Stop blinding guessing what a fault could be, follow the path and a method to spot faults with awareness.This video is inspired by the several comments on my previous video on this topic that you can find here: youtube.com/watch?v=ye9dguKy_CsWith this presentation my hope is to provide an answer to all those questions.Table of content1:15 Gather information, from technicians on field and from other sources3:19 Visual inspection, spot macroscopic causes of failure4:04 Set up proper testing environment to reproduce fault and taking measurements5:21 Check power rails on circuit board6:07 Follow the path backward from faulty outputs7:22 Check for consistency between voltages and currents and components involved13:33 Intermittent faults, artificially stress to reveal hidden faultsFor more related/complementary content over my videos please visit my website accidentalscience.com.Watch the full series of electronics: youtube.com/watch?v=ye9dguKy_Cs&list=PLwbCeSU2Kq_zORt4un2iQ3JUYxzWF3cTJFollow me on Facebook or InstagramWebsite: accidentalscience.com
Microcontroller Driven Safety Socket w/Remote Control for Your Lab Accidental Science 2024-02-10 | A safety socket is a hazard preventing feature for your lab bench when testing devices connected to mains. This project started simple but, hey why doing this simple when I can do it much more complex? :)So I used a microcontroller in place of a single relay to manage all the cool features this remotely controlled safety socket sports. A blinking pilot light indicates when the socket is on, and more lights indicates other statuses of what we can now call the "smart" safety socket.The most important feature is that when power is out, the socket turns off automatically, preventing risks when the power comes in again.This project has been amended with some changes that I've shown in this video: youtu.be/gZ-LT26VJbg Please watch it for the required corrections.This project is a must have in your electronics lab if you happen to tweak with devices that have to be plugged to the mains.CAUTIONWorking on mains voltage could cause serious damages and kill living beings, including you.** You MUST know what you do. **Any showcased solution may fail, if youreplicate it you will do it at your own sole risk.I shall take no liabilities.Full series of #Electronics: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwbCeSU2Kq_zORt4un2iQ3JUYxzWF3cTJ Visit the website: accidentalscience.com
How vinyl discs are made, part II: pressing music with silver Accidental Science 2023-12-30 | In this second part we will see how the delicate lacquer disc is transformed to be used to mass produce vinyl discs.In the first part of this two parts video, we've seen how music is mechanically machined into a lacquer disc using a very sophisticated lathe. If you missed that part, I recommend you to pause and go to watch that first following this link: youtu.be/kViGfE9-f44As mentioned in the first part, the footage used to make these videos was filmed in 2014. When I met Filippo De Fassi, that still today is the general director of Phonopress International, he not only allowed me to film the factory, but he was also so kind to thoroughly explain the whole process in details. Unfortunately when we went back home we discovered the footage got damaged. The audio and video were split, and broken into thousand of small file segments. Almost impossible to recover. Nevertheless the footage remained in archive for nine years, and only recently using a piece of software that I wrote myself I've been able to reconstruct almost all the footage.The lacquer disc by itself cannot be used for replication, and must be converted into a metallic stamper. This is achieved through a chemical and an electrochemical process, after which a negative stamper and a positive "mother" is obtained.The stamper is then used into a complex extruding-labeller-moulding-pressing machine, resulting in a finished disc.The last steps are testing, packaging and resting the discs so they stabilize.Disclosure: this video was NOT sponsored by Phonopress International. I made it just because it is interesnting.Link to the previous video: youtu.be/kViGfE9-f44Link to the series: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwbCeSU2Kq_zn9tgM_gjSEdBCX20dCN5J
How vinyl discs are made, part I: cutting music on a lathe Accidental Science 2023-12-24 | Discover the art of making #vinyl discs. In spite of digital encoded music, vinyl #records are still loved by many people. Making a vinyl record is a sort of art that blends with both electronic and mechanical technology to store sound mechanically.A fascinating story that will make you fall in love with these old media.This is the first part of two parts video. The second part is available at this link: youtu.be/Z-m0ozI_QasThis video is made from footage filmed in 2014, at Phonopress International near Milan, Italy.After filming we discovered that the footage got damaged, so the documentary that should have been done with this footage never aired, and the footage remained in archive for nine years.It was only recently, toward the end of 2023, that I was able to reconstruct most of it.Also, I wish many thansk to Filippo DeFassi who was the general director at Phonopress at the time, which accompanied us into this interesting journey.Disclosure: this video was NOT sponsored by Phonopress International. I made it just because it is interesnting.Links and references:Link to the series: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwbCeSU2Kq_zn9tgM_gjSEdBCX20dCN5JGroove simulation by Tokyo Down Labs: docs.tokyodawn.net/groove-topology-sine
Is making a luminaire a nonsense DIY? Accidental Science 2023-12-14 | Making a luminaire is rather a nonsense but it could make sense if seen under the prospect of art and craft expression. This is why I went into this build, using common materials that you can buy at any hardware store and household store.I used four nice plastic bowls cone trunk shaped, a copper pipe, some copper fixtures, four metal lamp sockets, and some more recycled material that I had at home.The result is unusual, a mix of styles between industrial and art nuveau, with a hint that recall a sailing boat. A my personal touch having been a skipper when I was younger.Subscribe at my website at accidentalscience.com to receive notifications when new content is available, either in the site or as a new video. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Whats inside an encoder and how it works? | electronics automation Accidental Science 2023-04-09 | Encoders are widely used in machines tool and robots to provide positional information for the CNC.But what's inside an encoder? Are you curious to see it?Encoders are important devices used in machines, robots, vehicles, laboratory instrumentations and more, to gauge linear or angular positions. In this video a couple of encoders are opened to see what's inside, and learn how they work.Encoders are devices that encode the position into a numerical signal. While magnetic, contact and more types of encoder do exist, in this video only optical encoders are discussed.They can be linear or rotational giving the information of their position along a straight line, for linear encoders, or along a full revolution for rotational encoders. And they can be absolute or incremental.The most common used encoder is the rotational incremental encoder, that usually comes with two or three channels. So their typical application is to provide an angular position, such as on an arm of a robot, or a converted linear to angular position in machines such as CNC machines when coupled with a lead screw that moves a carriage through the rotation of a motor and an attached encoder.The internal electronic circuit is usually made of a photo detector that read from a disc (or a stripe in the case of linear encoders) where a number of marks or slots are printed or cut out, making the light to pass through. Follows a comparator that discriminates the light level and prevents uncertainties, making the reading stable, and a line driver circuit to output the signals.Full series of #Electronics: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwbCeSU2Kq_zORt4un2iQ3JUYxzWF3cTJ
Learn the PID control in 12 minutes | electronics Accidental Science 2023-03-26 | From washing machines to CNC axes the PID control is a fundamental part of all controlled systems. The Proportional Integral Derivative provides tight control loop and stability.In this video you will learn why we do use PID controls, what they are and how they works.Also as a bonus you will see a conceptual electronic schematic of a possible implementation of a #PID control.Also watch this video: Driver for a washing machine motor with PID control youtu.be/5zRCCL2JZTIFull series of #Electronics:youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwbCeSU2Kq_zORt4un2iQ3JUYxzWF3cTJ
You wont believe what can be reclaimed from old equipments Accidental Science 2023-03-17 | You can find a trove in equipments that are destined to the dumpster. Not only in useful and sometimes valuable parts but also by learning.Dismantling a machine or another device opens up information about the engineering choices behind the design of the apparatus.In this case the protection against voltage surges from EMC or induced by EMP (discussed in a previous video, link to the video below).In this video I show some valuable parts that have been #reclaimed from a PCB stencil printer machine and valuable information about the design of a tv sat receiver, besides some useful electronic components and more importantly the metal case.Among the recovered parts a couple of micrometers, some pneumatic actuators, valves, a motor, and a whole cabinet that hosted the electric parts of the machine.EMP, understanding what they are, where they came from and how to protect from them: youtu.be/eS8ik9JJHxE
An #electromagnetic pulse may ruins your day: can your #electronicproject withstand it? Accidental Science 2023-03-11 | Electro Magnetic Pulses, or EMP, are powerful pulses of energy that come from several sources and could harm electronic circuits and equipments. We will explore what EMP are, where they come from, and how to protect your circuit from them.#Electromagnetic pulses, or #EMP for short, can be a source of serious problems in eletronic equipments. While the most "spectacular" EMP comes from the detonation of a nuclear bomb in upper atmosphere that hopefully we'll never witness, the most common source of EMPs are #lightnings. They can cause severe havoc if not destruction to many electronic devices. In this video I'll discuss the three main types of EMPs, where they come from, and what to do to prevent them causing faults in your electronic #circuit board.Full series of #Electronics:youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwbCeSU2Kq_zORt4un2iQ3JUYxzWF3cTJ
DIY Active Differential Probe for your oscilloscope | Do-it-yourself electronics Accidental Science 2023-02-14 | An active #differential #probe designed for the measurement and visualization of waveforms of mains voltage (or at mains' voltage level) on a common #oscilloscope without running the risk of frying the scope, the probe, or worst yourself! In a previous video (here: youtu.be/XGW_aqE4PVc) I've showcased a passive probe, unlike that one this active probe uses only one input channel of the oscilloscope. The probe run on a 9V battery that lasts about 20 hours (based on Duracell's data sheet calculated for the current drawn by the circuit.) It features an input impedance greater than 4MΩ, an output impedance of ~50Ω and an attenuation ratio of x200 (200:1). The theoretical maximum input voltage is 800Vp (given by the voltage limit of the resistors used in the attenuator). This allows to take measurements not only on common 230/240Vrms but even at 380/400Vrms (used in Europe), including phase-to-phase on a three phases system. BEWARE that if you try to make this project yourself you'll do it under your own sole responsibility, I'll take no liabilities! Keep in mind that the circuit's performance and limits heavily depends by the components used and how the circuit has been made. I mounted two of the four resistors of the attenuator on the PCB and has been covered with an insulating resin that is NOT visible in the pictures. The probe is built around an LM4562 in IA configuration, and a resistive attenuator. Tests confirmed that there is no need for capacitive compensation since the input capacitance is remarkably low (less than 2pF) and the frequency range of interest is about mains frequency (50/60Hz) and its harmonics, so rarely there is the need to read frequencies above 20Khz. I hadn't the possibility to test the probe for its actual bandwidth, though. For the sake of simplicity I used common 1% resistors (with 20ppm/C) rated 250V. The "high" voltage must be well separated by the low voltage part. The key point of this probe is the link to ground, or PE (Protective Earth) that provides its safety. It works on both TT and TN systems. The PE is also carried by the oscilloscope, but the provision of a separate connection for grounding (the green banana socket) is important in the case of fault of the cable, the use of a battery powered oscilloscope and the case when the plug is disconnected from the scope. This probe MUST NOT be used where the line is not protected by a GFCI, RCD or RCCB. Full series of #Electronics: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwbCeSU2Kq_zORt4un2iQ3JUYxzWF3cTJ
Easy DIY passive #probe to measure #mains with the #oscilloscope Accidental Science 2023-02-08 | Do you have to measure mains voltage waveform just once in your whole life? Differential probes are too expensive? Here it is a simple, cheap, DIY solution.CAUTION: Working on mains voltage is dangerous, you MUST know what you do.Directly using the probes of the oscilloscope to measure the mains is hazardous, it could lead to from destroying your probes to melting the traces of the PCB inside your oscilloscope, not to mention the risk of being injured. Depending by the grid system you may have 50% to 100% chance of causing a short capable to destroy your instrumentation.In an old video I presented a depth analysis of why you can blow up your oscilloscope while making measurements at mains, follow this link: youtu.be/LJ9CO5ViKPIAlso the trick that uses two probes directly may end up in catastrophic results if you work on voltages above 110V RMS.In this video is presented a simple attenuator made of just 1/4W resistors, that guarantees safe operations with the oscilloscope provided the PE (Protective Earth, the yellow-green/green wire) is actually tied to ground. It still requires two input channels of your oscilloscope but it is safer than directly hooking the probes to the mains.Full series of #Electronics:youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwbCeSU2Kq_zORt4un2iQ3JUYxzWF3cTJ
Buck Converters tip and tricks - Electronics Accidental Science 2023-01-06 | Buck converters have interesting characteristics but they could be also a source of troubles for electronic designers. Despite their high efficiency and the possibility of bidirectional power management, buck converters pose challenges because of the switching technique upon which they are based.But don't be afraid, in this video I provide some tips and tricks to avoid common pitfalls, besides a conceptual, hopefully easy to understand, explanation on how they works.In the video we will go through the following:- What is a buck converter and why you'd like one- How it works (simplified)- Pros and cons and how to avoid common pitfalls.I've made a buck converter that operates also as a voltage regulator that, unlike linear regulators, sports a 93% efficiency in power conversion. The circuit is purposely a mess of wires, with inductors and capacitors, and even the MOSFET and diode connected through long wires, to better show some of the typical problems that could be found in these kind of converters.Watch the full series of electronics: youtube.com/watch?v=ye9dguKy_Cs&list=PLwbCeSU2Kq_zORt4un2iQ3JUYxzWF3cTJFollow me on Facebook or InstagramWebsite: accidentalscience.com
Easy to make portable metal sheet braker bender Accidental Science 2022-12-23 | Reusing metal from the scrap bin I've made this #metalsheet #braker/#bender which is easy to make, and it can be folded and stored in a corner of the shop to prevent it to take precious space.It is a little bit sketchy to use when you need to make two bends in a 90 degrees corner, because it needs some spacers that are difficult to be kept in place. However this is meant as a simple and cheap project so I haven't bothered to develop a more complex design.
How to make experimental circuit boards Accidental Science 2022-05-27 | Here I show what I do to make my experimental circuit boards, the techniques, and the materials that can be used.Experimental circuits should be made quickly and inexpensively. For good quality the way to go is to design the circuit with a software such as Eagle or KiCad and hand over to a manufacturer the process. However this requires time: you have to prepare the files, check them, send them to the manufacturing facility and place the order, and wait for the boards to be shipped. Not exactly a fast route when it comes in experimenting an idea that could even be wrong.Making circuit boards themselves is a useful skill for this stage of experimentation.So I show you some techniques that I use for this purpose.Watch the full series of electronics: youtube.com/watch?v=ye9dguKy_Cs&list=PLwbCeSU2Kq_zORt4un2iQ3JUYxzWF3cTJFollow me on Facebook or InstagramWebsite: accidentalscience.com
Understanding Voltage Regulators | electronics Accidental Science 2022-05-13 | Voltage regulators are a staple in #electronic circuits, and they come in various forms. Do you know them all? Watch this introductory video to understand #VoltageRegulators.From power supplies to voltage references, voltage regulators provide the set point at which a circuit works. Because with no voltage you cannot have current. Whether you need to design or troubleshoot a circuit you really need to know about these basic blocs.In this video we explore series, also known as pass regulators, and parallel, also known as shunt regulators. Linear and switching. Where they are best suited, why to choose one or another.Watch the full series of electronics: youtube.com/watch?v=ye9dguKy_Cs&list=PLwbCeSU2Kq_zORt4un2iQ3JUYxzWF3cTJFollow me on Facebook or InstagramWebsite: accidentalscience.com
5 things to know about #Conparators Vs #OPAMP - #electronics Accidental Science 2022-05-07 | Comparators could be confused with operational amplifiers but they are designed for specific tasks. We explore the differences, applications and more in this video.This is “hands on electronics” series from Accidental Science.Many times it is necessary to detect voltage levels against a reference voltage. While OPAMPs can be used for this purpose, exploiting their high gain, performances are poor and the applications are limited where a slow response is acceptable.Comparators are specifically designed for this application, enhancing their speed versus their linearity, as their output swings between just to levels: high and low.Comparators are the ideal interface from the analog world to digital.But some care in the layout design must be taken, particularly with fast comparators.Watch the full series of electronics: youtube.com/watch?v=ye9dguKy_Cs&list=PLwbCeSU2Kq_zORt4un2iQ3JUYxzWF3cTJFollow me on Facebook or InstagramWebsite: accidentalscience.com
Fighting spurious #oscillations in #operationalamplifier - #electronics Accidental Science 2022-05-01 | Fighting noise, spurious #spikes and #self-oscillations is one of the hardest job every electronics geek have to troubleshoot sooner or later. I investigated into some spurious oscillations in my double function generator (that features two independent oscillators), and it went a good occasion to discuss how to spot and curb self-oscillations, and about the stability of operational amplifiers, phase shift in relation to the gain and frequency, and some important considerations about how power supply and signals are carried to the #opamp.To learn more:analog.com/media/en/technical-documentation/application-notes/an148fa.pdfWatch the full series of electronics: youtube.com/watch?v=ye9dguKy_Cs&list=PLwbCeSU2Kq_zORt4un2iQ3JUYxzWF3cTJFollow me on Facebook or InstagramWebsite: accidentalscience.com
Sawtooth Generator for your Electronics lab feat. Current Source and Comparator Accidental Science 2022-04-26 | With this voltage controlled sawtooth oscillator there is the opportunity to explore the application of the LM311 comparator, a constant current source using a single transistor, how to make a transistor to switch faster, what are the factors that affect the frequency range and in general, what to care about in the circuit for higher frequencies and wide bandwidth.A sawtooth waveform generator such is useful in several testing applications, particularly for components characterization to drive the volt-amper measurement on an oscilloscope or with a X-Y plotter. Other applications include voltamperometric tests and other experiments in electro-chemistry.This #VFO for #sawtooth waveform operates at frequencies between 10 Hz and 1 MHz in two bands, with an output voltage of about 4 Vpp.In this video a the oscillator is part of a larger function generator project, covered in other videos that you can follow watching the full series: youtube.com/watch?v=ye9dguKy_Cs&list=PLwbCeSU2Kq_zORt4un2iQ3JUYxzWF3cTJFollow me on Facebook or InstagramWebsite: accidentalscience.com
Automatic Gain Control with your own LDR #electronics Accidental Science 2022-04-06 | An automatic gain control (AGC) with a DIY opto-resistor is presented in this video. AGCs basically are voltage controlled amplifiers where the control voltage is the amplitude of the very same amplified signal. While many designs exist for this kind of circuit, here I show one of the simplest solutions: an operational amplifier where the gain control is set by an opto-resistor, also know as light dependent resistor (LDR) or vactrol. Because it could be hard to source this kind of component I also show how to make one yourself with a simple LED a chunk of tube and a photo-resistor, all kept together with a drop of epoxy resin mixed with grey cement.This circuit has a dynamic gain of 18dB and a ratio of 80% over the target output level. With some further adjustments it can be expanded to a higher ratio but at that point other circuits would better suit. The advantages of this circuit are its simplicity, very low distortion and low noise. The stray capacitance of the photo-resistor could limit the bandwidth but with the VT900 the circuit has proven to work pretty well with very little attenuation up to 500KHz.Watch the full series of electronics: youtube.com/watch?v=ye9dguKy_Cs&list=PLwbCeSU2Kq_zORt4un2iQ3JUYxzWF3cTJFollow me on Facebook or InstagramWebsite: accidentalscience.com
Triangle to sine with a #wave-shaper #electronic #circuit Accidental Science 2022-03-21 | Convert a triangle to sine wave with a wave shaper circuit. Following the development of a function generator, in this episode we go through the wave shaper, an interesting electronic circuit that is able to convert a triangular waveform into a sine wave, that is almost not affected by the operating frequency. This circuit sports an alternative solution to the original idea presented by HP in 1973. In this circuit LEDs and an operational amplifier are used to shape the waveform, and to provide a buffer for the output signal.While more complex solutions do exist, this circuit has the advantage of simplicity and low component count.Watch the full series of electronics: youtube.com/watch?v=ye9dguKy_Cs&list=PLwbCeSU2Kq_zORt4un2iQ3JUYxzWF3cTJFollow me on Facebook or InstagramWebsite: accidentalscience.com
A Voltage Controlled Oscillator for your lab #electronics #VFO Accidental Science 2022-02-19 | A full triangular waveform #VFO is presented and explained in this video.Unlike the well known 555 IC that can be used also as Voltage Controlled Oscillator, the circuit presented in this video features much better characteristics, both for the range of frequencies (a full one order of magnitude for every single range) and for the quality of the generated waveform, low noise and perfect straight slopes of the triangular wave.This circuit is the starting point for future developments that will be presented in next episodes, with the aim to achieve a complete instrument for the laboratory of electronics.For further reading I recommend to read the description of the HP generator Model 3311A presented by Hewlett-Packard in its own publication “Hewlett-Packard Journal” on July 1973. Although the circuit is substantially different from the one showcased in the video, both start from the same concept of charging/discharging a capacitor through a variable voltage source driving a constant current source.
Experiment: is that metallic shade iron? (quickvideo) Accidental Science 2022-02-16 | In my last video, making the experiment with acetic acid to remove rust from an old hammer, at the end of the treatment I've noticed kind of a patina on the hammer that easily came off by just rubbing with my fingers. It came off as a fine slush leaving a metallic shade on my glove.Without thinking too much, on video I've said: it's gotta be iron powder.Is it really?A viewer posted a clever comment to the video, pointing out that the powder was not iron but carbon, since hammers are made out of high carbon steel.He had a good point, so I decided to carry a little experiment showcased in this video.
Rust removal & protection with a reinvented old recipe Accidental Science 2022-02-11 | A simple method to remove rust when you cannot use mechanical means such as grinding or a wire wheel brush because that would spoil the object that need to be de-rusted.This video showcase an experiment using stronger concentration of weak acid and a revisitation of an old recipe to provide protection to the metal once it has been cleared from rust.Also is presented a review of the various kind of oxides that attack iron or steel, providing a hint to distinguish them and thereby choose the best process to remove the oxide or rust.By the way, did you know tetanus is not carried by rust?Experiment series: youtube.com/watch?v=MWibZ754YlI&list=PLwbCeSU2Kq_wbNEUGGWLkCgvLpUz3eP-kFollow me on Facebook and InstagramWebsite: accidentalscience.com0:00 Introduction0:27 Distinguishing the various kind of rust/oxides2:39 The misconception about tetanus and rust4:09 Getting started with rust removal5:09 Chemical experiment6:46 Why this should work10:04 Assessing the result12:26 Protection of the metal14:41 How to recycle and reuse wasted chemicals
DIY composite pulley for the home made lathe [part 11] Accidental Science 2022-02-05 | A DIY composite two-stages pulley, makeshift indexer, and lathe drill holder jig are showcased here in a challenging situation. Making the pulley that drives the spindle's lathe using the same lathe to make the very same pulley is a challenge. Because of the design of the spindle of my lathe I was not able to find a ready to use pulley off the shelf, and ordering one at the machine shop gave me a staggering long time to deliver. So I got creative and I made the pulley from scratch. With a piece of thick steel tubing and an old aluminum flange and some epoxy resin I made a pulley that is suitable to be driven through a poly-V belt, as required by the motors, salvaged from washing machines.0:00 The problem1:41 First step solution2:19 Making a sleeve and FIRST CHIPS ever with this lathe!3:08 Let's check the very first part turned with this lathe4:18 Checking how the ways wipers worked4:52 A makeshift indexer5:58 Lathe drill holder jig from a scapped drill press8:14 Making indexed angle holes on the side of the sleeve8:49 Preparing the seats for the sleeve on the shaft9:40 Step two: Installing the sleeve to gain more torque9:59 Turning an aluminium ring from an old flange11:00 Attaching the aluminium ring on to the sleeve11:33 Making the composite secondary ring14:18 Turning the pulley's secondary ring14:31 The final pulley15:05 Installation of the pulley and belt tensioners16:20 Speed test17:29 What's up nextIn the video you'll see a linear scriber that I've made myself, video: youtu.be/f9tA4i2xqjMThe motors are driven with an electronic speed control (ESC) that I designed myself, video here: youtu.be/5zRCCL2JZTIA contactless RPM meter (tachometer) is featured, I've shown how it is made here: youtu.be/RlAIcnxVLZE; here: youtu.be/iQ5vwq0JoKE; and here: youtu.be/fzcXJIGZSHAWatch the full series of the minilathe: youtube.com/watch?v=KSE7DORiYfs&list=PLwbCeSU2Kq_wrUUInSUWJksA-LHhhMhFxWatch the series of electronics: youtube.com/watch?v=ye9dguKy_Cs&list=PLwbCeSU2Kq_zORt4un2iQ3JUYxzWF3cTJFollow me on Facebook or InstagramWebsite: accidentalscience.comMusic (in order as played in the video):Empire Seasons by Dan HenigHedge Your Bets by TrackTribeKomputo by Francis PreveDepth Fuse by French Fuse
Multimeter or oscilloscope? Mistakes to avoid before you buy. Hands-on electronics #2 Accidental Science 2022-01-22 | Do you need an oscilloscope or a multimeter in your lab? What to buy first? What about a combo instrument? What to look for to know what's better for you?Working with electronic circuits and equipment requires instruments that enable you to know what is going on there. But many are confused when they have to purchase their first instrument (and often many are confused even after they already have purchased one).In this video I try to address these issues and showcase the fundamentals that you should know both for purchasing and using a multimeter.How to avoid to fry your oscilloscope measuring mains: youtu.be/LJ9CO5ViKPIWatch the full series: youtube.com/watch?v=ye9dguKy_Cs&list=PLwbCeSU2Kq_zORt4un2iQ3JUYxzWF3cTJ
Dont be fooled with DIY lathes: the toolpost – DIY mini lathe part 10 Accidental Science 2022-01-14 | So I've built the toolpost for my DIY mini lathe for metals. It seemed an easy task, but as everything in this project I've got some setbacks. I hope you'll enjoy this video even though I had some failures in making what was supposed to be a relatively simple metalwork. Including some alchemy in trying to blackening the parts :)Bingewatch the full series: youtube.com/watch?v=KSE7DORiYfs&list=PLwbCeSU2Kq_wrUUInSUWJksA-LHhhMhFxPrevious episode: youtu.be/KCBGhkabXpQWebsite (one day it will work properly again): accidentalscience.com
DIY linear scriber you can make for free out of metal waste Accidental Science 2022-01-07 | An easy to make really useful tool that you can do it yourself for free reclaiming scrapped parts from the metal waste bin.A linear scriber comes handy in many occasions, in both metalworking and woodworking. It allows to trace lines following the profile of the workpiece. Useful to trace where holes should be drilled or where to attach other parts, as a reference, and many many other uses. In this video I recovered: a rod of stainless steel (you can use mild steel or brass), a parallelepiped of mild steel remained after a longer bar was cut, a small cylinder of brass (do not remember where it comes from), a piece of brass screw, and a broken bit.The only part that is new is a small M4 screw.Website: accidentalscience.comMusic:"Invitation to the Castle Ball" by Doug Maxwell"Island Coconuts" by Aaron Kenny"Watch Me" by Geographer
How to spot a fault in a circuit, like a pro : hands on electronics [1] Accidental Science 2022-01-01 | In this video I show the method to find out a fault on an electronic circuit board. In the specific case we have an ESC (Electronic Speed Control) that is used to control a washing machine motor (used to drive the spindle of a lathe) and somewhere in the circuit there is a faulty contact. It turns out it was a bad soldering that caused an uncertain contact, making the motor to start and stop randomly. The video shows the procedure to spot the exact point where the fault is present.Wonder how to #faultfinding without schematic? Watch this video too: youtu.be/yjxuMwLN7zIFor more related/complementary content over my videos please visit my website accidentalscience.com.Watch the full series of electronics: youtube.com/watch?v=ye9dguKy_Cs&list=PLwbCeSU2Kq_zORt4un2iQ3JUYxzWF3cTJFollow me on Facebook or InstagramWebsite: accidentalscience.com
DIY metal minilathe [part9] Is it spinning? Accidental Science 2021-12-28 | Part 9 of the making of my DIY precision mini lathe for metals with electric axes. In this episode the final assembly of the elements that form the carriage, including the apron. To align the cross-slide with the lower sleds that run on the Z-ways I used a self-made machinist level, here you can watch how I've made it: youtu.be/r9Clu4PdvWcUnlike in typical manual lathes, here the apron is much simpler as it is directly linked to the lead screw and to the axis driving motor. A double nut, with a particular linkage, is used to adjust the backlash. Finally the spindle is put in rotation with a couple of DC motors salvaged from washing machines and controlled with a simple driver (AKA ESC, details in this video: youtu.be/5zRCCL2JZTI).This work was put on pause for four months because a surge of work in my main job. I found two problems with the spindle's motor. One is a faulty contact somewhere in the control board that makes the motor running irregularly. And the other one is the belt that slips on the shaft of the spindle, because the pulley that was meant to pick the thrust from the belt to transmit it to the shaft is not yet in place. Hopefully that will solve the problem.Previous episode: youtu.be/5rLqkpy2UQA
DIY sturdy stand to see small things BIGGER Accidental Science 2021-08-05 | Working with electronics and small items need some kind of magnification. A magnifier lens is good but I have a lens that has not stand. Also I don't find magnifiers with articulated arms practical. So I made a stand for my portable lens. It is sturdy. Made out of steel. And do not take space.This is a simple DIY project that everybody can do for almost no money reclaiming metal from the scap bin.This video was meant to be a "short" initially, but ended up to be long enough to make a regular video.
All you want to know for driving powerful motors recycled from washing machines Accidental Science 2021-07-30 | Motors from washing machines are powerful and easy to recycle, though they need a special driver to get the best from them. In this video a hands-on approach about how to drive these motors through the Phase Angle Control and Closed loop speed control.Washing machine motors can be easily recovered from old machines, often are in good conditions, are powerful, they can spin in both directions, and can be driven to control their speed with good torque from standstill. You can also squeeze out much power if a good ventilation is provided. Since they are fitted with a tachometer they can be driven to rotate at a constant speed even when the load changes.However to get the best from them a specific driver is required.The theory of operation of these motors is presented and how the Phase Angle Control used to drive them works.Finally a full driver that I've made is presented.With a power of about 500W I will use one of these motors to temporarily drive the spindle of my mini lathe.In the video is featured an RPM-counter that I've made, follow this link to watch the video of the project: youtube.com/watch?v=fzcXJIGZSHAyoutube.com/watch?v=RlAIcnxVLZEContent summaryDescription of the Universal Motor and how it works.Hands-on approach of the Phase Angle Control, and of the Closed Loop Control System theory of operation.Discussion of the blocks diagram of the driver.Test of the purposely built driver.
Can you #electroplate copper with lemon juice? | Experiments Accidental Science 2021-07-04 | Easy electroplating of copper with things that everyone has at home with a method that does not involve a bath. How it works, and the results of some experiments is what I shared in this video.This video is meant to show some experiments and to understand how the underlying chemistry works, rather for fun than for any productive result. Nevertheless this method can be actually used to achieve some decent result.Electroplating a piece of steel with copper can be useful not only for aesthetic but even to help protecting the metal from rust. Also on top of the copper layer it is possible to electroplate other metals such as nickel. This method do not involve the use of a chemical bath for electrolysis, instead the electrode is moved directly onto the part to electroplate as if it were a paintbrush, and indeed even making it possible to “paint” the part. It is therefore less bulkier and easier to do at home, and does not involve nasty chemicals but items that can be found in any kitchen, such as lemon, vinegar, and table salt.I am not a chemist, so I could have mistaken some points in the explanation, if you spotted any please feel free to provide your corrections in the comments section.
Extra vise to cut small parts on metal bandsaw Accidental Science 2021-06-19 | Sometimes happens to cut small #metal parts, but usually band saws come with a large gap between the vise and the blade. In this video I share my solution: an additional #vise positioned close to the blade of the #bandsaw, using a cheap drill press vise. With many band saws if you have to cut a small piece or need to make a narrow cut, a cut that should be carried close to the vise, you may find it's an impossibile mission. In this video I share my solution and how I've made it.This additional vise comes useful to cut small parts with precision, it is made starting from a cheap drill press vise.
DIY metal lathe cross slide sled - part 8b Accidental Science 2021-05-28 | How I've made the sled of the cross slide for my home made metal lathe. Using the same technique applied for other parts of this lathe, I didn't welded the elements, rather I put them together through glue, pins and screws to avoid deformations and achieve higher quality and precision. This time I used cyanoacrylic glue (similar to superglue) in place of epoxy, because pins and screws are enough to keep the parts in place and the elements are attached together quicker.The pins perfectly fit the holes that has been drilled and reamed to a tight diameter, so the pins need to be forced with the aid of a press (here the link to the video where I've made a DIY press: youtu.be/CyulPt2looU).Next step will be to install the cross slide to the carriage.In the previous episode I've made the cross slide ways, here the link: youtu.be/0BuqkRqqxykFollow me on Instagram (accidental_science) or Facebook (Accidental Science)accidentalscience.com
DIY metal lathe cross slide ways - part 8 Accidental Science 2021-05-22 | This time I show how I've made the cross slide of my DIY metal mini lathe. No welding: even this part has been made without welding but joining the elements together with epoxy and pins, avoiding the risk of deformations. In this part only the cross slideway is shown while in the next episode I'll show the cross slide's sled.A final episode will contain the whole assembly and alignment on the carriage and the lead screw.You will notice that this cross slide is particularly long, this is because this lathe is designed to be ready to host a milling attachment.Links to the previous episodes:Part 6 - Oil ports and slideways for the cross slide : youtu.be/Uuvmki_gyOIPart 7 – Headstock installation and alignment : youtu.be/w5DIehtaRM4Follow me on Instagram (accidental_science) or Facebook (accidentalscience)accidentalscience.com
How I chemically remove scale from steel ...the clean way recycling chemicals Accidental Science 2021-04-24 | Many videos show how to remove mill scale by pickling metal, but few to none show how to deal with the spent chemicals. In this video I address this problem and show the procedure I used to chemically remove the mill scale from steel generating little waste and with some ideas on how to recycle the acidic liquor or to make it safe and easily disposable.When the mill scale is consistent and the steel is meant to stay indoor, the removal of the scale can be safely disregarded. This was the case when I made the frame of my hydraulic press that you can see here: youtu.be/CyulPt2looU. But in other cases it is really necessary to remove it.The mill scale is a mix of various iron oxides that adhere to the surface of the metal forming a tough layer. Mechanical methods or heating can be used to remove the scale, but they may sport some undesirable drawbacks. No method is perfect but pickling is quite effective particularly on smaller parts and where no deformation and thermal stress is required.So this video focuses on simple chemistry, applied to process mild steel in metalworking.I just followed a class in chemistry, but I'm not a chemist therefore, even though I felt the need to explain the reactions showing the related formulas, I hope no major errors slipped in the show.CAUTION-DISCLAIMERThis video is not meant to be a tutorial, it just shows my experience and experiments.Working with chemicals requires precautions: always wear safety goggles, gloves and wear proper clothing to protect yourself. Wear closed shoes. Remove rings and jewels. DO NOT eat or drink while working with chemicals. Keep children and animals out from the area. Some chemicals may generate very harmful fumes so good ventilation is of paramount importance, and sometimes still not enough requiring a specially designed fume hood.Also some chemicals may unexpectedly react with the materials the furnitures are made.Credits for photos of oxides:By http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:Fuzic&action=edit - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Iron%28II%29_oxide.jpg, Public Domain, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2777872By Benjah-bmm27 - Own work, Public Domain, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2116171By Leiem - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36973696Other images shown in the video, when not proprietary, come from public domain.
Headstock installation + alignment - DIY metal mini lathe part 7 Accidental Science 2021-03-30 | Headstock alignment is a critical point in every lathe, in this video I show how I've done it for my home made benchtop precision mini lathe.Before going through the actual installation I've performed some simulations of the whole process. The headstock is installed using leveling paste that allows only small corrections once it is set. The headstock is equipped with compressing and expanding screws to let adjustments over the vertical plane and lateral screws to let adjustments over the horizontal plane.DISCLAIMER: In the video some items show their brand because due to limitations of my editing skills I was unable to remove them. So I clarify here that there are NO SPONSORSHIPS, I DO NOT ENDORSE NOR DISAPPROVE THOSE BRANDS THAT ARE INCIDENTALLY VISIBLE IN THE VIDEO. Products are visible in the video because they are necessary for the purpose of the work shown and because I found them fitting my personal purposes, not because sponsorship or paid placement. In future videos I will try to overlay a message that clarify this point when brands appear too prominently.Video is composed by the following sections:0:00 Intro; 1:00 simulations; 1:42 the problem of test bar deflection; 3:40 ball-tip dial indicator may lead to erroneous readings; 4:54 counterweighting; 6:20 preparing leveling paste; 7:28 headstock installation; 8:02 alignment operations; 12:30 double check with a square and final considerations.
DIY precision mini lathe - part 6 oil ports and more Accidental Science 2021-03-21 | Before going through the process of making and installing the cross-slide, oil ports and some other updates and miscellaneous jobs have been performed in preparation for the alignment of the headstock of this DIY precision metal mini lathe. The change of the jibs comes as a trade off between a reduced wear out of the slideways and a less optimal stick-slip characteristic, and also requires oil and chip/dust wipers.For more information about the stick-slip effect follow this link: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stick-slip_phenomenonAlso you can follow me on Facebook: facebook.com/AccidentalScienceon HomeMadeTools.net and soon on Instagram.Website: accidentalscience.comMid-roll Music: “Connection” by Wayne Jones.End music: “Ex Boxer” by Riot.
Testing the linkage for the cross-slide - short video AccidentalScience Accidental Science 2021-02-07 | Short video about a test for linkage of the cross slide to the carriage sleds of my home made metal mini lathe. I have some questions, what are your possible solutions?
Flat From Scratch, revised - The 3 plates method Accidental Science 2021-01-18 | Here I share my experience on making flat the ways of my home made lathe with the 3 plates method, and a discussion about some caveats and the history of the method.So how to make a true flat surface without a flat surface? Before any true flat surface was ever made there were only pseudo-flat surfaces, far to be really flat, a fact that had many implications in hampering the technological development. Who, for the first time, formalized a method to obtain a (quite) true flat surface (from scratch) was Joseph Whitworth who revealed his 3 plates method in a paper addressed to the British Association in Glasgow on 1840. There are no much information online about this method, and the few lines mentioning it, that one could find in a book of mechanical technology, are not enough to let understand how actually this method can be carried out. Eventually I found some information online, enough to try myself the method on the occasion to make the ways of my home made lathe.This video is a revision of a previous one with the same title where some issues have been addressed. I provided both historical e technological context, and a detailed illustration on how I carried out this method, with some variations introduced to speed up the work.Some caveats related to the described method are also discussed.I made this video with the hope others will find it interesting and useful.00:00:00 Introduction00:01:00 About flat surfaces00:03:05 History of the method00:05:54 Why we need flat surfaces00:06:13 Definitions00:07:01 Description of the method00:07:18 Caveat on the description00:11:27 Discussion on the limits of the method00:14:49 My experience and trick to overcome the limitsAcknowledgmentsThere is no much information online about this method, but digging the net eventually I came up to the original paper (a scan still available through Archive.org), its transcript on Wikipedia, and an useful article written by Eric Weinhoffer that directed me to an other document, a PDF titled “Reference Planes” written by Doctor Alessandro Anzalone, for the Hillsborough Community College - Brandon Campus, both helped me a lot and confirmed what I intuitively figured out when I read the paper for the first time.Many thanks to both the cited authors, without their work I would not have been able to get the results I got.Lately I had some more insights and many thanks goes to Johan (DIYSwede) that directed me to the good video of Robin Renzetti on the 3 plate method. Many thanks even to them.Also I have to thanks “12L14” from Homemadetools forum who directed me to the comment of Forrest Addy at the Practical Machinist forum.Links & References[1] The Whitworth method presented in 1840 in “Miscellaneous Papers on Mechanical Subjects”, with the paper titled “A Paper on Plane Metallic Surfaces or True Planes”:en.wikisource.org/wiki/Miscellaneous_Papers_on_Mechanical_Subjects/A_Paper_on_Plane_Metallic_Surfaces_or_True_PlanesBlog article of Eric Weinhofferhttp://ericweinhoffer.com/blog/2017/7/30/the-whitworth-three-plates-methodReference Planes by Alessandro Anzalone, Hillsborough Community College, Brandon Campusetshare.pbworks.com/f/Chapter%2014%20Reference%20Planes.pdfWikipedia page on Sir Joseph Whitworth:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Whitworth[2] “Foundations of Mechanical Accuracy” Wayne R. Moore – 1970http://mooretool.com/publications.html[3] Robin Renzetti ROBRENZ ATD #1 Intro, 3 Plate Method@ROBRENZyoutube.com/watch?v=Va4TGDnQqDs&t=202[4] Forrest Addy, his comment on Practical Machinist forum (post #11):[quoted post:]«Square or round or rectangular plate makes no difference in the final flatness provided the work is rotated a RANDOM amount. The object of rotation of the plates in successive cuts is to prevent "radial lobing" of the surface. If the plates are rotated exactly 90 degrees, 72 degrees, 60 degrees, or any other angle corresponding to a regular polygon, there is the hazard of radial "lobing" to appear in the surface. » [...]«I disagree with the Moore assertion of only square or round plates being capable of generating truly flat surfaces. Square or round plate shapes may be helpful but not essential. »practicalmachinist.com/vb/machine-reconditioning-scraping-and-inspection/whitworth-three-plate-method-330634/#post2912880Other sources: http://www.circuitousroot.com/artifice/machine-shop/surface-finishing/hand-scraping
Water Particles Detector using Projected Electric Fields Accidental Science 2020-12-20 | A sensor of particles of water is presented, and the effects that water droplets can cause on wood and iron or steel. Invisible water particles can cause rust and mould. Tiny particles mostly made of water are also ejected from our mouth and nose and in some cases they can carry infectious diseases. This sensor proved to be sensitive enough to detect those tiny particles, and has been used in a research to assess the effectiveness of face masks. Also it is used to detect water condensation in buildings to prevent mould and structural damages. The sensor uses projected electric fields to detect the proximity of water particles thanks to the fact that water has sports eighty times the dielectric coefficient of air. Projected electric fields are also used in touch screens, in that case it is known as projected capacitance.The sensor detects this variation in dielectric and provides a signal proportional to the amount of the total volume of water the particles would form if joined together. This quantitative information is different from the one that comes from humidity sensors, that sense gaseous water, while this sensor detects actual liquid particles that are formed when condensation occurs and such particles can build up on cold surfaces.Possible applications are mould control in buildings, warehouses, farms, in crop storage, and other food control quality. Also it can be used to detect condensation to prevent rust or damages in electronic components.For more information here the link to a paper where the sensor is presented:accidentalscience.com/docs/water_aerosol_sensor.pdfThis is the project's page on Hackaday:hackaday.io/project/176496-water-aerosol-sensor-w-projected-electric-fields
Home Made Metal Lathe Update #2 Accidental Science 2020-12-14 | DIY metal lathe series – Update #2. I show a tool I've made to conform the lower side of the ways of the lathe with the upper side. While the ways have been made flat after several stages (see my last update for more details here: youtu.be/wRTY7FXOd5I or older videos of this series) the lower side was not yet ready. I've made the upper sides of the ways flat with a tolerance of +/- 0.01 millimeter, along the whole length of the ways (860 millimeter). The lower side however was not yet made flat and should conform to, in other words should follow, the upper side. So I've made this tool to perform this job. The lower side is less important than the upper side as it has the function to keep in place the carriage and to reduce the vibrations when the lathe is used to mill parts.This tool is used to make a gross removal of material, while the fine work will be performed with the aid of a stripe of emery paper glued on the retainer of the slide.In this update I also mention the boards that I've designed to build the motor drivers. Since these boards are not yet fully assembled I just make an anticipation, while more details will be shown in a future update.Follow the whole series (playlist): youtube.com/watch?v=KSE7DORiYfs&list=PLwbCeSU2Kq_wrUUInSUWJksA-LHhhMhFxLast Q&A + Update video: youtu.be/wRTY7FXOd5I
How to Make Low Cost Hi CRI LED Softboxes for Photo Video Accidental Science 2020-12-07 | If you need better lights for filming or photography this video is for you. Light fixtures of my lab are not well suited for filming, so I've made a couple of cheap LED softboxes mostly made with recycled material. In the video you will also get some basic concepts about the science of light relevant to this application.With luminaires made in this way you can get better color rendering than using a single LED light bulb or stripe.While I used metallic boxes to make the body of the luminaires, you can also use plywood or plastic. The important point is to make correct wirings following safety rules that imply you should be at least basically familiar with electric circuits and the use of electric parts.The part list is really simple: four LED bulbs, four plastic bulb sockets, cable, a switch, a plug, a piece of steel flat bar (3x20mm) and a rod, 4 mm in diameter, mild steel, black paint (optional), black cotton fabric, clear non-woven fabric (cover for garden plants). Total cost is around € 30 (in Europe, probably less elsewhere).Enjoy.
ISRU portable energy source+electric scythe Accidental Science 2020-10-02 | I've made a portable power source and electric scythe, with the sole resources I had laying around.This is an In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) project to make a portable source of power and electric scythe made by reusing things that was laying around. This project, made primarily for fun and far to be perfect, allowed me to mow a piece of land covered with wild vegetation.It was also be used in place of an electric generator on a construction site where the electrical grid was not available, providing up to 1 kw of power at mains voltage.It involves metalworking, welding, and power electric design and wiring.
DIY metal mini lathe Update+Questions&Answers Accidental Science 2020-09-25 | Some updates and answer to questions from you, gals and guys, on my home made metal mini lathe project. Some of the questions I give an answer to in the video:- Could the ways be twisted?- Why did I use steel on steel instead of bronze on steel, for the slide.- Are the spindle's holder clamps are too flimsy?- How to deal with the thermal expansion of the spindle's axle?- What about chips that could build up on the screws that hold the ways in place?ERRATUM. I don't know why but I've messed up the numbers when I talked about the issue #3. At 6:17 I've mistakenly said (and shown) the equivalence between 2400Kgf in 240 newton. That's obviously wrong: the equivalent force is 23KN (or more precisely 23535N).
Machinist level with a perfume vial Accidental Science 2020-08-07 | Would it be possible to turn a sample perfume vial into a precision machinist level? I've given it a try and had some interesting findings as you will see in this video.Precision machinist's levels are very sensitive and can detect very small slopes. The one I've made has a sensitivity of 0.01 millimeter over 200 millimeter or 0.4 thou over 7.9 inches.Spirit levels are made using curved vials, and to make a level one should make a bended vial in the first place, not an easy thing to do. I also experimented capacitive sensors, but reverted back to the traditional technology of the bubble trapped into a vial.
Grinding Rig to make dovetail ways ...went wrong Accidental Science 2020-06-24 | With the idea of making the dovetail ways for the cross slide of the lathe I've made this rig to hold the angle grinder to cut steel bars at an angle. Although the result was interesting the rig failed its purpose. The video shows both the making of the rig and what went wrong, plus an extra part at the end of the video.I've seen other people making rigs for an angle grinder to cut or grind parts to be used to make dovetail ways, but as far as in my experience these rigs are not capable to produce precise enough parts.While I have an alternative idea to make a rig able to cut titled parts, for the cross slide of the lathe I'm eager to stay on a box design, rather than dovetails.
