Go Back   IceInSpace > General Astronomy > General Chat
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts Search

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread
  #41  
Old 27-05-2024, 06:03 PM
Leo.G (Leo)
Registered User

Leo.G is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Lithgow, NSW, Australia
Posts: 990
An earlier mention by myself about not having Lego but being amazed by the K'Nex modelling rod kits my son owns a lot of, here's one reason why I'm particularly fond of it.
My son often describes ideas relating to something he'd like to do and I'm often too stupid to understand what he's trying to explain. From a young age he would run out and build a working model from K'Nex bits and pieces.


I recently acquired a ceramic craftsman's revolving platform and we wanted to do a full 3D render of a human head (foam thingie I picked up cheap). We can use the Kinect from the Xbox One to do the 3D but we needed the platform rotating at an even speed for a good render (it's going to doctors to explain headache regions I know about from well over 50 years of suffering, regions, causes and treatments for many).


Anyway, we needed a small stepper motor attached and while I was looking for scrap aluminium bar to twist up to make it my son ran in, grabbed a few K'Nex bits and pieces and slapped the pictured mechanism together. It works extremely well. The Rivnuts were already set into a piece of aluminium and drilled out to accept the K'nex rods for a motor mount on another project (the motor wasn't strong enough)

My son could never use the Lego, fine motor skill problems as a child, couldn't use Mechano either but his builds with K'nex would blow most peoples minds.


A couple of other examples is a full safe type mechanism for a shed door with both electronic locking and manual locking (work either way) and a model designed for a revolving ladder system around my pier for the Newtonian with motor driven variable step height and rotation around the pier. I'll make it one day.
No images of the other two projects for obvious reasons, they are one of a kind designs I will get to building for real out of steel and alloy one day.
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (DSC_5294 (5887x3929) (4709x3142) (3766x2513) (3012x2009) (2409x1606) (1926x1284).jpg)
166.2 KB30 views
Click for full-size image (DSC_5296 (5887x3929) (4709x3142) (3766x2513) (3012x2009) (2409x1606) (1926x1284).jpg)
158.3 KB28 views
Reply With Quote
  #42  
Old 28-05-2024, 04:48 AM
leon's Avatar
leon
Registered User

leon is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Warrnambool
Posts: 12,662
Impressive Leo, thanks for sharing that.

Leon
Reply With Quote
  #43  
Old 28-05-2024, 07:10 AM
LonelySpoon (Neville)
Registered User

LonelySpoon is offline
 
Join Date: May 2022
Location: Manton
Posts: 287
That's a great story Leo. How did the scanner work out? I've got the bits to do one but haven't got to it.

I love that there are so many ways kids can express their creativity these days- whether art or craft related.

BTW I just finished last year's Father's Day gift, the big Galaxy Explorer kit: 9 bags and 1254 pieces.

My grandson did the first 3 bags while I finished the orrery.

Two great things: still playing/building with kids, and now my kids buy me the Lego.

Neville
LSO
Reply With Quote
  #44  
Old 28-05-2024, 10:47 AM
Leo.G (Leo)
Registered User

Leo.G is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Lithgow, NSW, Australia
Posts: 990
Quote:
That's a great story Leo. How did the scanner work out? I've got the bits to do one but haven't got to it.
Sorry, I'm going right off topic here (my long winded explanation).

Not so good so far but it's a USB3 connection problem.
My sons older Lenovo server (S30 from memory) got upgraded to a later version of Win 10 and the USB3 ports were no longer recognised. He tries to roll back the driver and Windows says the best driver is already in use (Arrogant mongrels). We first thought it was the southbridge chip but he found the USB3 works just fine with Linux so it's a M$ thing.
We've come up with a hopeful cure, purchased a PCI to USB3 host bus adapter (not the $24 thing, a $150 unit) which will accept the systems front USB3 headers, hopefully that gets here soon.
My son did try using his small Lenovo 2 in 1 (tablet/laptop) with an I7 processor but the 3D scans are graphic processor heavy and the little unit just couldn't do it. When you get to it use something with a reasonable graphics processor if available (my son has a 3060 in his Lenovo) and if you have problems with the device powering on and off by itself clean the power barrel jack in the adapter if you use one.

We have played in the past with the older 360 Kinect and got some reasonable results.

We had issues besides the USB ports which involved a full strip down of the Kinect (Xbox One unit), complex little unit but found our problem with it dropping in and out of connection wasn't the Kinect like everyone online suggests "cut the fan wires it will run fine" (after replacing thermal pads on everything requiring it), I studied electronics, I DO NOT cut fan wires to fix a problem. It turned out the Xbox one to One X adapter we were using had corroded internal circuit board and connections (like EVERYTHING which comes in from China electronics related, they don't ship them, they simply float them across in a container and sea water ingress damages everything electronics, they must). Anyway, cleaned up the solder joints on the barrel jack power inlet, still didn't fix the unit then while using a toothbrush and contact cleaner some of the contact cleaner must have dripped inside the barrel jack and plugging the power in for the third time got the device working properly. Pulled the thing out and sprayed the barrel jack internals and poked a small brush in to clean internal corrosion off and the thing works like a dream now.

Other than that we're hoping for good results, this thing I'm doing is going to my local doctor (he will share it) and my neurologist (she will share it too). I may actually send it to the head neurologist in every major Sydney hospital which has a neurology department because I've been in them all for extended periods of time dating back a lot of years.
I've had more MRI brain scans than most people. They still haven't found anything, just a vacuous void.

Last edited by Leo.G; 28-05-2024 at 11:02 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #45  
Old 30-10-2024, 05:18 PM
JeniSkunk's Avatar
JeniSkunk (Jenifur)
Registered User

JeniSkunk is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 377
Apologies in advance for necroposting.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hans Tucker View Post
You actually found a NASA Apollo Saturn V kit?
Quote:
Originally Posted by floyd_2 View Post
I did indeed - there was a guy selling it new and sealed not far from me. It seemed a shame to actually open it, but I got over that fairly quickly and started sorting!!! Stage 1 is now complete - its an excellent kit.
Today I was in at Astro Anarchy at Greenslopes Mall here in Brisbane, and they had one last set of the Saturn V.
I caved and bought it even though I've no space to display the completed set.
I've yet to unseal the set. No idea when or if I will do so.
Reply With Quote
  #46  
Old 30-10-2024, 05:47 PM
TrevorW
Registered User

TrevorW is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 8,034
I found LEGO way to expensive and purchased kits from MouldKIng, just as good IMO
Reply With Quote
  #47  
Old 30-10-2024, 09:38 PM
Leo.G (Leo)
Registered User

Leo.G is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Lithgow, NSW, Australia
Posts: 990
Quote:
I've yet to unseal the set. No idea when or if I will do so.

Seems to be the thing these days, just tuck it away in it's original packaging and in 20 years you'll be paid an absolute fortune for it.
I wish I knew that as a teenager with some new motorbikes I bought.....
Reply With Quote
  #48  
Old 30-10-2024, 10:23 PM
JeniSkunk's Avatar
JeniSkunk (Jenifur)
Registered User

JeniSkunk is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 377
Quote:
Originally Posted by Leo.G View Post
Seems to be the thing these days, just tuck it away in it's original packaging and in 20 years you'll be paid an absolute fortune for it.
I wish I knew that as a teenager with some new motorbikes I bought.....
What motorbikes were they, Leo?

Quote:
Originally Posted by JeniSkunk View Post
I've yet to unseal the set. No idea when or if I will do so.
For me, It's not so much seeing a now rare set as an investment. It's a simple lack of space for displaying completed sets. It's why, after moving house in May 2022, that the bulk of my LEGO sets are still in their boxes, in the disassembled state I had to take them to, for the move.

I've still got 2 other unopened and unbuilt sets, bought in 2017.
The LEGO Technic 42058 Stunt Bike and 42059 Stunt Truck. I bought them at the same time as buying another 2017 released Technic set, 42057 Ultralight Helicopter, which I did assemble and have space for.

edit: fix typo

Last edited by JeniSkunk; 30-10-2024 at 10:24 PM. Reason: fix typo
Reply With Quote
  #49  
Old 31-10-2024, 12:21 AM
Leo.G (Leo)
Registered User

Leo.G is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Lithgow, NSW, Australia
Posts: 990
A 2 stroke Suzuki GT250A and a brand new Honda CB750/4 F2 supersport.
I wanted the Suzuki 500 titan for the same price of $999 on the road but my license was pre-stamped for the not yet introduced rule of 250CC restrictions on learners and P platers. A week after settling for the 250 I received a letter from the motor registry insisting I send my license in for modification and received it back 3 weeks later with the restrictions crossed out with X's. I could have legally bought the 500.
Both bikes would pull a pretty penny now in near new condition.
That's back when a brand new Ford XC Fairmont with the GS rally pack including a 302 v8, four speed manual and mag wheels was $7800 on the road ( i very nearly traded in the 750), now a GS rally pack xc Fairmont is worth well over $100,000 but no one could have ever predicted people having so much money to throw away on old cars.

Last edited by Leo.G; 31-10-2024 at 12:31 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #50  
Old 31-10-2024, 08:51 AM
Max Vondel's Avatar
Max Vondel (Peter)
Time Traveller

Max Vondel is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Bairnsdale VIC
Posts: 406
Nice builds Leon.
You have given me an idea for my GF, who has OCD and counts cutlery when stressed. Maybe a small LEGO kit might be good therapy? She can separate the pieces and count them instead.
Reply With Quote
  #51  
Old 31-10-2024, 09:48 AM
leon's Avatar
leon
Registered User

leon is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Warrnambool
Posts: 12,662
Agreed Peter that certainly may be helpful and enjoyable as well.

Loen
Reply With Quote
  #52  
Old 31-10-2024, 09:58 AM
wavelandscott's Avatar
wavelandscott (Scott)
Plays well with others!

wavelandscott is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Ridgefield CT USA
Posts: 3,507
Quote:
Originally Posted by Max Vondel View Post
Nice builds Leon.
You have given me an idea for my GF, who has OCD and counts cutlery when stressed. Maybe a small LEGO kit might be good therapy? She can separate the pieces and count them instead.
Lego does have some small kits (with just a few pieces) to be used to help kids (adults too) stimulate their imagination…item #2000416 Building Toy

You have a set amount of time to see how many different ways you can build a “duck” out of the kit. It is a lot of fun and a great way to be distracted and get your brain thinking a different way. Those Lego folks are pretty clever
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +10. The time is now 04:16 PM.

Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.7 | Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Advertisement
Bintel
Advertisement