(Tuesday 1/19/16)
My first semester of school has come and gone, and second semester has started. We've learned a good sum from our first semester experiences, and as a result, our classes have started to look a little different. In the case of Physics and Engineering, these changes have been kinda awesome.
The project format has been changed to be more structured and accommodate student choice. Instead of per-project work, we've got project tracks! Each track is composed of two sections; the starter project, (To familiarize students with the type of work the track entails.) and the main student pitched project. (More information can be found here.)
The project I have in mind involves the CAD & Machining track, the Video Editing & Effects track, and (possibly) the Electronics Track. I REALLY want to build a lightsaber, and achieve the lightsaber effect using either practical or SFX or a combination of both. I would prefer the practical route as I've always been a fan of practical effects, AND IT WOULD BE SUPER COOL TO OWN A CUSTOM WORKING LIGHTSABER. I currently working on a project proposal to try and get this thing Greenlit. I sincerely hope I have mental capacity and tenacity to do this. I'll update the blog as soon as I have something to show.
WISH ME LUCK!
The project format has been changed to be more structured and accommodate student choice. Instead of per-project work, we've got project tracks! Each track is composed of two sections; the starter project, (To familiarize students with the type of work the track entails.) and the main student pitched project. (More information can be found here.)
The project I have in mind involves the CAD & Machining track, the Video Editing & Effects track, and (possibly) the Electronics Track. I REALLY want to build a lightsaber, and achieve the lightsaber effect using either practical or SFX or a combination of both. I would prefer the practical route as I've always been a fan of practical effects, AND IT WOULD BE SUPER COOL TO OWN A CUSTOM WORKING LIGHTSABER. I currently working on a project proposal to try and get this thing Greenlit. I sincerely hope I have mental capacity and tenacity to do this. I'll update the blog as soon as I have something to show.
WISH ME LUCK!
(Wednesday 1/20/16)
I've started down the path of forging my own lightsaber, beginning with the CAD and Machining part, but, before I can progress through that project track, I need to go on with the starter project; machining a bolt. I've written up the pitch here and got the greenlight from my teacher, Scott. I hope to be done with this by Friday. I'll update when I have more progress to show for.
AN INTRODUCTION TO AUTOCAD AND MACHINING (Thursday 1/21/16 - Friday 1/22/16)
It's Thursday now. I planned to have this whole CAD thing out of the way, but as it turns out, the basics of CAD are a whole lot more complex than I thought. I thought it would be as simple as plug and play; but even the basic line tool has so much more depth than I thought.
As the title would suggest, I spent most of today learning to use AutoCAD and a machine called the "Mill". The mill is a tool used to cut materials.
As the title would suggest, I spent most of today learning to use AutoCAD and a machine called the "Mill". The mill is a tool used to cut materials.
The mill uses a drill type thing called an "Endmill." Different endmills have different purposes. For example, an endmill with two "flutes" (spirals) is used for cutting aluminum. The mill is capable of cutting materials on an X, Y, and Z axis. (That's the extent of my knowledge regarding the mill.)
As for CAD, this is what I have so far.
As for CAD, this is what I have so far.
The blue circle represents the diameter and circumference of the half-inch cylinder of aluminum that I will be cutting. The green hexagon inside that circle represents the cuts that I will have to make. Despite what it looks like, this took about an hour tutorials to figure out how to do. (I'm in for a real treat.) I need to turn my above basic 2D sketch, into this:
I've started sketching up a side view of the bolt on AutoCAD, and I hope to be done with it by the end of this period.
In the meantime, here's all the measurement related stuff that I've finished so far:
In the meantime, here's all the measurement related stuff that I've finished so far: