What a day!

Well today has been a bit of a trying one. Everything can can go wrong, did go wrong. I'll not go into all the details as I am far too tired to think straight any more. I'll show everything on the mechanisms page.


This last week seems to have gone on forever, I feel like I'm eating, sleeping and thinking this project. I have made quite a bit of progress, just not as much as I had planned for the time frame. I am, however, really pleased with how my model cat has turned out. I've worked on it on and off over the last few days and was worried that the fimo would have dried out too much before firing. Thankfully it hadn't and looks really good. Looking forward to painting it - hopefully tomorrow if I can finish the bloomin' mechanism off!!

Long Day

I'm totally bushwhacked right now. Can't believe how fast the day has gone. I must admit I'm finding it quite therapeutic (when I'm not racking my brain trying to think how bits are going to fasten together!). I love the fact that I'm able to work on my own in peace. However, I am missing my uni mates though, we all seem to gel together and help each other out when we're in the workshop together. 


I've really cracked on with my casing today but had a few little set backs - I fitted the lock on the front too high so when you opened it, the lock didn't have enough clearance to open. I couldn't believe I made such a daft mistake! I'd already cut out the key hole so I couldn't move it so I ended up lifting up the bar it fastens onto and adding a little bit of beading to cover the gap. I also managed to snap the band-saw blade too! I had to have a break from wood work after all that; I made a few more little models - a teapot, a cup, some bread & cheese and a bread board. That seemed to refresh and clear my head a bit so I got on with the casing again. I left the cellar about an hour ago and had supper so I'm going to hit the sack now. Nighty night

Busy weekend

Well it's been a very productive weekend so far. I've made my mouse models and got started on building the casing. I feel like I'm really getting somewhere with it, it's nice to see progress. I've still got a long way to go but I've more or less sorted out how it's all going to come together and how all the mechanisms are going to work. I've been hunting around in the cellar and found a couple more thing I think I'll be able to use but I'm going to keep them to myself for now in case it all goes wrong :) 


It's half term next week so I won't be able to get into uni as much as normally but I've got an awful lot of stuff I can get done at home. My dad will be OK to watch the boys - if I'm in the house too there's not as much stress or pressure on him than if I had left him alone with them. Think I'll try to venture in at least once though as I need to ask my tutor something. 

My favourite little mouse!

Brand new blog...

Since I enjoyed doing my last blog on my CAD/CAM uni project, I've decided to create another one showing my experience of making an iTingle. A "mechatronic automatron" - the kind of thing that used to be seen in the penny arcades (although mine will be a bit more high tech). I've already made the circuit board that will control it so I can't have any photo of the making process but if you look at my "PCB" page there is a lot of information on there to explain it in more detail.


I'm really enjoying this module so far, which surprises me a great deal as it was the one I was dreading most. I don't remember doing any electronics at school - my D&T lessons comprised of some MDF and a sander, the odd baked cake and an occasional bit of sewing - thrilling stuff! I think the fact that we've got Tony, our fantastic tutor, makes a big difference. He's so enthusiastic about the project, he makes me want to learn more. If I turn out to be half as good at teaching as he is, I will be a very happy lady. 


I've not done a great deal on my model as I have been working on the PCB and deciding on the scale and what mechanisms to use. I have, however, managed to scrounge some nice looking oak and other bits & bobs from the cellar today. All being well I'll be cracking on with that on Friday, as I am in uni all day tomorrow. I'm looking forward to making the model, I think I've got a good idea and the patience to achieve a good finish. Well, think I'm going to upload a couple more pages then hit the sack....