30 days episode 6 - tangent lines in google's sketchup

So, I use Google's Sketchup on an almost daily basis, and compared to Auto Cad, it definitely lacks some features. But over the years I have developed some techniques to help get around it's surprisingly simplistic interface.
If you haven't already watched my video check it out:

it goes through it all step by really fast step.
I'll show you two trick with circles, how to create tangent lines off of, and how to create a circle from 3 points. As you probably know, Sketchup only allows you to specify centerpoint and radius. By default sketchup uses 24 sides/ points to draw the circle, but you can type in any value for more precision. I like using 100 or 360.

 

 ok, so on to tangent lines, let's say we want to connect two circles for a v-belt for a pulley or something create two circles and group them together

draw a line between the centers of each circles and use the center of that line to draw a circle of the same diameter. then move a copy of the smaller circle to the top of the larger. the center of the smaller should be at the top point of the larger. note that if you are connecting circles of the same size it kinda messes up the whole process. simply draw a line out perpendicular from the connecting line and copy the connecting line to where the perpendicular one and the circle cross...

draw a circle from the center of the larger to touch the bottom of the smaller copy. then draw a line from the same center through the crossing of the newest circle and the one we drew in the previous picture. then draw the line that is blue in this picture.

now copy the blue line up to where that line crosses the larger circle.

and we're done! fairly straight forward once you do it several times. I know I kinda breezed through all this, let me know if you need any of it explained better...

30 days episode 5 - new R&D and a new song

Hey guys, unfortunately it has been a long time sine I wrote, not because I really forgot to, but just not that much has happened that I thought would be enteresting. So, I'll write a few things that are coming up.
One of the original projects I built was an automated balloon drop and some cheep but really efficient confetti cannons. Those of course are left at a previous job, and now it looks like I will get the opportunity to re-create a version 2 of each. That should be a lot of fun, and testing always means getting to shoot fun projectiles from the tubes just for grins. If the contract goes through, then they will have to be finished before the end of the month, so look forward to pics, and video of all that. Also going to start running a whole lot of those stands through the shop. and if there's time left in the month I'll prototype a new base for truss and a new speaker stand.
I also have finally recorded a version of one of the songs I've writing for a while.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXNd5OuCtlE
Leave comments on the video and lemme know what you think. Hopefully I will post some more songs I've written soon.

30 days episode 4 - so, is there anywhere I CAN carry weapon?

So, it's no secret that I enjoy anything dangerous, cool guns, and stuff that blows up. But recently my friend and I were talking about how frustratingly few places a CHL holder can actually carry. After perusing through a 100 pages of rules and stuff from www.txdps.state.tx.us I finally landed on page 70 and 71 where an englishified list of places you can NOT carry is as follows: (none of these are required to post "the sign")

1. anywhere that makes over half of it's money from alcohol sales
2. in a correctional facility
3. on the property of a school or educational facility
4. polling place while voting is taking place
5. in any gov't court or office
6. at a racetrack
7. the secured area of an airport
8. a hospitle
9. a nursing home
10. anywhere where a high school, college, or professional sporting event is taking place
11. in a "permanent" ammusement park
12. on the premises of a church or other religious place
13. at any government meeting

and in addition, employers can outlaw firearms for their employes without being required to post a sign (other people entering that facility would be allowed to carry assuming the sign was not in place). Interestingly enough though banks are not on the list, and if you go to the capitol in Austin it's like an express pass if you have your CHL... So I was thinking, in my normal day, how often could I carry (assuming i kept it on me all day so I didn't have to lock it up in my car at any point). So, on Sunday's I go to church, so that's out. If I go to work at my normal job it's technically a gov't facility. I go to college a few days a week, so that's out. And now what's left is... nothing.
Ok, so that didn't work very well, what if I do lock up my weapon in my vehicle. Well, I still can't carry in any of those places, at least I have it in my car... I'm sure that won't be awkward putting on and taking off every time I get in or out of my car. I can carry it in my house, but I wouldn't need a license to do that anyways...
Hmmm, so it looks like the only time I can carry is when I go out to eat and the movies, assuming I don't go to a bar. Well, at least I'll stay safe on dates I go on;-)

As a side note, I did run across one website I wanted to share regarding allowing CHL's to carry on college and university campuses. The website is www.concealedcampus.org

That's my thought's for today,
-Steven