Had some fun over the past couple of weekends… a new Master Sword (Zelda: Twilight Princess), Sword of Omens (dagger, Thundercats), and a katana for Ryo (Samurai Troopers / Ronin Warriors).
Now to do some light sanding and painting…
Recent carvings
Feb 4
I just got my power bill for the past month – it would seem that my Diabolical Device might be costing a fair bit in electricity. Either that, or running my heater so much may have been more expensive than I was expecting. Either way wouldn’t surprise me, since it was awfully cold for most of last month, especially considering how used to California temperatures I am.
Time for an experiment, turning off my heat for most of February. Hopefully that will bring costs down, as I’d hate to stop using my Diabolical Device as much. Of course, at least knowing what to expect for power costs when operating a Diabolical Device will be enough for me, so either way it will continue to be used.
Faster and faster…
Jan 30
As usual, I’m spending my weekend working with (and on) my Diabolical Device. I was thinking about the movement code, and earlier today made a few small tweaks which increased the speed to almost double what it was before, simply by choosing more efficient moving patterns. The new screw I bought also definitely helps, and I plan on getting another for one of its other movement directions next month, which (according to my calculations) should nearly double my movement speed yet again.
Now I need to equip it with a webcam… and a better computer, since just moving around is already taxing the one is uses at the moment.
Math is evil
Jan 27
Most definitely evil. It’s rather amusing – when I first became a professional programmer, I didn’t think much of math. I had to take lots of it in college, and even got a degree in Math, but I didn’t see many direct applications to my programming jobs.
These days, it seems like everything I attempt requires at least geometry, algebra, and calculus, if not linear algebra, topography, and other advanced math techniques. Just goes to show how things change over time, I suppose.
I still say that programming doesn’t require math, but does require logic. Then again, certain areas of programming definitely require math, but those are strange, murky areas that bizarre people inhabit. Like me, apparently.
But I still don’t like math. It’s evil.
It lives!
Jan 21
Testing is more or less complete with the new Diabolical upgrade. It didn’t give as much of a speed increase as I’d hoped, though there are many factors that play into that. I believe I can still get some decent speed improvements with some simple code tweaks, and just by running the machine to settle in the new parts and let them work out some of the tightness they’re currently experiencing.
Worst case, I can always replace one of the motors with a higher torque version. That’ll definitely do the trick!
Reassembly Complete
Jan 19
As expected, the diabolical upgrade went smoothly, and the device is ready for testing/operation again. The new movement screw forces faster movement, though at higher torque. Since my motors can’t handle extremely high torque, I was forced to lower the rate I send commands to my motors.
Even so, this one new screw should nearly triple the overall speed of the device, which is excellent. I may be able to improve that further by taking advantage of acceleration curves, or by upgrading the motor driving this screw, but we’ll see how things turn out in the days and weeks to come.
No Disassemble Number Five!
Jan 18
New parts have started arriving for the planned upgrade to my Diabolical Device, so I decided it was a good time to disassemble a few things to prepare for a smooth transition. Luckily, the parts I’m replacing/upgrading are fairly easy to get at, so it’s a pretty straightforward process.
On the one hand, I’m really excited to see what this upgrade can do for me in terms of speed. On the other, I can’t help but think of Short Circuit when I start taking the poor machine apart…
Amusing
Jan 16
I constantly worry that my neighbors might hear my Diabolical Device in action, and complain to management or something. After all, I don’t want to annoy them while it’s still in progress.
Then again, right now all I can hear is the work being done on the apartment next door, even though the Device is in full operation right next to me. Outside of my apartment, I can’t hear my Device in action at all under normal circumstances, much less while said work is going on. I suppose I should take this to mean that my neighbors can’t hear it either, or if they can, it probably won’t bother them… bwahahahaha.
Katana mold – success
Jan 14
The endcap mold may have failed, but the main katana molds appear to have worked. They won’t be ready for use until I’ve finished cleanup, but I should be casting katanas this weekend.
I’ll post details and pictures when I’m sure it works. Then I’ll get back to a new endcap.
Katana encap mold – failure
Jan 12
I attempted to make a urethane mold of my katana endcap – however, it didn’t work out so well. The urethane didn’t coat the base of the endcap well enough, so those details separated from the rest when I attempted to remove the foam endcap from the mold. And, naturally, the foam version was destroyed in the removal process.
So, time to make another endcap! And figure out a better way of making the mold, since I think the idea is sound, even if it failed in the execution this time.
New katana parts
Jan 10
Pictures of the latest efforts:
Top half of the katana
Closeup of the hilt
Endcap
Next up - last sanding pass once some glue dries, making the molds, then on to mass production! Or, at least 4 of them (one thing I’ve learned with swords, always bring a spare)
So, in the books/movies/whatever, when the Evil Genius is defeated, his Diabolical Device blow up.
So I know I really don’t have to worry if my Diabolical Device hiccups. After all, it’s supposed to blow up after I die, not before. But still, whenever I hear it make an odd sound, I do worry… not that I consider myself either evil, or a genius. But it is a diabolical device under my command, so… worry exists.