Week #3 -- Batarangs and Metal Shavings

This may be confusing, as there is no  Week #2. This is because I was absent Friday and thus did not do the blog post for that week. This week was rather delightful and enjoyable, if I do say so. I finished my United States Marine Corps emblem metal art piece for my dad. It looked rather nice, though I decided to give it a non-reflective black coat of paint rather than the scarlet that i planned. I think it looked much better with the black than it would have with the scarlet. Much more subtle and sleek. My dad was immensely happy and I think I observed him shed a tear. At the same time, I also cut out a batarang with the plasma cutter. I took it home, due to the fact I wanted to sharpen it for a personal shuriken training tool. It is balanced and can be thrown quite accurately if one has enough skill. Finally, I got to use the sand blaster for the first time. My friend Josh helped me learn how to use it, then we took turns blasting away at a rusty bench seat, which is being refurbished for one of the Special Education classes. I hope they enjoy the finished product.

For this week, there is no essential question. This is surprising, because I figured that our teacher would have given us one.

On a personal note of hype, I am going to be going to the USMC Recruitment Depot today. I can barely contain both my anxiousness and joy.

Week #1 -- Rebooting Systems

Salutations everyone. It is I again. The first week of the second semester has arrived and died already. Quite surprising. This week I have been working on a metal art piece for my father's 50th birthday, which has passed recently. However, I wish to give him a personal gift even if it is late. Therefore, my work has been all directed towards this project. I based the project on the United States Marine Corps most prominent symbol: the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor. Symbolizing the proud heritage and honor that adorns all Marines, I figure this a perfect piece for my dad, since he is one (circa 1982-1988). I also favored it because I somewhat idolize the Marines and plan to enlist quite soon.

Anyway, I designed the piece in AutoCAD and Inkscape following instructions that our teacher left in a video. After it was designed digitally, I fixed all the errors on it and corrected them. This involved eliminating extra lines and thickening pieces so they would not break. After that, I uploaded the design to the plasma cutter and cut it out. Since there were little metal boogers and greebles, I had to grind them off. Next, I used steel wool to rub off dirt and rust. Finally, I am going to coat it in primer and then paint it scarlet with spray paint. Then it shall be complete and ready to turn in. I hope my dad will like it.

There is no essential question for this week. Expect one next week. 

First Semester Final!

School comes to an end at last. However, this is just a separation from the educational institutions for about 3 weeks, so that each student might partake in all the holidays have to offer. As such, this will be the final post for some time. Anyway, on to business in explaining what we have learned, what went well this semester, and what could have gone better. There is no essential question of this week.

This semester, I have learned quite a multitude of things. First, I learned basic shop safety and how to operate varying tools. Next, it was MIG welding, using angled iron and sheet metal to construct a grill, two-dimensional and three-dimensional structures on AutoCAD along with other rudimentary skills, learning the steps to make CNC Router art on wood, the usefulness and properties of different metals, how to design teardrop trailers and then turn them into reality, and finally how to use the plasma cutter to create fire pits and other metal art. And even then, I have only scratched the surface of all that we learn day-to-day that occurs due to trial and error.

In my opinion, it is a good choice to look at what went well first so you might not be discouraged when you see how good you did compared to poor. As it is, what went well this year was all the personal progress I made in class and the fun I had. I got to try almost all of the major tools of the shop, minus two. I also gained useful muscle memory is grinding, welding, metal cutting, and some intimate AutoCAD knowledge. I also had fun while doing all of this most days. Not all went to plan of course, though.

Next is the negative aspect of all the work completed, or lack of. What went rather poorly is the projects I myself attempted (or my group) did not always get completed. The grill was a rather poor attempt for us n00bz to create an intricate piece of metal art when we weren't even good enough. And due to several complications of my own fault, the CNC Router piece I started did not get finished as plan. I hope things will go better next time.

Anyway, all that has happened is in the past and with next semester, I can start fresh and new. I look forward to the break and what will come next year (2015, of course. Not a new school year).

Dr. Nebula, signing off!

Week #15 -- The Ring of Fire

Another week dies as fast as it was born. I have been assigned to a companion project rather than the teardrop trailer, which was something I was aiming for. My project, the metal fire rings, involves a combination of AutoCAD and cooperation with a small group of my peers. This week was focused on committing work and heart to these projects, with an essential question to boot.

Monday centered around a challenge (we have a lot of these) for the class. We tried to figure out how to optimise a 10-foot by 4-foot piece of 16 gauge sheet metal to make the most fire rings. We all set to work and found it best to make each fire ring two pieces welded together, rather than once piece. Of course, there was scrap. Tuesday and Wednesday involved learning the basics of the plasma cutter and how to make letters for our rings that the cutter could actually recognise. Thursday was taking a stab at learning how to put images in AutoCad and make them able to be cut be the plasma cutter.

This week also had an essential question: What ways are there to use clean energy/gas?

First, there are solar panels. Solar panels convert sunlight into usable and clean energy. It even lets the user save energy to use for later. Often, the prices are lower, too. Next is wind power. The name is self-explanatory, as wind power turns a giant fan to make electricity. The only limitation is location, as some areas cannot fit the large fans, or not enough wind can generate power. Lastly, methane gas is a possible way for clean fuel in vehicles. As it is a natural gas and human waste or compost can easily converted to it, this is one of the more optimal choices. Too bad it isn't that appealing.

Above is an image of an example of a fire ring, as our group doesn't have any built yet.

Week #14 -- Companion Complications and Trailer Tribulations

Week fourteen is going, going...gone! Thus ends the week before Thanksgiving Break. All students are ultimately looking forward to a much needed rest from school (teachers, too). However, this week was full of exciting work, too. Monday watching the show Modern Marvels: Aluminum. This video gave all students an overview on the history, properties, and value of aluminum in modern society. I was assisting someone on Tuesday, and was not present. Thursday involved using AutoCAD to make a base/trailer for the cabin itself. I was called once more for a meeting in the office, therefore I didn't get very far. I also got assigned to a companion project: Fire Pits!

This week's essential question was: what makes aluminum so special?

Aluminum is a very light metal with many varying uses and applications. It has a relatively melting point and can be easily compressed into thin sheets . It can be used for the outer shell of cars, crumpling easy for increased driver protection. It is also very lightweight, thus increasing mileage on vehicles. It can also be used as aluminum foil, to keep microbes and germs out of food and keep it fresh for extended periods of time. 

Week #13 -- Trail of Tear...drop trailers!

This week in AutoCAD, we students have began our lessons in building teardrop trailers, though they don't have to be teardrops. All work was CAD work, as the first two days of the week were holidays (Veteran's Day and the Marine Corps birthday, y'know). Wednesday was the first stage of planning, with reviewing what types of trailers there were out there and what kinds appealed to us. Thursday was further research, examining dimensions and both interiors and exteriors. Needless to say, it was a fun experience.

The reader may note that this post has been typed a week AFTER the aforementioned week. This is because I was called for a meeting in the middle of class, so I could not finish it that day. Thus, my hand has been forced to do it now.

There was no essential question this week.

Week #12 -- Metals, 3-D, and CNC (Oh my!)

Thus, 3 months of school have concluded! This week, we students have participated in the tasks of watching a "Modern Marvels" episode on the production of metals, 3-D AutoCAD, and further work on the CNC Router and MIG Welder. As the Metals is part of the essential question, I will refrain from addressing that until the conclusion of the post.

First off, the class worked with our teacher to make a small, 3-D part in AutoCAD. This involved using the 3-D tab to make objects become three-dimensional. Since this was my first time using it, I was a little behind in making the part and using functions, but I got through. Another useful tool was being able to turn the 3-D objects to either Wireframe or Shaded, or Sketched, and so on. This gives the creator a preferred look to his work.

Next, I have been working on a CNC Router project. I used Quickpart to formulate a design for my piece, and brought some of my own red spray paint to colour the wood. I decided on making a United States Marine Corps themed piece for November 10th, the USMC birthday. It will be given to my father.

Lastly is the essential question: What metal that humans have produced has had the most effect on our life?

This point can be argued many ways. For me, I prefer aluminum. However, I shall give a small list on the pros and cons of each metal mentioned in the video, as to address each point of view.

Copper: Highly conductive and malleable, can be easily turned into wiring for machinery. Used in many modern products such as phones, computers, and basically anything that uses electricity.

Bronze: An alloy. Much stronger than copper alone, fused with tin. Was made for weapons and practical pieces in the Bronze Age. Now used for mostly aesthetics. Malleable and light.

Iron: Much stronger and heavier than bronze, not to mention much more widely available. Easily able to rust. Used in many modern applications, including axes, pick-axes, hoes, and other gardening or heavy working tools

Gold: Never rusts, very ductile and malleable, and pretty. Was used in currencies for hundreds of years, now used in wiring or microchip components. Since it is much weaker than most other metals, it is not used for tools.

Steel: Strong, durable, and reliable. It is used in skyscraper frames, car frames, and literally every modern tool or kitchen utensil to date. Ships, cars, trains, tanks, trucks, and everything in between has steel somewhere. Slightly expensive to manufacture.

Aluminum: Very malleable, lightweight, and strong. It is very recent, easy to manufacture, and available for practical and aesthetic applications. It is used for kitchen wrap to keep foods fresh, to the outside framing for cars. Less strong than steel and crumples easy.