Odds & Ends And All Things That Don't Fit Anything Else

[Coss]

What nothing on U Tube.? And a lot of the comments are "stupid".
Facebook if we knew his name.

It was in the story - Brian Becton

And the vid that FC posted appears to be the correct one.

Most of the times in those Bizarre News article, it's something that happened years ago or in some other country.
That's why I was surprised when it said WA State

 

[Johnny Acree]

I wish EM could / would be more like NASA. In the way they report on the progress of their projects.
Here is what they had to say about a recent test on the James Webb telescope.

an. 25, 2017
NASA Restarts Rigorous Vibration Testing on the James Webb Space Telescope


Testing on the James Webb Space Telescope successfully resumed last week at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, in Greenbelt, Maryland.

On December 3, 2016, vibration testing automatically shut down early due to some sensor readings that exceeded predicted levels. After a thorough investigation, the James Webb Space Telescope team at NASA Goddard determined that the cause was extremely small motions of the numerous tie-downs or “launch restraint mechanisms” that keep one of the telescope’s mirror wings folded-up for launch.


NASA engineers and technicians position the James Webb Space Telescope (inside a large tent) onto the shaker table used for vibration testing.
Credits: NASA/Chris Gunn

“In-depth analysis of the test sensor data and detailed computer simulations confirmed that the input vibration was strong enough and the resonance of the telescope high enough at specific vibration frequencies to generate these tiny motions. Now that we understand how it happened, we have implemented changes to the test profile to prevent it from happening again,” said Lee Feinberg, an engineer and James Webb Space Telescope Optical Telescope Element Manager at Goddard. “We have learned valuable lessons that will be applied to the final pre-launch tests of Webb at the observatory level once it is fully assembled in 2018. Fortunately, by learning these lessons early, we’ve been able to add diagnostic tests that let us show how the ground vibration test itself is more severe than the launch vibration environment in a way that can give us confidence that the launch itself will be fully successful.”

The team resumed testing last week picking up where they left off in December. The test was successfully completed. Now that vibration testing along this one direction or “axis” is finished, the team is now moving forward with shaking the telescope in the other two directions to show that it can withstand vibrations in all three dimensions.

“This was a great team effort between the NASA Goddard team, Northrop Grumman, Orbital ATK, Ball Aerospace, the European Space Agency, and Arianespace,” Feinberg said. “We can now proceed with the rest of the planned tests of the telescope and instruments.”

The James Webb Space Telescope is the world’s most advanced space observatory. This engineering marvel is designed to unravel some of the greatest mysteries of the universe, from discovering the first stars and galaxies that formed after the Big Bang to studying the atmospheres of planets around other stars. Before the Webb is declared ready for launch, engineers and technicians rigorously test it to demonstrate all aspects of the mission and launch survivability.

“Testing on the ground is critical to proving a spacecraft is safe to launch,” Feinberg said. “The Webb telescope is the most dynamically complicated article of space hardware that we’ve ever tested.”

At Goddard, engineers test space hardware in vibration and acoustics test facilities that simulate environment to ensure that functionality is not impaired by the rigorous ride on a rocket into space. Rocket launches create high levels of vibration and noise that rattle spacecraft and telescopes. Ground testing is done to simulate the launch induced vibration and noise to ensure a solid design and assembly of the telescope before launch.

“Due to its immense size, Webb has to be folded-up for launch and then unfolded in space. Prior generations of telescopes relied on rigid, non-moving structures for their stability. Because our mirror is larger than the rocket fairing we needed structures folded for launch and moved once we’re out of Earth’s atmosphere. Webb is the first time we’re building for both stability and mobility.” Feinberg said. “This means that JWST testing is very unique, complex, and challenging.”

In addition to the mirror, many other parts of JWST must deploy, and each have their own unique set of challenges for testing and launch.

NASA is working with ESA and their launch company, Arianespace, to ensure that the adjustments just made to Webb’s vibration testing adequately envelopes the launch vibration environment, plus some margin. The mission continues to be on track and within budget for a 2018 launch.

The most powerful space telescope ever built, the Webb telescope will provide images of the first galaxies ever formed, and explore planets around distant stars. It is a joint project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency.

For more information about the Webb telescope, visit: www.jwst.nasa.gov or www.nasa.gov/webb

By Laura Betz
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Last Updated: Jan. 25, 2017
Editor: Lynn Jenner

I know it's public money vs Gov. money. It just seams like they could say what has happened with out saying what will happen. Wouldn't that be OK?

 

[Coss]

They don't want to end up with another Hubble once it gets to station.
As for EM doing a similar announcement, I agree, it would be nice, but it's not something they have to do.

 

[Muzhik]

I know what you mean about 3D printers. Ever since I saw the first one about 5 years ago I thought I wanted one but have no idea what I would do with it. This kit printer for under $200 gets good reviews and has an active user group. I might just take the plunge and order it http://www.gearbest.com/3d-printers-3d-printer-kits/pp_343643.html

Just be sure you have VERY good ventilation wherever you put the printer. I understand that some of the materials used in some printers can give off some very nasty fumes when heated.

 

[NSTG8R]

Just be sure you have VERY good ventilation wherever you put the printer. I understand that some of the materials used in some printers can give off some very nasty fumes when heated.

ABS is in the "nasty fume" category, but the stuff I've been using, PLA, 910 Alloy and HTCFPLA [High Temp Carbon Fiber Poly Lactic Acid] have no odor at all. You do need to keep the Arduino board ventilated. Bad things happen if it overheats.

 

[Coss]

Meanwhile, back at the Odds & Ends
How about a 4 door Ford F150 Convertible

Or a 2014 Z28 Camaro for sale that's brand new, never titled to anyone, less that 500 miles "on the clock" <aka odometer> with a $25,000 discount?
http://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news...28-at-dollar25000-discount/ar-AAlby8F#image=1

 

[Coss]

How about "things you didn't know the use for"

https://youtu.be/pL8_Ih6taMY

 

[Jambe]

Elio should help out with #1.

 

[Coss]

How about a bunch of unusual motors?

Here are the 7 rarest engines

And a few more unusual

I like that one; and I had worked on a few of them, and yes, they will make you crazy
Motors like the Nail Head; Olds Ram Rod W-31 V-8 A 350 build from a 455 block
Dodge Wedge, Commando, and the Ford Cobra Jet & Super Jet
But the one you could never kill and ran forever the Chrysler Slant 6 in 3 "flavors" 170,198, or 225

And then you have the 8 most complicated engines ever made (engineers had a field day, or dod too many drugs and hated mechanics.

Motors like the Triflex 3 2-Exhaust pipes per cylinder, 1 intake 106.9ci 591hp
Type 547 VW power plant Flat 4 113.5hp quad cam
VW W8 went by VR5 or VR6 4litre 271hp <note* VR6 is the 4 litre, the VR5 is a 2.3 litre and one less bank of cylinders (so it's a W6)>
Infamous Cadillac 8-6-4 V8 368cui 140hp 0-6 in 15.2 seconds
Megola (Bike / MC) Front Wheel mounted radial Engine
14hp direct drive to the front wheel
At the end they threw in the least complicated, but rare none the less the
Buick Straight 8 260cui 124hp@3600rpm
I want to know torque on that baby, it had to be awesome.

Motors lost to history

A V5? Made by Honda 990cc 237hp in 2004 how about that shoehorned in an Elio?
Or a 3 rotor Wankel 300hp with the help from a 10psi twin turbo.
H16 is good to have gone away.

 

[booboo]

Blind Melon - Three Is A Magic Number