User:Jstapko/EngLab/NextSteps

Pegboards

 * finish hanging pegboards
 * build a system combining pegboards, [soldering helping hands], [tweezers], and possibly [ring stand equipment](find a web page with lots of different types of ring stand accessories) to use for holding small objects in particular spatial relationships with respect to each other (watches, meter movements, circuit boards, etc.) while assembling or disassembling
 * building shelving onto pegboards and mounting on walls
 * attaching electrical components to pegboards, [slate switchboard] (add a link to a picture of an awesome slate switchboard) style, so they can be connected to each other in different ways for experiments. Basically A 3 dimensional [breadboard] set for large electrical parts, that require [crimp] or [screw terminal] connections, and secure mechanical mountings.

[Makerbot Replicator 2] (lots of link ideas here, probably should be one to the school's tutorials on using the HCC unit)

 * continue to develop a system for cleaning nozzles
 * Based on Scott's former student's (1984)s suggestion, try using thin wires, as done when cleaning [carburetors](add link to a web page describing what a carburetor is and how it works)
 * possibly acquire an [accupuncture needle] (extremely thin, yet flexible)(add a link to an image or source of needles)
 * tried [acetylene torch tip cleaners](add link to torch tip cleaner image), with no luck
 * continue comparing nozzles under the microscope

Laser

 * learn how to clean the Zinc Selenide optics well, without damaging them
 * develop a more powerful exhaust fan system
 * develop a charcoal smoke/particulate filter in lieu of buying a commercial model
 * When laser is up and running become proficient in its operation, and possibly [use it to bend acrylic] (add link to video that Brian mentioned)

Drill Press Safety

 * refine the [Wikiversity Drill Press Safety Page]
 * mark an area on the floor with at least 2 feet of clearance around the drill press
 * obtain a drill press clamp that can stay with the D.P, encouraging use.
 * option 1(commercial product)
 * option 2 (modified commercial product for larger stock)
 * option 3 (modified C clamp)

Drill Press Compliance

 * order an Optimum B28H


 * modify the existing drill press to make it meet 29 CFR 1910 standards

optical signal amplifier/mixer

 * This project would consist of intensity modulating different colored laser beams with analog signals (say, an audio sound track or the sound played by a particular instrument), sending each colored beam through a separate [optical amplifier], which amplifies the intensity of the incoming light beam, which should in turn amplify the variations of intensity due to the original modulation. Then run the amplified output of each optical amplifier through a diverging lens, converging lens (beam spreader, essentially) and through an LCD panel, in which a pixel of the LCD  screen is capable of blocking, or at least attenuating, the light beam going through it.  On the other side of the LCD's (one for each color of beam), use [dichroic mirrors], or beam combiners, to combine the 3 colors of light beam into a single one, and detect the resultand combined beam with a suitable transducer (photoresistor)  By using optics that spread the output beam across the entire surface of the photocathode, or emitting surface, of each photoresistor, each photoresistor can be run at its maximum photoemission density (mA/sq cm, for example), without exceeding it.  By using enough photoresistors in parallel, with wide enough intensity variations (thanks to the optical amplifiers), the photoresistors should provide sufficient current variation to directly drive an output, such as a speaker, in much the same way as was done with [ux-867] photocells.  Thus, optical amplifiers can be used as the sole active, amplifying element for amplifying electrical (non-light) signals, and the amount of each input signal in the output can be controlled by turning pixels in the corresponding LCD's on or off.  The degree of precision would, in theory, only be limited by the number of pixels in the LCD.  This limitiation could in turn, be abated by splitting the associated beam into several, and running each beam through a separate LCD, re combining the beams in the output.  Two major questions, however, need to be answered: How linear are optical amplifier tubes, and how much signal output power could be obtained for a given input (or, does 90 % of the input energy go up as heat and light?)

Air Flow Rate Meter

 * This would consist of a muffin fan as an air flow sensing device (muffin fans actually generate a pulsating DC waveform when used as a generator, the frequency of the pulses changing with the rpm) and an oscilloscope as a frequency indicator/rpm indicator. The goal is to allow for quantitative comparison of new fans developed for exhausting the laser cutter fumes

X Ray CT Scanner

 * Originally inspired by Ben Krasnow's CT scanner, and further encouraged by successfully obtaining a [rotating anode x ray tube], I think this project, though ambitious and long term, is entirely possible. Tasks or next steps might include:


 * obtaining a copy of the [Radiologic Health Handbook] (government publication covering standards for x ray shielding and safety)
 * obtaining [dosiometers] (Based on a conversation with a radiology expert, and absolute necessity when doing experiments along these lines)\
 * talking to the medical department people about options for x ray shielding and safety protocols
 * trying to copy, and mabye build on, this version by user "peter" on tricorderproject.org.

Radar Guided Autonomous Vehicle

 * This project was inspired by a combination of the Autonomous vehicle teams' work, the presence of spare [magnetrons] and their associated electronics, and some leisurely reading of Air Force Manual 52-31. Basically, there would be directional radiators attached to a microwave transmitter, a directional receiving antenna on the car, and circuitry that would cause the motor to steer the car to equalize readings from a sensor that is reading unequal field strengths.  This could be done either with a hardware (multiple detectors, bridge null indicators, etc.) or software (IF signal A > signal B, TurnLeft;, for example)