Browsing articles from "September, 2011"

1.545: A Quick Usability Release for G-Wizard Calculator

Sep 10, 2011 // by page.lysupportadmin // Blog, Software // No Comments

Release 1.545 is a usability fit and finish release. It’s been a while since we had a GWC release, and I have a pretty big feature in the works (Notebooks), but I didn’t want to hold up these user-suggested revisions for that:

- Stickout is no longer locked when selecting a Tool Crib tool. It takes its default value from the Crib, but you can change it if you need to. Thanks Joe!

- The slot number (T# for a g-code program) appears on the item name for Tool Crib tools so you can easily see which one you’re using when programming or working with your CAM package. Another one from Joe!

- Added a dedicated button to set up all the particulars for the MeshCAM integration. For MeshCAM users, this lets you set up clipboard copies from Feeds and Speeds in a format that MeshCAM understands. Got another CAM integration waiting in the wings for an announcement from the CAM manufacturer too!

- Fixed a nasty bug that made all the cap screw data disappear in metric mode. Sorry George!… Read the rest

Ride Your Next Case of Beer Home On a Beer Scooter

Sep 10, 2011 // by Bob Warfield // Blog, Cool // No Comments

I got a chuckle out of this crazy YouTube video:

The bar stool racers are cool, but this beer case scooter is awesome!… Read the rest

Aftercooling a Compressor to Cut Down on Moisture

Sep 6, 2011 // by page.lysupportadmin // Blog, Projects, Techniques // No Comments

I hope you all had a good Labor Day weekend!

While corresponding with a machinist friend, I learned he was adding a transmission oil cooler to his compressor to help get rid of some of the moisture coming through the system. This is apparently a trick that’s been around for some time, and after doing a little research, it’s one I’d like to try on my own compressor.

First, a little bit of the theory. If you haven’t already noticed, compressors accumulate a ton of moisture. It’s a good idea to have an electric automatic drain in the bottom of your tank. The moisture comes because the air coming out of the compressor is pretty hot–a couple of hundred degrees isn’t unusual. It cools down when it enters the tank and tends to dump the moisture. If you’re using quite a bit of air, it may not have time to dump the moisture, which means it winds up in your air lines, your air tools, your paint sprayers, your CNC machinery, and well, you get the idea. Not good.

The aftercooler is just a simple cooler that goes between the compressor outlet and the tank.… Read the rest