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Simple screw counter

mitxela.com

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Re: Simple screw counter

#21

Post by conductr »

irjustin wrote: post #19
kristianp wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So that explains why the smallest parts often have spares in ikea and lego builds. Is this done because of the error in weighing the smallest parts, so they have a margin for error by allowing for an extra 1 or 2?

> Is this done because of the error in weighing the smallest parts, so they have a margin for error by allowing for an extra 1 or 2? This is a secondary benefit, the primary benefit is if the end user loses/breaks one. That part very well could be show stopper (Ikea 110630 anyone?). Now the end user is stuck - has to call, you have to ship, do you charge? do you give for free? they have to wait. they're annoyed, you'…

Just tacking on to mention the smallest parts are most likely to be lost, they’re the ones that - if dropped - seem to bounce and roll under a refrigerator or into the ether. They don’t give extras on the larger parts because they’re not likely to be lost. Frequently enough all it takes is a violent/careless bag opening to send the small pieces flying.

Re: Simple screw counter

#22

Post by bschwindHN »

Doxin wrote: post #20
bschwindHN wrote: post #11

> You can probably guess my opinions on it though, the software is very good but the cloud-based vendor lock-in is grating, and the free tier is hobbled beyond the point of usefulness. On the plus side, being browser-based, it works perfectly on Linux. > The 1.1 release of FreeCAD should be soon. I really want FreeCAD to succeed, but blimey they have a big hill to climb. My fingers are crossed. Since these parts most…

For what it's worth I've been using FreeCad 1.1RC2 lately, and for me it's the first FreeCad version worth bothering with. It's now a tool I actively reach for over OpenSCAD and Blender for various projects. Previously I couldn't make the simplest part with it. I can't wait for the release proper, but I can heartily recommend everyone try the release candidates as well. I've got a feeling this is the tipping point fo…

I'll give it a shot, I remember absolutely hating FreeCAD's UI last time I tried it.

Re: Simple screw counter

#23

Post by spragl »

bschwindHN wrote: post #11

> You can probably guess my opinions on it though, the software is very good but the cloud-based vendor lock-in is grating, and the free tier is hobbled beyond the point of usefulness. On the plus side, being browser-based, it works perfectly on Linux. > The 1.1 release of FreeCAD should be soon. I really want FreeCAD to succeed, but blimey they have a big hill to climb. My fingers are crossed. Since these parts most…

Solvespace can also be used for 3D.

It is sad that FreeCAD gets all the attention. If Solvespace had some of it, and the development time following from it, it could get improvements and some of the cool stuff in their pipeline. That would IMO make it a much better CAD program than FreeCAD could ever become.

Re: Simple screw counter

#24

Post by Doxin »

bschwindHN wrote: post #22
Doxin wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For what it's worth I've been using FreeCad 1.1RC2 lately, and for me it's the first FreeCad version worth bothering with. It's now a tool I actively reach for over OpenSCAD and Blender for various projects. Previously I couldn't make the simplest part with it. I can't wait for the release proper, but I can heartily recommend everyone try the release candidates as well. I've got a feeling this is the tipping point fo…

I'll give it a shot, I remember absolutely hating FreeCAD's UI last time I tried it.

I mean I'll be honest, it's still a car crash of a program, but at least it's now a usable car crash. I've found the following workflow to be pretty good, using the part design workbench:

- create a part - create a body - create a sketch - pad/pocket/revolve/etc - repeat with additional sketches to taste

I've also been using the proxy object thing, I forget the name, the button is a green blob, to "import" geometry from a master sketch into more specific sketches.

Re: Simple screw counter

#25

Post by schobi »

A beautiful balance of effort and benefit.

I don't know any better, but the screw counting mechanism seems awkward. Imagine the set has 10 components..

I'm surprised there is no standard solution to this - like a tape and reel solution? A counting and dispensing gun that works for different sizes? But how much more would anyone pay for M3 bolts on a tape?

Helmke had a tube feeding his dispensers in one of the videos, with bolts lengthwise. That tube idea could be used for a manual dispenser - imagine a drink dispenser, but giving 3 bolts. Maybe easier to store away, but just as awkward to load.

Re: Simple screw counter

#26

Post by bschwindHN »

Doxin wrote: post #24
bschwindHN wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'll give it a shot, I remember absolutely hating FreeCAD's UI last time I tried it.

I mean I'll be honest, it's still a car crash of a program, but at least it's now a usable car crash. I've found the following workflow to be pretty good, using the part design workbench: - create a part - create a body - create a sketch - pad/pocket/revolve/etc - repeat with additional sketches to taste I've also been using the proxy object thing, I forget the name, the button is a green blob, to "import" geometry f…

> I mean I'll be honest, it's still a car crash of a program

I'm glad you said that so I feel a little less mean...

I gave it another try but it still feels pretty dire. FPS is bad on a macbook pro with a 120Hz screen on simple models and sketches. I explicitly selected "touchpad" as the navigation scheme, but I still can't figure out how to rotate, and even figuring out panning took me longer than almost every other 3D program out there (blender, PrusaSlicer, macos quick look STL viewer, solvespace).

It still has a splash screen and takes quite a long time to load, like an application from the 90s.

Buttons and actions that are completely irrelevant to me are shown, but disabled, which gives a really cluttered feel.

There's still "part design" and "part" benches. No idea what distinction is being drawn there.

Obviously part of this is from me being inexperienced with the tool, but as a new user all these issues add up to something that doesn't feel approachable or enjoyable to use.

Solvespace has its own issues, but at least it opens instantly and is generally a joy to use.

I'll watch some others slog through FreeCAD 1.1 though so I don't have to, and maybe I'll learn something.

Re: Simple screw counter

#27

Post by Animats »

That's very nice. The nut dispenser is very effective. Small, and feeds well. The screw dispenser is starting to run into jamming problems. It will probably start to jam more as the acrylic gets scratched and friction becomes worse. But it's manual and low volume, so jamming isn't a big issue.

He's discovered that dispensing is easy, but order from chaos is harder.

There's a whole theory of feeder design.[1] There are clever tricks to orient strangely shaped parts using feeders made from passive components. A basic trick is to get parts aligned in one axis, then arrange it so that the ones that are backwards or upside down hit some obstacle or are not supported, so they fall back down for another try.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlyuHIxSC-A

Re: Simple screw counter

#30

Post by bschwindHN »

spragl wrote: post #23
bschwindHN wrote: post #11

> You can probably guess my opinions on it though, the software is very good but the cloud-based vendor lock-in is grating, and the free tier is hobbled beyond the point of usefulness. On the plus side, being browser-based, it works perfectly on Linux. > The 1.1 release of FreeCAD should be soon. I really want FreeCAD to succeed, but blimey they have a big hill to climb. My fingers are crossed. Since these parts most…

Solvespace can also be used for 3D. It is sad that FreeCAD gets all the attention. If Solvespace had some of it, and the development time following from it, it could get improvements and some of the cool stuff in their pipeline. That would IMO make it a much better CAD program than FreeCAD could ever become.

I know, it's just that in this particular blog post, the designs mostly seem to be extruded 2D sketches which solvespace is particularly good at with its sketch interface.

Solvespace can also do a lot of useful 3D stuff, but it's also missing a lot so I can't in good faith recommend it for any arbitrary CAD work.

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