Suddently remembered about this trhead in Lidl the other day, have you come across any 3D printable drawings? (is that the right word) for an adapter to fit the makita LXT batteries in the lidl parkside stuff, saw a rather usefull looking cordless heatgun in there, thought that would be usful to have but bit silly buying batteries and chargers from another tool system just for that!
3D Printer Enclosure
- Thread starter OnOff
- Start date
Help Support Talk Electrician Forum:
Looking at these 3D solid models is giving me a hankering to get back into engineering - it was and remains the best job I've had, and I really enjoyed the work, until some ****e moved all the factories to China... :coat
Sharpend
"It Just Is"
Surely now is as good a time as any to reboot engineering and manufacturing in this country?
only thing is I don’t know that we have enough knowledgable persons to do so?
only thing is I don’t know that we have enough knowledgable persons to do so?
You would think so, before China takes over the world.
A lot of expertise has been lost (like myself), but there's still a lot of talent here. Biggest issue has always been accountants and lack of investment. I'm of the opinion that the Gov, should offer tax breaks against R&D in the UK and pump some money into Univesrities for pure research, it would do far more for the economy than HS2.
pits an interesting conundrum for the rest of the world.
China has a hugely unfair advantage on the international market because its currency doesn’t “float” on the international markets - because if it did ALL their exports would become much more expensive due to their financial reserves.
I can’t quite get my head around how this is still allowed to happen because it means lots of the 3rd world can’t compete, whereas if Chinese exports were more expensive they could.
it’s a bit like Germany - if they still had their own currency ALL their exports would be much more expensive, but they get the benefit of all the weak EU economies .....
the UK can never compete internationally with volume production because of our high costs and wages. BUT there are a vast number of specialist small to medium sized companies doing extremely well.
What the UK lacks are proper business men and women to tell the accountants to stick their cost cutting where the sun don’t shine and invest in people, design and international sales.
We can compete with suitable investment in automation and decent production processes. Thing, is even with the very unfair advantage China has, they are an expensive slow boat away, and transport costs money. I don't understand why they are allowed to get away with not floating their currency either, but I suspect it has to do with how much money is invested in China by the stock exchange etc etc. Free market capitalism is shafting the western economy!
I like to think that Britain can match anywhere in the world in engineering innovation and development.
I was fortunate enough to spend my career in military aerospace which is without doubt a world leader, though to some extent shielded from normal market forces.
I see two main problems affecting Britain's engineering industry.
Firstly politicians at large do not understand or appreciate technology, in fact they frequently show woeful ignorance.
Secondly the use of the term, "engineer", in the English language is seriously devalued by it's widespread use to describe anyone who knows how to use a spanner and repair a washing machine.
This devaluation in language discourages youngsters considering an Engineering career, and contributes to the general undervaluation of the profession.
I was fortunate enough to spend my career in military aerospace which is without doubt a world leader, though to some extent shielded from normal market forces.
I see two main problems affecting Britain's engineering industry.
Firstly politicians at large do not understand or appreciate technology, in fact they frequently show woeful ignorance.
Secondly the use of the term, "engineer", in the English language is seriously devalued by it's widespread use to describe anyone who knows how to use a spanner and repair a washing machine.
This devaluation in language discourages youngsters considering an Engineering career, and contributes to the general undervaluation of the profession.
Sharpend
"It Just Is"
Yeah imagine, the career teacher (do they still have them? ) says to little Johnnie, ‘well you could go to uni and study to be an engineer ‘ and little Johnnie says my dad didn’t need to study at uni to be an engineer, he can fix your washing machine without the study.
how do you then answer Johnnie?
how do you then answer Johnnie?
- Joined
- Dec 25, 2011
- Messages
- 5,460
- Reaction score
- 70
******! I've been driving past Lidl in the back of my mind thinking I must pop in for something I saw online in their "coming soon" section. It was for that very heat gun to run off my LXT batteries!
I'll go and get one tomorrow. I can do an adapter no question. I'll have a quick look on Thingiverse but don't think there is one. Plenty though to use Parkside batteries on Makita kit.
I just converted a 18V Duratool multitool (£18+VAT from CPC) to run off Makita batteries. My adapter design. Made a proper faux pas and printed the + & - the wrong way round on the adapter! Followed through and soldered the wires on...
I powered it up not realising and it was running at full whack, noisy as Hell and uncomfortable to use:
I stripped it down to find a diode had gone bang. Replaced the diode but not sure if something else isn't well in there. The speed control works but you get there lights lit to start with i.e. at the lowest speed. Might try a new MOSFET:
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2010
- Messages
- 14,525
- Reaction score
- 1,095
Johnnie, tell your dad to get over himself. Oh and whilst we are at it , you're sister isn't a technician, she glues plastic onto women's fingers and files/paints it
Sharpend
"It Just Is"
As subtle as a pussy cat, you’ve just destroyed Johnnies world, his dad is his idol!!
(mind you have spoken the truth)
But we both come from a generation of tough love
- Joined
- Dec 25, 2011
- Messages
- 5,460
- Reaction score
- 70
I don't think it'll be the brilliant Little Johnnie's dad coming to fix our POS Hotpoint WM next week. SWMBO reported a fault. Had an engineer booked to come Friday just gone. Before the visit we got an automated call. Answering yes to "Does it sound like an aeroplane taking off?", (seriously) and they put the visit off saying they needed parts.
I've lost track of how many engineers have come out to this machine over the last few years (thank God we have cover). Notable visits include one who couldn't get a bearing off (sorted), another needed an angle grinder which he didn't have (sorted) and then the last I think who it was "needed a longer M8 bolt" (sorted).
Sharpend
"It Just Is"
same background as me, and very true about the misuse of engineer and technician for that matter. HR depts have a lot to answer for.
Politicians from a certain era went down the route of 'why make things when we can buy it cheaper from abroad' - Edwina Curry said that. I was very disappointed with the Blair government for continuing the same sort of policy. Apparently 'services' was the shiny future for us all. Now, most countries also put a value on employing their own people in good jobs, and maintaining a level of 'strategic protection' ie planning for falling out with neighbours, so kept the odd coal mine, steel works etc etc. Boris is sounding like he's going to do something similar? Long overdue if you ask me, apart from keeping tax payers money in the UK, industry provides a lot of well paid work and more importantly proper careers. As we have discussed previously, we have the very well paid bankers, and coffee shop staff - there's no career is making coffee, and little chance of buying a house etc etc.
- Joined
- Dec 25, 2011
- Messages
- 5,460
- Reaction score
- 70
@Phoenix, I've just been to Lidl. Bought the last heat gun there. Box had been opened so either someone looking or they've put a returned one back on the shelf. Doesn't look like there's anything missing!
I'll stick it on a Makita battery and see if it works in a while.
The question is whether to "complicate" the adapter design so the tool can still be used with Parkside batteries. It's much easier to make the adapter screwable to the tool and hard wire it to the tool if you never intend buying Parkside batteries. Usually means taking the cover off the tool.
I'll stick it on a Makita battery and see if it works in a while.
The question is whether to "complicate" the adapter design so the tool can still be used with Parkside batteries. It's much easier to make the adapter screwable to the tool and hard wire it to the tool if you never intend buying Parkside batteries. Usually means taking the cover off the tool.
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2010
- Messages
- 14,525
- Reaction score
- 1,095
Your ingenuity never ceases to amaze me, which is a feat in itself
i still want a 3D printer BUT I want an AirArms s410 more
- Joined
- Dec 25, 2011
- Messages
- 5,460
- Reaction score
- 70
i still want a 3D printer BUT I want an AirArms s410 more
Looks nice with the green stock I must say. I quite fancy a pseudo military looking PCP rifle.
Original 45 here in .22. Bought with my first wage packet as an apprentice. An oldie but a goodie. I took the choke off the barrel, modded the sight rail, re-sprung it, refinished the stock, custom leather sling, brass trigger shoe, 4x40 scope. Packs a punch still. Must dig it out and give it some tlc. In fact I'll do so now and at least give it a coat of oil. Pics later.
As a total aside I want someday to build a Stirling SMG replica in steel for my big brother. He was a dab hand with one in the Army and has various shooting trophies.
Btw, my post from 15 hours ago, can people see the 2 Flickr video links on the post? I can't.
Last edited by a moderator:
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2010
- Messages
- 14,525
- Reaction score
- 1,095
No videos just 2 big white spaces
- Joined
- Dec 25, 2011
- Messages
- 5,460
- Reaction score
- 70
Ta. Tried again, still blank spaces? I put the link in and a still of the video comes up with the link. When I save the post...blank? I've thus put the direct links in.
The converted multitool when I got the polarity wrong on the adapter. Sounds louder than our Hotpoint WM does at the mo. Speed control doesn't work, goes at full whack and horrible to hold:
https://flic.kr/p/2kPohuT
New diode fitted. Speed control works. All 3 LEDs on from the start though? Green one goes out with no load at about speed 4.5 or when under load (cutting) when on speed 3 (0 min / 6 max):
https://flic.kr/p/2kRPCnQ
Guess I could try and swap the MOSFET out or splurge another £18 with CPC!
Last edited by a moderator:
