I had some business that took me into the office today. There was very little traffic and I seemed to catch every green light. The 15-mile journey took exactly 15 minutes, a record which I suspect will stand for some time. In moderate traffic, I can make the trip in 25-30 minutes. My old commute was just two miles longer but averaged about 55 minutes and often took up to 70 minutes. Imagine getting an hour back every day.
I have set myself the goal of 3D printing an entire working tripod and head. Today I worked out the final details for the swivel head and quick release which I added to the tripod legs I designed a few weeks ago. I will print these parts at work tomorrow in Nylon before making final refinements and committing to a carbon fiber print.
One of the recently hired engineers at Markforged 3D printed an entire quadcopter for the inaugural Part of the Week (POTW) party at our new office. It is amazing how quickly we have settled into our new surroundings and equally amazing how much more productive everyone feels. The move has been a great success and marks a real milestone for the company.
Tis the season of tool upgrades and organization. My new job has me spending a lot more time in the shop than I have at recent gigs. Prone to look for the most efficient way to do a thing, I am constantly refining my tools and how they are organized so that I can quickly accomplish the task at hand. Pictured here is a Markforged printed bit caddy that hosts my power drive bit collection. Generous spacing and logical layout make it easy to find the exact tool I need in no time flat.
With the move to our new facility, I once again have a window to enjoy (beats the hell out of sitting next to a CNC milling machine). It overlooks Fresh Pond Park and more importantly, allows me to bring my bonsai tree into work. This tree has kept me company at work for almost a decade. Unfortunately, the depth of the window sill did not really offer a good place for it to rest. Last night I built a sill extension, sized perfectly to the application, from scraps I have been saving from various past kitchen projects. It fits perfectly and most people at work have just assumed it was part of the building.
Last Christmas Kyle gave me a gift certificate to a bonsai store which I plan to redeem in the coming days so that my lone friend will have a new companion.
I returned from work this evening to find my recent order for a new set of Wiha pliers and cutters had arrived. They fit perfectly into the caddy I fabricated a few weeks ago and they make a colorful statement in the shop. My Craftsman set has served me well for over two decades but it was time for an upgrade.
After nearly half a year working in a dingy machine shop where the din of a milling machine, lathe and extruder made hearing yourself think impossible, Markforged moved into its new facility today. The contrast could not be more dramatic. The quiet, the space, the ambiance. Many of us worked over the weekend to ensure a smooth transition and by the end of the day we were essentially up and running.
I finally had time over the vacation to publish another photo journal, this time of my visit to Iceland.
The most used item in my photo studio is the camera stand. Far more convenient and versatile than a tripod it is the device that keeps my camera rock steady and positioned exactly where I want it. When I saw this stand on Craig’s List I decided to upgrade. My current stand also acquired on CL, will be donated to Markforged. Our new facility has ample space for a dedicated photo studio and it will be put to good use there.
Miraculously I was able to gather the kids for a portrait this afternoon. While it is true that I take many photographs of our family members, they are mostly candid shots and we actually have few formal portraits. Dressing up for a photograph is rarely tolerated. In this case, two of the three were already wearing flannel shirts so the third was persuaded to change into one. For Christmas this year I would like the following present from my children and spouse: a one-hour fully cooperative photo session with suits and ties and dresses and no grousing.
Joining the family for Thanksgiving diner this year are my mother and close family friend, Susan Reynolds, whose two daughters were unable to return home for the holiday this year. Jeanine and I completed the Concord 5K Turkey Trot this morning. A portion of the proceeds and an on site food collection are for the benefit of Open Table. We ate earlier than usual so that we could all volunteer at Open Table to serve a veritable feast to a community of guests that rarely enjoys such an abundance of food.
Boy and dog spending time together after months of separation. Hard to tell which one was more content.
Having just sold my lathe on Craig’s List, it is time to sell my collection of turning tools. After taking the time to carefully photograph them, I have decided that I am only ready to part with one of them, the bowl hollowing tool on the far left. I have almost convinced myself that I am going to buy a new lathe (albeit a smaller one) to justify the retention of the remaining set.
My mom arrived by bus this afternoon and was collected by her grandsons from the station. We are thrilled she will be sharing the holiday with us and feel fortunate that she remains so healthy and full of life. She is seen here modeling a new full-length down jacket that Jeanine acquired for her.