19 June 2025

The latest new toy is a Laser Cutter and I'll start to document the uses I can put it to shortly.

I've finally received the plans of the Swan Launch from Hobby's as it was missing from the order a couple of weeks ago. The package arrived with the sides ripped open and the 'nailer' for helping insert the small nails used in model boat building was missing. It is somewhat surprising that that was all. The plan had been replaced by some extra parts for the launch that I had not ordered but may be useful as I've not been asked to return them. Scanning the plan is a bit of a pain given it's full size, and even with the A3 scanner it needs several passes to get the whole lot, but things like the bulk heads and the cabin fit on single A3 pages once scanned. So now a refresher on pulling them into FreeCAD, or it may be worth playing with some of the other tools to stick them together as a single sheet again first.

Another project coming together is the Taig Mill for which I now have a nice functional Variable Speed Spindle and need to get a couple of drawings done to make sure that the two pulleys track squarely and I can adjust the tension on the belt. I need this working to turn up the parts for the steam engine to power the launch. It is nice that things are finally coming together.