Posts made by watkins

Dear David,

Thanks, I had forgotten about that option.

Kind regards,
Bob

It would be nice to have a button to lock layers when either off or on so empty layers do not get purged. I like to use a template of layers when drawing, which means they are all empty at the start of modelling.

Regards,
Bob

Not sure if this has been posted before, but it looks to be a UK success story.

http://www.hybridairvehicles.com/

The company re-loacted to Cranfield Technology Park in 2010, presumably to be near the University's Aerospace department. Lots of R&D to be had there.

http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/aerospace/

I note that they are using He, which is a rare and expensive commodity. Here is an interesting article on helium gas, and what the true cost of a helium-filled party balloon should be.

http://articles.mcall.com/2010-12-21/opinion/mc-helium-explaint-20101221_1_helium-balloons-natural-gas

Regards,
Bob

Mike,

I know it well as I worked on the calibration facility for one of the instruments (ISAMS)

From a paper published in 1990

"The primary goal of NASA's Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS), planned to be launched in 1991, is to compile data about the structure and behavior of the stratospheric ozone layer, and especially about the threat of the chlorine-based pollutants to its stablility. Two of the payload instruments, manufactured in the UK, are described: the Improved Stratospheric and Mesospheric Sounder (ISAMS), a radiometer designed to measure thermal emission from selected atmospheric constituents at the earth's limb, then making it possible to obtain nearly global coverage of the vertical distribution of temperature and composition from 80 deg S to 80 deg N latitude; and the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS), a limb sounding radiometer, measuring atmospheric thermal emission from selected molecular spectral lines at mm wavelength, in the frequency regions of 63, 183, and 205 GHz."

It will be good to have the old dear back again, albeit vapourised or in bits.

Space junk is now a huge problem, particularly after the Chinese went and did a very stupid thing (see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14763668)

Regards,
Bob

For those who like computer games

http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/

Lots of videos on YouTube too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9t-SruikPk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeZufXHK8rk&feature=related

Regards,
Bob

I imagine this could be done as a dynamic component.

I use a simple 'template' to make nuts and bolts of the correct size (see the attached).

To adjust the size of the bolt head: double click on the component and use the tape-measure tool to resize the bolt head across the corners. Then use push-pull to adjust the thickness. Finally, add the threaded section by creating the cylinder in the usual way.

To adjust the size of the nut:double click on the component and use the tape-measure tool to resize the nut across the corners. To adjust the thickness, use a crossing window to select all the geometry at one end and then use the move tool to alter the thickness. Finally, add the threaded hole in the usual way.

One can use thread textures to 'paint' the threads onto the parts (http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=11378&hilit=+thread+textures).

A library of standard parts can be made very quickly.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Bob

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Template for nuts and screws.skp

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Fasteners.skp

The launch trailer has been posted on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDAAbZonfOQ

but the clips describing the processes have not. Sorry!

Kind regards,
Bob

These clips explain the process of producing Planet Dinosaur quite well:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b014m55k/clips

Regards,
Bob

This guy is a complete nutter (forgive the pun):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJphIBlnhw4&feature=relmfu

Be warned - bad language!!

I'm impressed by the pressure needed to get the coconut to go pop.

Regards,
Bob

SpaceClaim or Walk the Plank

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snVfOra-DVk&NR=1

Well, I found it amusing.

Regards,
Bob

Oops, Lake Taupo it is! Just had a long and tiring day. Another 'duh' moment in my life. Thanks for the correction.

Dear Chris,

Yes, I found the same problem, and it is also hard on the lower back too. The hardest thing on my 'airframe' was when they increased the air speed so that the instructor could spin me up the tunnel. My daughter loved it and it reminded her of her jump over Lake Tahoe in New Zealand last year. That was from 15,000 feet.

Regards,
Bob

Dear Didier,

Will you be undating the download in the first posting of this topic? Your new version is hard to find in amongst all the requests and comments.

Kind regards,
Bob

Had great fun doing this the other day:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqHC2qFR4ZM

It was my daughter's 21st, and so we all went to Airkix for a birthday treat.

We have a video but it is not up on YouTube.

The instructors are very skilled:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjkRnGeNff0&feature=fvst

Ireland might be good, but there is always one better

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoRfaUnu1IE&feature=related

Eat your heart out!

I see they use Sketchup

http://www.laserscan3d.co.uk/

Regards,
Bob

Shouldn't that be Ur_anus? I was dismayed the other day to hear a BBC announcer pronounce Uranus the American way, with the emphasis on the 'U'.

The current thinking seems to be that all men over 50 should have a PSA test once a year. The test is not definitive, but it is quick and easy to do. A high PSA 'might' indicate cancer, and is usually followed up with an examination of the prostate. If caught early the prognosis is good and getting better as treatments improve. I have a couple of colleagues who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and treated successfully.

An often quoted fact (by medics) is that many men will die with prostate cancer, but not of prostate cancer. It seems to be one of life's little hurdles.

If you are over 50, go book your test, and get some viagra at the same time so that you don't have to use Mike's vibrating sugar tongs.

Kind regards,
Bob

Roger,

I imagine the design calls for quick assembly/dis-assembly and for the accommodation to be easily transportable.

Regards,
bob

Dear John,

Many thanks for that.

Kind regards,
Bob