There's been a lull (partly due to my becoming a parent, partly due to summertime/school opening blues) in work on the rapid prototyping system. It turns out that this was a blessing in disguise because I recently got my hands on something that will make this project a significantly different scope.

My company threw out an old solder paste inspection machine. It WAS a machine intended for use inspect printed circuit boards after they've had the solder paste applied to them but before they've had components placed. As far as I know, it is in full working order.

Before. After. The first accessory.

In short, this is a working X-Y gantry with sub-millimeter accuracy. It does have SOME Z motion, too, but not much- I'd guess in the end we can adjust the limits and get something along the order of one inch in Z.

For a platform to build a prototyper, you can't get much better than this. And it's in my garage.

We had scheduled a build date for this weekend; I thought I was not going to be able to do that because my dad was coming from South Carolina to meet his new granddaughter. HOWEVER, he's sick, so we can meet as planned.

2pm Saturday work for everyone?

I hope you don't mind, I ghost posted this to the blog for you.

should work for me

I'm actually free tomorrow.
I'll plan to be there.
Should we bring anything? Tools, raw materials, beverages, snax...?

Bring whatever you'd like- drinks, snacks, etc.

I don't think tools will be needed- I have a pretty good collection, but if you think you have something tool-like that could be useful, by all means, bring it along.

I've got a new batch of an experimental wintery cider I think I'll bring if tonight's tasting deems it worthy.

Edit:
Initial taste: alright
After taste: pleasant
After after taste: room for improvement

I think I'll bring a few bottles anyways, constructive criticism is appreciated. But more ofter than not, actually 100% of the time that I've thought my cider was lacking people disagreed with me. I'll get it in the fridge too, because I think it'll be much better when not watered down with ice.