In my spare time, not working on mechmate, nor sucking this forum dry for info, I enjoy photography.

I saved up and bought a canon 1ds mkII a while back, I wanted to do take some snaps at a cricket game SA vs Australia, saved for 3 years to buy the kit, pride and joy is a 400mm Is f2.8 lense. PAid a forune for this only to be told by a hired security gaurd that i need to have a press pass to get into the match.

So now i am saving for a 4x4 so i can go on nature trips.

Some pictures of my hobby.

Hey...that looks like lot of FUN!!!!

Has anybody have ideas how I can make one PARABOLIC panel as a mould if I want to make a really BIG satellite dish.
I read this on the internet somewhere ...
Engineers use the parabola formula (x-h)2=4p(y-k), to design and build satilite dishes.
As I am not an Engineer I don't know how to make use of this info.
All I need is to cut on old BBB one panel of the dish as a mould, then make 6 or 8 fiberglass panels, screw them together for the MONSTER I want to make....something around 4 meters diameter will do just fine.

Attachment 6435

Maybe I can cut pieces like this laminate them together

Attachment 6436

But then I have a problem to get the clover like pieces.

I am sure the easy way will be to get it in a 3d file and cut the thing out of foam, then make amould from this....but how do I get a 3d DXF file that I can import into Vectric's V-Carve Pro...it does not take STL files.

Any ideas ?

Hi Kobus,
I was interested in making a dish too, but to generate heat with. I have seen some fairly big dishes made of fibre glass, 2.4m in diameter. You are on the right track, that is to make one segment and bolt them together. I would make the mould and then vacuum bag it to increase the bond between the fibres and the resin. Saw one mould made out of cement, where a template is rotated around a centre. That way you can make the template on the MM (which you have done already). If you need space to do it, you can do it on my plot (Bredell), we can then share the mould.

Jan

OH !! you need one Arecibo dish :D

Thanks Jan will talk sometime...maybe we can share the mould.

Arecibo

Attachment 6444

Now where do I find a positioner to move this dish from east to west..:D

Kobus do you want to phone home with that dish:)

Long distance collect call ET...phone home...:D

Attachment 7051

First snow has arrived... now the fun part starts.;)

Greetings from Hills around ...

Lucky you… snow..… some fun in the woods…. I’m really jealous! :cool:

- I used to be a radio amateur (PE1OYV)
- Like to make bonbons (chocolate) and been recently be on a course for it..
- Like to cook
- Writing software, which is how I currently make some money (from hobby to profession I guess)

- Mechmate is currently a hobby for making my own furniture in my house, what I can buy in Ecuador is only MDF and looks liek crap, or is imported and really expensive! I would like to do small parts for commerce, but not currently aiming for it, although I got my first request already to make signs.


Ries

That' me.

Greg

Greg

You wearing a suite so you can cut the wind?

That suit makes it easier to find all the body parts after a crash. . . :)

Actually I think it just help support the body while in flight. :) Crazy anyway, I dont like heights myself. :)

I don't think any of you guys are right ..... I think it's so you don't freeze your butt off!!!! Since I don't have any to begin with, I can't fly one of those things :D

JR…I tend to think you’re mistaking butt with BALLS… LOL :D
Keep those warm as I’d think it would become mandatory to do this “so call ” hobby :eek:

Hector I didn't remember if I told you but 4 years ago this Busa was my pride an joy. A real and complete bike. This bike is good for long rides, speeding (even on a race track) and also in city. A real legend...:). This will be my next ride :D (I mean one like yours).

Marius,
I agree 100% with you...Im very happy with my busa, because I can do anything of the things you mention, long rides, track, trips etc...very complete bike. With this bike and a good rider,of course me :D I been able to keep the pace or even ride harder, that R1's, Ducati´s in Track or Twisties...Here you go with a pic of my last track day...

Hector, is that not hard on the knees? :)

Heath,
No way...actually you dont seat on the knees, you use them as an indicator of inclination angle, like a probe, you sense the ground,they give you a sense of inclination.