First Machine Project
April 6th, 2009I do Not Love Thee, Dr. Fell
I think I know what I want to make with my machine tools. Remember how I wrote about my sad efforts to create a crab-claw cracking tool that would wow the masses and replace things like hammers and pliers? I think I should go back and finish the job. Get a little closure. Perhaps literally.
I’m thinking stainless. Maybe tool steel; I don’t think it rusts much. And my requirements for the machine are that it has to crack anything a person can eat, except maybe coconuts, and it has to be fun to use, and people have to go “WOW” when they see it on your coffee table.
I already have an idea for a cam-action sort of thing, with the camming motion provided by a round cam with an off-center axis of rotation. And I want to put ball bearings in it so it will last forever.
It’s hard to describe because I haven’t actually designed it yet. But I’m positive it will work.
Why aren’t more people making cracking machines? This is a real problem. Nutcrackers, without exception, suck. They’re too small for walnuts. Half the time the nuts squirt out the side and shoot under the couch. They’re too small for crab claws. They’re worthless for Brazil nuts. Think how great it would be to have snazzy looking universal cracking machine, ready to go at a moment’s notice.
I’m not totally sure how you go about designing things like this with no knowledge of drafting and zero CAD skills. I guess I can get a pencil and wing it.
By the way, and this is not really related to tools, did you read about how the French are giving someone a face and hands transplant? Drudge linked it today. They’re doing amazing things over there. What you may not realize is that they worked their way up from a simpler procedure. A lady in Marseilles had an armpit transplant. Apparently she could not face the world after a rare viral infection left her own armpits bald.
“Mon dieu,” she exclaimed, “my automobile has been eaten by rats!”
Wait, I’m confusing two different stories. Or obscure Seventies cartoons, as the case may be.
April 6th, 2009 at 8:51 PM
You should look at a cad package. I’m a fan of SolidWorks but it’s $10k a seat. You can use Alibre Design Express for free.
http://www.alibre.com/products/xpress/xpress_for_all.asp
And if you like it you can upgrade to a more full featured version, but the free version works just fine and is relatively easy to use. I’ve beta tested it, and I’ve used the free version, and it’s not horrible. it’s not SolidWorks, but it’s also not $10k.
April 6th, 2009 at 9:01 PM
The perfect accessory for your measuring implements:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#9598k66/=1c1id1
Tungsten carbide balls. Precisely.
Tungsten Carbide and Tungsten Alloys
This product matches all of your selections.
Part Number: 9598K66 $12.10 per Pack of 2
Material
Tungsten Carbide
Tungsten-Carbide Type
C1 or C2 (6% Cobalt)
Finish/Coating
Ground
Grade
25
Diameter
3/8″
Diameter Tolerance
±.0001″
Sphericity
.000025″
Hardness
Rockwell A92
Yield Strength
Not Rated
Condition
Pressure formed (sintered)
Tolerance
Precision-Ground
Specifications Met
Not Rated
WARNING
Hardness is not guaranteed and is intended only as a basis for comparison.
April 6th, 2009 at 9:09 PM
“I do not love thee, Dr. Fell”…wasn’t that a Bob Kliban cartoon? (Yes…I know who John Fell was, thank you).
I always like “Carl gets his pie in spite of Florence”.
April 6th, 2009 at 9:34 PM
B. Kliban?
April 7th, 2009 at 3:21 AM
“universal cracking machine” = bench vice
April 7th, 2009 at 5:50 AM
Get a copy of Solid Edge 2d Cad from Siemens. It’s free. Has tutorials. Produces Autocad compatible files.
If you make your camming grooved tool out of hardenable tool steel, you might not need bearings because the wear surface will be so hard. Then use a “shoulder bolt” for the pivot or cam, since it’s case hardened.
April 7th, 2009 at 10:20 AM
If you don’t know how to read engineering drawings, take an afternoon or two to learn that first. It’s simple but not intuitive, exactly. People are likely to look at one and think they get it right away, but like map reading it pays to learn the basic rules instead of just winging it.
April 7th, 2009 at 10:38 AM
I use a bandsaw on walnuts and other hard nuts. on pecans or english walnuts I use an automatic center punch. works good. I have an impact nutcracker that is supposed to be the bomb for walnuts but I’ve never tried.
April 7th, 2009 at 12:01 PM
I have a friend that uses a pvc pipe cutter to crack crabs. About 10 bucks for a cheap one. You may even have one in your pool plumbing stuff.
But I know you NEED to make one of your own design and that is what tools and tool making is all about. Have fun.
April 7th, 2009 at 12:40 PM
Speaking of Solidworks; I received a link to this from my reseller this morning:
http://www.solidworks.com/sw/engineering_stimulus_package.html
It’s good for 90 days so you should be able to finish your project by the time it expires. The simulation features will keep you occupied for hours…
April 7th, 2009 at 2:12 PM
There are some decent CAD tutorials at EMachineShop, which I’ve been dying to use for something for a while: http://www.emachineshop.com/
April 8th, 2009 at 11:14 AM
The only problem with your cracking tool idea is that knowing you, you’ll eventually want to patent, produce & market it because it’s a great idea (and it is). But then some moron will use it to break his fingers, toes, or skull and you’ll spend the rest of your life defending yourself in court.