Learning Journey - How to "Talk" to My CNC Router

The journey is not yet successful, but I want to make note of some sites I may want to return to as I continue on . . . After we (mostly Louie) got the CNC Router put together, I was eager to test it out!

First try was using Inkscape. I like the software and felt confident as I entered the size of wood, the text I wanted, etc. But then came getting the "GCode" to talk to the "Gerbil." . . . Not so intuitive and not at all successful!
Hackaday has some advice. But the "GCodeTools" for Inkscape link (available from many sources) takes you to a Russian GCodeTools forum . . . with unclear instructions. Lots of frustration ensued. No success with the GCodeTools. I was in so many menus and trying so many settings!

Then Louie suggested I try Easel. Super easy to create a free account (via Inventables) and has the necessary GCode to "talk" to the Router. Super easy to identify the project parameters and hit the "carve" button. . . only there is no 100% free version anymore. It gives you four free carves via the Pro version and then you pay for the software. Louie kept insisting I had done something wrong and told me to go back and carve using the free software. The video we watched showed how easy it was! But that video was made in 2014, as was the video actually from the founder of Easel (which shows that you just click on the "Start Cutting" button.) Oh, how things change! I really like Easel and how easy it is! Part of me is tempted to go ahead and try it anyway. But we were at an impasse and so we were on to software option #3.

When Louie showed me a video on some CAD/CAM software, the guy sounded like a teacher in a Charlie Brown video ("WahWahWah . . . "). Plus he was showing a fairly complex piece of 3D modeling. I said "I just want to make signs by carving on pieces of wood!" I had hit the wall. I was frustrated and just DONE with it all. But it has been a week and I'm ready to try again. I've had two of my engineer sons say that Fusion 360 is definitely the best option for me. They insist that I can use it successfully and start with the project I want, keep it simple, and learn more when I'm ready for more. Sigh. I'll post again later.

Here are some other sites I've left open for ages:
A Random Tree - I like how this guy explains his projects.
Another CNC Tree - I really like his stuff and his writing style . . .
Inkscape and G-Code - These Norwegians were offering hope when I was emotionally attached to using Inkscape. Louie said Inkscape is great for designing projects, but not ideal for communicating with the CNC Machine.
Totally different strategy! - I stumbled across this and I LOVE it! Nothing to do with learning how to use my CNC Machine, but I can get words onto wood with my laser printer and some Polycrylic (watch method #3 at 2:54).  (His site is Fix This Build That.)
Fusion 360 CAM Tutorial for CNC Beginners - This is where I'm at right now. Learning how to use Fusion 360 for what I want to do. So far, so good.

Sweet Memories and Too Much Stuff

As I was getting out the Christmas decorations this year, I decided to thin the herd a bit. I have some lovely things, some things that are dear to me, and other things that I've just accumulated. This bell makes a pretty sound, but the Santa and reindeer design isn't really my "cup of tea." There was a note inside the box, though, and that made me smile. "To the best Head Speech Coach ever! Carrie Smisek"

Carrie is an adult, an ordained Lutheran pastor, nowadays. But once upon a time, she was one of my "speechies," going to tournaments for New Prague High School and bringing a joyful spirit and a delightful sense of humor with her. I am so thankful to have had Carrie Smisek in my life!

Even so, this bell is moving on to a new home. I just have too much stuff in my life. Slowly, but surely, I'm getting rid of some of the excess.

Bridal Shower Candy Vow Game

 We had fun with this game at my niece's bridal shower. I've posted the "rules" and the results. I ended up keeping the bride with the "youngsters" instead of making her own poster for her groom. It was fun!


Rules:

Candy Bar Vow Game

Creativity is the object of this game! Work with your team to come up with the best possible wedding vows for the couple. You don’t have to use all the candies, but have fun trying. You may add text with the Sharpie, but need to make all of the vows fit on the “page.” Brainstorming paper and pen provided . . . the bride’s reaction to the vows as they’re read will determine the “winner.”

(The bride will create her own letter of love to her groom.)

Supplies:

·        Bowls with candies (1 bowl per team; same options in each bowl)

·        Tagboard or butcher paper per team

·        Sharpie per team

·        Paper, pens, tape

The "youngsters'" version:
Be[Twix]t you and me, I think you are a [Mr. Goodbar] guy. You're better than [100 Grand]. You make me [Laffy Taffy] and have given me lots of [Snickers]. I vow to not go [Pop Rocks] on you when you are being an [Airhead], both [Now and Later]. With this [Ring Pop] I vow to always be your [Sugar Babies] even if I don't make [Whoppers] of money. We're closer than the [3 Musketeers], so we'll never need to have our own [Junior Mints]. I'll never [Charleston Chew] you out when your [Lemonhead] is up in the [Milky Way]. When we're being [Nerds] and playing video games, I will help you connect the [Dots] to solve the puzzles. I vow to love you even when your joints [Krackle] and [Crunch]. I love how you are so [Smarties], and love me even though I am sometimes a [Butterfinger] and I vow to love you until the [Cow Tails] come home.

The "oldsters'" version:

In this [Heath], [Twix] friends and family, with this [Ring Pop]d on your [Butterfinger], as a symbol of our love [Now and Later], you are my [KitKat] and I am your [Mr. Goodbar]. We aren't [Lemonheads] or [Airheads], but there will be no [Sugar Babies] or [Junior Mints] . . . [Dots] We may be [Nerds] but we sure are [Smarties]. I will tell you no [Whoppers], nor [Cow Tails], no [Krackles] or [Snickers]. If I had [100 Grand], I would take you to the [Milky Way] on [Pop Rocks]. We will [Laffy Taffy] to [Charleston Chew] and [Hershey] PA. Hey [Tootsie roll], we can [Rolo] like [Reeses][3 Musketeers] and [Crunch] the night away. Love you!

Crime Watch

In the interest of decluttering, I want to make a note here about a cool online tool that was in a local newsletter (over a year ago!) . . . the website http://communitycrimemap.com is pretty cool. I entered Jordan, MN for the address. Then I clicked on some of the icons on the left for different types of crimes. I also changed the date range to cover the past year. Super interesting! I could definitely see using this if I wanted to buy a home. It reminds me of the crime report maps for different neighborhoods in Minneapolis. When my oldest son bought a home in Northeast Minneapolis, I was concerned. Then he showed me the statistics for crime in his new neighborhood vs. in North Minneapolis. I was shocked at the difference! It made me feel better for my son's safety, but sad for the people who live in North Mpls.

Christianity at the U of M

I just saw this message in an old email to a former colleague and (current) friend when she wanted a recommendation for a church for her daughter at the University of Minnesota:

http://sojourncampuschurch.net/

Alex went to church here for the two years that he lived at the U. Nick went there for a little while, too. It is definitely geared to young people! I worshiped one Sunday with Alex and was really glad I went. It made me glad to know he was going to a church that was so "on target" with what the Bible says.


This is from 2014, I think. I had forgotten about this. I don't think her daughter ever checked it out, but I wanted to hang onto this info (while striving to clear out some of my old emails).

Random Notes from Months Ago

I'm not sure why I had this on my computer's desktop for so long . . .or if I already wrote about it. But I initially started this blog entry over a month ago! Here it is, August 16, 2018, and I'll go ahead and do some more writing (since I just posted about the caulk / grout issue moments ago).

The ceiling in our basement bathroom had some unpleasant color on it. Mold? Dirt? Not sure, I tried cleaning it gently. Then more vigorously. I tried spraying bleach water on it. I asked Louie if we could remove the entire popcorn ceiling (since I don't like that look anyhow). Sure, as long as I was willing to do the work.

After watching YouTube videos and reading articles about it, I thought I was ready. Tools in hand, I sprayed a mixture of soapy water, waited ten minutes, and started scraping. Hmmm. I sprayed again, waited a half hour, and scraped. I went back to the internet and read some more. I tried again.

When Louie got home from work and we talked about it, I learned that he had applied that ceiling himself. He had purchased a product that was ceiling paint with texture . . . and one of the stipulations in the directions I was reading was that the ceiling had NOT been painted! I knew that we hadn't painted the ceiling since we finished the bathroom, but was ignorant about the fact that it had initially been applied with paint!

I knocked down the biggest bumps and Louie used a sander (huge mess!). Then he decided to just use sheetrock mud to even out the ceiling. That took many, many applications. As long as he was priming and painting the ceiling, he touched up the walls and painted them too. This took some time, what with the other busy stuff of life and waiting for coats of stuff to dry.


The other note - about Titus eating poop. Again, I read articles online. He seemed to mostly be trying to clean up messes(?) I worked with him on "Leave it!" and "Drop it!" It hasn't been as much of an issue this summer, so I hope it was just a phase that we're past!

Bathroom Remodel

I had no idea when I wanted to remove the popcorn ceiling in our basement bathroom what I was getting into! I've learned a lot . . . and can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Today's revelation is about removing the old caulk . . . now that I've spent hours at it in my own clumsy fashion. I'm not going to go out and buy products and tools, but if I ever need to do this again, this will be my first stop:

www.houselogic.com/organize-maintain/diy-repair/how-remove-caulk/

Sigh. I'm going to grab the rubbing alcohol to try to remove the last bits of residue so Louie can apply new caulk on Saturday. Then it's time to clean the grout of the flooring tile. I wish I had some house elves . . .