Neanderpundit

I did recon on an upcoming robot installation, in a company where we have already installed dozens of robots. One of the cells there is one of my first start-to-finish systems- I designed it, specified all the pieces, wrote all the code, tested the cycle time over all, installed and implemented it. it began to run in 1996 and has been pounding parts out ever since, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, weekends and holidays and yes, even Christmas. it makes a timing gear for diesels- big diesels have gears and not chains, since when lubed properly the gears don’t show any appreciable wear, and last, usually, longer than the engine. These gears go in N10 and N13 engines, if I recall correctly, and most International straight trucks you see out there have them.

The robot and the machines are still running fine, making parts in spec, no issues. I have no idea how many millions of parts it’s made. I know it will keep doing so for many years to come because the system has a built in high resistence to neglect. Grease and oil are delivered automatically to the machines, and they stop running when the oilers are dry.

A lot of those systems exist that I created or helped create. They run so robustly they will be going long after I’m gone. I’m always happy to visit them because it is a reminder that sometimes your actions are larger than they appear.

Here’s another of my babies that will most likely still be making stuff long after I’m gone

Don’t know where it goes, but it’s gone. I have determined to spend 20 minutes working indoors each day for the forseeable future, but last night, I ate, and went to bed.

the Africa match is Saturday. You get points for appearance. I intended mustache wax and a pith helmet, but as I already look adequately ridiculous, adding insult to injury didn’t work so well. So i’ll stick with drovers hat and more bushy than usual stash. the match costs $15 and the ammo will cost me $212.

Mind the crappy cellphone pic. A friend once, on driving a new WRX STI, said ‘Most boring car I ever drove’. This lady drove a restored X1/9 at speed down Stelvio, so it isn’t like she don’t know how to drive.

I’ve been driving the Barbie car (the Ogwife’s former Escape, known variously as the Barbie Car, The Magic Bus, the Yellow Submarine, or You POS) for a couple of months, now, and it’s ok, smaller than the sploder but my favorite price (Free) and it has coils and struts so it handles well and corners OK for a tall ride, but it’s…. boring.

Now I fully understand what she meant. The Sploders, which I’ve been driving for well on 15 years, have a specific set of things they will NOT do. Making them do those things, though it pushes the ability of the vehicle dangerously close to the edge, is what makes it fun. Like driving a 911, which you know is out to kill you if you chicken out and lift, or using a 1951 new Yorker as a rally car.

Most anyone with a tiny modicum of training can take a well mannered car around hot hard curves and survive, and do well. It takes a special kind of nutcase to do it with a car utterly unsuited for the process, and push it till it almost kills you. And do it every day in rush hour traffic surrounded by half a million fucktards. I miss my sploders.

I will keep an eye out for another one, from time to time they show up, perfect rust free examples. it will always be my favorite vehicle and from then on I will probably just keep one in the stable for joyriding purposes.

Doesn’t rule out buying an old SHO Taurus or a W8 Passat, though.