Politics

I'm going to comment on politics - something I never do.... Well, maybe occasionally.

Rishi Sunak had a career at Goldman Sachs before entering politics. Now, working for an investment bank involves understanding and managing risk, but how on earth could he ever feasibly expect to return to investment banking after the gamble on an early election? It appears investment banking has taught him nothing about risk management. 

Moving on to Sunak's condemnation of the Stonehenge climate protesters. 

It's always amusing to see the so-called "anti-woke" crowd get up in arms about the defacement of ancient megaliths in protests against fossil fuel use. These people, who often deride modern environmental and social justice movements as unnecessary or extreme, suddenly find themselves on the side of conservation when it comes to a pile of rocks. But the irony seems lost on them: the very cultures that built these megaliths were pioneers of "wokeness," living in harmony with nature and respecting the earth in ways today's fossil fuel advocates could never comprehend.

The ancient societies that erected these impressive structures did so with a deep understanding and reverence for their natural surroundings. They were the original stewards of the environment, practicing sustainable living long before it became a buzzword. So when the anti-woke brigade laments the damage to these monuments, they're unwittingly championing the values of the very cultures they claim to oppose. It's a delicious irony that those who mock the "woke" for their environmental concerns are now defending relics of civilizations that would likely scoff at their short-sightedness and environmental apathy.

Megaliths, museums and art galleries are monuments to human creativity, showcasing our greatest achievements and cultural treasures. They are filled with art that celebrates mankind's intellect, ingenuity, and imagination. Yet, these institutions, despite their immense value, cannot fully capture the raw beauty and grandeur of the natural world, a world that's under threat from fossil fuel vandals.

Nature's splendour, whether it's a breathtaking landscape, a vibrant field of flowers, or a serene forest, exists beyond the walls of any gallery. These natural wonders, with their intricate ecosystems and inherent tranquility, provide an irreplaceable source of inspiration and solace. They remind us of our connection to the earth and our responsibility to protect it. Open spaces have influenced poetry and music; oil never has - although you could make an argument for heavy metal.

As much as I cherish art galleries and museums for their role in preserving and presenting human culture, I believe that the health and preservation of our planet take precedence. The natural world is our most precious heritage, and its preservation is essential for the survival and well-being of all life on Earth. 

If faced with the choice, I would willingly sacrifice every museum and gallery to ensure the planet's future. Our legacy is not only in the art we create but also in the earth we care for and leave behind for future generations.

Sunak's plan for more oil and gas drilling is the greatest vandalism he could commit and even the courts are at loggerheads with him. 

First, let's acknowledge that climate change is a global issue, not a country-sized problem. The atmosphere doesn't care about borders or politics; it only responds to the accumulation of greenhouse gases. Ignoring our own responsibilities while pointing fingers elsewhere (usually China) is not only hypocritical but also incredibly short-sighted. 

Now, about China. Yes, China emits a significant amount of CO2, largely because it's the world's most populous country and a major manufacturing hub. But let's not forget why that is: Western countries, including ours, have outsourced their dirty industries to places like China to maintain our consumer lifestyles without dealing with the environmental fallout. So, in many ways, the carbon footprint of China's industries is actually part of the West's carbon footprint. 

Moreover, per capita emissions tell a different story. On average, a person in the West still emits far more CO2 than someone in China. So, if we're going to play the blame game, perhaps we should start with the mirror. 

Furthermore, according to the latest reports, China is providing over half of the world's renewable energy infrastructure. That's right, while some are busy pointing fingers, China is actually leading the charge in renewable energy development and in green technology jobs. This includes massive investments in solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, putting many Western countries' efforts to shame. If anything, China’s commitment to renewable energy should be a wake-up call to the West to step up its game. 

In addition, recent data shows that global fossil fuel consumption and emissions hit record highs in 2023. Despite the increase in renewable energy, the overwhelming demand for energy means fossil fuels still dominate the energy mix. China, however, accounted for 55% of global renewable additions in 2023, demonstrating a substantial commitment to green energy. 

Lastly, leadership means taking action, not waiting for others to act first. If the West, with all its wealth and technological advancement, can't lead the way in reducing emissions, how can we expect developing nations to do so? Our inaction sends a clear message: economic growth is more important than the planet's future. In conclusion, refusing to acknowledge anthropogenic climate change and shirking responsibility by pointing at China is not only scientifically ignorant but also morally bankrupt. It’s time to stop the blame game and start taking real, meaningful action.

Now let's come to VAT on private school fees and National Service.

In many countries, private school education offers significant advantages, often leading to better academic outcomes and enhanced career opportunities for students. Some governments offer VAT exemptions on private school fees, effectively subsidizing this choice, which means the rest of society has to foot the shortfall in government revenue.

Given the benefits derived from such tax advantages, it is worth considering the introduction of a civic duty in return, such as requiring children of parents who benefit from VAT exemptions on private school fees to engage in National Service.  In that way, parents who are doing without necessities, like Sky, can still afford to sent their progeny to a public school, putting the cost on their kids, who are the ones that actually benefit. It would be a choice, but I'd bet the children would want their parents for pay the VAT.

This proposal rests on the principles of fairness, social cohesion, and the fostering of civic responsibility. It ensures that the advantages gained from tax exemptions are balanced by a tangible contribution to society, promoting a more equitable and integrated community. By fostering a sense of civic duty and providing valuable life experiences, National Service can play a crucial role in the development of well-rounded, socially conscious young citizens whose parents have taken advantage of a tax loophole, rather than the super-confident, condescending, pompous, entitled, erudite, elitist shits like me and my fellow private school alumni.

It would appear that Sunak's election strategy can be summed up by one image I took yesterday. 

The Great British Dog Whistle, which happens to be shaped a bit like a prick, or is it Nigel Farage.

This image tells you all you need to know about Fuhrage:

You know, I'd bet ....... actually, I'd better not bet on politics......

I saw this on a window the other day:

Two Up

The dual seat for the Mobylette has finally arrived - 4 weeks after ordering it. The supplier had some logistical problems with the manufacturer.

The surprising thing is that it's less than half the weight of the single seat, which I think is made from Iridium.

So, dual seat and pillion footpegs (you can see them in the photo) means I'm all set for our next excursion. 

Actually, the dual seat is just resting on the Moby, as I need a 25mm seatpost, which is on order. Then there's the matter of the fact that the dual seat is more complex to remove when I'm slinging the Moby under the motorhome bike carrier. However, it is a good 4 inches slimmer, so it will probably fit between the bike carrier rails with no issues.

Filtration

Finally, after a number of strenuous days where I was obstructed at every turn, I managed to collect the free pond filter equipment from my friend. Old, but eminently useable. It required me to use my trailer to collect it.

Two industrial filters and one 15k lph pump, which will be more than enough for our pond.

God alone knows how I'm going to make them inconspicuous. This is going to be a project that will embrace the entire two weeks of summer and necessitate a small bungalow to house everything.

My friend used to decant the sludge once a week, or once a fortnight, depending on the weather. What comes out of the bottom of these behemoths will form a rather nutritious addition to the garden compost heap.

The proof of concept system is struggling, as I squeeze out a thick, deep green soup from the plastic matting every 12 hours or so.

Squaring the Circle of Post Brexit Trade

Supporters of Brexit, especially the more mendacious ones like Farage, whose manifesto pledge has a £38bn black hole (according to Tax Policy Associates), are making much of the fact the UK has risen from the 7th largest exporter to 4th largest since Brexit; however, they're misattributing the reasons for that growth, sometimes through genuine ignorance, but occasionally very purposely. I heard Farage saying this on a Radio 4 interview on Monday and, while he was eviscerated on other statements, this one wasn't challenged.

How does one square the circle of a 5% hit on GDP and an overall growth in exports? Continue reading and you'll find out - I've been doing some analysis.

The UK's rise to the 4th largest exporter post-Brexit, from 7th previously, contrasts with its performance in the manufacturing sector. Before Brexit, the UK was the 9th largest exporter of manufactured goods globally, but this ranking has since fallen to around 12th to 13th (GOV.UK, Office for Budget Responsibility). This decline in manufacturing is due to new trade barriers with the EU, component shortages, and other global trade dynamics (Office for Budget Responsibility, Institute of Economic Affairs). 

Conversely, the UK's overall export ranking has improved primarily due to the growth in services exports, which are not subject to Brexit export tariffs. Sectors like consulting, financial services, and research & development have been particularly resilient and expanding, significantly contributing to the UK's improved export position (CityAM, Office for National Statistics). 

The fact services do not suffer from Brexit tariffs allows them to thrive, despite the new trade environment. This divergence highlights the differing impacts of Brexit. Highly skilled labour in the services sector has benefitted from continued growth and increased global demand, whereas low-skilled manufacturing has faced greater challenges. Additionally, low-skilled workers in manufacturing cannot easily transition to highly skilled services jobs, exacerbating the economic divide and leading to a more complex and nuanced economic landscape for the UK post-Brexit. The upshot is that those most affected by Brexit have been the low-skilled, low-paid.

The growth in the services sector would have happened anyway, as it was unaffected by Brexit tariffs. To suggest that growth is due to Brexit is misleading, to say the least. Some of it was also due to the fall in sterling since 2016, being some 16% against the dollar and 13% against the Euro, making services cheaper. The decline in manufacturing, however, is directly attributable to Brexit, although buffered slightly due to the same fall in sterling.

Had Brexit not happened, it's indubitable that Britain's exports would be even better, probably to the tune of more than the 5% GDP deficit that economists believe has happened due to Brexit, although it's impossible to say whether we would have been 2nd or 3rd, rather than 4th (it depends on the gaps between the ranking positions and the top slots are taken by massive economies, such as China and the USA, which are many multiples of the UK's export revenues).

So, whenever you see someone crowing about export trade having grown and attributing it to Brexit, you can now point out the ignorance of their position.

The Covid

I wondered why we say we have 'the' flu or 'the' measles, but not 'the' chickenpox or 'the' cholera, so I asked Chat GPT.

The use of definite articles ("the") in disease names like "the measles" and "the flu" versus the lack of articles in names like "chickenpox" and "cold" is largely a result of historical usage and linguistic convention rather than strict grammatical rules. 

Here are a few reasons why this variation exists: Historical Context and Usage: 

Diseases like "the measles" and "the flu" have been referred to with the definite article for a long time, likely because they were originally described in a way that treated them as specific conditions ("the measles" referring to the measly spots, and "the flu" being a shortened form of "the influenza"). 

On the other hand, "chickenpox" and "cold" were commonly referred to without the article from their earliest usages. 

Disease Perception: Some diseases were historically seen as a collective group of symptoms or conditions rather than a single disease, which might have led to the use of "the." For example, "the measles" referred to the set of symptoms including rash and fever. Other diseases were named more straightforwardly without such linguistic framing, like "chickenpox," which directly refers to the characteristic pox (blisters) that resemble chicken pecks. 

Linguistic Evolution: Language evolves, and certain terms become fixed in the public lexicon in a particular way. Once a term gains popularity with or without "the," it tends to stick. 

Grammatical Patterns: English doesn't have strict rules for article usage with disease names, leading to variability based on common usage patterns. 

General vs. Specific References: "The flu" is often seen as a specific outbreak or instance of influenza, while "flu" can refer to the virus in general. This nuance doesn't apply as much to diseases like chickenpox or the common cold. 

Overall, the differences in article usage are more about historical and conventional reasons rather than logical grammatical rules. Language and medical terminology are both influenced by cultural and historical factors, which shape how we refer to diseases.

Pond Update

While looking for industrial strength pond filters, for which you have to pay an arm and a leg, I remembered that a friend who owns a local kennels had an indoor pond of similar size to us, with 30 or 40 huge koi and a couple of massive sturgeon in it. 

Last summer he sold all the koi and filled in the pond, simply because the cost of looking after so many koi was getting prohibitive in electricity.

I wondered whether he had any of the filtration kit remaining and, miracle of miracles, he has a Hydra 4000 with two 15,000 litre per hour pumps, which he wants shot of and I can have for free.

I can find no info on the price of a Hydra 4000, probably because it's no longer made. Chat GPT, however, maintains they are (or were) between £1,200 and £1,500. Two 15k lph pumps would be around £100 each, so using a 50% 2nd hand discount, I'm getting at least £700 worth of equipment for free.

I hope to collect them today. They might need a bit of fettling and I would need to buy an Evolution Aqua UV-C system capable of handling 30k litres per hour, with a 110W UV-C lightsource. Given the filter system is free, I can afford to spend a decent amount on the UV-C system - say £200.

Alternatively I could use a lower wattage and arrange some kind of bypass to halve the throughput. That might be the better solution, as the UV-C system can also kill beneficial bacteria. Thus far, we've never had to feed the 3 koi and they've managed to find sufficient food in the pond. If I kill all the algae and bacteria, then there may be a chance I also eliminate what the fish feed on, meaning I'd have to supplement their diet with pellets.

Given the system could turn over the pond contents within 5 hours, rather than running it continuously, I'd run it only a couple of hours a day, ensuring some algae remains.

I'd probably have to house the lot in some form of cabin, which I can get our tame builder, Colin, to make. He's famous for what we jokingly call "a shed-in-a-day".

Proof of Concept

Yes, another proof of concept. I like to test things cheaply before investing lots of dosh.

As I've mentioned previously, Hay is of the opinion that our 3 koi, in a pond which is 11m x 7m x 1.5m (average), are solely responsible for the pond turning green. This is despite me having asked numerous experts, who all agree that it's the fact the pond isn't shaded and that sunlight is the culprit.

I first bought a large, plastic tank for £20 off Facebook Market, filling it with layers of different grades of filtration media - foam plastics and fleece, which cost me £27.

Overkill for the throughput of the submersible pump I have, plus you have to removed lots of layers to see the result of the efficacy of the different strata.

I decided to buy 4 storage boxes from B&Q at £14 each, intending to stack them with the media layers in different boxes, drilling holes through the bottom of the boxes so the water would flow evenly over the media. If the idea failed, I could still use the boxes for GT6 bits.

The fleece is the most efficient remover of algae, but I can't just have that and must remove larger debris first with the foam plastic sheets. If I take the top box with the foam plastic off, I can easily inspect the fleece, which is in the next box down and clean it without disturbing the other media. The bottom box is merely a sump into which I put a hole for a flange and some piping for the water to go back into the pond.

Here's the fleece section after just half an hour:

The dark patch on the left is from where I was using the fleece in the big, black tub. Here's the water after going through the filter:

A good shade lighter than what's in the pond, but still nowhere near as clear as I'd like it. More fleece layers are called for, but the concept is proven.

The submersible pump is at the other end of the pond, so I'm drawing dirty water from one end and putting the cleaner water back at the other, using an ordinary garden hose to shift the water.

Now the pump is quite pitiful in terms of throughput, and it's not rated for continuous use, so I intend getting a more powerful one just as soon as Hay registers the fact that it works as intended, even if it wouldn't clear the pond in its current form. The Titan pump probably doesn't even stop the green getting any worse, rather than eliminating it - a faster pump would give me an edge over the sunlight, but I'd probably have to use larger diameter pipe than a garden hose.

To increase the filtration I could put a 100W UV-C lamp in yet another box, which will kill any remaining algae managing to escape the mechanical system. Commercially bought UV systems can cost £200, but I'm sure I can rig something much cheaper.

I did think of just dangling a UV light in the pond, but its efficacy would be localised without a flow in the water to move it around. Also, it can damage fish, giving them sunburn and blinding them, so that's a non-starter. Any UV system (and it's UV-C that's most effective) has to be in-line with a filtration system outside of the pond.

The filter media I'm using are called biofilters, as they become colonised by good, nitrifying bacteria. Other biofilter media, such as ceramic rings, bio balls, lava rock, sintered glass media and pumice stone provide a large surface area for beneficial bacteria to colonize and thrive, and I may add some of those to the sump box. 

These bacteria play a crucial role in the nitrogen cycle by breaking down harmful ammonia and nitrites into less harmful nitrates, indirectly helping to control algae by reducing available nutrients. Integrated into pond filters, these media ensure optimal water quality and support a healthy pond ecosystem. 

What I really need is something like a Hozelock Aquaforce 15000 or an Oaze Filtoclear 30000 system. Even then I might need a couple for a pond the size of ours. They do come up 2nd hand, but not that often, as most people don't have ponds the size of ours - it's more a swimming pool.

Another possible solution is barley straw. Barley straw controls algae in water bodies by releasing organic compounds and small amounts of hydrogen peroxide as it decomposes. These substances inhibit algae growth by creating an unfavorable environment. Placed in mesh sacks and submerged in water, barley straw offers a natural, eco-friendly, and cost-effective solution for algae control, beneficial for fish and aquatic plants, taking about 2 weeks to start acting.

We're not in a barley growing area, so I'll have to look further afield. One thing I've noticed about barley straw is that it's very inexpensive when bought in bales, but the minute the term pet bedding is added, it increases in price 100 fold - you can pay £5 for 2kg. I need about 6 kilos in total for our pond size.

Optima Recumbent Bike

 Spotted this on Facebook Market:

It's an Optima Recumbent Bike, advertised at £500.

My first thought was; "How the hell do you get going on it?" However, finding a video on YouTube showed it's not as difficult as you might think.

Still not sure I'd like to ride one though. The bloke in the video has the handlebars in the usual position, whereas the one on Facebook has them under the seat.

Balance

 My regulars may remember that I wanted to make one of these.

I thought I'd 3D print one first as a proof of concept.

I still have to tie it off properly at the bottom, which is difficult, as both pieces of string have to be exactly the same length and the knot mustn't protrude, otherwise it will be wonky at the base. I could rebate the hole so the knot sinks in, I suppose. Catgut (guitar strings, or fishing line) would be better than string and make it sound better when played.....

Thinking it would be easy to scale this up, I made another that is twice the size, it not larger. It took up the full print bedplate and over 12 hours to print, even at 200% speed.

I painted one piece white, as a contrast, and used some yellow, polypropylene rope I had handy. The ends of the rope at the base need heating and flattening into a disc, like a nailhead. Top ones too, really.

However, I still thought transparent catgut would be better and make it look like the top piece is floating in mid air. It's fishing week at Lidl, so I got some fishing line there, but it turned out to be neon green. I also bought some strimmer plastic, but that was far too thick to be able to tie knots in it and not flexible enough. In the end I went to our local fishing shop and got some clear, 8Lb fishing line, which is almost impossible to see when tying knots into it.

Still a tad wonky, but it's bloody difficult to get the lengths correct. Ideally I need to wedge the suspension wires in (there are side holes in the design into which I can push a temporary wedge) when they're at the correct length and then glue them in position, cutting off the excess, rather than using knots.

Still a work in progress....

Space for Living

A few weeks ago I had occasion to pass through Blackmore Down near Shaftesbury and spotted this development of new houses.

They look very 1940s and 1950s and are beautiful - certainly more aesthetically pleasing than many of the new developments currently being built.

In some things, going back to the past is beneficial. We all had more space in the past.

Roadworks

 For the last 6 months I've been thinking; "When are they going to fix these bloody potholes?"

Lately I've been thinking; "Why are there so many bloody roadworks?"

As you can determine, I'm not easily pleased.....

Water Aid

These adverts on TV for Water Aid amuse me. We're asked to donate to a charity that improves access to water in rural Africa so they can enjoy clean drinking water, like we do.

Surely, the last thing poor families in Africa need is water like ours?

Dash Dither Sorted

I've decided on the stainless, 5 bank switch backplate in preference to the black plastic one I printed. * switches is overkill, after all.

I took the opportunity to give the 2 dashboards I made a final sanding with 1000 grit wet and dry and a polish with cutting compound. I then juxtaposed the stainless backplate with one of the instruments from India and realised there could  be no other choice for aesthetic harmony.

Still have the one-piece dash to complete.

Wildlife

Our garden appears to have attracted a couple of moorhens who have been hanging around for several weeks.

While it tends to signify a healthy biodiversity, I can't help but suspect that the abundance of cats within that biodiversity means they will soon leave and not choose to raise their young on our pond.

Dash Update

Haven't been doing much with the dashboard since I've been waiting for my rocker switches and the stainless backplate to complete their journey to Argentina and back. Finally received them.

I now have a dilemma - to use the stainless backplate, which accommodates 5 switches and two knobs, or the one I 3D printed, which has space for 8 switches (5 are shown inserted). 

The stainless one matches the chromed bezels of the gauges I bought, whereas the black one doesn't. In any case, 8 switches may be overkill.

Despite the fact I'm leaning toward the stainless one, I have no idea how it fixes to the dash - there are no screw holes. I have asked the seller for an opinion, but it can only be by using the holes where the knobs fit at the ends, using some backing nut to lock it into place.

A Steel

I've been looking for a decent, large anvil for ages - an anvil is worth its weight in gold when you're mucking about with car bodywork - especially on a car where certain panels and repair sections can be impossible to find.

A lot of the ones on Facebook are antiques and people charge in excess of £400 for a 1cwt (51kg) one, and they're so lumpy and bumpy that they're not suitable for metalwork use.  Modern ones of the same weight are more plentiful, but you still won't get change from £250. Some people sell tiny ones of 5kg for jewellery making and want over £150.

So you can imagine my pleasure at finding this 50kg one just outside of Cheltenham for £130 - a steel (steal?).... Oh, never mind.

This one is Chinese and Chinese anvils don't have that much of a reputation, as they tend to be a bit on the soft side, but it's not as if I'll be using it professionally on a daily basis.

As you can see from the image above, it already has a few dents. I'll probably grind it flat at some stage.

The anvil's shape has changed over time. Today, anvils come in a wide range of shapes and sizes tailored to specific tasks in blacksmithing, metalworking, and other trades. 

While modern tools have replaced some traditional uses of the anvil, it remains an iconic tool in blacksmithing and metalworking, valued for both its historical significance and practical utility.

It has features like the horn, flat face, Hardie hole, and Pritchel hole. Influenced by local needs and available materials led to distinct regional designs. The standard anvil of today is the London pattern, which has its roots in the 18th century and was honed in the Industrial Revolution.

The horn is especially useful for bashing steel into curves (or making horseshoes) and there are inserts you can obtain for the Hardie holes that act like an English Wheel.

The bloke I got it from had a hobby of making high quality chef knives, but was getting rid of all his equipment due to a house move - I could have had a forge for a song, but it would mean building yet another shed.

Sling It

 Had a go at slinging the Moby under the motorhome bike rack, such that one person can load it.

The key criterion was to spread the weight between the two bike rails.

I first thought I'd use the handlebars to support the bike across the rails, but the rails caught the choke and kill switches, putting far too much pressure on delicate pieces of plastic.

Lifting the bike by the front wheel, I introduced a steel bar between the forks and the frame, resting the bar on the rails. I did it in several stages, but it can be done in one stage.

The steel bar was removed and replaced by ratchet straps around the wheel.

I had thought of hoiking the bike up such that the seat protruded through the rails, which I could then use as an anchorage point; however, the seat was a centimetre or two too wide, so it had to come off. In any case, suspending the bike by the seat would not be safe, as it could slip off under the weight.

Instead I suspended the rear end by the frame, ensuring the weight was spread between the two rails.

Multiple points were available, so I ended up with 3 anchorage points.

Next was stabilising the bike in both the fore and aft direction and athwartships - that wasn't difficult. Putting the seat back on facilitated some stability with a strap around the seat post and there were various other points where it could be secured.

I eventually got it secure, but there's the issue of obscuring the number plate and lights. If I want one person to be able to load the bike, then I needed to spend £120 to £150 on getting a 7 pin lightboard connector installed, which I have arranged for tomorrow through a mobile auto-electrician.

The height of the bike off the ground is adequate - the photos make it look as if the wheels are closer to the deck than they actually are.

Moby Motorhome

Had a go at putting the Mobylette on the motorhome. At 36kg it's well below the 60kg safe capacity.

It fits fine, but it took me and No.2 Son, Bruno, to get it on the bike rack, and Bruno is a strapping 24 year-old (although I had the heavy end). Whether I could get it on and off with just me and Hay is a moot point.

This might be a better method - putting the handlebars over the two wheel rails and strapping up the back end with ratchet straps under the pannier and over the rack's wheel rails. From the photo it doesn't look as if the ground clearance is that large, but it's more than it looks. Of course I'll need to get another set of number plates to put on the Moby, as the Ducato plates are hidden.

The fact the handlebars are locked against the rails means that the scope for the Moby swinging against the back of the Ducato is much reduced and it's fairly rigid. I could feasibly hoist the rear end of the Moby even higher. Additional ratchet straps would make it safe.

A proper motorcycle rack on the back of the Ducato would be brilliant, but the chassis doesn't extend far enough aft to facilitate putting one on.

I suppose I could make a pulley system that attaches to the top of the Ducato and use that to hoist the Moby into place in the normal position. I'll have to think about that.

I did make a couple of 3D printed decals for the fuel tank.

3D Chat GPT Update

Wanting to further explore the abilities of Chat GPT in furnishing me with 3D print files all on its own, without me having to master a CAD programme, I asked it to provide me with the Gcode for a Lego brick.

In order to achieve this, it first produced a SCAD file for me to download, for which I had to install a programme called OpenSCAD in order to render and convert the SCAD file into an STL file, which I can then slice and convert to Gcode with the Cura software. No knowledge of CAD is required - it was merely some simple procedural steps.

Its first iteration produced a solid brick with the usual pegs which obviously wasn't functional as a building brick - my instructions weren't precise enough. I then told Chat GPT to amend what it had produced to make a file for a functional brick, but it still didn't get it. I gave it a 3rd go saying I wanted the block to interlock with another.

Here are the results:

Above are the solid block on the left and the 'functional' block in the middle and what was meant to be the interlocking block on the right, seen from the top.

Above are the same blocks, seen from the bottom (a tad difficult to see because of the light). The first block is solid. 

The 'functional' block still isn't functional, as the top buttons have merely been continued downwards, such that it won't interlock. Also, the button extensions are weak, not that they're needed in the first place.

The interlocking block on the right clearly won't interlock. It will take several iterations to get this right, but the capabilities of Chat GPT for 3D printing are interesting.

It would seem that standard shapes aren't a problem - a sphere, square, pyramid, etc., but when the shape gets complex and requires actual modelling is where its limitations come in and it needs an STL file to work on. I asked it for the code for a cat shape and got a pyramid....

3D Chat GPT

 I'm an inveterate user of Chat GPT and have learned something new about it.

As I've explained before, a CAD programme will produce what's called an STL file, which is then passed through a slicer programme to turn the object into line-by-line instructions for a 3D printer, called a Gcode file.

Now a friend in America sent me a Gcode file for an 8 switch backing plate for my GT6. On printing it I discovered that it had been printed on a larger print bed than on my Creality Ender 5 printer, meaning one end was cut off and couldn't be printed.

What I needed to do was rotate the backplate by 45 degrees about its centre, which would then allow the full object to be printed slantywise from corner to corner of the print bed. However, I would need to STL file to accomplish this in a CAD programme. Unfortunately my friend had lost the original STL file.

No.1 Son, who is a contractor programmer and knows Chat GPT better than me, told me I can upload the Gcode file to Chat GPT and instruct it to perform the necessary rotation and present me with the resultant file.

Now you have to be very precise in the instructions, as any ambiguity could result in something awful - like a portal to Hell opening up and swallowing you. The first time I asked Chat GPT to perform this function is rotated the object 45 degrees around x-0, y=0, which meant the object wasn't even on the print bed. I had to instruct GPT to find the x/y centre of the object and rotate about that point.

Bingo! it printed at 45 degrees, meaning it printed the entire backplate.

I haven't tried it yet, but I dare say I could instruct Chat GPT to produce a Gcode file for anything I want, without having to first design it in a CAD programme, providing the instructions were precise and unambiguous.

In another story, I was printing a latticework Klein bottle - a non-orientable surface, somewhat like a Mobius strip. The print was destined to take 15 hours. I started it at 9am and by the time I went to bed it hadn't completed, so I paused the print. Pausing stops the printing, but the CPU fan keeps whirring and the print bed stays warm.

Hay was out at some friend's house and came home after I'd gone to bed and fallen asleep. When she got home she heard the fan whirring and noticed that the print had stopped, so she switched the whole machine off, as she thought the fan would keep her awake.

Over 12 hours of printing wasted!

Now the printer does have a power supply recovery routine. I tried it, but very shortly after starting up the filament started spooling all over the place, as the heat in the bottle had dispersed and the printed filament wouldn't stick.

Pointless Screws

 We have some IKEA LED lights on which the power supply has failed - it's one of those KMV plugs.

It has a screw in the end, which one would assume enables you to open it, but no. No matter how much you pull and lever it, there's no way it will come apart - it's hermetically sealed, in which case, what's the purpose of the screw?

Any thoughts?