Locomotion is getting somewhere.
The main components of the engine body are built and the boiler top cladding is being routed to give a curved effect. The wheels are now beginning to be prepared. There are twelve segments to each wheel perimeter and we are using some of the wood we were donated from Peterlee.
The wood is sawn and we needed to be planed and made to a uniform thickness. Out came the planer thicknesser and one of the new dust collectors was coupled up. The connecting hose is transparent and the wood shavings can be see on their journey to the bin. See the video evidence.
Dennis feeds a thick, short plank into the cutter. There’s a joke in that somewhere!
On a parallel track and an altogether different scale, 3D printing started on a signal box.
A downloaded model, free to use for non commercial purposes.
The signal box is in 7 parts. We started with the main brick structure.
Printing from foundation up.
Main structure (note brick texture!)
Stairs to the signal box
Putting the two together
Windows, roof and more to come. (The leg has been straightened!)
Meanwhile other things were on the go on Friday.
Power knock off replaced by Electric Paul.
Kevin routing the wood strips for Locomotion
Ray routing to inset a router table plate (black disc)
Jacko applying second coat to corridor walls
A Facebook posting today, replicated here.
Norton Men’s Shed
Here is a true story of what the Shed can do in surprising, unplanned ways. It’s a story of two men who were in different ways cut off and at a bit of a loss (as we say euphemistically). From our Facebook last post it can be seen that some in the Shed are now well into 3D printing for serious fun!
One of our Shedders, P, did vehicle component design using “industrial grade” computer aided design software for many years before he retired and eventually came North, missing the work friendships he had built in the South! He turned to design work again in his retirement because he could still be creative using free software on line at home. Also, the cost of home use 3D printers had reduced more than 5 -fold and he could see manufactured results of his designs. Result? A happier man but still isolated.
P came to the Shed and joined in with his electronic and materials knowledge but mainly for some missing banter and belonging. The Shed gave him that! P began to make known what his pastime was and produced a few useful items for the Shed, like adapters between different sized hoses. He interested another Shedder (another engineer but civil) and so a side interest at the Shed became 3D printing and it has grown – including doing design at home by some. Occupying time profitably when not at the Shed (which is most of their time!).
Another man, D, was a loyal Shed member since its inception in 2022, but health wise he was limited in what he could do (as several are) so he sat and did what he liked best – to throw in his comments whether people wanted them or not. That generated banter!!
However, D observed and he took interest in what P was doing. D had used a computer in the past, teaching himself how to use spreadsheets to record pigeons and flying times. A club recorder.D became an apprentice to sorcerer P. Listening, trying, learning from P and by trial and (many) errors for himself. D changed. He suddenly had found a purpose and he became one of the early birds at the Shed to practice. D no longer sits and throws in remarks, he has become a part of something that he is helping to build up. D has got a new purpose and P has as a teacher.
It is much the same for the wood lathe work at the Shed in 2024, one man (another D) revitalised it and about 15 others were trained by him. This D benefitted from the joy of seeing people find a new purpose – one of many practical purposes in the Shed.
We’ve added two new skills to our 3D printing quiver, QR codes and lithophane prints, but they are another story.
Here are those two new skills – QR codes and lithophane printing
3D printed. White filament first and changing to black.
Lithophane of Tom with his fridge.
Back to the Signal Box
Just needs some superglue to finish assembly and some paint!
Roof with chimney cocooned by support
Cocoon removed (it’s waste material) revealing delicate chimney. The tiles are impressive too. Something more for us to learn how to do.
Main components ready to glue in place.
Track level window in place with roof resting on top.
The third of our Facebook Shed awareness posts
The two recent posts (sounding out interest in Kids’ Shed workshops and providing wider awareness of model railway crafting starting soon that may interest people in a different kind of loneliness/isolation combatting activity) has yielded two pleasing, unexpected contacts.
The first had a prompt reply from a Norton man nicknamed ‘Squidler’ who offered support to our 3D printing exploits and the workshop idea. He came to the Shed on Friday to talk about our common interests, bringing his daughter and 3 year old son who wants to be an engineer! Squidler is very community aware from where he used to live in North Yorkshire and warmed to what we are hoping to do with Tom, the man with a fridge to carry!
The second post on a model railway drew an offer of support from some railway modellers to provide some items they have spare and to give help when we might need it. They are clearly interested in a railway but they also see it as a way of overcoming social isolation for some. A representative is coming to the Shed to share with other Shedders and see what synergy there is. Already they have interest in 3D printing.
Uniting railway, 3D printing and maybe future workshops
Recently the Shed had a visit from some Norton Archers needing some replacement target stands (the existing ones are some years old and weakened by off target arrows removing splinters of wood. On Friday we had the offer of materials from a Shed being taken down by a Squash Club member that will be very useful because we have a tool store to make for the growing space set up by Sow Northern at the Sports Complex. Daisy Chain is looking to discuss ways in which we might collaborate to help people in their caring network.
We helped a 3D printer Shedder in Whitby with some equipment we’ve replaced and he is as pleased as punch and we are connecting with him through the power of the internet.
In all these small ways Norton Shed is endeavouring to build manageable connections with others and are pleased to discover (unsurprisingly) that there are others in the community wanting the same.
We benefit from Norton Sports complex as landlords and doers, and so appreciate the Social Prescribing Link Workers and others with a similar role of supporting people and also us!
It’s the way community grows. Organically, like plants. Who can claim credit for it? We all can.
We’ll take a rest from Facebook posting for a week to give you and us a rest but here’s another true story about a man, J. He came to the Shed when the Shedding Light Into Cancer morning started early last autumn. Various factors prevented him from doing much but he could talk! However, when the opportunity arose for the Shed to tidy up it’s premises inside J was keen to help. And he has, taking care because of walking and standing difficulties.
He’s always enjoyed painting and decorating and he worked in large commercial buildings too. Not only have his efforts made a difference to the workshop but he has benefitted from the pleasure of getting behind a paint brush again and feeling he is helping practically to make a difference.
https://youtu.be/dVmLTApnwag?si=tKP6v9xU8urPMvAF
Making further ground level connections in the area
Helen Deehan and Jamie at the Orchard Garden community project needs a long, thin equipment shed. We needed to confirm the size so Graham popped along at lunchtime on Sunday to see her. Let’s not leave ourselves in suspense, what is needed is a 3m x 1m shed with long side entry doors (probably 3 single doors) plus an open extension on the end for wheelbarrows etc.
A BEETROOT terracotta label made not by Mick but by a young person at a workshop.
Norton Shed will hopefully do it with recycled materials from the shed being donated to us by a member of the Squash Club.
Jumping back a little, before Graham got to Helen and Jamie he was greeted by a very friendly man who, it turned out, is called Mike the struggling Potter! He is an ex-teacher of art which includes not just painting of course. He now does workshops with children learning and making items like teracotta plant labels.
He does what he does to help people cope at stressed times, so he is in the same field of activity as the Shed is. He has thought about coming to the Shed so we decided he would speed up that process by coming on Monday. Exploring connection (he liked the sound of 3D printing!).
Also at the Orchard Garden Project on Norton Sports complex was a lady planting out. It turns out she has two children of teenage years who have challenges to overcome. We hope to explore wh was great to see at might be able to be done to help her son who wants to be a joiner but she feels he’d like the (yes!) 3D angle too. He has been to Darlington Library where there is a technology suite that caters for school parties. We just might need to think through possibilities together for non-term time possibilities on a small group basis.
Also at the Orchard Garden was one of Helen’s sons who figures that Graham is not serious about being annoyed with his behaviour. He might be right but let’s not admit it!!!
It was great to see him and a younger child shovelling top soil into a wheelbarrow and very happily relating to each other despite theit age difference. It’s so important they and we learn how to safely relate “intergenerationally”.
Well, that was a very worthwhile pre-lunch visit! There’s a lot happening in our Norton community we are discovering. A lot that we can well and truly relate to because they are part of the “active stay connected” network that is so important to people’s sound mental health.
Back on Track yet again
Norton Signal Box
Snap, Crackle and Pop
One of our illustrious trustees is gifted with female encouragement. The signal box model was sent between Dennis, Paul and Graham suggesting this would be a useful bolt hole if one (or all three) of us was thrown out by a wife. The mistake was to include the nameless female (Danielle) in distribution.
We’d expect great compliments but the response came that the model needed 3 men out front. So we hope she is satisfied.
Additive Materials research at BMW and Ford
Here is a quite long article but it shows the investments companies are putting in to investigate new ways of manufacturing vehicles which lessen the cost of “retooling” for different models of vehicle.
Skim read it but it should convey that what we play with at the Shed is big investments for advanced manufacturing.
https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/new-e23m-bmw-additive-manufacturing-campus-238882/
On 23/12/2021, the third Normens blog was posted, three weeks before we actually started on 19/1/2022. The subject was 3D printing!!
It’s taken us 3 years to get to where we started! Not quite, because it is now more affordable, much faster and we have a Guru Paul in our midst!
But it is worth a look at what we said. History repeats itself.
The Little People are Important
Walter will be sharing his lifetime of modelling skills with some of the Shedders including Pat because we need to paint the figures unless we are making a Ghost Train!
And here is a most encouraging post just put on Facebook. (Do sign up to follow the Norton Men’s Shed Facebook page, although we also share posts to Norton Village)
A template for making a Rocking Horse from Shedder Bob. We are going to make one. Once it is made, we will look to find the most deserving case to receive it (Christmas?)