Last modified: 2026-10-19 19:47:01
< 2026-10-13 2026-10-20 >I've been messing about making a flight sim with codex. It is based on a model of the local area derived from Environment Agency LiDAR data and OpenStreetMap data.
I should record a short demo video of this, put it on github, and blog about it.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57bY8D3yZTo
I accidentally bought a Lidl plasma cutter on eBay, it is a "PPS 30 B2" I think, new in box and unused, seller I think bought it on a whim and then realised he didn't have an air compressor for it.
The plan with this is to make a CNC plasma table so I can cut out sheet metal parts more quickly.
OK well it works!
I put a bucket underneath to catch the sparks because they are quite big and stay hot for a long time and shoot all across the floor. I found some quite impressively round balls in the bucket afterwards, this may be a quick and dirty way to make rough ball bearings. Probably the bucket wants water in it because some of these melted into the plastic.
I used a welding mask and welding glove, apparently it gives off UV like welding does.
It feels kind of intense to use, I think just the air blasting sound and all the sparks everywhere. Probably you get used to it just like with welding.
I haven't yet tried using it near the CNC router to see what it does to the electronics.
The spindles don't quite sit square in the uprights. I am confident that the holes are at the correct angles, but potentially they are not aligned correctly. So I think the plan is to drill them out a bit and then use some sort of jig to hold the spindle square to the brake caliper bracket while it gets welded.
I drilled out the holes in the uprights with the holesaw, it didn't take much off but has solved the problem.
I cut the spindles to length and chamfered the ends and tacked them into the uprights. The spindles are EN8 which apparently wants a good amount of preheating before welding, which I did. I heated until it was decently straw yellow.
Both of them ended up not square after tacking. I adjusted the first one using a long pipe as a lever and then welded it solid and seems good.
The tacks failed while I was adjusting the second one, and they failed in a strange way:
There is like a glittery grainy texture.
I was trying to bend it basically directly along the line between the two tacks, so rather than pivoting about the tacks it is trying to stretch and shrink them.
I don't know if the grainy texture on the break means my welding process is not adequate, or this is just what happens when you try to stretch it and it's fine, just need to try again and hope I don't have to bend it in the direction I tacked it.
I considered only putting one tack on, but I felt that that would then mean it would be too likely to move after I start welding it for real.
I ground the failed parts down to good metal and had another go, got it nice and square this time, also welded the spacer on the other side. It's plug-welded to the spindle and fillet-welded to the brake caliper bracket.
