Today we spent quite a bit of time talking about hydraulic lines, both rigid and flexibile, and then went over to the hangar and started assembling some fittings.
As a kid, I always thought hydraulic lines for tractors were magic. I didn't really know how they worked, but I knew that they withstood an incredible amount of pressure and were still flexible. Whenever they broke, they just seemed to me like pieces of rubber with steel braiding inside. We took the busted ones into town and then the service tech disappeared with it. He came back a few minutes later with a new hose. Sometimes simple things seem so mysterious when you don't understand how they work.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Day 32
Today we finished our projects.
I'm pretty happy with mine.
I got an 87. I was one of the first ones done and spent time helping others with theirs, giving advice so they could avoid the mistakes I made.
We were supposed to finish by around 9:00 this morning, but a few of the slower members of class held us up until, oh, 12:45.
That's all I have to say about that.
I'm pretty happy with mine.
I got an 87. I was one of the first ones done and spent time helping others with theirs, giving advice so they could avoid the mistakes I made.
We were supposed to finish by around 9:00 this morning, but a few of the slower members of class held us up until, oh, 12:45.
That's all I have to say about that.
Day 31
We worked on our projects all day today.
I learned something:
Some people, no matter how many times and in how many ways you tell them, will never understand how to use a file.
I learned something:
Some people, no matter how many times and in how many ways you tell them, will never understand how to use a file.
Day 30
Today we worked on some projects for the Shop Practices portion of the semester.
We were given a set of blueprints, and a piece of steel and told to make it.
Points are deducted per .001" we are out of tolerance.
Yowza.
We were given a set of blueprints, and a piece of steel and told to make it.
Points are deducted per .001" we are out of tolerance.
Yowza.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Day 29
We mostly talked about precision measuring instruments today.
We were promised that we would have some shop time tomorrow. We've got a short list of tools we need to bring to class (finally), and we'll be using them (finally) to do something (finally) constructive... finally.
We measured some things (apparently most pencils are two-hundred and seventy five thousandths of an inch), and learned how to read micrometers to the ten-thousandth of an inch.
I bought some dial calipers on eBay, and when they showed up, they were broken.
So I ordered another set. It would be awesome as balls if they showed up today so I could use them tomorrow, but I doubt it. I'm not that lucky.
They're Starretts, (the ones I most recently bought), so even if they show up wonky, I can get them worked on-- unlike the Peacock calipers I bought the first time. I guess that's what I get for being a sucker for products with nifty brand names. I'll have to put it next to my Cockatrice food processor and Mudskipper of Borneo pencil sharpener.
We were promised that we would have some shop time tomorrow. We've got a short list of tools we need to bring to class (finally), and we'll be using them (finally) to do something (finally) constructive... finally.
We measured some things (apparently most pencils are two-hundred and seventy five thousandths of an inch), and learned how to read micrometers to the ten-thousandth of an inch.
I bought some dial calipers on eBay, and when they showed up, they were broken.
So I ordered another set. It would be awesome as balls if they showed up today so I could use them tomorrow, but I doubt it. I'm not that lucky.
They're Starretts, (the ones I most recently bought), so even if they show up wonky, I can get them worked on-- unlike the Peacock calipers I bought the first time. I guess that's what I get for being a sucker for products with nifty brand names. I'll have to put it next to my Cockatrice food processor and Mudskipper of Borneo pencil sharpener.
 |
| He may not look like much, but he's a pencil-sharpening fool. |
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Day 28
Did you know that there are two kinds of cross-pointed screws and screwdrivers in common use in the United States today?
Chances are, if you own any tools at all, you own some of both.
Reed & Prince and Phillips.
Also, apparently they make toothless, gearless ratchets that work on spring or bearing tension. Cool, huh?
Somebody's Christmas list just got a little longer.
Also, we learned about what is called a Vixen file, which I had never heard of before. It's a deadly dangerous file about the size of a mill file designed for quickly removing soft metals from a structure. Yeesh. Dangeresque.
Chances are, if you own any tools at all, you own some of both.
Reed & Prince and Phillips.
Also, apparently they make toothless, gearless ratchets that work on spring or bearing tension. Cool, huh?
Somebody's Christmas list just got a little longer.
Also, we learned about what is called a Vixen file, which I had never heard of before. It's a deadly dangerous file about the size of a mill file designed for quickly removing soft metals from a structure. Yeesh. Dangeresque.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Day 27
Today we did some worksheets and talked to a guy from Southwest Airlines.
Until now, I was pretty sure that I didn't necessarily want to work for an airline.
But the more time I spend talking to people, the more I realize that this is where all of the money is.
I like the idea of working in General Aviation. To me, that seems to get to the heart and soul of what being an aircraft mechanic would be all about. In the airline industry, one can get paid a lot more, but with a lot more stress and the nonsensical crappery of seniority and shift work.
Plus an individual has to be willing to move around quite a bit in order to even get started with an airline.
But, then again, I like to travel. What an opportunity that would be.
I'm pretty sure I don't want to work assembly. That's not really my speed. I would be selling myself short, to be honest, and I've been doing that my whole life.
I don't want to do that anymore.
I guess I'll see what the future holds, but it was indeed great to talk to someone who had started as an A&P student and worked up to management within a company as illustrious and apparently great to work for as Southwest.
Hell. I'll just be happy to get a job.
Until now, I was pretty sure that I didn't necessarily want to work for an airline.
But the more time I spend talking to people, the more I realize that this is where all of the money is.
I like the idea of working in General Aviation. To me, that seems to get to the heart and soul of what being an aircraft mechanic would be all about. In the airline industry, one can get paid a lot more, but with a lot more stress and the nonsensical crappery of seniority and shift work.
Plus an individual has to be willing to move around quite a bit in order to even get started with an airline.
But, then again, I like to travel. What an opportunity that would be.
I'm pretty sure I don't want to work assembly. That's not really my speed. I would be selling myself short, to be honest, and I've been doing that my whole life.
I don't want to do that anymore.
I guess I'll see what the future holds, but it was indeed great to talk to someone who had started as an A&P student and worked up to management within a company as illustrious and apparently great to work for as Southwest.
Hell. I'll just be happy to get a job.
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