#project creep

[matthewdavidbrown]

Why development projects go wrong

Why development projects go wrong

Let’s make a simple web app that allows people to do a thing. It should only take a few days. We should add an API so we can have fancy AJAX stuff. Seems like overkill but what’s the harm? And some sort of module system so we can sell premium services. Do we really need that? How else are we going to pay for the servers? Maybe we need a custom framework too. I guess that would make future…

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[robotslovedinosaurs]

My new screen exposure setup.

This was last weekend's big project. I've been pussyfooting around for four years without an easy way to burn screens, finally taking steps to remedy that. I don't have space to devote to a vacuum table or light box setup large enough to be worthwhile, so I figured out how to add another function to an already multi-use space.

This is in my workshop shed, which already provides bike, tool and garden supply storage and has my screenprint tables. I was able to hang this fixture on chains from the rafters so that it's 3 feet over the table for exposing screens, then gets raised up so I don't bang my head when I print. I wish it was on pulleys, but for now two carabiners do the trick. It didn't cost much - $12 for the fixture, $7 for the chain and hardware and $30 for two bulbs. Right now they are normal blacklight bulbs, which I hope to replace with unfiltered ones for faster exposure when I find a good source. For eye safety I rigged it up so I can turn it on and off from the other side of the door.

I coat and dry the screen, then spread out some matte black cloth on the table, put the screen down, weight it with bricks to keep it steady. Top with positives and a piece of glass.

It's working pretty well, I'm still tweaking timing and washout methods but overall I am quite happy. I'm also thinking about getting normal florescent tubes to swap out for when I'm printing, as there's never enough light in that space.

[robotslovedinosaurs]

During my current binding project, it became clear that using canned goods and random boxes as weights and presses is really not the most classy, professional or effective way to go.

I found myself missing the fabric-covered bricks we had in the binding studio when I was in school. I realized that I have fabric, glue and bricks, so I should stop making excuses. It did take me almost a week after deciding to do it before I got the bricks out of the garden and cleaned them off, but once that was done it was smooth sailing.

I used some pretty fabric my mom gave me, and bricks that I had been using to hold the plastic cover of my cold frame, so I didn't have to buy anything to get these done. And so far they seem to work just as I had hoped.

The process was pretty basic, just glued the fabric to the bricks. The only tip I have is to coat the bricks and fabric both with PVA (tacky glue) and let them dry. Then you can wrap and the fabric will stick with pressure and a lot less mess than if the glue is wet. Also I will try to get some newer bricks with smoother sides next time I want to make these, just so they look a little nicer.