3D Printing and Laser Cutting

Laser cutting is a technology that uses a laser to cut materials, and is typically used for industrial manufacturing applications, but is also starting to be used by schools, small businesses, and hobbyists. Laser cutting works by directing the output of a high-power laser most commonly through optics. The laser optics and CNC (computer numerical control) are used to direct the material or the laser beam generated. A typical commercial laser for cutting materials involved a motion control system to follow a CNC or G-code of the pattern to be cut onto the material. The focused laser beam is directed at the material, which then either melts, burns, vaporizes away, or is blown away by a jet of gas,[1]leaving an edge with a high-quality surface finish. Industrial laser cutters are used to cut flat-sheet material as well as structural and piping materials.

3D printing is any of various processes in which material is joined or solidified under computer control to create a three-dimensional object with material being added together (such as liquid molecules or powder grains being fused together). 3D printing is used in both rapid prototyping and additive manufacturing. Objects can be of almost any shape or geometry and typically are produced using digital model data from a 3D model. There are many different technologies, used in the 3D printing process. The most common by number of users being fused deposition modelling (FDM). Thus, unlike material removed from a stock in the conventional machining process, 3D printing or Additive Manufacturing builds a three-dimensional object from a computer-aided design (CAD) model, usually by successively adding material layer by layer.

Source: Wikipedia

What can these do to change the world?

3D printing, or additive manufacturing, has the potential to democratize the production of goods, from food to medical supplies, to great coral reefs. In the future, 3D printing machines could make their way into homes, businesses, disaster sites, and even outer space

The future of laser efficiency lies in automated loading and unloading material storage. SSC are following the technological breakthroughs within the industry and believe that the future may lie in direct diode laser (DDL), with even faster cutting speeds and increased power consumption efficiency. The speeds in which these machines work currently are more pronounced with the thin gauge materials, particularly aluminium.

Source: ssclaser.co.uk , medium.com

Matses Modern Adaption; Good or Bad?

Matses Modern Adaption; Good or Bad?

    As we know, the Matses Tribe in the Amazon Rainforest is  slowly adapting to the modern world. Is this adaptation good or bad?

    Starting with the good effects. They now have direct contact to the outside world. Following this, they now have access to modern medicine. Living in a rainforest is a tough life. Getting illness and not having the right medicine for it will be fatal. Proper education are now within their reach. The younger generations of Matses can now learn other things besides survival skills. Consequently, they can find better jobs. Individual Matses can now provide better for their families.

    While all of these positive effects sound like there’s a bright future ahead, the negative effects aren’t that far behind. Soon enough, they will start to depend on the outside world for everything. More and more Matses will stop practicing their own cultures and traditions. Younger generations are starting to neglect and despise their own culture wishing they weren’t born as Matses. Pretty mean right?

    Now, is it good or bad? Personally I can’t decide. They can adapt for the better good, for their own sakes. But also, they shouldn’t forget, neglect and despise their own culture. What do you think? I’ll let you decide.

The Matses Tribe

The Matses Tribe

    Indigenous people have a very interesting and mysterious culture. In the Amazon Rainforest, alongside the Javari River, rests the village of the Matses Tribe.

    This tribe --like any other indigenous tribes-- depends only on the place they live. Fishing, hunting and their unique ‘slash and burn’  approach to farming are their sources of food. Being semi-nomadic, the Matses Tribe moved around the vast are of the Amazon Rainforest.

    With the influence of the outside world, for the past 30 years, the Matses Tribe has been undergoing drastic changes. They started to rely on the clothes from the outside and now entered the cash economy. They have been exhausting the rainforest by logging and the land has become unstable for farming because of the concentrated ‘slash and burn’ approach. And yes, they permanently stayed beside the Javari River. Consequently, negative effects are starting to bloom.

    While all of this is happening, the younger generation of the Matses are neglecting their own culture. They choose not to practice their traditions but rather embrace the english culture. Although negative effects are slowly but surely blooming, positive effects are also there. With their current involvement in the cash economy, they can now have access to modern medicine, education and can find better jobs.

    Indigenous tribes nowadays are slowly giving in to the modern world. Some are even forgetting their own cultures and traditions. Ancient ways of living should be preserved and nurtured for everyone to see how far humans reached. But of course, we need to adjust to the ever changing world. Are the indigenous tribes making the right choice to embrace the modern world? Will they still practice their own ways when they do so? We may never know.

  

Day Tramp 2

Taylors Mistake 
   -Who? Taylor was the name of the captain that mistook the bay from Lyttelton Harbour and accidentally beached a boat.

   -What? is a locality in New Zealand, at the south eastern extremity of Christchurch city. Taylors Mistake is a bay adjacent to the locality, on the north side of Godley Head, on the northern edge of Banks Peninsula. 

Godley
   -Who? the founder of Canterbury, New Zealand, John Robert Godley.

   -What? Godley is the surname of the founder of Canterbury, New Zealand, John Robert Godley.

Godley Head
   -Who? Godley Head was named after the founder of Canterbury, New Zealand, John Robert Godley.

   -What? The track starts from the  car park at Taylors Mistake beach, one of Christchurch's premier surf breaks and a great spot for a swim and a picnic in summer. Pick up the Godley Head Coastal Walk track on the southern side of the bay that leads towards Godley Head past a row of historic batches.

Kiwi Guardians at Godley Head

• Travel back in time to the dark days of WWII when an invasion of New Zealand seemed likely –  Stand in a concrete Observation Post and look out for enemy ships. 
• Pack a picnic – there are lot of great spots.
• Start the trip from Taylors Mistake and make a day of it – complete with sand and surf on your way home.

Track: Godley Walkway

Distance: 7 km
Time: 3 hours 

Elevation: 190 m

Weather

Precipitation 20%

Humidity: 61%

Wind: 34 km/h

Temperature: 14 degrees c.