Machine Building2...let the Frames begin!

I've been busily working on the current Orders (Batch 2) for the newly named "Jolly" Machines.
In Batch 2 there's a total of 12 x Machines to be made & they're now well under way.

At present all of these Frames have had their welding & brazing process done.
Then each of those brazed sections is hand filed to remove any excess braze, of which I've currently completed 6 x Frames.

My intention was to take photos of them during each phase of the construction, but unfortunately I've gotten caught up with the actual building, rather than stopping to take photos.
I'll try my best to remember to take more photos when doing the next process.

Here's some photos of how they're looking so far...

All the Frames for Batch 2 are well under way.

Closer view of those welded & brazed Frames.

Closer view of  those filed & cleaned up Frames.

Machine Building 2...what name for a Frame?

Although it's not critical, it'd be nice to come up with a better name for these new Frames than "new style"!

My original Machines were based on a Bulldog Frame & so I named them after my then recently departed & much loved Aussie Bulldog... "Hugo" ...a simple word association!
...of course this all makes perfect sense if you're Aussie or happen to understand our humour!


What's in the name of a Frame:
Given that these new Frames are my "pirated" version of a Paul Rogers "J" Frame, it follows that the best name for them would be "Jolly"...as in the Jolly Roger used by Pirates...
...again some word associations & a good dose of Aussie humour!!

So there you have it...from here on the new style Machines will be simply known as the "Jolly".

Side view of the "Jolly" Frame

Front view of the "Jolly" Machine

Machine Building...comparing the "Testers"

I mentioned at the end of my last post...

"It'll be very interesting to directly compare just how close the two Machines fitted with Lucky Coils will run."

Well, I asked Justin from Eternal Ink to run some direct comparisons between both Machines...
...the Hugo Lucky Coil Tester & the new Lucky Coil Tester.

The two Thin Armature Machines that are fitted with Lucky Coils, sitting side by side.

Justin has run the Hugo Lucky Coil Tester for quite some time now & is really impressed with it...
Check out some of Justin's work using the "Hugo" Liner here & also here.
He's so impressed with this Thin Armature Machine that he hates having to give it back to me!

So what was the verdict from Justin of this new Lucky Coil Tester..?
..."It's pretty close, you can hardly tell any difference between them."

With that confirmation from Justin, I'll now move onto building all the new Orders using this Frame style.

The Hugo Lucky Coil Tester

The new Lucky Coil Tester

Machine Building...new phase "Testers"

Lots been happening, so my apologies in advance for this being such a looong post.

Continuing with the new phase:
I've been working on those new smarter Fames so that I can get them up & running as a set of "Testers".
I figured that 4 x Frames should be enough to test & make sure that everything goes together & works well.

Choose any color, as long as it's Black:
I also decided to try out a new coating using these particular Frames...it's a Black Oxide finish.
This Black Oxide is a special treatment that only colors ferrous metals, in this case the steel Frames.
And all the welded seams show up as gold because I'm using Bronze, which is a non-ferrous metal.

The Testers will then go to Eternal Ink to be used daily & confirm that everything works as expected.
Once proven, this new style Frame will then replace those earlier "Hugo" Frames that I was making.

And all going well, this new Black Oxide will also replace that Clear coating used previously.

Here's a collection of photos showing the progression of these new Frames into Machines & into Testers.

Frames welded & now awaiting their Quickchanges

Frames fitted with Quickchanges & the new Black Oxide finish

Close up of Frame with Black Oxide finish & the Bronze weld seams

Next the assembly is started, Coils fitted & awaiting wiring

This Frame fitted with a set of Lucky Coils

Coils wired, Capacitors fitted & everything soldered

This Frame fitted with a set of Lucky Coils

Springs & Armatures for 3 x Frames

A special Tester, a Thin Armature Magnum...real Aussie Old School

This Tester, a Big Needle Liner

This Tester with the Lucky Coils, a Thin Armature Liner to directly compare against this one

There's still a bit of work to do on these Testers...one still needs a set of Springs made for it & then they'll each require some shimming & tuning.
It'll be very interesting to directly compare just how close the two Machines fitted with Lucky Coils will run.

Old Tattoo Video...Signatures of the Soul

I follow a number of Tattoo related Blogs...TAM (Tattoo Artists Magazine) is one of them.
TAM just posted about an old video documentary from 1984 called Signatures of the Soul.


From an old Aussie Tattoo Artist perspective:
By 1984, most Aussies had a variety of US Tattoo Magazines available on our local Newsagents shelves.
As young Tattoo Artists, we were all hungry to see what was the latest trends coming out of the States.
All too often, these US Magazines had the same collection of photos of pretty much the same stuff.

So when this video Signatures of the Soul came along, it was a treasure trove of wonderful new ideas for us.
It also had interviews with all those big named Tattoo Artists we'd been constantly reading about.
Most importantly, it had great info about ALL the (then) current styles we were wanting to do or just seeing.
I still have a copy of this (VHS) video & have often wanted access to an updated digital version to watch.

Thanks to NZ On Screen, now everyone can freely watch the full length video.
http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/signatures-of-the-soul-tattooing-today-1984

Machine Building...a new phase

While I was hand making all those Frames for Batch 1, an old saying kept constantly repeating in my head...
..."work smarter, not harder"..."work smarter, not harder"...

As much as I enjoy building all those hand made Frames, it's hard work, with each taking over 1 day to complete.
To continue building them this way isn't a viable option, which means I definitely need to work a lot smarter!
My dilemma was to find a smarter way of building Frames that still allowed me the ability to hand make.

Back in 2005, whilst still working as a Jeweller, I decided to venture into the world of CAD/CAM.
I'm pretty much self-taught at doing CAD & my preference is using a program called MoI.
So I started playing around with various Frame ideas in MoI, searching for a possible CAD solution.

Frames made with a Side Plate are the logical starting point & the Paul Rogers "J" Frame is a classic.
So I started modelling how the various sections would fit together using a modified Rogers "J" style design.
Once I had everything looking right, it was time to have the various sections cut in steel using a Laser.

3D view of the new Frame created & modelled using MoI

Here's a quick "photo realistic" render of the CAD model using V-Ray

The following photos show the various stages of the new "smarter" Frame & how I'm still hand making them.

Rights Of Passage 2012...Update

Important Update:
For those following this Blog, I'm sad to report that Eternal Ink will not be attending this years ROP.
This of course means they wont be requiring my assistance with manning the Booth...
...unfortunately this also means I wont be there with those original prototype Machines.

My sincere apologies to anyone that was hoping to catch up with me at the Booth.

I still intend going in on the Sunday to catch up with those Tattoo Artists attending from interstate, that bought some of the Machines from Batch 1.