On Sat, Mar 2, 2013 at 1:03 AM, Jonoakland <bayopensourcehardware(a)gmail.com> wrote: I won't be able to make it, but the oxy-acetylene cutter arrived. I'll try to remember to put it in sudo room so you can use it this coming saturday. I read up on instructions and safety of oxy-acetylene cutters, and there are some safety issues we need to be aware of. The most important issue is this: If the equipment is not operated correctly, the oxygen and acetylene gasses can become mixed in the hoses or in the gas cylinders. If subsequently ignited, this can cause an explosion big enough to take out all of OMI and a good chunk of the building. I have attached a short pdf with safety guidelines, and you should all read it very carefully. There will be a test. As explained in the pdf, there are two types of safety check valves. 1. Normal check valves that avoid gas flow in the wrong direction and thus avoids mixing of the gasses. 2. Flashback arrestors that prevent flames from moving through. This is seen as a higher level of safety than just having check valves, and they are usually sold as combination check valves and flashback arrestors. We have only the normal check valves. Flashback-arresting check valves cost $40 including shipping on ebay. My friend from Denmark looked at my like I was crazy when I told him we don't have flashback arrestors. I don't know what to think. Additionally, we haven't tested if our check valves still work (they look old). The procedure for testing check valves is included in the instructions pdf on page 9 under maintenance. We DEFINITELY need to run through this procedure before using the torch. One last thing: There appears to be something that looks like grease in some areas of the new cutting torch. This is a big no-no. Hopefully it's some kind of non-flammable grease, but I don't know if I trust it, coming from ebay. We should try to light it on fire to make sure. -- Marc Juul

Howdy folks, It looks like we need to sit down and work on the shop drawings before the next fabrication session. It might be a good idea to have separate design meetings at sudo room between fabrication days just so we can start as soon as people show up, plans in hand when it's time to build. Thoughts? I will be around after the meeting wednesday looking over and trying to verify the shop drawings but probably won't be able to make it next saturday, would love to help get those straightened out however i can. Could Morten or Marc forward me the CAD files so I can open up the assembly view? Cheers, Hol