The Hidden Screws of Precision (and why the delay in new videos)

This is one of those videos that I’ve wanted to make for a long time but felt that I had to build upon the ones that came before it first. Usually screws are thought of just as fasteners, but what about their role in precision? Without the screw as an easy way to magnify movement so careful measurement could be taken precision would be far harder and more expensive to come by. It’s one of the most important uses of screws, but one that almost no one talks about.

For me this video represents something even more important though. I was working on this as my wife was in the latter part of her pregnancy. I was rushing to get it done before we left for the hospital to be induced while also trying to keep the quality high. I just barely made it! I uploaded this video and hit ‘publish’ the day before we went into the hospital and, given all of the necessary prep, essentially at the last minute!

I knew if I waited even one day longer it wouldn’t be a day, but weeks or maybe even months before I would have free time (and sanity). The next day she gave birth to a beautiful daughter that has lit up our lives in ways we had not imagined possible.

This is our first child and in the 7 months since this was published I still feel like I haven’t fully recovered from the immense amount of time squeeze a child and full time job put on a couple, regardless of the joys a child brings.

I am working on new videos though and trying to find ways to make them faster. I just don’t have huge blocks of free time any more. This is still my passion though and I do little bits where I can to move the project forward.

Thanks for understanding and know that I’m still here 😀

2 Comments

  1. SAntiago

    Take your time, man, your work is awesome!

    Reply
  2. alex kalish

    Well done, Whitworth and Maudsley are two of my indirect mentors. wonderful history lesson. Enjoy the baby, my little girl just turned 40, time flies as Franklin said – it’s on our first US coin.
    You can easily measure to a millionth of an inch using laser light interference and a dual measurement device with the same temp co-efficient to compensate for temperature expansion. You do also have to compensate for the speed of light in the air but this is easily done with computer software.
    Cheers, Alex

    Reply

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