A man with a challenge. Solved with 3D printer.

[Packard]

The problem: Pull chain control of a ceiling fan: What speed was selected?

The engineered solution (very clever):

 

[Michael Kellough]

Very clever and entertaining enough to keep me watching.

Also, amazed that having a second color of filament on board allowed the printing of numbers sideways. A little shattering of my conventional thinking.

 

[Packard]

Very clever and entertaining enough to keep me watching.

Also, amazed that having a second color of filament on board allowed the printing of numbers sideways. A little shattering of my conventional thinking.

That was my reaction. I wonder, of the 71 views, how many watched? Perhaps not sufficiently on point for this audience.

 

[Mike Goetzke]

Sort of on topic - I always wonder why the fan pull chain exits the side instead on straight down? Bet the fan switch would live much longer in this orientation.

Story - about a month ago I had to replace a fan switch. Seemed simple, the lower housing with the switch could be taken off with three screws and disconnecting a wire harness. I didn't notice the housing contailed a capacitor and when I went to swap one of the wires I was almost knocked out of my chair!

 

[Michael Kellough]

Sort of on topic - I always wonder why the fan pull chain exits the side instead on straight down? Bet the fan switch would live much longer in this orientation.

Story - about a month ago I had to replace a fan switch. Seemed simple, the lower housing with the switch could be taken off with three screws and disconnecting a wire harness. I didn't notice the housing contailed a capacitor and when I went to swap one of the wires I was almost knocked out of my chair!

Ouch! Thanks for the warning.

 

[Packard]

Sort of on topic - I always wonder why the fan pull chain exits the side instead on straight down? Bet the fan switch would live much longer in this orientation.

Story - about a month ago I had to replace a fan switch. Seemed simple, the lower housing with the switch could be taken off with three screws and disconnecting a wire harness. I didn't notice the housing contailed a capacitor and when I went to swap one of the wires I was almost knocked out of my chair!

My radial arm saw also has a capacitor. Is that to get the thing started? The fans’ motors seem very light duty. They seem to take ages to reach operating speed.

I have a very old ceiling fan that spins so fast it looks like it could fly a Piper Cub. My other ceiling fans are much slower.

 

[luvmytoolz]

That's absolutely brilliant!

Two of our ceiling fans are really old ones with the pull cord and it does take ages working out what setting they're on.

 

[Packard]

0

That's absolutely brilliant!

Two of our ceiling fans are really old ones with the pull cord and it does take ages working out what setting they're on.

I agree: Brilliant.

But how much thought and time was spent on solving this issue?

This is likely another example “3-D Printing Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder” (if there is in fact a disorder to explain this behavior).

But I do admit I enjoyed watching it, so what does that say about me?

 

[luvmytoolz]

0

I agree: Brilliant.

But how much thought and time was spent on solving this issue?

This is likely another example “3-D Printing Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder” (if there is in fact a disorder to explain this behavior).

But I do admit I enjoyed watching it, so what does that say about me?

I'd actually looked at a digital tachometer type version some time back, and reckon it would be worth it. We use the ceiling fans in all the rooms a lot so knowing the setting on the pull cord ones would be really useful.

 

[Michael Kellough]

0

I agree: Brilliant.

But how much thought and time was spent on solving this issue?

This is likely another example “3-D Printing Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder” (if there is in fact a disorder to explain this behavior).

But I do admit I enjoyed watching it, so what does that say about me?

If I remember correctly he said something along the lines of “reinventing the wheel is fun” and I’d add educational. You have to admit he learned some stuff on this project. I have no idea why he has the free time available for it but more power to him.