So today I got my blog running! That’s the real news here, but I figured I’d post a quick update about the new tensioner mechanism as well.

This thing is heavy duty. Each piece is quarter inch steel, milled in my university machine shop. It took longer than I’d like to admit to get a handle on all the equipment, but I think the next part will go a lot faster.

Basically, it keeps the belt for the center-panel of my device tight, tight enough that if you push on the center panel, it actually backdrives the crazy AndyMark gearbox I have operating the center panel. Cool, right?

I’ll post more updates as they happen, stay tuned!