Aleksorsist
I've finally discovered the joy of browsing for stupid shit on AliExpress and bought myself a 20mm tungsten carbide ball, I'm gonna be so amused when I forget about ordering it and then get it in the mail in two weeks
Jan 29 at 6:04amMastodon for Android
Show threadI love this, so IJan 29
@aleksorsist let me tell you about the #StraightOuttaShenzen hashtag (it’s mostly me posting the insane bullshit that The Algorithm recommends to me, because I encourage its insanity)
Show threadAleksorsistJan 29
@jpm incredible
Show threadF4GRX SébastienJan 31
@jpm @aleksorsist instafollow
Show threadLFJan 29
@aleksorsist it was way better when shipping took over a month. It was a real mystery.
Show thread Kale Jan 29
@aleksorsist I have been (slowly) buying lab fabricated gemstones, I endorse it
Show threadRandy GlennJan 29
@aleksorsist welcome
Show threadAndrew ZonenbergJan 31
@aleksorsist speaking of weird ceramic spheres from AliExpress, I'm waiting for someone to make a piece of jewelry out of the core of a dead YIG oscillator
Show threadAleksorsistJan 31
@azonenberg that is an incredible idea for jewelry
Show threadAndrew ZonenbergJan 31

@aleksorsist you can buy Nd:YAG crystals cut as gemstones (https://store.gemsofscience.com/products/fantasy-cut-violet-laser-garnet-nd-yag) and laser rubies.

But i haven't seen anyone do a YIG version

Fancy Violet Laser Garnet Loose Gems, Nd YAG

Show threadAleksorsistJan 31
@azonenberg omfg and they're purple too!
Show threadAndrew ZonenbergJan 31
@aleksorsist (YIG is opaque iirc, roughly the same appearance as tungsten carbide i think?)
Show threadF4GRX SébastienJan 31
@azonenberg @aleksorsist yup
Show threadF4GRX SébastienJan 31
@aleksorsist @azonenberg and they glow, of course!
Show threadwhyrlpoolJan 31
@azonenberg @aleksorsist oh i have a spare YIG, i should break it apart and take macro shots of the sphere
Show threadAndrew ZonenbergJan 31
@whyrlpool @aleksorsist does it still work? Don't crack it open if it still runs
Show threadwhyrlpoolJan 31
@azonenberg @aleksorsist i have two i expect to be working and one i’ll be surprised if i get anything out of. Mostly just been waiting for something like the ssdr/lms8001 to come out so i can experiment above 6GHz, lacking the equipment to measure the YIGs i have
Show threadF4GRX SébastienJan 31
@azonenberg @aleksorsist usually yigs are very small, like 1mm
Show threadF4GRX SébastienJan 31
@aleksorsist ah I stopped at 10mm because larger was stupidly expensive for the use I had. But what about GIANT CERAMIC BEARINGS?
Show threadAleksorsistJan 31
@f4grx I wonder where ceramic bearings are needed instead of metal ones?
Show threadGraham Sutherland / PolynomialJan 31
@aleksorsist @f4grx intrinsically safe certified gear uses them
Show threadAMSJan 31
@aleksorsist @f4grx Cleanrooms, high precision applications, applications where bearing currents are a problem (though there are cheaper ways). We used them back in solar car because un-lubricated SiN bearings were lower rolling resistance, but they're expensive as hell.