larry_kruzan on sat 2 aug 03
Hi All!
There sure is a wealth of mechanical and electrical knowledge here on =
ClayArt so I'm about to do a little fishing, with your permission. =20
I am wheelchair bound and have overcome about every limitation there is =
with throwing except for controlling the wheel speed. Currently I have =
the foot pedal laying on a table next to the wheel and make adjustments =
with my hand. Since this requires letting go of the clay to make these =
adjustments I sometimes loose a pot just because I wait too long to make =
an adjustment. =20
I have considered a voice actuated control using voice recognition, =
"speed up, speed up, speed slower, speed slower, etc. Or a "sip and =
puff" setup where you suck on a tube for fast, blow for slow - works on =
wheelchairs for quadriplegics. These ideas would work but are neither =
cheap or easy to setup. So I turn to you, my esteemed colleagues and =
hardware hackers for any other suggestions. =20
I know I could keep doing what works but I always like to push things =
for the maximum capability.
Thanks
Larry=20
J Lutz on sun 3 aug 03
Larry,
Could you rig up some sort of a lever attachment to the foot pedal that you
could push with your head? Sort of a simplified "sip and puff" set up.
Jean
At 09:35 PM 8/2/2003 -0500, you wrote:
>I have considered a voice actuated control using voice recognition, "speed
>up, speed up, speed slower, speed slower, etc. Or a "sip and puff" setup
>where you suck on a tube for fast, blow for slow - works on wheelchairs
>for quadriplegics. These ideas would work but are neither cheap or easy
>to setup. So I turn to you, my esteemed colleagues and hardware hackers
>for any other suggestions.
>Thanks
>Larry
Lesley Alexander on sun 3 aug 03
Larry Kruzan asks about ways of controlling a foot pedal when it has to be
done by hand... I was wondering about something you lean your body into;
also, if this is relevant, we used to have a sewing machine with a speed
'pedal' we pressed outward with a knee. Kudos to Larry for what he's doing.
Lesley
Ann Brink on sun 3 aug 03
Larry, I wonder if you could use your elbow in some way, if the foot pedal
were mounted where it was accessible to your arm area. Just a quick idea.
All the best,
Ann Brink, Lompoc CA, having a few quiet minutes before visiting 3 grandsons
wake up. They decorated cereal bowls last week, with underglaze, and we will
bisque fire today.
----- Original Message -----
From: "larry_kruzan"
I am wheelchair bound and have overcome about every limitation there is with
throwing except for controlling the wheel speed. Currently I have the foot
pedal laying on a table next to the wheel and make adjustments with my hand.
Since this requires letting go of the clay to make these adjustments I
sometimes loose a pot just because I wait too long to make an adjustment.
Jim Kasper on sun 3 aug 03
Larry,
Which wheel are you using? Once I know the controllor it would be
possible to make an alternative interface. Most likely rather than building
a whole new controllor, the foot pedal could be modified to use the new
interace.
Regards,
Jim
I have considered a voice actuated control using voice recognition, "speed
up, speed up, speed slower, speed slower, etc. Or a "sip and puff" setup
where you suck on a tube for fast, blow for slow - works on wheelchairs for
quadriplegics. These ideas would work but are neither cheap or easy to
setup. So I turn to you, my esteemed colleagues and hardware hackers for
any other suggestions.
Larry
psci_kw on sun 3 aug 03
Larry:
I made a device for a friend about a year ago that worked great.
Basically, it is a piece of pine board (we'll call it the mounting board),
about 9 inches long.
It lies flat on the table. On the edge of the board, about 6 inches down,
drill a hole slightly smaller than a screw diameter (what size screw? What
are you gonna use...?).
Now the handle. From a piece of board about 12 inches long and about an
inch or inch and a half wide, drill a hole bigger than the hole you plan to
put the screw in, near one end. Put the screw through a large washer
(called a fender washer, about $0.03) the handle hole, and into the hole in
the side of the mounting board lying flat on your table. Tighten it down
_real tight_ with a screwdriver. Now the handle pivots on the board, right?
Place your foot pedal onto the mounting board. Place the handle up
vertical, and mark the top of the highest part of the foot pedal (in the
"off" position) on the handle with a pencil. Drill a hole at that point in
the handle, and put a bolt or screw.
Now move the foot pedal about an inch or so in the direction of the highest
part of the foot pedal. Secure the foot pedal to the mounting board there,
with duct tape (:>) or a clamp, or two sided tape.
As you push the handle down toward the foot pedal's high side, the pin in
the side now pushes the foot pedal down. (You might have to play with the
location of the foot pedal a bit for adjustment.) Because you tightened the
handle on to the mounting board "real tight", it will then STAY there until
you pull it back or push it down to adjust your speed.
My friend had me make the mounting board a little longer, and drill some
additional holes, so we could use muffler clamp u-bolts and mount the whole
gizmo vertically to a leg on his wheel. we also added a piece of plastic
(3/8) tube over the pin that hits the foot pedal, so that it would "roll" on
the foot pedal. Made it easier to adjust.
Forget sip and suck, forget voice recognition. Go with simple. The whole
thing cost me a couple pieces of scrap wood, a few screws and a washer...
all crap I had lying around anyway.
Hope that helps,
Wayne in Key West
----- Original Message -----
From: "larry_kruzan"
To:
Sent: Saturday, August 02, 2003 10:35 PM
Subject: Controling wheel speed
Hi All!
There sure is a wealth of mechanical and electrical knowledge here on
ClayArt so I'm about to do a little fishing, with your permission.
I am wheelchair bound and have overcome about every limitation there is with
throwing except for controlling the wheel speed. Currently I have the foot
pedal laying on a table next to the wheel and make adjustments with my hand.
Since this requires letting go of the clay to make these adjustments I
sometimes loose a pot just because I wait too long to make an adjustment.
I have considered a voice actuated control using voice recognition, "speed
up, speed up, speed slower, speed slower, etc. Or a "sip and puff" setup
where you suck on a tube for fast, blow for slow - works on wheelchairs for
quadriplegics. These ideas would work but are neither cheap or easy to
setup. So I turn to you, my esteemed colleagues and hardware hackers for
any other suggestions.
I know I could keep doing what works but I always like to push things for
the maximum capability.
Thanks
Larry
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Larry Kruzan on sun 3 aug 03
Hi again and thanks for all the suggestions. I'll try to answer a few
questions and elaborate some more for you.
First, the wheel is a bailey ST-200 with leg extensions but otherwise
unmodified.
As has been suggested, just using it the way it was built is not out of the
question but I think I would have greater control if I could vary the speed
without removing my hands from the clay. The handle idea is great and will
be something I will try but hands-off would be better.
My ceramics professor sat down at the wheel I use in class Friday and tried
throwing the way I do - without feet. Proved to be a lot more differant
than he thought it would be. He had earlier made the comment that he did'nt
vary the wheel speed much when he threw - he very quickly found he did.
I also wonder if there are any other clay heads here that are wheelchair
bound - how do you do it?
Thanks all and God Bless
Larry
Pekin, IL
Earl Brunner on sun 3 aug 03
Larry, it might be helpful to know what you can move. Having a
quadriplegic brother, I know that there is more to it than just that you
are in a wheel chair. If we are looking at a mechanical control, than
we need to know what you can move, to access a contol, and what would
cause the least disruption to the hands on aspect of the throwing
process. Knowing some of this might be helpful in brainstorming this.
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Larry
Kruzan
Sent: Sunday, August 03, 2003 11:01 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: Controling wheel speed
Hi again and thanks for all the suggestions. I'll try to answer a few
questions and elaborate some more for you.
First, the wheel is a bailey ST-200 with leg extensions but otherwise
unmodified.
As has been suggested, just using it the way it was built is not out of
the
question but I think I would have greater control if I could vary the
speed
without removing my hands from the clay. The handle idea is great and
will
be something I will try but hands-off would be better.
My ceramics professor sat down at the wheel I use in class Friday and
tried
throwing the way I do - without feet. Proved to be a lot more differant
than he thought it would be. He had earlier made the comment that he
did'nt
vary the wheel speed much when he threw - he very quickly found he did.
I also wonder if there are any other clay heads here that are wheelchair
bound - how do you do it?
Maid O'Mud on sun 3 aug 03
Hi Larry:
I am not wheel chair bound, but I do use my hands to change wheel speed.
I have a 20 year old brent with a long handle attached (factory??) to the
foot pedal. On the top is a large - formerly black - ball. I push that
back and forth as I work. I start fast for centering, then move it maybe
twice during throwing to slower speeds.
I do throw "without feet"; have for years, and find as someone else on the
list mentioned - you learn to throw at maybe 3 different speeds, tapping the
controller only a couple of times during the process.
I have also taught a wheelbound student this method, and he throws just
dandy - big, too (helps that he's 6'3" and over 200 lbs ;-)
It's easy to get used to - just practice practice practice.
Sam - Maid O'Mud Pottery
Melbourne, Ontario CANADA
"First, the clay told me what to do.
Then, I told the clay what to do.
Now, we co-operate."
sam 1994
http://www.ody.ca/~scuttell/
----- Original Message -----
From: "Larry Kruzan"
To:
Sent: Sunday, August 03, 2003 2:01 PM
Subject: Re: Controling wheel speed
> Hi again and thanks for all the suggestions. I'll try to answer a few
> questions and elaborate some more for you.
>
> First, the wheel is a bailey ST-200 with leg extensions but otherwise
> unmodified.
>
> As has been suggested, just using it the way it was built is not out of
the
> question but I think I would have greater control if I could vary the
speed
> without removing my hands from the clay. The handle idea is great and
will
> be something I will try but hands-off would be better.
>
> My ceramics professor sat down at the wheel I use in class Friday and
tried
> throwing the way I do - without feet. Proved to be a lot more differant
> than he thought it would be. He had earlier made the comment that he
did'nt
> vary the wheel speed much when he threw - he very quickly found he did.
>
> I also wonder if there are any other clay heads here that are wheelchair
> bound - how do you do it?
>
> Thanks all and God Bless
> Larry
> Pekin, IL
>
Russel Fouts on mon 4 aug 03
larry
>>I am wheelchair bound and have overcome about every limitation there is with throwing except for controlling the wheel speed. Currently I have the foot pedal laying on a table next to the wheel and make adjustments with my hand. Since this requires letting go of the clay to make these adjustments I sometimes loose a pot just because I wait too long to make an adjustment. <<
Forget about techinical solutions and try to learing to throw at one
speed or two. Lots of production potters do it. I do it on my shimpo
(with the gearshift on the foot pedal).
Go slow, really slow and take it easy.
Russel
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Marvpots@AOL.COM on mon 4 aug 03
Re:Wheel Speed
If you were to observe the use of a kick- wheel you will note that after
giveing the wheel a good thrust, the operator just lets it run; I have found that
where a foot pedal is not available and there is just a hand operated lever
(such as on a Shimpo wheel which has been raised about 14 inches off the
floor to accomodate back problems) I just let the wheel run and find that the
number of speed adjustments necessary are very few, just starting and stopping,
and perhaps once slowing down. This may mean that the adjusting arm gets a bit
messy with wet clay, but, so what?
Thus, as a practical matter, the lack of a more conventional foot pedal is
not missed at all.
Hope this may help guide you to an equipment adjustment that will help you.
Good Luck!
Marvin Flowerman
marvpots@aol.com
Larry Kruzan on mon 4 aug 03
> Thus, as a practical matter, the lack of a more conventional foot pedal is
> not missed at all.
>
Thanks Gang,
I really appreciate all the input and suggestions. I think that the best
way to sum up the majority opinion up is to say if what I'm doing now works
keep doing it. :O) In other words if it ain't broke, don't fix it. This
is the most reasonable path and the path with the least number of difficult
places - that established I will keep doing what I am now and work on
improving form using a limited number of speeds.
Of course I will keep looking for a better way. :O) My mother always
chided me saying "that I was never satisfied no matter how good something
was". Still true Mom.
Thanks again to everyone for your suggestions,
Larry Kruzan
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