Best Apps and Software for the Workshop?

[DodParticipant @dod]

Posted by John Hinkley on 15/06/2016 08:10:05:

Michael,

If it helps, I downloaded a fairly recent copy of Machinery's Handbook (27th edition – 2004) for free after following a link someone posted on a forum I discovered from a internet search. I can't remember where now and a further search fails to find it. It is, however, a proper pdf file, not a scanned, poor quality version dating from the early 20th century. At a stretch, that could qualify as "software".

John

If it be a proper pdf file methinks it is not a proper early 20th century version of a handbook unless its a proper early 1990s 'lectronic edition.

[Geoff TheasbyParticipant @geofftheasby]

Ady, much more than that! Santa brought me a smartphone, just so I can play with 'apps', as I have a steam-powered phone to make calls and texts on when out & about. The amateur radio ones are mostly formulae, aerial sizes and propagation workings, and the science ones are the periodic table, chemical formulae and home experiments. The ones I am having most fun with are Night Sky Pro, far better than 'Redshift' on the PC, and FlightRadar 24, monitoring aircraft in real time, superimposed on Google Maps, so that, for instance, I can pick up an aircraft, flying North over the Peak District, and watch its progress over the satellite picture of the ground below, as it prepares to land at Manchester, having described a graceful U-turn over North Manchester, constantly updated from the aircraft's own transponder, all the way down to landing. Below about 300 feet the accuracy deteriorates, sometimes it seems to fly backwards, or appears still in the air, having landed (0 feet, 0 mph) but it is great to watch.
Having played with (sorry, studied) it for some months, I have collected several practical apps like, Stroboscope, Plumb-bob or the very similar 3-axis Gravitometer, Magnifier, Audio spectrum analyser, sound level meter, frequency meter, oscilloscope, tone generator, pedometer, etc. I have tried two radioactivity detectors, without success, unless my basement is a very benign environment. The Vibrometer is very sensitive, detecting passing traffic and the desktop computer fan. Google something like 'Free Android stroboscope app' as required and try one. Many are free or only a nominal price, and the choice is growing all the time.

Geoff

[Thomas GudeParticipant @thomasgude37285]

Only available on iPhones but I found the iEngineer app indesepensable!

It is a really easy to use database of every bolt imaginable in metric and unified threads (also a choice of metric or imperial dimensions regardless of which form). It gives head dimensions, tolerances of hole sizes, tensile strength in single and double shear mode, torque, thread info, drill charts, fraction charts and more.

I now have an android phone and I cry everyday for how I miss that app!

**LINK**

[Geoff TheasbyParticipant @geofftheasby]

Thomas, look in Smart Tools for several Android apps, inc screw thread details.

Geoff

[Geoff TheasbyParticipant @geofftheasby]

Thomas, look in Smart Tools for several Android apps, inc screw thread details.

Geoff

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

This doesn't really qualify as 'Workshop' but it's better here than in the Food thread:

Cupify is a very clever, and beautifully executed, unit-conversion utility for the kitchen.

Cupify – convert to cups/ml/fl.oz from weight by Clafou Apps
https://appsto.re/gb/O2fo_.i

It could easily be adapted [by its author] to engineering units.

iOS users; have a look [it's free at the moment]

MichaelG.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

iOS-enabled readers might find this useful: **LINK**

DimPin by Ruslan Sushko
https://appsto.re/gb/VL8Bdb.i

Shows the dimensions for checking involute gears over pins, etc.

MichaelG.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Geoff Theasby on 18/06/2016 16:36:22:

FlightRadar 24, monitoring aircraft in real time, superimposed on Google Maps, so that, for instance, I can pick up an aircraft, flying North over the Peak District, and watch its progress over the satellite picture of the ground below, as it prepares to land at Manchester, having described a graceful U-turn over North Manchester, constantly updated from the aircraft's own transponder, all the way down to landing. Below about 300 feet the accuracy deteriorates, sometimes it seems to fly backwards, or appears still in the air, having landed (0 feet, 0 mph) but it is great to watch.

Just waiting for my wife & daughter's flight to take off

Neil

[modeng2000Participant @modeng2000]

This might interest Londoners, http://traintimes.org.uk/map/tube/

[Enough!Participant @enough]

Posted by modeng2000 on 31/10/2016 19:41:18:

This might interest Londoners, http://traintimes.org.uk/map/tube/

…. or even ex-Londoners. Thanks for that it's really cool.

I notice that it shows some "graininess" due to interpolation when you zoom in a lot. Trains suddenly shifting, reversing or even disappearing completely (at least I assume it's not a real effect )

[Author]

Posts