Designing a Ladder Program

Automation Direct’s recent issue of Automation Notebook has an article on designing a Ladder Logic program. It is an interesting article with many good points. It seems as though I have found many basic programs thrown together for one show. This show becomes the basis for the next show, and 10 years later you have the same program that has been altered 40 times, and which has pieces of code no longer valid or integral, because there wasn’t an overall design to the program. While it is often hard to do in the crunch of an individual production, planning for future incarnations of the program when it is first written will make the process easier in the future.

You can take a look at the article at:
http://www.automationnotebook.com/2008_issue_12/techthread_issue12_2008.html

System Mania & Amrmadillo Run

Two for today, or I will be doing this all month!
System Mania combines contraption orientated games with the service genre (Dinner Dash inspired) games. While the ideas (pull a cord, rotate hourglass times, push buttons) is contraption like, it is more of a speed game than a problem solving game

http://jayisgames.com/archives/2008/09/system_mania.php

Armadillo Run is a great game, and very addicting. If you buy the game there are 50 levels, and you can create your own levels. Its very fun, and a great way to make you think.

http://www.armadillorun.com/

Crazy Machines

Crazy Machines is yet another Rube Goldberg-like contraption game where you complete each level by making an invention work. You have a wide array for tools, and the experiements range from moving balls to target locations to illuminating a variety of lights. There are lots of levels ( 200), and a variety of ways to complete each level. Beware it is addicting!

I purchased my copy off the shelf at a local retailer, but a review can be seen at:
http://jayisgames.com/archives/2008/09/crazy_machines.php

Tom & Jerry

In the spirit of games here is a link to Tom & Jerry Trap - O - Matic. It follows a Rube Goldberg like play with rollers, shooters cutters and the like.

http://daflax.com/index.php?lang=pt_br&option=content&task=view&id=109

Speaking of Rube Goldberg, over the weekend I watched the "Goonies" and realized for the first time that they have several great examples of Goldberg like contraptions, even including the use of line animals!

Clack

One of the things I like to do in my spare time is to play games. There is a wide variety out there that rely on problem solving skills (spatially orientated and otherwise) as well as engineering skills, and other TD applicable skills. Clack, found at:
http://casualgameplay.com/cgdc1/?puzzleID=15, is the first of the games that I will be posting links too.

Have Fun!

Book List for Designers

http://www.designsojourn.com/30-essential-books-for-industrial-designers/

The above link talks about what books industrial designers should read or have. While not every book on the list is applicable to theatre, I think there are definitely some that would be good reads, and helpful.

Looking for a play?

FINDaPLAY is a website that allows you to search 30 different play publishers including MTI, Samuel French and Dramatists.
http://www.findaplay.com/

Toggle / Hold down clamps

Toggle clamps and hold down clamps have a useful place in the scene shop. One of the coolest welding tables I have seen was made from telespar with hold down clamps, so that you could easily jig and clamp any size or shape of frame. Also, toggle clamps can be useful for clamping scenery together during scene shifts. The link below is one maker of said clamps, though they can be found in a wide variety of places including McMaster Carr and Grainger.

http://destacoclampstore.com/

Canopy Article

The September edition of Stage Directions is out and includes an article of mine in the answer box section! You can also check it out on their website at:
http://stage-directions.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1044&Itemid=39

Tape

One of the new materials I have come to love over the past year is VHB (Very High Bond) Tape. Made by 3m, it will bond plastics, metals, glass and wood together. Below is a variety of links for more information.

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/VHB/Tapes/
http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_WW/electronics/home/productsandservices/products/TapesAdhesives/VHBTape/
http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_WW/electronics/home/productsandservices/products/TapesAdhesives/VHBTape/