TL 12 Metalworking Tool Set

[SpaceBadger]

I would like to expand some on what should be included in the TL 12 version of the various Mechanical/Electronic/Metalworking tool sets, plus TL 12 Ship's Engineer equipment. I'm going to divide this into four threads, starting off w some of my own ideas, and hoping to get more suggestions from y'all. This thread is for:

TL 12 Metalworking Tool Set

First, here is the description for the Metalworking Tool Set from The Traveller Book (p.109): TL 4 - 50kg - Cr1500. includes basic tools necessary for metalworking, welding, shaping. Metalwork may include the construction and repair of shelters, vehicle bodywork, and alteration of metal structure items. Calls for Mechanical skill in order to be used properly. Boxed set.

My experience in this area is superficial. I've used an oxy-acetylene torch and an arc welder, under supervision of my Dad, many years ago. Tin snips, drill press, pop-rivets, hammer and anvil; stuff like that. Suggestions, please!

It seems to me the necessary functions of this tool set would be scribing, cutting, bending, shaping, drilling, lathing, clamping, and welding. Anything else?

I think a lot of earlier tools (scribing, cutting, welding, drilling) could be replaced at TL 12 by a multifunction laser tool.

Other joining functions, whether temporary or semi-permanent, might be covered by improved glues and epoxies and non-metallic metal substitutes. Would the metalworking kit then also cover work on ceramics and other metal substitutes?

The metalworking kit should also include protective gear for handling hot materials, plus eye-protection.

 

[Sir Brad]

simple, a modular tank with control module for the control of the Nano-bot solution, a range of Cutting Devices and Bonding Devices.

The Nano Tank can also be used for Polymers, Ceramics and Composites.

procedure: just dump in the busted item and some spare raw materials just in case there has bean some loss of mass or contamination of the source item, load the template in to the control module and hit the "Fabricate" button. Or if you don't have a source item just dump in the necessary raw materials and hit "Fabricate".

 

[SpaceBadger]

simple, a modular tank with control module for the control of the Nano-bot solution, a range of Cutting Devices and Bonding Devices.

The Nano Tank can also be used for Polymers, Ceramics and Composites.

procedure: just dump in the busted item and some spare raw materials just in case there has bean some loss of mass or contamination of the source item, load the template in to the control module and hit the "Fabricate" button. Or if you don't have a source item just dump in the necessary raw materials and hit "Fabricate".

Good ideas, but I don't think Nano stuff is available at TL 12 in OTU, is it?

 

[Sir Brad]

just look at 3D printers today, a couple of mechanical engineers I know one in the game for over 40 years and one who's bean at it for less than a decade said when they where doing their Degrees they could never imagined seeing a 3D printer in their working lifetimes if possibly ever (Too Sic-Fi from what they thought possible from their then knowledge of "Real-Si" at the time) but they have said it has changed Prototyping as much as the CAD-CAM.

a Artisan Blacksmith (Farrier by trade) I know of who works the Historical Village Markets on the weekend gave a talk at a local library a couple of years back he compared "Classical" Smith work to "Colonial" era to late 19th century to 20th century to post Y2K Farrier and Smith Work and showed off items he'd made himself using each eras tools and talked about how different the work was and the product. He had photos of articles from old Farriers trade journals talking about how the adoption of the Blow Torch would change the Farriers working day, then later ones about how compact Oxy-Aseletine would change the trade again.

way I see it Nano Tech in Trav is "Invisible", just like today a Tire Fitter (who works solo) doesn't think twice about using a portable hydrolic press to fit tiers on sight when 30-40 years ago a static one in the workshop was a bloody nice "toy" if you could afford it and 50-60 years ago a static one was a non-economical (and never would be) piece of tech you saw at the worlds fair. but my father a Truck Driver is too cheep to phone up Beurepairs and get a tire fitter out (for a bit over half an hour for all 16 tiers) to to fit his tiers for him, instead it's me he phones (since it's a 2-3 man job) when a long weekend rocks around, and we spend an hour on each one with liquid soap, Tier Irons and Sledge Hammers banging away doing it just as they did it before Hydrolic Presses became available.

 

[SpaceBadger]

For those who may be reading this thread in archives sometime in the future, I want to note that atpollard wrote a bunch of cool stuff about metalworking tools in the thread on TL 12 Mechanical Tools.