Comments on: Solar Synchronizer http://blog.longnow.org/2007/06/04/solar-synchronizer/ The Blog of the Long Now Sat, 17 May 2008 21:41:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 By: Long Views » Blog Archive » Intrinsic metal coloration http://blog.longnow.org/2007/06/04/solar-synchronizer/#comment-3660 Long Views » Blog Archive » Intrinsic metal coloration Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:31:28 +0000 http://blog.longnow.org/2007/06/04/solar-synchronizer/#comment-3660 [...] Through a fairly low power laser process some clever folks over at the University of Rochester have come up with a way to generate an intrinsic colored surface on metals. They can even get an extremely pure black. Why is this cool? For the Clock of the Long Now project we are always on the lookout for ways of coloring metal for parts of the clock in ways that wont fail over time. A process like this could be used on the dials, or even on metals that we need to absorb sunlight to give us temperature variation. [...] […] Through a fairly low power laser process some clever folks over at the University of Rochester have come up with a way to generate an intrinsic colored surface on metals. They can even get an extremely pure black. Why is this cool? For the Clock of the Long Now project we are always on the lookout for ways of coloring metal for parts of the clock in ways that wont fail over time. A process like this could be used on the dials, or even on metals that we need to absorb sunlight to give us temperature variation. […]

]]> By: Joey http://blog.longnow.org/2007/06/04/solar-synchronizer/#comment-2492 Joey Tue, 11 Sep 2007 20:05:16 +0000 http://blog.longnow.org/2007/06/04/solar-synchronizer/#comment-2492 How about a coating of a material which has some kind of lotus effect? Like that, rain can wash the lense clear again after it has been soiled with mud... rain at least is supposed to fall every once in a while, isn't it? How about a coating of a material which has some kind of lotus effect? Like that, rain can wash the lense clear again after it has been soiled with mud… rain at least is supposed to fall every once in a while, isn’t it?

]]> By: Mark http://blog.longnow.org/2007/06/04/solar-synchronizer/#comment-2102 Mark Thu, 26 Jul 2007 19:38:43 +0000 http://blog.longnow.org/2007/06/04/solar-synchronizer/#comment-2102 Demetirus Nelon's point brings to mind the new (and not yet well-established) technology of a transparent coating of titanium dioxide on the outer surface to catalytically oxidize at least the organic contaminents. Demetirus Nelon’s point brings to mind the new (and not yet well-established) technology of a transparent coating of titanium dioxide on the outer surface to catalytically oxidize at least the organic contaminents.

]]> By: Demitrius Nelon http://blog.longnow.org/2007/06/04/solar-synchronizer/#comment-1683 Demitrius Nelon Fri, 06 Jul 2007 19:10:23 +0000 http://blog.longnow.org/2007/06/04/solar-synchronizer/#comment-1683 Interesting design. I'm curious about how clean/clear the outer lens needs to be in order for this to work. In the event of massive amounts of debris in the atmosphere, what is the likelihood that something like this would function after some of it settled directly on this device? Interesting design. I’m curious about how clean/clear the outer lens needs to be in order for this to work. In the event of massive amounts of debris in the atmosphere, what is the likelihood that something like this would function after some of it settled directly on this device?

]]> By: Alexander Rose http://blog.longnow.org/2007/06/04/solar-synchronizer/#comment-827 Alexander Rose Mon, 11 Jun 2007 15:17:35 +0000 http://blog.longnow.org/2007/06/04/solar-synchronizer/#comment-827 "wow, this is great! If the ambient temperature is very cold will the nickel-titanium wire still have the desired calibrating effect?" Good question. The wire does have some absolute temperature limits (though you could replace it with new wires in the future that are made for a the ambient normal) In the final install underground however, the wire will be inside, sealed from the elements by the lens, and its temperature sinked to the surrounding rock. This should minimize the need to replace the wire in the future. “wow, this is great! If the ambient temperature is very cold will the nickel-titanium wire still have the desired calibrating effect?”

Good question. The wire does have some absolute temperature limits (though you could replace it with new wires in the future that are made for a the ambient normal) In the final install underground however, the wire will be inside, sealed from the elements by the lens, and its temperature sinked to the surrounding rock. This should minimize the need to replace the wire in the future.

]]> By: Heather Durham http://blog.longnow.org/2007/06/04/solar-synchronizer/#comment-765 Heather Durham Fri, 08 Jun 2007 21:59:56 +0000 http://blog.longnow.org/2007/06/04/solar-synchronizer/#comment-765 This is so cool! I can not wait to see it in-person. This is so cool! I can not wait to see it in-person.

]]> By: Jesse Clark http://blog.longnow.org/2007/06/04/solar-synchronizer/#comment-636 Jesse Clark Tue, 05 Jun 2007 04:07:36 +0000 http://blog.longnow.org/2007/06/04/solar-synchronizer/#comment-636 wow, this is great! If the ambient temperature is very cold will the nickel-titanium wire still have the desired calibrating effect? wow, this is great! If the ambient temperature is very cold will the nickel-titanium wire still have the desired calibrating effect?

]]> By: bryan http://blog.longnow.org/2007/06/04/solar-synchronizer/#comment-635 bryan Tue, 05 Jun 2007 02:33:25 +0000 http://blog.longnow.org/2007/06/04/solar-synchronizer/#comment-635 zowie! so exciting to see this. zowie!
so exciting to see this.

]]>