Somewhere, somehow in all the back and forth about getting my Epson WF-3640 all the presets were many: letter, envelope, and others I’ve forgotten.
The other day I finally got two-sided letter printing to print properly. For some reason the second side was upside down from the front side. I finally figured out that I had to have the presets for two-sided printing set to long-edge. I never had had to worry about that before. In all this grand “improvement” the preset was set to short-edge. For the first time ever with many printers, I had to set a preset called “Two-sided printing”.
Next confusion is printing an envelope. No preset and the preview shows a jumble of printing. I got the presets for an envelope all set and placed an envelope in the rear tray with the flap on the top pointing to the left.
Nope! The software printed on the flap side with top pointing to the right. I had noticed the same misdirection in one of the trays, months ago.
Just another example of what professors Russel and Vinsel wrote about lack of maintenance: “Maintenance vs. innovation”
http://magree.blogspot.com/2017/07/maintenance-vs-innovation.html.
Showing posts with label maintenance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label maintenance. Show all posts
Monday, July 31, 2017
Thursday, July 27, 2017
Maintenance vs. innovation
Professors Andrew Russell and Les Vinsel wrote an interesting column for the New York Times that addresses the problems of many current Mac users who are trying to decipher how things that used to work are now mysterious black boxes: “Let’s Get Excited About Maintenance”, New York Times, 2017-07-22.
See also "Don’t get cut on Sierra" and "Computers under the control of magicians".
See also "Don’t get cut on Sierra" and "Computers under the control of magicians".
Wednesday, April 09, 2014
Making systems work: The psychology of business systems
This is the title of a book by William C. Ramsgard, Wiley, 1977-09-29 and the quotes that follow are from various scraps of paper that have been gathering dust on my desk.
“The successful information system provides all the related and general xpj requirements for operating personnel, based on normal organizational activity. New information requirements are always modifications to the existing information system and are fulfilled by a minimum caretaker staff without disruption to existing informational and organizational structure or substantial additional resource allocations.”
From a note in ABC Stenoscript and http://books.google.com/books/about/Making_systems_work.html?id=RkBZAAAAMAAJ
From another note on this book
“Peasecod’s Parameter
When the time recorded in the maintenance log approaches the original systems development time, the existing system is dying and the systems cycle should be repeated for a complete new development of the system.”
From another note in ABC Stenoscript
“Systems should be built not to solve problems but to provide opportunity.”
“The successful information system provides all the related and general xpj requirements for operating personnel, based on normal organizational activity. New information requirements are always modifications to the existing information system and are fulfilled by a minimum caretaker staff without disruption to existing informational and organizational structure or substantial additional resource allocations.”
From a note in ABC Stenoscript and http://books.google.com/books/about/Making_systems_work.html?id=RkBZAAAAMAAJ
From another note on this book
“Peasecod’s Parameter
When the time recorded in the maintenance log approaches the original systems development time, the existing system is dying and the systems cycle should be repeated for a complete new development of the system.”
From another note in ABC Stenoscript
“Systems should be built not to solve problems but to provide opportunity.”
Tuesday, December 03, 2013
First blizzard of the season
We've had a few snowfalls in Duluth this season but all of them have been minor snow shoveling jobs. Now we are on day 2 of a three-day blizzard. Then the temperature will drop to 0 F to 15 F. What snow isn't cleared now will be cement later.
This has been problematic to us for two reasons. One is that my wife flew to Japan this morning. Two is that I told Denny's Lawn and Garden that I would bring in my chipper for maintenance today.
So we were up very early this morning so that my wife could be at the airport two hours before takeoff.
But before we could go, I had to shovel the walk to the garage and then at least half of the apron to the alley. I had already planned to take the SUV because I would go direct to Brimson to haul the chipper back. Good choice. With four-wheel drive it was easier to maneuver into the alley. Done! Onto the side street. Oops! Intersection was blocked by ridge made by snowplow on through street. Back up in snow. Don't hit parked cars. Back into alley and go another way. Hurray! No ridge on the other through street. All streets were packed snow, even plowed streets. Three cheers again for SUV with its super-duper tires that are skid-resistant. Drive 5-10 mph under the limit.
Arrive at airport with plenty of time before my wife's flight. Haul out her humongous suitcase and place on dry part of sidewalk. Give her a long hug and wish her a good trip.
Drive on plowed roads at 40mph because they had packed snow. As I was outbound in the morning I don't think I had a single car behind me.
The snow kept falling and falling as I drove. I had visions of having to get the cabin snowblower out of the shed, fueling it, and getting it started by hand rather than electrically. Should I abandon this chore. No, I told Denny's that I would bring the chipper in today. After all, they had called me last week that my service request had come up and I had said I would bring it in today.
When I was in the Brimson area the snow seemed to be less deep, in fact it looked like there was three inches or snow or less on the side of the road. As I drove the final road to our cabin, I thought I might be able to just pull in.
No such luck! The snowplow ridge was just to high to plow through with four-wheel drive. I'll have to hand shovel an opening. Oops! I didn't put a snow shovel in the SUV! Trudge through the ridge and walk down the drive to the cabin. Oops! Where's the snow shovel by the stoop? Ah! There it is covered by snow, but at least I can still see its outline.
Trudge back to the road (we're talking about a football field length). Clear snow from end of drive. That really was enough exercise for the day, and I had already cleared about 200 sq ft at home that was fluffy. This wasn't!
Take lock off driveway cable. Oops! I dropped the lock. I don't see it. Whew! With enough foot scuffling I found it.
Drive in close to chipper.
But first check sheds for mice. Oops! One shed has an open lock. How did we not check it on our last visit? Good news for me and for the mice; none were in any of the traps.
Get trailer hitch out and insert it with the correct ball up. It has to be the one with the most wear.
Drag chipper to car. Thank goodness for the wheeled hauling bar I bought. But the increased leverage won't get one wheel over a frozen ridge. Great! Pull this direction. Pull that direction. After too many minutes I get the chipper moving. Then another ridge. Pull! Puff! Pull! Puff! Finally I get chipper's trailer tongue near the hitch.
But the hitch won't fit over the ball! I try and try. I clean out debris from the hitch. To do this, I let the chipper go back on its feed end (which is about five feet high). Check the ball, check the hitch. This has to be the right ball.
Oh, no! I can't get the chipper upright again. Am I going to have to abandon the project? After several tries, I get the chipper upright again. This time, the hitch fits over the ball and I can latch them together.
I had a few more details to tend to, but you've probably read too many already.
Finally I am ready to leave. I drive out, lock up the cable, and turn onto the road out stressing the hitch or hitting the SUV with it.
The drive to Denny's Lawn and Garden was slow but uneventful. The speed limit for the trailer the chipper is mounted on is 45 mph. Because of the packed snow I generally went 35-40 mph. Still, the chipper bounced around a couple of times that made me wonder how much it could take.
When I arrived at Denny's the place was packed! More than I had ever seen it. It was lots of people in to buy snowblowers or get parts for snowblowers! The manager asked me why I brought my chipper in during a blizzard. I replied that I had said I would bring it in on Tuesday when they called last week that they could take it in for maintenance.
After a couple of other stops, I finally got home about one o'clock. I knew I should go out and shovel and blow snow, but not just yet. The snow had really piled up since we left at seven.
When I checked for mail, I saw a neighbor shoveling a path on our sidewalk. I thanked her but said don't bother, I'll do it later with a snowblower.
After a leisurely lunch I put long underwear on under my shirt and jeans. It was a-blowing and getting colder. I better clear the snow before it set.
I got out, fueled, and started our Duluth snowblower without too much difficulty. I got most of the snow off our apron including the ridge made by a grader while I was out there. I also cleared the ridge for a neighbor.
After I finished that, I brought the snowblower around the garage to the walk to the house and the front sidewalk. It kept riding up over the snow. I looked at the blades and they were packed with snow. I cleaned them out, but the same thing happened again. And again. And again. Finally, when I got to the house, I did a more thorough check.
One of the blades wasn't turning or would catch on the housing. The blade was bent and the shear pin was broken. Rather than looking for the shear pin, I put the snowblower away
So much for doing the front walk with the snowblower. Off I went with the shovel. Even shoveling smart, that is, lifting snow in layers rather than from the sidewalk up, it was a lot of work.
Finally at about four (was it that late) I called it quits. I'll need to do it all again tomorrow. At least, I hope, it won't be a 12-15 inches deep.
Now I'm wondering how I managed to reheat some of the food my wife had left me. I do know that I was so tired, I didn't even want to have wine. That would have put me to sleep and you wouldn't be able to read this long tale, if you did get this far. Thanks for reading!
This has been problematic to us for two reasons. One is that my wife flew to Japan this morning. Two is that I told Denny's Lawn and Garden that I would bring in my chipper for maintenance today.
So we were up very early this morning so that my wife could be at the airport two hours before takeoff.
But before we could go, I had to shovel the walk to the garage and then at least half of the apron to the alley. I had already planned to take the SUV because I would go direct to Brimson to haul the chipper back. Good choice. With four-wheel drive it was easier to maneuver into the alley. Done! Onto the side street. Oops! Intersection was blocked by ridge made by snowplow on through street. Back up in snow. Don't hit parked cars. Back into alley and go another way. Hurray! No ridge on the other through street. All streets were packed snow, even plowed streets. Three cheers again for SUV with its super-duper tires that are skid-resistant. Drive 5-10 mph under the limit.
Arrive at airport with plenty of time before my wife's flight. Haul out her humongous suitcase and place on dry part of sidewalk. Give her a long hug and wish her a good trip.
Drive on plowed roads at 40mph because they had packed snow. As I was outbound in the morning I don't think I had a single car behind me.
The snow kept falling and falling as I drove. I had visions of having to get the cabin snowblower out of the shed, fueling it, and getting it started by hand rather than electrically. Should I abandon this chore. No, I told Denny's that I would bring the chipper in today. After all, they had called me last week that my service request had come up and I had said I would bring it in today.
When I was in the Brimson area the snow seemed to be less deep, in fact it looked like there was three inches or snow or less on the side of the road. As I drove the final road to our cabin, I thought I might be able to just pull in.
No such luck! The snowplow ridge was just to high to plow through with four-wheel drive. I'll have to hand shovel an opening. Oops! I didn't put a snow shovel in the SUV! Trudge through the ridge and walk down the drive to the cabin. Oops! Where's the snow shovel by the stoop? Ah! There it is covered by snow, but at least I can still see its outline.
Trudge back to the road (we're talking about a football field length). Clear snow from end of drive. That really was enough exercise for the day, and I had already cleared about 200 sq ft at home that was fluffy. This wasn't!
Take lock off driveway cable. Oops! I dropped the lock. I don't see it. Whew! With enough foot scuffling I found it.
Drive in close to chipper.
But first check sheds for mice. Oops! One shed has an open lock. How did we not check it on our last visit? Good news for me and for the mice; none were in any of the traps.
Get trailer hitch out and insert it with the correct ball up. It has to be the one with the most wear.
Drag chipper to car. Thank goodness for the wheeled hauling bar I bought. But the increased leverage won't get one wheel over a frozen ridge. Great! Pull this direction. Pull that direction. After too many minutes I get the chipper moving. Then another ridge. Pull! Puff! Pull! Puff! Finally I get chipper's trailer tongue near the hitch.
But the hitch won't fit over the ball! I try and try. I clean out debris from the hitch. To do this, I let the chipper go back on its feed end (which is about five feet high). Check the ball, check the hitch. This has to be the right ball.
Oh, no! I can't get the chipper upright again. Am I going to have to abandon the project? After several tries, I get the chipper upright again. This time, the hitch fits over the ball and I can latch them together.
I had a few more details to tend to, but you've probably read too many already.
Finally I am ready to leave. I drive out, lock up the cable, and turn onto the road out stressing the hitch or hitting the SUV with it.
The drive to Denny's Lawn and Garden was slow but uneventful. The speed limit for the trailer the chipper is mounted on is 45 mph. Because of the packed snow I generally went 35-40 mph. Still, the chipper bounced around a couple of times that made me wonder how much it could take.
When I arrived at Denny's the place was packed! More than I had ever seen it. It was lots of people in to buy snowblowers or get parts for snowblowers! The manager asked me why I brought my chipper in during a blizzard. I replied that I had said I would bring it in on Tuesday when they called last week that they could take it in for maintenance.
After a couple of other stops, I finally got home about one o'clock. I knew I should go out and shovel and blow snow, but not just yet. The snow had really piled up since we left at seven.
When I checked for mail, I saw a neighbor shoveling a path on our sidewalk. I thanked her but said don't bother, I'll do it later with a snowblower.
After a leisurely lunch I put long underwear on under my shirt and jeans. It was a-blowing and getting colder. I better clear the snow before it set.
I got out, fueled, and started our Duluth snowblower without too much difficulty. I got most of the snow off our apron including the ridge made by a grader while I was out there. I also cleared the ridge for a neighbor.
After I finished that, I brought the snowblower around the garage to the walk to the house and the front sidewalk. It kept riding up over the snow. I looked at the blades and they were packed with snow. I cleaned them out, but the same thing happened again. And again. And again. Finally, when I got to the house, I did a more thorough check.
One of the blades wasn't turning or would catch on the housing. The blade was bent and the shear pin was broken. Rather than looking for the shear pin, I put the snowblower away
So much for doing the front walk with the snowblower. Off I went with the shovel. Even shoveling smart, that is, lifting snow in layers rather than from the sidewalk up, it was a lot of work.
Finally at about four (was it that late) I called it quits. I'll need to do it all again tomorrow. At least, I hope, it won't be a 12-15 inches deep.
Now I'm wondering how I managed to reheat some of the food my wife had left me. I do know that I was so tired, I didn't even want to have wine. That would have put me to sleep and you wouldn't be able to read this long tale, if you did get this far. Thanks for reading!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
A good workman never blames his tools. Oh?
This old saw probably comes from someone blaming the saw for a crooked cut. A good workman should be able to cut straight no matter how crooked the saw.
Oh, yeah!
What is often not considered is that a good workman has all the tools needed to do any job he expects to do. He won't use a flat blade screwdriver on a Philips screw or a hexagonal wrench on a square nut.
I had another lesson on having the right tools for the job at hand. We bought a humongous DR chipper with the slogan on the cover, "Professional power for the homeowner".
Sorry, but to do routine maintenance on this chipper requires tools many homeowners don't usually have. My socket wrenches do not reach the nuts holding the blade in place and my L-shaped Allen wrenches do not reach the screw heads. Well, they do reach but the angle does not permit either a good purchase or sufficient swing room.
So, I went to the hardware store to buy "non-standard" accessories for my tools. I bought three-inch extenders for my half-inch and three-eighths-inch socket wrenches. I do have a six-inch extender for the latter, but that length gives less purchase on really tight nuts. I also bought a 7/32-inch Allen insert for a socket wrench. Unfortunately, the hardware store only had this size inserts for quarter-inch wrenches. So, I had to buy an adapter also.
All homeowners who have all these tools in their toolboxes please raise their hands. I thought so. Of the twenty or so people who read this blog I don't see any hands raised.
The good news is that I have changed blades on the chipper. It did take a few grimacing pushes on the wrenches to get the nuts loose, but I did within a few minutes. The last time the blade needed changing, I had to tow the chipper back to the equipment store, a 40+ mile drive at 45 mph.
The next thing to do is to check the wear plate against the sharper blade. It looks like it will be fun doing so. The bolts holding the plate have slotted heads and are in a position that there is no way to get any purchase with a standard six-inch screwdriver.
Well, I did check the wear plate and it took me the rest of the afternoon.
First, the bolt heads are not slotted at all. They are carriage bolts with a square shaft just below the head to fit into the square holes in the wear plate.
I loosened all three bolts so that I could wiggle them, which meant that I should be able to wiggle the wear plate. No such luck. It was glued to the throat of the chipper by dried sap and so forth. I had to stick wood between the flywheel and the wear plate. I had to use a tack puller for leverage. I did this and that for a very long time.
Then when the wear plate was finally loose, it was too loose. Using the template for judging the gap, I would get one side at the right gap and the other side would be too tight. Back and forth. Tighten the nuts to make the plate slide a bit more slowly. One side would be proper; the other side would stop the blade.
On and on. Finally I had the plate so it didn't hit the blade. But the gap was a bit too big. Oh, well! It didn't look as wide as when I started.
I won't bore you with all the details of getting the chipper back together, but back together it is. I also cranked it up and chipped a small pile. For the most part, it just sucked stuff in. Definitely better than when I started.
The big question is are we better off with this high volume chipper with its high maintenance than we were with a low volume chipper that jammed frequently and sometimes didn't even start. I would say yes, but I will keep wondering every time I have to loosen all those bolts for some simple maintenance.
Oh, yeah!
What is often not considered is that a good workman has all the tools needed to do any job he expects to do. He won't use a flat blade screwdriver on a Philips screw or a hexagonal wrench on a square nut.
I had another lesson on having the right tools for the job at hand. We bought a humongous DR chipper with the slogan on the cover, "Professional power for the homeowner".
Sorry, but to do routine maintenance on this chipper requires tools many homeowners don't usually have. My socket wrenches do not reach the nuts holding the blade in place and my L-shaped Allen wrenches do not reach the screw heads. Well, they do reach but the angle does not permit either a good purchase or sufficient swing room.
So, I went to the hardware store to buy "non-standard" accessories for my tools. I bought three-inch extenders for my half-inch and three-eighths-inch socket wrenches. I do have a six-inch extender for the latter, but that length gives less purchase on really tight nuts. I also bought a 7/32-inch Allen insert for a socket wrench. Unfortunately, the hardware store only had this size inserts for quarter-inch wrenches. So, I had to buy an adapter also.
All homeowners who have all these tools in their toolboxes please raise their hands. I thought so. Of the twenty or so people who read this blog I don't see any hands raised.
The good news is that I have changed blades on the chipper. It did take a few grimacing pushes on the wrenches to get the nuts loose, but I did within a few minutes. The last time the blade needed changing, I had to tow the chipper back to the equipment store, a 40+ mile drive at 45 mph.
The next thing to do is to check the wear plate against the sharper blade. It looks like it will be fun doing so. The bolts holding the plate have slotted heads and are in a position that there is no way to get any purchase with a standard six-inch screwdriver.
Well, I did check the wear plate and it took me the rest of the afternoon.
First, the bolt heads are not slotted at all. They are carriage bolts with a square shaft just below the head to fit into the square holes in the wear plate.
I loosened all three bolts so that I could wiggle them, which meant that I should be able to wiggle the wear plate. No such luck. It was glued to the throat of the chipper by dried sap and so forth. I had to stick wood between the flywheel and the wear plate. I had to use a tack puller for leverage. I did this and that for a very long time.
Then when the wear plate was finally loose, it was too loose. Using the template for judging the gap, I would get one side at the right gap and the other side would be too tight. Back and forth. Tighten the nuts to make the plate slide a bit more slowly. One side would be proper; the other side would stop the blade.
On and on. Finally I had the plate so it didn't hit the blade. But the gap was a bit too big. Oh, well! It didn't look as wide as when I started.
I won't bore you with all the details of getting the chipper back together, but back together it is. I also cranked it up and chipped a small pile. For the most part, it just sucked stuff in. Definitely better than when I started.
The big question is are we better off with this high volume chipper with its high maintenance than we were with a low volume chipper that jammed frequently and sometimes didn't even start. I would say yes, but I will keep wondering every time I have to loosen all those bolts for some simple maintenance.
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