Finger Injuries

So since I have already finished 3 weeks of school, I'll have to make this a lengthy post. The first week (ok all the weeks so far) mainly consisted of filing pieces of metal into tools for use at a later date. When we started we received our tool kit and it contained about 80 items in it, the better part of which I had never seen before. The tools we use most right now are the files. I have about 20 some of different size and roughness.

Our first project that began on day #2 was to make a perfect cube out of a piece of brass. The dimensions were to be 20.00mm x 20.00mm x 20.00mm. We have certain tolerances for different pieces but for the most part we have to be accurate to within 3/100ths of a millimeter. Everything has to have a nice straight grain finish and flat. This item has no specific use, just to start getting into using the files and figure things out. Here's a pic of the cube I made:

The next project we tackled was a tool. Not sure how to use it yet but it's a tool to check the

balance of wheels. It's dimensions are 60.00mm x 12.00mm x 1.00mm and also made from brass. The corners on the inside are of utmost importance but I'm not sure why. My theory is that it was a lesson to teach us how to file a sharp inside corner. It's really hard to explain how difficult this is since everything is scrutinized to the smallest degree. But it's all a learning process I guess. Took me about 3-4 days to finish (after starting over cause I was over the tolerance).

Next thing we did was to make some type of angle ruler from steel. Had to be exactly 40.00mm on the long side and the angles a perfect 45˚ and 60˚. We had to use this projector to see how close the angles actually are. It's quite difficult to get a straight edge on something that small. And trying to get the angle right whilst making sure it stays exactly 40.00mm is more difficult than it sounds. Got this done in about a day though which was good.

I've started quite a few more projects but don't have any pictures yet. I had to make 2 90˚ L shaped square tools for making sure pieces are square. For now we are just filing our fingers away and it's sometimes painful. Slipping off the piece you're filing and filing your thumb 3 times in an hour can make me cringe a little. Sounds weak but whatever.

Anyways, bye for now and I will leave you with my first random quote/saying:

If you run over a ninja, what would happen?