Over the years, I've built a succession of 'slightly eccentric' - but
usually fun electric things as well as loads of more practical solutions
& tools. This is a showcase for some of this work, for some of the
tools and technology developed and as an on line notebook for daft ideas
as they pop into my head.
For a bit of background, my
name is Simon Rafferty.
Originally from Tunbridge Wells in Kent, I now live in Horsham, West Sussex.
I'm pretty active on the LR4x4
Land Rover (which sums up one of my lines of interest) forum. I like the
LR4x4 forum because of how technically clued up many of the members are,
but they are still very friendly and don't batter you with their knowledge!
I'm on there as 'SimonR' if you want to drop me a line (or find some more
'unusual' ideas!).
These projects have actually turned in to a business for me. Since 2004
I've been running X-Eng - which essentially
sells the ideas I've come up with. I subcontract out all of the manufacture
and concentrate on the R&D. Compared to my previous job - X-Eng has
been tremendous fun!
If you'd like something 'unusual' designing, building or even just that hard to find custom part machining - just drop me a line, I'm always (time permitting) pleased to help! Click here to mail me!
Thanks to Ian Patterson for the idea.
Protect your Land Rover's wings from trees & other sticky-out things and prevent 'farmers corners'
Hand brake drum always clogged with mud? Shoes only last minutes? Perhaps this is the answer!
Alternative to cranked radius arms, but giving more extreme rear articulation.
No more cornering like a Blamange! Two different attempts at self leveling air suspension with computer and gyro control. You can see in the photo, the Land Rover is raised at the front and is sitting fairly level on a very steep hill!
Indestructible side lights! Filled with epoxy resin they are very tough and don't look too bad either!
Barber-ous
- Robot Wars
Along with
my friends Guy Radford & Chris Watts. A Twisty Turny Spiky Bitey thing.
The original site is long gone - so the link points to a copy in the 'way
back machine' web archive.
There are a couple
of videos on YouTube:
Robot Wars Series
6 Heat K Barber-ous v Hypnodisk
Robot Wars Series
6 Heat K Barber-ous v Kat3
Watch out for the prickly bushes! Alarming to ride!
Much more civilized - NOT. 4kW, 25mph electric death machine.
Ideal for commuting - to the pub. Prickly bushes hurt less on the way home. Fully road legal.
My first proper attempt at an electric vehicle. Loads of detail about the drives & motors. This lead to almost everything on this page.
The follow up to my electric Anthrotech. Folds to fit in the back of a car. Underseat steering is 'interesting'. Definitely not one for coming home from the pub.
My contribution - and solution to (at least for me) Global Warming.
Reasonably safe torque multiplier for regular combination spanners.
The 'Snap-On' man will not be your friend if you use this!
