Vermont Country Workshop

05/12/2026

The first major power plant at Niagara Falls was constructed on the American side of the river. Built in 1895 by Nikola Tesla and George Westinghouse, the Edward Dean Adams Power Station (Plants 1 and 2) stood as a marvel of modern industry until its demolition in 1961.

Today, the original tailrace tunnels—which channeled water away from the massive turbines—are still visible where they exit into the Niagara River beneath the falls.

05/08/2026

To the tech enthusiasts out there: I just came across a milestone that truly caught my attention. The 555 timer IC is officially 55 years old, having been released on May 5th, 1971.

For those less familiar with electronics, you might wonder why this is such a big deal. In an industry defined by rapid innovation—where parts are miniaturized, improved, or superseded on a yearly cycle—it is incredibly rare for a piece of technology to not only survive but remain in active production and use for over five decades.

It was designed by Hans Camenzind and remains one of the most versatile and popular integrated circuits ever made. I remember spending hours as a teenager tinkering with this chip for various hobby projects; it was the go-to component for anyone learning how to bring a circuit to life. It was still an integral part of test equipment I built just a few years back for Westinghouse Nuclear. Whether it’s powering a simple LED flasher or acting as a stable clock in more complex systems, its longevity is a testament to brilliant, functional design.

There are many great deep-dives into this chip’s legacy. I found the first few minutes of this short video particularly interesting, as it highlights the unique history behind its invention:

A tribute to the 555 timer and Hans Caminzind, which turns 55 years old this year. Released on May the 5th, International 555 Timer Day at 5:55pm with a leng...

03/25/2025

A roofing company in Williston, VT, reached out to me for help to repair their portable machine that forms standing seam panels. This machine, weighing approximately 2,000 lbs and transported on a trailer, utilizes sheet steel coils to produce on-site roofing panels. Manufactured around 2000, the machine is no longer supported by the manufacturer and the PLC controller had become obsolete. Furthermore, the provided wiring diagram proved inaccurate.

After researching the manufacturer and reaching out to them, I was able to obtaining a file and eventually a printout of the existing PLC program. I discovered that nearly half of the code was extraneous, likely remnants from previous machine updates. I selected a compatible, current-generation PLC based on an analysis of the existing control panel.

A test panel was constructed to simulate the machine's operational components, including the pendant, limit switches, and outputs. This allowed for thorough testing and development. Given the significant discrepancies in the original program and its incompatibility with the new PLC, a complete program rewrite was deemed necessary.

Extensive testing was conducted, with a focus on implementing robust safety features. Notably, the system was designed to ensure that in the event of a power interruption and restoration, the shear mechanism returns to its resting position, preventing unintended operation.

The updated PLC is now ready for customer pickup and installation. I will provide on-site commissioning support upon installation.

10/22/2024

Wow ... seems like forever since I posted. A few people have asked how my project has been going. Sorry for that, my phone battery exploded and killed the phone and the second phone I ordered had issues recording sound and had to be returned. I just have not had time to pick another one up so I have not posted lately.

OK ... so side one is done. I then moved everything to the other of the building.

This side is taking longer. First, the days are getting shorter and shorter.

Second, I am working on the cap at the same time. The top of the panels has a special "Z" trim piece installed between each of the panels (the same height as the seams). This Z trim has holes in it and a foam shield on the back. It allows air to pass though so the roof is vented.

They need to be positioned just right as the cap has a hem on each side and clips over it.

I then have the fun job of climbing out onto the roof, crimp the cap hem and putting rivets in to hold the cap to the Z trim.

Just a lot of playing around ... but it is getting there.

Winter is on the way ... snow is on the mountain behind me.

Got to keep pushing.

05/23/2024

Finished up four air flow monitors for Westinghouse today. I did everything from design the Printed Circuit Boards to create the labels. It helps to have a multitude of skills when you are a one man shop.