Introductions

[BBChapnick]

Note: This is a repost of my intro from my "Test Forum" thread post, Mumbles immediately got me squared away as I experienced a glitch not being able to reply. Again shout out to Mumbles for the PM and very fast forum "first-aid" he remedied my issue; didn't even ask for a dime! 😄 Also appreciate Zumber for also reaching out to my thread to help in his reply.

The Introduction:
    The names Ben, some call me BBC for short fashion, due the middle and last initials of "your's truly" being what they are. The sharp witted & pragmatic amongst us would be right in pointing out that saying BBC instead of Ben "for short" doesn't quite save you from typing or saying any less letters though. I'm not an old fella so I'm still working my way through the awards and versatility in regards to the working mans life work & career accomplishments. For me I was the foundry foreman in a Bronze foundry after graduating a state trade school (Electromechanical Dept) I manufactured bronze woodworking planes for my father all in house for years though he has passed and I no longer produce them however you can see some of the planes we cast, machined, finished, and hand engraved all in house here at my fathers old website: www.planeclassics.com if your curious. Being a self taught home shop machinist and patternmaker, I learned a lot during that part of my life working with my father and will forever be grateful for it now that he is gone. Later on I went to school for a BS in electrical engineering and computer science. I'm a DIY guy, a tinkerer through and through with a keen interest in military fuzes; of which has led me here. As with most of us I'm still stumbling my way through life just trying to make a living, life throws you curveballs. That being said, I've got myself a good woman and I'm greatly appreciative for what I do have. Recognizing what you do have in life makes everything else a breeze considering you tend not to sweat the less important things as you get older.

       I ended up here because I'm guilty of being an aficionado of the old school mechanical clockwork ordinance and artillery fuze timers. The setback & spin mechanisms, safe-fire arming mechanisms, rotor based explosive train safety systems. It all fascinates me. Before the age of modern electronics being the incredibly tiny durable marvel they are now artillery and ordinances fuzes were mostly entirely mechanical in function. Still marvels of modern mechanical engineering, essentially encompassing multiple highly refined mechanical mechanisms for each aspect of a functioning fuze. A literal watch clockwork mechanism worked as the the timer, another mechanism controlled the safe-fire state of the explosive trains along with redundant safety mechanisms throughout. These were built to watch grade tolerances while enduring the violent explosive journey, being accurate within milliseconds to attain a specific exact purpose; all just to be blown up in the end or sit in a warehouse and never used. There's some kind of poetry in there somewhere....I think?

         Anyhow I spend many hours reveling in the DTIC databases, scouring over diagrams and composition mixtures; even old patents are a goldmine of knowledge and fascinating diagrams as well. With all that comes the obvious interest in, compositions, primary energetics (and energetics in general) due to the inherent fact that fuses encompass a series of explosive train components. These mechanical components and explosive trains work in harmony to safely initiate the main explosive charge. So many variations of initiators from impact sensitive, electric bridgewire, even exploding bridge wires. Then on to the Boosters (also called intermediate explosives) before the main charge or bomb is detonated. You could say it's essentially a military version of a "Firework" without the art of colors artistry which is why fireworks are also a wonderfully interesting subject as well. Yes I'm a bit of an odd duck but I think I'll fit in just fine around here...

   I'll be looking forward to learning along with all like minded individuals here, so there's my official hello. All the best to everyone & I'll be seeing you around the forums fellas!