29 Sep
2005
29 Sep
'05
11:10 a.m.
There are 2 specific places I don't use
[compact fluorescent lights]
-- one is over the lathe (I am worried about a possible stroboscopic
effect making the machine appear stationary when it's not)
I actually wouldn't worry about that, for two reasons: (1) they have a
relatively long "on" time (partly the long-persistence phosphor, partly
the width of the mains voltage peak), and thus a rotating lathe, even
if rotating at a multiple of the strobe rate, will look blurred rather
than stationary, and (2) anyone who depends solely on the appearance of
the moving parts to tell whether a lathe is on is so stupid as to have
no business near power machinery in the first place (look at the power
switch, listen for the motor, find a smooth rotating part and touch it
lightly, the ways to tell are legion).