HyperKat Support and Tester Forum

Mars Challenger V1.0 => MCO Early Discussions => Topic started by: Marco2001 on October 10, 2010, 07:00:52 PM

Title: Ball mill - idea
Post by: Marco2001 on October 10, 2010, 07:00:52 PM
Ball mill / Samples grinder
(Base equipement that will prepare geological samples to be tested futher - for instance: in LIBS)

(http://www.chemplex.com/images/pic_gyralgrinder.jpg)

http://geology.um.edu.my/1%20Mac%202009/DSC01149.JPG (http://geology.um.edu.my/1%20Mac%202009/DSC01149.JPG)

In real life it looks like this:
First you take a sample of a rock/ground or a core sample from drilling.
Next - you take that sample for grinding into powder.
Powdered sample can be studied futher with multiple instruments that couldn't test macroscopic objects that you collect.
One of those tests is LIBS.

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/08/26/article-0-0AEA0C26000005DC-417_468x318.jpg)

(http://www.hyperkat.com/Colony/Images/libs.png)

So I propose that in order to test the samples you would have to prepare them first by grinding them to powder.
That may seem like adding some work to the collony but I think that it's worth it.
Not only becouse it's real, but it gives players some additional job to do.
It gives you the feeling of being a real field geologist.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_mill (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_mill)

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/High-energy_ball_milling.gif)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mill_%28grinding%29 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mill_%28grinding%29)
http://www.chemplex.com/grinding/gyralgrinder.aspx (http://www.chemplex.com/grinding/gyralgrinder.aspx)
http://www.envsci.mq.edu.au/facilities/earth/index.html (http://www.envsci.mq.edu.au/facilities/earth/index.html)
Title: Re: Ball mill - idea
Post by: Marco2001 on October 11, 2010, 08:28:03 AM
Why no-one responds to my ideas anymore? :D
Title: Re: Ball mill - idea
Post by: profit004 on October 11, 2010, 10:05:02 AM
Probably because it was me who was responding to them and I have been out with back pain =p

But anyhow... This idea seems solid.

One side note is there should probably be a significant draw on the power  supply from this, of course all the power used would offset the bases heat power budget by the same amount...  Unless the base is not electrically heated.
Title: Re: Ball mill - idea
Post by: Hyper on October 11, 2010, 03:54:56 PM
I will add something like that to all the systems as I get to them. Right now my goal is to get things in place and running. Your ideas are not being ignored, I only have so much time to dedicate to this and I am trying to get the most bang for the time I do have. As this progresses I plant to make things a bit more involved than they are now. Hang in there....
Title: Re: Ball mill - idea
Post by: Marco2001 on October 11, 2010, 04:16:43 PM
Yeah profit - I miss your constructive criticism  ;)

Ok - I realize that Hyper, no problem :-)
But ther's no harm in me posting those ideas as I go on right?
I mean - I do the research one way or another for my book about Mars, so I might aswell post them.
That way you will have full asortyment of up-grades to the game to pick from later-on If you think they suit MCO, and I won't forget about my research about that topic :-)
Title: Re: Ball mill - idea
Post by: aozeba on November 16, 2010, 01:19:36 AM
I've been reading your ideas! Even if they don't all get into the game, they are fostering practical discussion about going to mars, and thats a good thing.
Title: Re: Ball mill - idea
Post by: pad69 on November 16, 2010, 04:47:27 AM
I've been reading your ideas! Even if they don't all get into the game, they are fostering practical discussion about going to mars, and thats a good thing.

I agree
Title: Re: Ball mill - idea
Post by: thedubman on November 17, 2010, 04:05:47 PM
Marco's Ideas are allways top ones,.. If we in a colony for real, I would have you down as Engineer, Techology Department  :)