Ronstar
Moderator Emeritus
Used to dabble in arduino and raspberry pi. Not designing and building parts on my 3d printer. Trying to master Fusion 360. Now building a new 3d printer from parts. Next up an RC boat.
I'm still on the struggle bus with Fusion, however I've been able to create what I want as long as it's not to complicated.Used to dabble in arduino and raspberry pi. Not designing and building parts on my 3d printer. Trying to master Fusion 360. Now building a new 3d printer from parts. Next up an RC boat.
I have settled on SketchUp and I can model pretty fast. I tried learning another modeling software (Solid?) but it was hard so I went back to SketchUp.I'm still on the struggle bus with Fusion, however I've been able to create what I want as long as it's not to complicated.
Hats off to those who are proficient with Fusion.
LOL me either but I get lost easily. Not sure that counts. . . I even lose my car in parking lots. . . but I always have so it isn't new.^^^^^^^
I feel much better now. I've never owned a GPS!
It is really pretty slick. You use 18 gauge wire. 18-5 between the switches and the main box and 18-2 to the actual fixtures.Throughout the majority of my career, I worked in IT. In my previous role, I primarily focused on virtualization with racks and racks of compute and storage. On the other end of the scale, I utilized Raspberry Pi’s for digital signage, controlling equipment, rudimentary tasks, among other applications. Their affordable and invaluable for non-critical applications. Currently, I spent a significant amount of time working on various "projects." One project, which I am about to start on, involves the use of an Arduino Uno a device I have no prior experience with, another learning opportunity. If you have not yet explored virtualization, you should check it out. There are some great options.
I would be interested in hearing more about DC lighting.
I'll have to take a look at SketchUp.I have settled on SketchUp and I can model pretty fast. I tried learning another modeling software (Solid?) but it was hard so I went back to SketchUp.
Most of my modeling is geometric shapes so it works out great (building, furniture, small part, etc.). I have never tried to model anything with curves, other than occasional arc and circle. YMMV.I'll have to take a look at SketchUp.
That IS slick!It is really pretty slick.
I really like the features it has that I don't have, especially the transition in color.You can have the color temperature change in the evening to a warmer hue, a sort of natural transition to your night circadian rhythm
(1) Keeping up with trends?... That said, for those of you who retired do you find yourself keeping up with trends, do you maintain your curiosity for new ideas, are you stimulated to the point of studying new things in order to stay out of your comfort zone? The reason I ask is brain health issues run in my family. ...
I use quite a few apps, including yours, and I'm grateful for all the work everyone puts into these products. The only real issue I have with amateur radio apps is you need Windows to run a suite of "everything" and since I became Mac-centric over 10 years ago I have a dedicated Windows machine for my ham radio activities. I've been off the air for over a year as my system died (i7 NUC clone connected to 2 4K displays with a lot of memory and 2TB NVME). I know I'm missing the solar cycle, too. I bought a replacement but haven't had time to port all of the various private databases and, config files and anything else required to make it all work seamlessly. Add to that the outage of Logbook of the World at the time I was going to build the new system configuration so I just decided to stand down until I had more time. Now we are planning to move in the next year or two so I'm planning my dream tower and new ham shack so everything else is in suspended animation. One of my masts blew down recently so I'm down to one wire right now. It is not worth trying to make any progress at the current time but being off the air is also a little worrysome.I have been working on the pictured (free) ham radio contesting application since 1998. It is updated weekly and about 10-20,000 downloads of each update.
I lead a team of 9 developers who maintain the app, adding new features and capabilities while maintaining the existing code base of about 300,000 lines. Each May, I go to the Dayton Hamvention, where 20-30,000 hams meet to visit, learn and see new equipment and technologies. Since the app is free, I and the other members of the team are recipients of many expressions of gratitude from the 5% or so of attendees that participate in ham radio contests. To say that is rewarding is to really understate the case.
Another rewarding part is being able to conceive of a capability and then roll it out more quickly than I ever did when I was working in the insurance industry.
Yet another reward is the comradery of the team. We have a permanent Skype channel that is open all day where we solve problems and discus new features.
Downsides? Yeah, silly questions people ask without reading any documentation or even the thread they are posting on, but that pales in comparison to the rewards.
I don't get bored. Currently I'm working on Stream Deck integration, various technical imrprovements and improving the look of the UI (the new "dark skin" is shown below.
My recommendation is find something you can do that others value, and organize to give it away.
Tom
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