81–90 of 281 posts
Creative Writing - Although LLMs seem to be a good help with replacing whatever I am missing. Mostly organizational issues. I enjoy the meat, writing certain scenarios. But fleshing out a whole book I fail from both top down and bottom up methods.
But, there are things I truly have dream but have dedicated almost not effort trying:
* Play (rock) bass
* Draw comic/manga style. I wish to make histories and think I could do it but refuse to write plain words (idiot!).
Basically, art is my unreachable goal
Electronics. Have a hard time thinking about it conceptually. I tend to always take a step out and just find components from other projects and tie them together with code. Would love to design my own PCB. Creative Writing - Although LLMs seem to be a good help with replacing whatever I am missing. Mostly organizational issues. I enjoy the meat, writing certain scenarios. But fleshing out a whole book I fail from bot…
For most hobbyist-level electronics, it’s just a matter of becoming familiar enough with using the Arduino IDE to flash your C(-like) code to your board, or using something like MicroPython, then following the wiring instructions freely available online for common parts like servos, LEDs, displays, etc. Every once in a while you may have to reach for something like a transistor, capacitor, or resistor, but those can also be learned in an afternoon.
Google really is your friend! I taught myself hobby electronics over 15 years ago using the same, and they still hold up!
Electronics. Have a hard time thinking about it conceptually. I tend to always take a step out and just find components from other projects and tie them together with code. Would love to design my own PCB. Creative Writing - Although LLMs seem to be a good help with replacing whatever I am missing. Mostly organizational issues. I enjoy the meat, writing certain scenarios. But fleshing out a whole book I fail from bot…
Arduino and, specifically, the ESP8226 (basically an Arduino+Wifi) and ESP32 (Arduino+Wifi+BT) development boards are a fantastic place to start! For most hobbyist-level electronics, it’s just a matter of becoming familiar enough with using the Arduino IDE to flash your C(-like) code to your board, or using something like MicroPython, then following the wiring instructions freely available online for common parts lik…
Its just like, in terms of my abilities, I find it easier to grab Arduino + wifi and arduino + ledmatrix and get them speaking together in code, when I should be able to create a simpler, and cheaper circuit of LED's and just use electronic signals to do the work for me.
CAD, all aspects of machining, tool and die stuff, injection molding, and similar manufacturing techniques.
For machining, I’d start with wood (wood lathe or router, cheaper than a real metal lathe or mill). Very similar concepts as real machining (feeds and speeds, toolpaths, CAM). Up to you if you want to start manual or CNC. The Shapeoko routers are very nice and relatively affordable (in this domain). You can also find used manual machines locally, but it’s hard to know if they’re in good condition if you don’t know anything.
If you want to read, the Machinery’s Handbook, aka the Bible in any shop, is enormous and contains pretty much anything you’d want to know.
Oh, and get a set of Mitutoyo digital calipers. Expensive but the only way to go, in my opinion. Measuring is fundamental to manufacturing.
There's a few that come to mind, but none that feel actually as daunting intellectually as much as they are qualified by other factors. I'd like to go from indoor bouldering to rock climbing, but coordinating with a belayer doesn't seem super interesting and otherwise it's just a matter of expense, gear, and a slight pivot in my leisure time to start going at it. Otherwise, the skill that seems most out of reach is k…
Start by talking to people at your bouldering gym. If you hear anyone discussing going out climbing, ask if you can tag along and just watch for a few times. Watch some videos about climbing basics to get an overall feel for it and some of the concepts and terminology. I'd say you should start out "top roping" on smaller walls. As for equipment for that you don't need much especially since your partner will probably have a rope and gear to build an anchor, etc. You'll need, shoes, a harness, and a helmet.
Going from gym bouldering to outdoor climbing _does_ require being a little more social. It's a minimum 2-person sport usually. But going as a small group and rotating roles and just hanging out watching works too.) You just need to find people you like hanging out with and you can trust. (If you don't find them at your gym, try another or ask around at outdoor stores, your local university rec department, etc.)
About jobs, I can't help you. I tend to stay too long if anything.
CAD, all aspects of machining, tool and die stuff, injection molding, and similar manufacturing techniques.
https://github.com/WillAdams/gcodepreview
That said, the only 3D CAD tool where I was able to follow the tutorial (after a fashion) was Dune 3D: https://dune3d.org/ --- if you haven't tried that, I'd highly recommend it.
The usual way to get started w/ molding is to make a vacuum molding machine:
https://makezine.com/projects/diy-injection-molding
(I remember one such plan page where the first project was to make a handle to make the machine more comfortable to use...)