TheDarkerZone's recent activity
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Comment on The deadliest of all dead ends in the 3D printing industry in ~tech
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Comment on 3D printing my teeth in ~tech
TheDarkerZone Link ParentIt depends on where you go really - in my experience, a lot of UK dental work is done with traditional methods involving a technician, dremel and a block of ceramic, or a CNC mill like you've...It depends on where you go really - in my experience, a lot of UK dental work is done with traditional methods involving a technician, dremel and a block of ceramic, or a CNC mill like you've described.
There is a growing number of manufacturers of 3D printers who have developed ceramic printers capable of printing teeth out of zirconia, like the more well know Lithoz, Formlabs, and Stratasys systems, as well as lesser known companies (that i came across whilst double checking the above) like Ackuretta, Asiga and DentaFab. Their usage though is pretty small scale id say - I dont really see examples of the printed teeth at AM exhibitions. There was also a company who had systems that could print the ceramic implants as well as colour match them to the rest of the patients teeth but i cant find the name of it off the top of my head. I believe it was an italian manufacturer.
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Comment on 3D printing - A beginner's observations and some practical applications in ~creative
TheDarkerZone Linki have a BambuLab X1C. I am terrible at CAD but I'm actually a process engineer for a 3D printer manufacturer (not BambuLab) so more interested in the technical capability of the X1C than...-
i have a BambuLab X1C. I am terrible at CAD but I'm actually a process engineer for a 3D printer manufacturer (not BambuLab) so more interested in the technical capability of the X1C than designing my own things to print.
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I'm in the process of making a clock out of this print: https://engineezy.com/products/the-rack-driven-7-segment-display
I'm waiting for some PETG to be restocked on Bambu's website so I can finish the first model and tweak settings before I go ahead and print another 6 blocks for the project. -
Cable management for my media room. I like the thought of hiding all the cabling, but then I figured I could just print some transparent cable routers, which are custom sized to suit, and then have neat tracks of cables running along walls. That'd look more interesting I think and fit with the aesthetic of all these sources of media converging into one point; the projector behind you.
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Comment on Weekly thread for casual chat and photos of pets in ~life.pets
TheDarkerZone Link ParentCongrats to the goodest of boys!Congrats to the goodest of boys!
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Comment on Weekly thread for casual chat and photos of pets in ~life.pets
TheDarkerZone Link ParentShes honestly such a loving soul, and she made a massive impact in my family already, despite being part of it for a little less than a month.Shes honestly such a loving soul, and she made a massive impact in my family already, despite being part of it for a little less than a month.
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Comment on Weekly thread for casual chat and photos of pets in ~life.pets
TheDarkerZone Link ParentShe honestly doesn't mind the camera too much, and it's really interesting to see her different ear positions convey different emotions! In the above picture, she looks super confident and...She honestly doesn't mind the camera too much, and it's really interesting to see her different ear positions convey different emotions!
In the above picture, she looks super confident and photogenic, but her default is she puts her ears right back to her head, which makes her look sad and solemn!
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Comment on Weekly thread for casual chat and photos of pets in ~life.pets
TheDarkerZone Linkhttps://imgur.com/a/ItAX7Yn This is Florence - my newly-ish adopted ex-racing greyhound (been with me almost a month now). She was found as a stray in Ireland, presumably having been "retired"...This is Florence - my newly-ish adopted ex-racing greyhound (been with me almost a month now).
She was found as a stray in Ireland, presumably having been "retired" from racing, then transferred to a Dogs Trust shelter near me and I had her within a week of her getting there.
Shes estimated to be around 5.5 years old, and she has a few scars, one on her head, and one on her leg, but that adds to her uniqueness imo. Otherwise, she seems really healthy and fit.
So far, I've learned she likes belly rubs, nuzzling her head into somewhere warm (like my arm pit or behind my back if I'm sat next to her), and she goes crazy for banana. Every other food I've kept her away from, shes accepted, but banana she just cannot control herself around.
She doesn't like loud noises, hedgehogs, or having her feet touched unless she's muddy, at which point she doesn't seem to like the mud and is fine with me wiping her feet.
Slowly her personality seems to be coming out and I'm super lucky to have such an animated, expressionate yet relaxed adoptee!
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Comment on What books helped you deal with the anxiety of life's uncertainties? in ~books
TheDarkerZone LinkFor me, there are two subjects that have helped "level" me out and aid my thinking when it comes to life's problems. Stoicism, as pointed out by others here, helped me appreciate that most of our...For me, there are two subjects that have helped "level" me out and aid my thinking when it comes to life's problems.
Stoicism, as pointed out by others here, helped me appreciate that most of our problems are made up in our mind, and those that aren't are definitely approachable despite how large they may seem.
The second subject is spirituality, mainly focusing on books by Eckhart Tolle. Specifically, The Power of Now and A New Earth. Both of these books hammer home the fact that we live so much in the past or the future (which brings unecessary anticipation, anxiety, suffering etc), that we give very little attention to the now. And the Now is all that exists until it comes from the future or becomes the past. I'd recommend The Power of Now first and then A New Earth if you're going to read them - thats the order they were written in and whilst both relevant even now, A New Earth expands on the ideas from TPON so it makes less sense to work backwards.
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Comment on Birthrates are plummeting worldwide. Why? in ~life
TheDarkerZone (edited )LinkAnnecdotal comment - My own two cents as a 26 year old guy in the UK, on an above average wage. Feel free to mark as noise. I was in a relationship where we agreed kids were not ideal because of...Annecdotal comment - My own two cents as a 26 year old guy in the UK, on an above average wage. Feel free to mark as noise.
I was in a relationship where we agreed kids were not ideal because of the chance of disabilities. Whilst not in that relationship anymore, the cost of childcare for a disabled child is unfathomable, as well as the required time and effort. As my partner was disabled, we couldnt afford the time to look after her AND a child.
Additionally, I work for an industry that has the potential to do a lot of good and make a lot of positive change, yet the only projects that get funding are related to military applications or from industries that have already contributed to pain and suffering to humans through deceit, and that just doesn't sit right with me anymore... I'd feel terrible funding another life off the back of direct death and destruction, so whilst I'm glad my company has an anti-war stance, I can see the writing on the wall that the department might not be about for long.
As a final point, I'd also feel terrible about bringing a child into the world and throwing them into the meat grinder that is daily life. I can't see it getting much better as time goes on, only the chasm between wealth and poverty increasing.So I opted for sterilisation and went under the knife last Christmas, and since then I've been nothing but emboldened in my decision. People in the office quietly talk about worrying for their kids future, the news presents more and more depressing correspondence (I actively avoid engaging with the news, but keep abreast of world events through Tildes and glancing over the articles posted) and more and more people look to alternatives to the reality thats in front of them, from drugs and alcohol, to meditation and religion. It's startling just how much discontent in existence (and on the other hand ignorance too) there is on a day to day.
One of the most obvious questions i got was "what if you change your mind or meet someone who wants kids?" And my response is "so we compromise and adopt? We don't add to the pile, strain resources more than they already are, and we give a loving home to someone that's unlikely to get it from their birth parents for whatever reason that may be?"
Edit: I don't want my comment "quietly emboldened" to come across as holier than thou. I believe everyone is free to make their own decisions, based on their own judgement, but recently its been alarming to see people reacting and becoming aware of what's going on around us yet still thinking "let's bring another person in to experience this". It doesn't make sense to me as an individual, hence I went the route I did.
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Comment on The Xmas music playlist at my job is awful; give me your best non-traditional holiday songs! in ~music
TheDarkerZone LinkIf you want a hip hop Christmas mix, toasty digital just released a mash-up of Christmas songs and old Kanye songs. Surprisingly well done: https://youtu.be/7aqDawjezsI?si=NCkiInaXrhcmmaJ8If you want a hip hop Christmas mix, toasty digital just released a mash-up of Christmas songs and old Kanye songs. Surprisingly well done:
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Comment on How do you feel about AI and the future? in ~tech
TheDarkerZone (edited )LinkAs has already been pointed out here, its got very few niches. One of those niches is in another very niche sector: industrial 3D printing and Additive Manufacturing. The general gist is that AI...As has already been pointed out here, its got very few niches.
One of those niches is in another very niche sector: industrial 3D printing and Additive Manufacturing.
The general gist is that AI driven design iteration and creation is great because if you give it boundaries, it will optimise (a bit like topology optimisation but without the maths) to the nth degree whereby it'll give you the best possible design it sees.
With that said, there are still drawbacks in that it is still experimental and extremely expensive.
In my experience as an Engineer who works for a 3D printing manufacturer and service bureau, if you have a specific use case, and its given enough direction, it's very powerful. High efficiency heat exchangers are popular at the minute, as designing them conventionally for 3D printing processes is very challenging: AI generates a design in minutes based on certain processing constraints (minimum feature size that can be made by the printing system, particle size of the material, heat transfer properties, etc).
But then you have the situation that most of the big players in the Indsutrial AM sector have this capability, so no one is innovating with it. Its just all coral-shaped looking heatsinks on everyone's exhibition stands (AI only knows what we teach it, and we know the most efficient transfer mechanisms are in nature, hence this result.) For anyone interested (I can't link on mobile), TOffeeAM is the current choice for most AM companies, and their designs that target heat transfer as the main boundary all look quite organic.Outside of AM and 3D printing, I don't see much of a positive impact. Just the streamlining of certain processes perhaps.
Edit: I have just fact checked myself and i was wrong about TOffeeAM being AI driven - it is also maths driven. Leaving my comment up for transparency. Feel free to mark as noise.
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Comment on Hi, how are you? Mental health support and discussion thread (November 2023) in ~health.mental
TheDarkerZone Link ParentIm sorry to hear about your situation. I've been dealing with grief too and have found success with therapy, except mine has been 1 to 1 in person. For me there was talk about leaning into those...Im sorry to hear about your situation.
I've been dealing with grief too and have found success with therapy, except mine has been 1 to 1 in person. For me there was talk about leaning into those emotions and talking about them - from the sounds of it, it's probably a mutually understood thing that some upsetting topics will be spoken about.
I wish you all the success in your journey.
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Comment on Hi, how are you? Mental health support and discussion thread (November 2023) in ~health.mental
TheDarkerZone (edited )LinkComing out the other side of a break-up and simultaneously trying to battle the sense of guilt after looking after my terminally ill grandparent who took a fall and deteriorated severely whilst in...Coming out the other side of a break-up and simultaneously trying to battle the sense of guilt after looking after my terminally ill grandparent who took a fall and deteriorated severely whilst in my care.
My therapist thinks what I've done is ok (bringing the relationship to a close for my own sanity whilst i work through the grief of losing grandparents), but my ex couldn't continue being friends with me if there was no future together. Because of her autism, she needed timelines and plans: I didn't know how long therapy might take to see results, so I ended it indefinitely and told her as such. At a later point I did say I regretted the decision and wasn't averse to rekindling things, but wanted to remain firm that now wasn't the right time and friends was the best option.
After 6 months of being friends (still going for food, talking, cinema trips, and visits to each others place), she told me she couldn't do it anymore and we haven't spoken since. I get she's doing it for her mental wellbeing (it'd be pretty stupid to be anything other than understanding after I did the same thing) but it still ripped me up.
Im trying to take the positives from it though - the relationship was stressful and I've just bought my first house, so I have that to keep me distracted along with work until therapy helps me work through the mess that has been this last ~5 years.
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Comment on What did you do this week (and weekend)? in ~talk
TheDarkerZone LinkMy complex long-term relationship with my ex partner came to a close: im not sure if it was the right thing to do, but getting back together was also potentially not the right thing to do. Does...My complex long-term relationship with my ex partner came to a close: im not sure if it was the right thing to do, but getting back together was also potentially not the right thing to do.
Does anyone have any tips for dealing with death grief and end of relationship grief? I'm dealing with both right now and am struggling to stay afloat.For context:
- I ended the ~5 relationship with my partner in May.
- the reason for the end of the relationship was that I was struggling to process the grief of looking after my cancer ridden maternal grandad (he needed assistance going to the bathroom and collapsed whilst in my care, cutting open his back and scaring him from moving from his bed for his remaining days), the death of my maternal grandmother in February (also cancer, but less involved with her care), the death of my aunt in October 2020 (also cancer) and the death of my paternal grandmother in March 2019 (again, cancer). Following all this, I started to become upset with things in the relationship that didn't previously upset me, and I saw this and thought it unfair so asked to end things on a romantic level with her.
- I am in therapy and have been making progress, but put the relationship on hold to fully allow me to work unhindered.
- My ex-partner was autistic and had been abused, so there were complexities related to that. That made the lows very difficult in the relationship. Conversely, this also made the highs incredibly worthwhile.
- I asked my ex-partner for space and she understood, but difficulties arose when I realised I have little to no friend network for support, at which point I'd asked to be friends yet we spoke every day like in our relationship. Can't lean on parents because they're also struggling with the deaths.
- from yesterday, she's asked for no contact to put her mental health first for the first time in the last six months. I totally appreciate this given I did that in the first place.
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Comment on What did you do this week (and weekend)? in ~talk
TheDarkerZone (edited )LinkI spent a week in Bremen attending a conference on metal sintering and additive manufacturing companies. My company came joint second in the components contest for our passive 3D printed heatsink...I spent a week in Bremen attending a conference on metal sintering and additive manufacturing companies.
My company came joint second in the components contest for our passive 3D printed heatsink that increased the thermal performance of the CPU by 15% vs a standard heatsink made of copper: ours is made of aluminium and is a noticeable amount lighter and is CO2 footprint has a considerable reduction too!
Looking forward to working on more impressive applications in future!
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Comment on ‘Flying aliens’ harassing village in Peru are actually illegal miners with jetpacks, cops say in ~tech
TheDarkerZone Link ParentAs an aside on the Jetpacks, my company are the company that print the casings for them before they're sent to the company (Gravity) for assembly. They're surprisingly simple in terms of design -...As an aside on the Jetpacks, my company are the company that print the casings for them before they're sent to the company (Gravity) for assembly. They're surprisingly simple in terms of design - the real skill comes in piloting them and getting used to the inputs and outputs.
It wouldn't surprise me if we start seeing similar concepts on hobby grade printing systems, which will bring down the costs from tens of thousands to just thousands, maybe less. I give it about 5 years.
Edit - feel free to mark as noise.
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Comment on Meet Your Tildes Neighbour: August 2023 Edition in ~talk
TheDarkerZone Link ParentRegarding the 3D printing - great! Its interesting seeing things from a professional perspective when it comes to hobbyist printing. Most of the people I've met in the hobbyist scene have the same...Regarding the 3D printing - great! Its interesting seeing things from a professional perspective when it comes to hobbyist printing. Most of the people I've met in the hobbyist scene have the same level of knowledge as me, if not more, when it comes to the design aspect. Its usually the applications, academia and the materials that the industrial sector exceeds in.
As for the home automation - Fantastic information, thank you so much. I'll do some more research on Abode and potential alternatives as you've suggested, and then go from there. The one about the water - super interesting idea that I would've found life saving maybe a year ago, when my then partner's pipe burst under the sink and water flooded her flat up to her ankles in the 20 minutes it took for me to get to her and shut the valve properly.
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Comment on Meet Your Tildes Neighbour: August 2023 Edition in ~talk
TheDarkerZone Link ParentI think the point I should stress about body weight and Calisthenics is that it appeals to a specific subset of people the most - I am an engineer by trade, and am inherently one of those people...I think the point I should stress about body weight and Calisthenics is that it appeals to a specific subset of people the most - I am an engineer by trade, and am inherently one of those people who will not give up on finding a complete solution. Even if i have to accept defeat and put in a temporary solution for the time being, my mind still ticks over to find what I'd term a "complete" solution. I think this is why calisthenics and body weight training is so mentally stimulating for me, because until i have perfect form, I'm ALWAYS checking in with myself and analysing in various ways to get what I'd term "complete" or "perfect" form.
The best example i have is when i was trying to learn planche - There seems to be a consensus in the community that you can do it either on the floor, palms flat, or on parallel bars, with a standard grip. Its very well understood that the floor variant requires more wrist mobility and strength, and the bar variant requires more shoulder strength. To me however, floor seems more "complete" since you're not limited in how you can train it, if that makes sense? I can go on holiday and train in a park, i can go away with work, and train in the hotel room, etc if i learn the floor variant, but if i learn the bar variant, then i have to have that equipment with me.
Then you look at floor variant, and there's varying levels there too - some people have fingers forward (more wrist mobility), others have fingers out (more straight arm strength with less wrist strain). Some psychos do it with fingers back or on the tops of their hands, not using their fingers for balance and purchase at all. And all of this learning, tinkering, processing and detail is what i love about it. Finding what works for me and then putting myself and my understanding to the test!I think for you, if you're wanting to get into BW and Calisthenics, the best thing would be to set yourself an overall target. Find an excersice that you'd like to learn, and maybe would benefit the figure skating too (Id suggest perhaps planche for core strength, shoulder mobility, and controlled movement improvement? It is one of the hardest skills though, so expect learning to take between months to years), and then do plenty of research on some sort of progressions leading to that point. I remember for my planche progressions, there was a high focus on mobility, flexibility and controlled breathing, as well as the obvious straight arm strength and balance. Do not be afraid to use YouTube, websites, forums, etc to pull all the knowledge you can find, because that will accelerate your learning and give you more dopamine hits when you finally progress milestones.
Feel free to drop me a DM if you want to know more specifics, since training isnt the only thing that matters (as im sure you're probably aware) - aftercare, diet, sleep, equipment and even clothing can sometimes make a difference.
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Comment on Meet Your Tildes Neighbour: August 2023 Edition in ~talk
TheDarkerZone Link ParentI'd also like to add regarding the 3D printing question: even at an industrial level, we are doing iterative design! So sometimes we design something, it fails, we look at the design and then...I'd also like to add regarding the 3D printing question: even at an industrial level, we are doing iterative design! So sometimes we design something, it fails, we look at the design and then redesign and rebuild based on the failure mode - getting it right first time rarely happens unless we can run simulations beforehand. And even then, there are a lot of variables that means simulations can be slightly or completely out.
By continuing to design stuff and make stuff, you'll get better at understanding the limits of the materials and design, so continue to do so! -
Comment on Meet Your Tildes Neighbour: August 2023 Edition in ~talk
TheDarkerZone Link ParentSo I always was a sporty kid, playing football, basketball, badminton, etc. When I started secondary school though, the London Olympics was on, and I was given a day off to watch the UK compete in...So I always was a sporty kid, playing football, basketball, badminton, etc.
When I started secondary school though, the London Olympics was on, and I was given a day off to watch the UK compete in a sport of my choice. I wanted to watch the gymnastics as I'd never watched it before, and since then I've been captivated by the amount of strength and mental fortitude it must have taken gymnasts to push to the level of strength they have. Not only strength, but balance and stamina too.
Fast forward half a decade, and I'd joined a gym, and much like you, I tried weight training and was bored to death. So I challenged myself to get stronger without using weights, by doing push ups, pull ups, sit ups, squats, planks, etc. This was more mentally stimulating for me than weight training, since I had to actively think about making the exercises harder once I could comfortably do them.
During one of my training sessions, I came across a YouTuber called Kali Muscle who was a bit of a show off but was doing muscle ups. So I researched this exercise and realised there was a whole subset of exercises based on gymnastics but for the gym setting. Each of those exercises though, had "levels" and prerequisites that you had to meed before you could technically have the strength for the full exercise.
That was almost 8 years ago now, and I have the following calisthenics moves firmly under my belt: handstand push ups with no wall support, V-Sit for 5-10 seconds, Muscle Ups, full planche for 3 seconds, Back Lever for 10 seconds, and my latest learn is Tiger-bend handstand push ups.
My ultimate goal is to be able to do a One Armed Handstand, but my balance point is not yet well established for a single point of contact, and there's so much more you have to be aware of and in tune with compared to a regular handstand, so it'll take some time.
But that's what I love about it - it's mentally stimulating in ways that weight training never was for me, and I have nothing but respect for those who can grind away at the same isolated actions day in and day out and lift heavy stuff.Edit; typo.
Metal is quite different as you've said, and others have pointed out. I can give some examples that can give insight into the industry as a whole, but short of what people have already mentioned, theres only a handful of interesting case studies left to share.
All in all, as an engineer in the AM space, other peoples observations are right; 3D printing is great for one offs or low volume production of bespoke parts. Process limitations are what are stopping it becoming more mainstream - its very difficult to automate from at an industrial level in comparison with traditional manufacturing. There are so many variables, that we're unlikely to see it leave this space of niche, small volume production for at least another 2-3 decades.