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What did you do this week?
As part of a weekly series, these topics are a place for users to casually discuss the things they did — or didn't do — during their week. Did you accomplish any goals? Suffer a failure? Do nothing at all? Tell us about it!
This has been the most productive week I've had in a long time. Since before COVID started. I'm exhausted from this week, but the sense of accomplishment is doing great things for my mental health.
I scheduled this entire last week off in advance, since it was Memorial Day in the US on Monday and I had accumulated a bunch of vacation time last year. I had started a check list of projects, and managed to get through quite a large chunk of it:
*Whew*
I also just bought a battery powered lawn mower. What did you get, and what do you think about it? I bought they least expensive Ryobi, and it does the job, but the battery doesn't last very long. I get 20 minutes. This doesn't bother me too much because my work style for lawns isn't "do it till it's done," it's more do a bit while I smoke." We went with the one we got because we already use the battery that battery system for our other tools, but if I were to do it over, I would have gone with the next one up with the upgraded batteries.
Delayed response, since I didn't actually use it until today. 😋
The exact model I got was RY401110US, and came with one battery and their standard charger. Packaging included a gift code for their fast charger if I registered, which was nice. Purchased online from HD it was $299US, shipping included. This is the non-self propelled model that has attachments for both mulch and bag (I mulch).
Used it today to do both my front and back yard on one charge. Yards aren't that big though, maybe 25x25ft and 50x50ft. When I was done, the indicator on the battery said it had one bar left out of 5). It took maybe around 30-40min, and the grass wasn't very long, and it was pretty dry even though it rained the other day.
Overall I like it. It's quieter (which my tinnitus appreciates) and lighter which is nicer for manuvering around all the plants and bushes. The most interesting thing to me technology wise was listening to the motor automatically spin up higher when I got into a thicker patch of grass.
You may be able to find some off-brand replacement batteries for cheap. I got a pair of DeWalt-compatible 6Ah batteries for $65 on amzn. Totally worth it to have enough battery power to do all my tasks before needing to recharge.
I finally got to relax for a few days this week. I am pretty much almost done with my studies now, and in a bit hopefully I am going to have a bachelor's degree. Just a few more days and I will have the rest of the summer free. Pretty cool!
I also went on a date after more than a year this week, it was pretty nice, we went on a lovely walk/short hike. After it, I have done a lot of thinking of what I even want from a relationship and also who I want the relationship with. The person I went out with was really nice. But they were also a bit, I don't really know how to say it nicely, boring and basic? I was really trying to have them talk about anything they find interesting, their hobbies or something, but they didn't really tell me anything. They just talked about their job, and when they asked what they would do in their free time if they had a lot of it, they talked about how they would love to spend time with their partner and stuff like that. Am I weird if I'd like my partner to have hobbies other than their partner? They really were nice though and I enjoyed our walk and I wouldn't mind going out on another "date" with them, but I really don't want to lead them on, if I ultimately decide they are too "boring" or something. God I feel like an asshole just writing this.
And, here's an update for all the great people who responded to my venting post a while back (again thank you to everyone who read it or responded to it). I applied for a single university abroad, and I was rejected already. So that is out of the way, and I am ok with it. I am happy I at least tried!
Regarding my name, I talked about changing it with a friend a bit after my vent post. I also talked about it a tiny bit with my parents and they mostly told me that they would use my "old" name anyways. And that is basically where I stopped that exploration. I decided that it would be too much of a hassle to change my name and that I am ok with the status quo. To be honest, I now feel weird being called by my "old" name, and when I had my friend try calling me by the "new" name for a few days, it felt weird too (though that might have been because they definitely were not used to it at all, and had some difficulties with it, which is perfectly understandable). So that is pretty cool.
Yeah, parents are the worst when it comes to changing names. To be fair, they have decades more of a habit and much deeper feelings about the name they specifically chose and gave you than other people will. For most people, a name will just be the noise they need to make to get your attention, while to your parents it means something.
Yes, it is very much due to them getting used to it for years, same for most of my friends. I am not expecting my parents would use a different name if I really changed it in the end. There is definitely no deep meaning about the name they chose though, I have been told that I was supposed to have a different name, and basically only on the day I was born they decided on another on a whim (I much prefer the name they chose from the one I was supposed to have so that is nice, but you know I could have also been a very different person just due to the name, who knows, so I might have liked it more if I had it). Still, they told me that if I'd change my name, that I should keep the name they gave me as a middle name. I probably wouldn't do that if I was actually going to change my name, because what would be the point then?
What university did you apply to and what field? I'm gonna start applying next year for my post graduate with a not so stellar GPA so kinda worried about it
Yesterday I upgraded my Ender 3 with a MicroSwiss direct drive dual-gear extruder and hot end. It wasn't terribly difficult to do, though some of it needed two-handed dexterity and it did take quite a bit of time (most of which was trying to understand the directions - which weren't bad but were definitely written by a machinist). It also did require me to recompile the firmware (which meant reconfiguring it as well, since I didn't back up the old one), but that ended up being a positive because it looks like there were major improvements since the last time I updated it.
I'm actually quite impressed by the quality of the machining for this kit. After decades of dealing with good enough hardware, good quality machining is a breath of fresh air. When you screw something in all the way, you feel the end; it doesn't just keep going. The replacement aluminum mounting plate that came with it had that squeeky fresh feeling that you only get on something that has just been milled. It was a bit annoying that I had to print out a new fan shroud but I really like the new design (which is frankly mostly because I really like the transparent PETG that I made it out of).
I have only just finished installing it and doing the most basic calibrations, so I haven't printed anything yet. I have a reel of TPU that I'm dying to try out. I'm also looking forward to getting some of the fancier formulations that I couldn't use before.
For those who didn't understand anything I just said, I just performed an upgrade on a 3D printer that makes it more reliable and able to use more materials.
Congrats, nice job! I've had my Ender 3 for about 2yrs and I go through phases where I'll print stuff, then ignore it for a few months. Right now it's being ignored as the weather outside is great for outdoor projects.
I haven't looked at many of the possible upgrades, though I did replace the filament feeder with an aluminum one, and the feeder tube with one that doesn't push itself out.
Keep us posted on how your experiments with new materials go!
I just tried out TPU and I am impressed at how amazingly easy it was to use. With the exception of some part cooling issues, the benchy I printed came out almost perfect. I’m using the AmazonBasics red which is semitransparent and it looks really pretty.
Honestly I can’t think of much use for flexible filament, but that flexibility appears to come with the benefit of excellent layer adhesion which means that printer parts are fairly durable. Combining the ease of use, this might be really good for making toys and art prints. I’ve seen people 3D printing water pumps and I wonder if the flexibility might prove good for making gaskets and o-rings. Alternatively, I have heard that there are some formulations that are harder and less flexible.
Most other materials require an enclosure or are fairly expensive, so I am not sure what to try next. I think I might try one of those abrasive PLAs, but honestly I have no idea which ones I want to try. Carbon fiber sounds cool, but I don’t see the utility. Wood sounds novel but I worry it might make prints notably worse. I also am considering skipping abrasives altogether for now since I only have the one 0.4mm nozzle and it is likely to clog.
First day of the class for my internship which doesn't start until next Monday. My timeline will basically be lagging two weeks behind the rest of the class because my internship starts two weeks after the class does (except for reading and in-class participation).
I may be the only person in history willing to serve jury duty earlier, but I needed to shift my call in to last Friday because I didn't want to risk having to report to court for my internship's orientation, and wanted to be able to give my company notice if I had to report. I generally meet all the bad marks to be a bad juror anyway, so if I do report, I'll likely be promptly eliminated. It's not that I don't want to serve on a jury but also... I'd rather not if it's going to affect future employment prospects.
Since I don't have enough hobbies to neglect, I picked up a drone - DJI Mavic Mini 2 - and started in on learning how to fly a drone effectively, take aerial pictures, etc. It's been pretty interesting thus far, and I've taken a couple of pictures that I have liked.
I played a few rounds of disc golf, including one with my brother. I usually shoot between 1 and 3 over par on 18, but as happens, when I play with someone, I shot +6... on 9 holes. It was ridiculous, but still tons of fun.
Other than that, work work work work work for me.