I created a parametrized box model with a snap fit lid in Fusion 360. It feels like a nice accomplishment even though I mostly just followed a YouTube tutorial.

I’ve noticed that when I’m feeling down things that formerly were enjoyable become saddening. Not ideal.

Up before dawn.

Due to a hailstorm our roof is being replaced. The roofers arrived at 6am - who can blame them with a high of 106F today. The process is very loud so the whole family is short on sleep today.

We got Gloomhaven late Friday and my time is suddenly occupied between playing scenarios and 3D printing storage to de-clutter the table top and assuage our organizational angst.

Today was exhausting and I’m feeling drained as bedtime approaches. The morning was rather stressful but it turned out fine in the end. It just left me “wound up” and I haven’t returned to a normal state. It feels like one of those things where a night’s rest is the solution.

I always enjoy watching the Women’s World Cut ⚽️. Such great performances. And the 4K feed looks amazing.

Conspiracy theory

Search engines deliberately return crappy results so you’ll keep trying different search terms trying to get a better result. Thus generating more ad hits for them.

Hatchbox’s response to my concern about the pitting with my latest filament purchase was underwhelming. They simply asked if I would try slowing the print speed but said nothing about why it might help or how much to slow it down. Nor why all my previous Hatchbox (8) reels print fine at the default speed. To me if the default speed doesn’t work the filament is defective. Not gonna waste more time.

They had been my second choice, after Prusa, so now I need to find an alternative.

Contemplating playing Gloomhaven with my 14 yo son. They’re coming out with a console version with cross-play in September or we could get the board game version. Pros and cons of each. 🤔

I assembled the 3DSets.com Landy this morning. Per their Printables post this is a nearly 64 hour print. I used a MK4 so it was a bit less. Pretty cool model and I appreciate them making it available for free.

https://www.printables.com/model/41264-lan

Feeling powerful: I integrated Telegram with Prusa Connect so now I get printer status notifications. 👍🏼

In other news I started a print using Amolen wood PLA for the first time in months and I forgot what a wonderful woodsy smell it produces. Ahhhh.

I opened a new package of Hatchbox white PLA and put it in my dryer for 2 hours. The first print was covered in pock marks. Thinking it might still be wet I did 2 cycles of 6 hour drying and printed again. The pock marks were more widespread but the result is still an unusable print. Subsequent prints using other PLA were fine. I ordered it >30 days ago and I wonder if they’ll stand behind the product. If not, bye bye HB.

I’ve been running a QRP WSPR transceiver for a bit over a year. I’m not sure why but now I feel I should retire it. It doesn’t take any maintenance and is tiny but I still feel like a cleansing is due. I’m having a “less is more” feeling.

I had the parts on hand so I built a quarter-wave antenna for my FOSS TinyGS (satellite ground station).

I deployed the antenna on a post in the backyard, now to see how well it performs. The SWR and Smith charts look very good but real world performance has a mind of its own.

I also used parts on hand to build a battery+solar panel charger for the TinyGS. It tested out OK but for now the actual Lora board is powered from mains.

Https://tinygs.com

We ordered coffee from Wonderstate Coffee for the first time and chose Driftless, an organic medium-dark roast wonderstate.com/products/organ. The beans were roasted the same day they were shipped to us. Lovely aroma and taste. 👍🏼 ☕️

I think the Doctor Strange Bust model posted by iczfirz https://www.printables.com/model/59079-doc turned out great (though it did require a few organic supports). My teenage son immediately added it to his collection in his bedroom.

Oh, very nice. I got my first confirmed satellite packets this morning from PC4L-L!

I’ve had my MK4 printer set up for 9 days. It already has 4 days and 22 hours of print time 🤣

Thanks to the backend admins I got my tinygs.com/ satellite receiver on their network. Now I need to work on getting my first satellite pass.

Just finished the 3dsets.com Sandy Mini included with my Prusa MK4. Really happy with it. It took a couple of days of printing to complete.

Filaments: Prusament Royal Blue for the body, Lipstick Red for the seats, Eryone Matte Black for the tires, Hatchbox Silver and Black for the rest.

Tried to set up my TinyGS (satellite ground station) today but cannot get the MQTT credentials to work in spite of repeated tries. So far nothing in the Telegram group has been helpful.🤷‍♂️ Time for patience I suppose.

This morning I started my longest 3D print ever - 11.5 hours. Thunderstorms began shortly afterwards and dumped 1.5” of rain and still going. I’m wondering if I will get an unintended test of power out recovery on my MK4 later? Hope not.🤞🏻

I’m definitely pleased with my MK4. Nozzle changes are a breeze and even without the fancy new input shaping stuff it is a lot faster than my MK3S+. E.g. a 3.5 hour print on the MK3S+ takes only 2.7 hours on the MK4. Can’t wait to try the input shaping firmware when it hits beta.

With the arrival of my MK4 I decided to create a revised holder for 3D related printing tools. This is a compact model that holds 11 different tools. It’s not specific to the MK4. I’ve posted it to Printables if you’re interested: https://www.printables.com/model/522010-pr.

I started using OnShape to learn CAD and did a few designs successfully. But I ran into some limitations even for my simple models and I’m not a fan of the fact I can’t save the designs to my own storage.

Thanks to the new Fusion 360 course at Prusa Academy I got over the hump and I’m able to make the switch. I still have a lot to learn about F360 but I can now enjoy the process instead of just being frustrated.