Dropped my son off this weekend for his next adventure. #caltech #caltech2029 #engineering #stem #celebration #emptynest

I occasionally write poetry.

Thoughts and Prayers. I guess that's all we can do.

Finished assembling my primitive shelves and got some things organized slightly better. Basically, it's like an upgrade from a drug addled rat's nest to a malformed birds nest with severe ADHD. Should have enough space to build the rolling caddy for the CNC control now. #diy #build #lab #organize

Knocked out some primitive shelves from cheap wood using rudimentary tools in the most punishing and least ergonomic way possible. When I have to do woodworking, I do it in a way that ensures I never decide this would be a good hobby to take up. Still have some assembly to do. #diy #maker #build

Was excited to mark an item off my kick the bucket list, but things didn't work out.

I finally gave up trying to get a refund or RMA from omc-stepperonline.com for the bad stepper motor. There was always another step, or test, or repeat the test you already did. Word of caution to avoid them. They sent me bad cables as well and I wound up building my own. #stepper #cnc #maker #build

I often get distracted with useless side quests. This time, I made a Titanium PEZ dispenser to feed myself mints in style when the A.I. overlords unleash the nukes. #PEZ #candy #minty #maker #make #design #build #Titanium #engineering #fun #metal #diy

Finally, I got my concealed sandwich permit. What's the best sandwich to carry that's legal in CA?

Got all the steppers configured and running programs. Still waiting to see if stepperonline is going to refund the bad stepper. So far, they've just told me to repeat all the trouble shooting steps I already sent them in the initial contact. #maker #build #cnc #stem #steam #troubleshoot #engineering

Welp, looks like one of the steppers has some shorted coils. Gets excessively hot under no load. Time to find out if omc-stepperonline.com customer support is reasonable to deal with.

Checked all the cabel harnesses. No bad solders or crossed wires. Axis pairing is good. Now to configure everything and start building the VFD box. #cnc #cncmachining #maker #build #engineering #STEM #STEAM #design #makerspace #fun #fabrication

After 10 years, I'm retiring from coaching robotics. This is the robot the kids built this past season. #coach #community #robotics #education #engineering #design #teach #programming #mechanical #electrical #robot

You have to be incredibly stupid or lazy to fall for this. Like can't operate a toothbrush level stupid/lazy. There are so many red flags around this click-bait/hoax/nothing-sandwich story it's hard to pick a single thread to begin unraveling it 1/

Finished all the cables for the steppers and encoders today. #maker #build #electrical #cnc #cncmachining #wiring #make #cable #engineering #diy

Let's take a break from all the awful people in the news and discuss the best sci-fi series of all time, The Expanse.

V2 of the 2 stage robotics tentacle. 4 degrees of motion, 2 independent stages along the length. #robotics #robot #tentacle #design #programming #engineering #teach #learn #3dprinting

My biggest claim to fame is inventing to phrase "Ass Clown" back in the early 80ies. To this day, nobody believes me, because it's unbelievable. The only proof I have is Ronald Reagan.

CAD (cardboard aided design) is a great skill to have. #robot #robotics #build #fun #make #play #engineering #design #CAD #cnc #learn #programming

That was fun. Now back to real life. #opensauce #maker #make #build #fun

I absolutely despise every cheap safty/ballistic goggle available. So I make my own. 2.4mm polycarbonate photo chromic lenses with anti-scratch, blue light, no fog coating, and filtered air intake with forward vents. #cnc #machining #fabrication #maker #diy #build #safteyfirst #design #glasses

Hello world! Got bored and wound up designing and #building this #fidget toy with differential output. I get distracted easily. #maker #build #design #science #engineering #mechanical #build #learn #experiment

In case you're confused, the Senate just approved 34 billion dollars to wage war against American Citizens.

That was fun. #cirquedusoleil_echo

How's your day going?

I occasionally write poetry.

A little fabrication side project I did a few months ago for a robotics thing. 3D printing carbon fiber nylon, laser cut delrin, some molded silicone compliant wheels, and a tiny bit of machining. #maker #build #learn #fabrication #engineering #3dprinting #lasercut

Had a little friend come visit lab.

Got the servo, encoder, and proximity sensor connectors done today. #maker #build #engineering #engineer #electrical #cnc #machining #fabrication #diy

Andor really should have had more than 2 seasons. The could have called them Andor, Xor, Notor, Nand, and Xnor.

Happy Father's Day to all the gexX'rs out there

Hello world! Soldering in progress. The 6 pin GX16 aviator connectors are a PITA to solder, but they're the best I've found for reliability. Anyone else have sealed circular connectors they prefer? #make #build #cnc #cncmachine #machine #maker #invent #engineering

Need a new National Holiday like Thanksgiving only with tacos. No Kings Day

Printer driver software has an underpaid mid 90ies intern vibe.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼, 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀. ✊🏻

Its like watching someone you know is going to get really sick if they keep eating tacos, but they just keep stuffing them down. Then, when they start barfing, they tell you they saw the cook shit in the beans, but ate them anyway.

Looks like the tail is wagging the doge.

Looks like the Doge days of summer are finally here.

Powered everything up, and only 1 thing exploded, so that's a win. #engineering #mechanical #electrical #maker #cncmachining #build #design #science #diy #electonics #exploded

Powered everything up, and only 1 thing exploded, so that's a win. #engineering #mechanical #electrical #maker #cncmachining #build #design #science #diy #electonics #exploded

Never lick a gift horse on the mouth.

Hello. Stepper motor and control hardware is in the enclosure. Time to cut wire to length and solder all the aviation connectors. Then, I'll add the proximity and E-stop wiring and begin the final bench testing and configuration. #maker #build #cncmachining #engineering #mechanical #electrical

Ingenious: Mid-air transformation allows a flying, rolling robot to transition smoothly [via CA Tech] 🧪⚙️🤖🚁🦼 "a [] Transformer [with] the "brains" to morph in midair, allowing the dronelike #robot to [] roll away [for] ground operations without pause." www.caltech.edu/about/news/m... #transformer

Hello world! Holes drilled, fans mounted, ventilation handled. It's time to put all the control hardware in the enclosure. Pro tip: 3d print flanges to cover those sharp, ugly burrs from drilling metal with a hole saw. #maker #build #cncmachine #electrical #mechanical #engineering

Hello world. CNC closed loop stepper and control wiring is ready for the enclosure. Pro tip: put colored zip ties on cables and wiring to make things easy to trace and keep track of how things are connected. #maker #buildit #cncmachine #engineering #mechanical #electrical

Being a magnet for international students is essential if you want to be the world leader in scientific research.

America cannot long remain free, nor first among nations, if it becomes the kind of place where universities are dismantled because they don't align politically with the current head of the government.

Wiring in progress.

I would like us to share this article as hard as we dunked on the nytimes yesterday. Can you do that for me, Bluesky? Screaming at the public editor is a fine way to blow off steam but this story can actually change minds. You must share it with everyone you know! #ScienceSky 🧪 🩺 #MedSky #Edsky