• Sunsets and rainbows

    January 28, 2022

    richard

    28 January 2022
  • Docklands from on high

    January 26, 2022

    richard

    26 January 2022
  • Hosting and consolidation

    Over the years I’ve been playing with a few different options for web sites: using different hosts, different platforms and frameworks, and so on. I’ve reached a couple of conclusions:

    • While “cool”, building my own site with a static site generator is way too much like hard work – especially from the point of view that it needs to be easy for someone other than me to update content from anywhere.
    • I’m not a developer.
    • I’m an even worse designer than I am a developer.

    So, here we are, back with WordPress!

    I’m in the process of moving old content and consolidating the different platforms and hosts into a single location, and merging all the domain names into a single instance.

    Who knows: maybe we’ll actually keep this one up to date?

    January 25, 2022

    richard

    25 January 2022
  • Methlab Macros

    Went for a stroll around the estate, playing with the Olympus 60mm macro lens.

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    September 11, 2021

    richard

    11 September 2021
  • Spool holder for Snapmaker 2.0

    I’m a big fan of my Snapmaker 3D printer. I love the fact that, unlike many of the me-too clones on the market, it’s solidly constructed with lots of metal. No exposed drive belts, instead using linear actuators. Basically, it’s a pretty good piece of design and engineering.

    However, one thing that has always bugged me is the kind of crappy holder for a spool of filament. It’s literally a rod that sticks out to the side, with a screw in end-cap to (try and) make sure the spool doesn’t fall off the end. It (mostly) works, but it’s a bit naff and feels like an afterthought.

    So, I decided to do something about it!

    There were a couple of challenges to overcome:

    • I wanted to keep the spools centred if possible, to reduce the amount of drag when feeding while printing. The poor feed gear in the print head has to do a lot of work to overcome the mass of the spool hanging off centre!
    • While they seem to be close, it appears that there’s no formal standard between different brands of filament for the specifications of the spools. The inner diameter can vary, so whatever is holding them really needs to be adjustable.

    The solution I came up with is a threaded, hollow rod that slides over the existing holder. It’s a close fit, but not so tight that it can’t rotate easily. Onto that rod I screw on a couple of cones – narrow end inwards – that will centre on the hole in the spool and hold it in place. The cones have been slightly modified to provide finger grips to make it easier to loosen and tighten.

    STL files are available for download from Thingiverse.

    August 17, 2021

    richard

    17 August 2021
  • Sunshine after the rain

    I had to take a quick trip to the estate for some emergency maintenance, and seeing as it had stopped raining for a few minutes took the opportunity for a little stroll.

    August 14, 2021

    richard

    14 August 2021
  • Mushrooms

    What comes up by the million after a bit of rain? Mushrooms!

    July 25, 2021

    richard

    25 July 2021
  • After the rain

    It’s been pretty wet the last couple of weeks. It’s amazing how quickly everything turns green. We have water in the gully, and while we haven’t seen any can hear a bazillion frogs.

    July 24, 2021

    richard

    24 July 2021
  • Methlab upgrades

    What’s that? New solar panels and an NBN connection?

    July 12, 2021

    richard

    12 July 2021
  • Visitors

    I’m not sure if these folks are the visitors, or if they consider us to be the visitors. From the stares I’m going to assume the latter.

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    June 30, 2021

    richard

    30 June 2021
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