Posts by mcdanlj@social.makerforums.info
(DIR) Post #Aq0epXnHhmfrn5Ierg by mcdanlj@social.makerforums.info
2025-01-12T12:44:53Z
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@Triffen @blindcoder Same here. In addition, some years ago some purchase I made came with a "free gift" of some "cleaning" filament. I don't know what plastic it is, but it is clear, melts at a very low temperature, and tolerates very high temperatures, so it can be used between wildly incompatible filaments. (I can tell from the color when it is fully purged, unlike pigmented filament.)But I rarely use it. I mostly do the same; just purge generously at the higher temperature. 🙂
(DIR) Post #AtE5UWwIxXsoL3eWi8 by mcdanlj@social.makerforums.info
2025-04-18T20:12:58Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
Today I celebrated #WorldAmateurRadioDay by going to Raven Rock State Park, US-2751, and playing radio with my new-to-me KX3. Five contacts doesn't count as a successful activation by #POTA rules, but it counts as a success for me anyway. Making any CW contacts is a success for me at this point!And I also lived the spirit of the day by making fewer QSOs than I might otherwise have done, due to spending quite some time chatting with an initially quite skeptical park ranger about what I was up to. He had served in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and dealt with loss of communication infrastructure, so the concept of wanting to be able to help in an emergency resonated with him, and I shared how POTA is getting me outside instead of hanging around indoors; also aligned with his interests.I watched his face change from a "I'm maybe going to have to ask you to leave" face to friendly and welcoming as we talked.So that was the more important success for this park activation... 😁
(DIR) Post #AtnDpPcxSTVi7urR8i by mcdanlj@social.makerforums.info
2025-05-05T14:32:01Z
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@rahix @3dprinting Wow this is great work!For R2.2 about horizontal holes, I accidentally discovered another option. Model horizontal holes as threaded holes even if you do not intend to use the threads to mate with another part. The serpentine path of the threads allows very large successful overhangs.The downside is, of course, that it's computationally expensive to model, and it's easiest when there is a standard thread form with a minor diameter compatible with your design intent.
(DIR) Post #AtnDpQQaTxD2bq54Uq by mcdanlj@social.makerforums.info
2025-05-05T19:00:54Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@rahix @3dprinting Here's another one: The solution is one that's also often used for additional security of metal joints as well: Use additional screw locking measures, like lock-nuts or a threadlocking adhesive.A small (2–3 thread) untapped portion with a design size of the major diameter (thanks to internal circle shrink) or slightly smaller will work like a nylon locking nut. This can with with only partially tapped threads in post processing, modeled and printed threads, or threaded inserts.(Crush rib threads usually provide this locking on their own, as far as I can tell.)
(DIR) Post #AuMxA95nIdog2k0aYK by mcdanlj@social.makerforums.info
2025-05-22T14:35:23Z
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@ai6yr Eh, you aren't driving a jet without being rated to fly on instruments. The presence of fog visible to a reporter says nothing about whether the plane and pilot should have been able to fly. I'll wait for the NTSB report. If we still have an NTSB for long enough... 😬Non-pilot reporters aren't well-known for understanding nuance for what can go wrong in flight. Nor, for that matter, fire chiefs, who do often actually say "they were lucky there was no fuel in the tank or there would have been a fire" with no apparent reflection that lack of fuel was the immediate cause of the crash. 🤦You don't have to drive a jet to be a competent instrument pilot. Most of my time logged is on instrument flight plans in a normally-aspirated piston single-engine aircraft, and I've absolutely made use of that instrument rating.
(DIR) Post #AulM8z9YewhBf8CDAW by mcdanlj@social.makerforums.info
2025-06-03T16:38:01Z
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@azonenberg What I don't understand is why I don't see skived fins with vortex generators on the leading edge. Seems like it should be possible to mechanically process the leading edges of the fins to make integrated vortex generators to induce mixing from downstream turbulence between the vortices, to get cheap fins with high thermal conductivity. We've been using vortex generators for boundary layer management on airplanes for decades...It's such an obvious solution that there has to be a reason it isn't the norm for all skived fins, but I can't think of what the reason might be.
(DIR) Post #AvAh0Bk6piWVuVf46K by mcdanlj@social.makerforums.info
2025-06-16T00:29:38Z
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@Natanox I recommend considering carbide nozzles. Harder than hardened steel, more heat conductive than copper, cheaper than ruby. What's not to like? 🙂
(DIR) Post #AvUmAlCsr9UR6N0Bl2 by mcdanlj@social.makerforums.info
2025-06-25T16:06:23Z
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@apLundell Bingo. You nailed it. Yes, as a matter of actual fact, it was really because I commonly use en-dash, em-dash, and words like "delve."
(DIR) Post #Avva71GWk5rzKcQgy0 by mcdanlj@social.makerforums.info
2025-07-08T11:41:12Z
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@ariadne As the person responsible for most of the initial work to make Linux utilities use PAM, including some that are SUID, thus introducing the first use of dlopen() into at least some of them, and as someone who has written a fair share of patches to fix security exploits, and been responsible for reviewing and delivering lots of other security updates...I do not trust myself to write a secure SUID program, generally.I'd rather move away from SUID for privilege escalation entirely to more robust and nuanced alternatives.If you don't have SUID programs, you won't have any SUID programs calling dlopen()... 😎But yeah, inasmuch as we still use SUID programs, I'd much rather they not dlopen() anything.
(DIR) Post #AwtXksdM51u3hdwWQq by mcdanlj@social.makerforums.info
2025-08-06T05:44:47Z
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@DaleHagglund @futurebird @codinghorror Discourse is open source forum software to which chat functionality has been added; Discord is a chat service to which forum functionality has been added. The difference shows in the implementation.Discourse is open source and well maintained. It's thoughtfully designed to help foster and grow a community. It's not hard to self-host, and there are multiple sources of full-service hosting. It has a Subscriptions plug-in that integrates with Stripe I think, though I haven't deployed it myself.Unlike with WordPress, the company that builds Discourse (Civilized Discourse Construction Kit) works actively and cooperatively with multiple third parties that host and extend Discourse, including recommending their services and even sponsoring outside parties' work on the code. It's a really shining example of how to do open source right.
(DIR) Post #AwtpkqrAUCRJMkXWwS by mcdanlj@social.makerforums.info
2025-08-06T17:13:34Z
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@futurebird @DaleHagglund @codinghorror Discord does not have video chat built in; the integrated chat feature is text chat. The plug-in ecosystem supports both major open source video chat platforms I'm aware of:https://meta.discourse.org/t/jitsi-video-conference/146046?u=mcdanljhttps://meta.discourse.org/t/bigbluebutton-video-conference/148050?u=mcdanljI have not used either, so I don't have experience with deploying them, but they are available. If I were starting out from scratch today to build something like this for a community site, based only on my gist of what I remember hearing/reading from others, I'd try jitsi first.In both cases, you need to follow the documentation for the chat platform (Jitsi or BigBlueButton) to set it up for self-hosting, then use the plug-in to integrate it into Discourse.
(DIR) Post #Ay2HtRiFjmx3luS1zs by mcdanlj@social.makerforums.info
2025-09-09T12:15:04Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
I've been using #FreeCAD for years, and I learned several things about box selection in FreeCAD from this video. I expect I'll use it more now than i have in the past.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Om77YAcBjDE
(DIR) Post #AyEV7tuA65FERtOkKW by mcdanlj@social.makerforums.info
2025-09-01T02:13:34Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
I have released version 0.5 Beta of my #HamRadio single-paddle #Morse key.I added optional stabilizer bars for which I recommend 3mm stainless rod, to counteract torque from the center of pressure on the grip being above the spring. (That twisting has been the main thing about the key that has caused me to inadvertently send wrong code as the head of the center contact screw bounces off the edge of the dit or dah screw.)I made the lever more compact, which required adjusting the range of default spring force from the integrated springs. I also removed the heaviest weight that no one liked.The README has instructions, information on options for required hardware, and complete documentation for all the parameters that drive this single key system.This is a release candidate for version 1.0. If you like CW / Morse code and 3D printing, and either like single-paddle keys or would like to try one, please give this a shot and tell me how you like it! It's been successfully tested with PLA, PETG, and ABS, so it should work with most common filaments. Just don't leave it in a hot car if you print with typical PLA! ☺Feel free to ask questions in a 🧵 thread here!
(DIR) Post #AyEV7yHLpoAe0yHK1w by mcdanlj@social.makerforums.info
2025-09-01T15:46:27Z
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Here is my current morse code key with all its parts prior to assembly, as well as after assembly. In addition to these parts, you need:3D printer to print the keyWire stripperSoldering ironWrench or pliers for the 1/8" fixing nutSpiral-flute M3 tapAppropriate cutter and files or sander to make optional stabilizing rod (don't use your wire cutters for stainless steel unless you want to destroy them!)I have sources for all the parts except the (commodity) stranded wire linked in the README.One of the main things in the way of publishing this as version 1.0 is taking all the pictures I just took (far more than these) and assembling them into an assembly guide.
(DIR) Post #AyEV7yHhoUSE24RbaC by mcdanlj@social.makerforums.info
2025-09-14T21:55:05Z
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I have released version 0.6 of my single-paddle morse code key system with only a tiny change: the swivel block "interference" with the key is slightly smaller, in order to have a better fit. In 0.5, they were too tight and too hard to pull apart to move the key from one fixture to another.The stabilizer bar in the key lever is a huge winner, but it does want to be greased. I used SuperLube for this, but really probably any grease will work.
(DIR) Post #AyRHRhbA576Y7Dkxjk by mcdanlj@social.makerforums.info
2025-09-21T02:22:17Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
In order to 3d print a little amplified speaker box to use for #HamRadio SSB 2-operator POTA with my wife, I want to model components and then model the box to go around them. I found a speaker on grabcad that is only a few mm different from the speaker I found in my bin. Just different enough that I need to start over to create a good basis for my box model. I didn't bother constraining everything perfectly when modeling the steps in the metal shell, and I didn't model the cone accurately because those really don't matter that much. It's good enough to check for interference.I have barrel and XT60 power connectors already modeled from my last project to choose from here, but I need to add models for the 3.5" phono jacks and the TDA2050 amplifier board I bought from Amazon. Trying to decide whether to use that completely as-is or desolder the potentiometer for the volume control and use wires to re-route it to a more convenient place. A model might help answer that question.Not quite #FreeCADFriday unless you give me about 22 hours of grace. 😀
(DIR) Post #AzDnE6W5yCCYsWeOCu by mcdanlj@social.makerforums.info
2025-10-15T02:55:27Z
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@kb6nu For portable ops, I'm running Fedora on my laptop with lots of ham software that's all just built into Fedora. (Not a big surprise that I would prefer Fedora, given my history getting Fedora started at Red Hat lo these many years ago.) I'm also running Wavelog on my home server (also running Fedora) using the official Docker deployment for all my logging and for the other hams in my family as well.However, my "shack computer" is a Raspberry Pi 5, and Fedora doesn't work well yet on the Raspberry Pi 5 (or at least didn't when I was installing it), always running the fan at full tilt, so I'm using Raspbian there for better hardware support, with all the same software I use on Fedora. I use WaveLogGate to keep Wavelog on the server aware of what is on my rig using its integration with flrig.Wavelog has no problem ingesting my ADIF logs from Ham2K Polo when I do POTA or other portable operation. I could also use Wavelog remotely if I have a good internet connection, but plenty of my portable operations I have sketchy internet, and Polo works great.I tried CQRlog but they are adamant about not integrating with QRZ and I push logs to LoTW, QRZ, eQSL, and Clublog; Wavelog supports them all. That means I don't have to care about where the other op wants to confirm QSOs; chances are one of those four will work for them.I'm still working up to actual contesting (still working on CW instant recognition at speed), and have been expecting to use Not1mm for contesting, but all I've done so far there is glance at some of the source code.
(DIR) Post #AzNgcI3Ry1ZNVxR9F2 by mcdanlj@social.makerforums.info
2025-10-19T22:28:33Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
Today's SYP (Support Your Parks) #HamRadio #POTA #QRP CW adventure had limited time, so I wasn't sure I'd actually stay for 10 QSOs. But then I discovered that park US-3859 Johnston Mill State Nature Preserve had no failed activations recorded, so then I felt like a failed activation would let down my fellow hams. 😀I finished operating, packed up, and hiked back from my operating position to the car just minutes before the rain arrived.I hunted park-to-park (answering other operators calling "CQ"—"calling any station") for 3 QSOs (conversations), but there were deep pile-ups (many people responding at the same time) that made it hard to be heard with my low power, so I switched to running, calling "CQ" (for other stations to respond to me). I'm still doing that at 15WPM to give me a chance of copying the call sign the first time. One of the nice things for a CW (morse code) tyro about QRP (low-power operation) is that the pile-ups are smaller because fewer people can hear you. On the other hand, I had to QSY (change frequency) every 2–3 QSOs because someone couldn't hear me and started belting out a high power "CQ CQ" over me. No free lunch! (Also, so much jargon, sorry!)For my antenna, I used some fixed sections and feed point from my PAC-12 vertical on a tiny Chelegance flat tripod, and a 5.6M whip to avoid using the coil at all.I was surprised by intermittent wide-band QRM (noise from human sources) early on that filled my waterfall display from time to time and washed out all other signal. I added a second choke, so I was using both mix 31 and mix 75 chokes, and between them a 20 meter bandpass filter. Maybe it helped, or maybe the QRM just stopped. Hard to tell. No idea where it came from.
(DIR) Post #B0kdeAxNiDqCXTAOwq by mcdanlj@social.makerforums.info
2025-11-29T22:13:05Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
I now need to find all those online profiles where I have described myself as an "inactive" pilot and remove the word "inactive" from them. After a hiatus of a dozen years, I just passed both the ground and air work portions of a flight review, and once again have a current "license to learn."#aviation
(DIR) Post #B2zSdNwOFH3QZLij32 by mcdanlj@social.makerforums.info
2026-02-04T21:30:46Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
I've seen so many excited (or annoyed) notices about the changes to the 60m #HamRadio band in the US. Many of them seemed to think that they were in effect already (wrong) and those that didn't make that mistake would just say "soon" (not helpful).It turns out that 13 February 2026 is the day that you can use the additional band allocation on your radio (for which you may need a firmware update, depending on the radio), and when in the space previously channelized within that new allocation, you must not exceed 9.15 watts ERPI had previously missed this release from 15 January from the ARRL: https://www.arrl.org/news/new-60-meter-frequencies-available-as-of-february-13 and given that I didn't see it mentioned here maybe some of the rest of you missed it too. 😀