SwizzleStick

I’ve stuck with iredmail for years. Spin up a VM, grab the installer, and see how it performs for you.

Can’t argue with that. I still use FDM as well for a lot of models - currently running an old Ultimaker 2 and a BCN3D Sigma D25 for the bigger batch jobs.

The latter is mostly stock but the UM2 is pretty much unrecognisable from when it was new now; a real Ship of Theseus. Bigger gantry, uprated board/head/feeder and tweaked Tinker firmware to suit. Shoved a Pi with Octoprint in there too.

While you can get flex & specialty resins, you are right that you’re certainly not printing them alongside the regular stuff in one run like you intend to, unless the model is redesigned in multiple parts. They are also priced to suit :|

Will be good to see what you come up with. Almost all of my prints are the work of others these days. I’m not much of a designer and the furthest I go with CAD is putting terribleness together in a 12 year old version of Sketchup 😂

You’re welcome - glad to see you have it really sussed out. Finding something that works for you and knowing it won’t just up and disappear off the market (as many fashion frames do) is excellent.

Can see the optician side as well - they have an established process and deviating from that is unwanted faff. However, they are perfectly capable of ordering a lens to a customer given spec. A short ‘if this doesn’t work then lol you suck’ disclaimer is all it would take to make the sale.

Resin is well within reach of the casual hobbyist now - we’re talking a couple hundred dollars to get an entry level machine, and a little extra coin for the materials/consumables. I have a (now old) Mars 3 that is ticking along beautifully.

Safety/PPE/ventilation is the main downside compared to FDM. It’s a stinky job but you can’t fault the results for presentable and functional parts. These things can print stuff like screw threads and other teensy features perfectly.

Offer always stands if you ever want something to demo and can’t get anyone more local to help :)

A part like this is begging to be done on a resin machine. You can’t beat them for the kind of shapes and tolerances you’re working with here.

I’d give it a go on my FDM machine, but I have .8 nozzles loaded right now - no hope haha.

I’d be happy to turn a few of these out in resin if you don’t have a machine, would only ask for the freight cost.

https://www.rapidtables.com/calc/electric/Watt_to_Amp_Calculator.html

I miss heated mirrors now that you mention it. My 2003 Civic had them but the 2012 Corsa does not. Joys of poverty spec - I’m lucky to have electric windows.

With good climate (not a rust belt) and being fortunate enough to not blow an engine, it should do well with diligent maintenance.

Mostly why mine still goes. The bodywork is utter crap - full of scratches, dings, dents and the front end looks like someone dropped a running belt sander on it. Ex write-off. Mechanically though it is sound.

My worry is the timing chain. Chains last longer than belts, but they are a dog to change and generally not worth the labour. It will be that or a crash that sends it to the great scrappy in the sky.

Mid-90s a bit too early for me. I am fond of ABS (mandatory here since '04) and airbags ('98) at the very least. Not always a guarantee on cars of that era. Love the looks though.

Best of luck with your teenager.

It’s a good point.

I’d hazard a guess that they are more in the minority than before though. Closest I have seen is friend-of-a-friend referrals for nominal cost pirate IPTV services that provide cable channels & movies. Even then they are paid, and most invite trouble by just going at it without a VPN. Current going rate is £50 for a year here - bring your own Fire stick.

Funny you should mention Synology though, ours is running an Emby server for media here. Having everything properly catalogued (and presented with flair) is fantastic.

Indeed.

Safety systems are just fine.

ABS, lane deviation warnings, automatic braking and the like all actively prevent accidents - without being an annoyance to the driver, if implemented well. That tech is mature now and generally ok across the board.

I dislike all kinds of cruise and attempts at self driving though. More of a personal preference, but I think it makes the driver cede too much of their control to the vehicle - allowing them to become more easily distracted and less able to notice incoming hazards that the vehicle might not.

Yes please.

I don’t know how much longer my button & dialled up 2012 shitbox is going to last. Being able to buy new without the crap is something to look forward to.

Then again, there’s the whole ‘car phones home/connected services’ thing to consider as well. I like my car safe, but dumb as rocks otherwise.

Yep.

For about the past decade, I’ve only ever upgraded because the current broke (and beyond economic repair), or otherwise became untenable.

Using a refurb S10 now. The S8 prior had a bust screen. Only had that because I needed it to play nice with Bluetooth LE hearing aids. Probably my only recent upgrade that went from one working phone to another.

Tend to only buy flagships, as they are better supported by alternative software - good if they live long enough to age out of official updates.

In short, people with the money to spend can’t be arsed to inconvenience themselves with self hosting or ‘alternative’ sources.

Folk without the money find a way through perceived necessity and maybe learn something on the way.

Then there’s people with the money and the know-how who are just looking to save or do so on principle.

Younger generations grow up with subscriptions and black boxes that are not ultimately under their own control, and lack the knowledge to change it.

It’s a sad state of affairs, but their tolerance for ads and subscription slop keeps attention away from people like me.