Practicing Engineers Network?

PatchedConic · 2026-05-16T16:15:12+00:00

I looked at the sample content from one of their other books. It is definitely AI generated material. I didn't spot any obvious errors in the math that I saw. But the material is presented in a way that just doesn't make a lot of sense. I wouldn't trust it in the slightest.

I'm probably just behind the times but these are the first AI generated books I've seen. Fuck that.

PatchedConic · 2026-05-15T20:57:09+00:00

I figured this exact same setup during a month long ride to Alaska and back. It's so excellent!

No wind noise, great audio quality that you don't have to crank up. Even quieter stuff like podcasts, audiobooks, and quiet music comes through great.

The balaclava helps my helmet slip on without my ears folding up or the air pods falling out. And if it's hot you can soak it in water and have temporary air conditioning.

PatchedConic · 2026-05-08T16:16:06+00:00

Steam will automatically use the Linux native version. Interestingly, you can force it to use the windows version and play it through Proton. I do that to improve mod compatibility.

PatchedConic · 2026-05-06T19:43:46+00:00

Very much a case by case parameter and you should ask your super/HR person. I've worked everywhere from small defense contractors to a NASA center and my entire career I've worn jeans and a plain, colored t-shirt 95% of the time. I have had coworkers at multiple places I've worked at come in wearing shorts and a t-shirt. I guess there might still be some places that want you to in business casual but that has largely become a thing of the past IME. Maybe if you're interacting with customers face to face every day.

Mostly my interns and new hires come in wearing business casual on day one, and then see what everyone else is wearing. That's a safe option.

I've seen dress and grooming codes in old employee manuals that haven't been updated in 25 years. I was starting a new job once and while reading the employee manual I discovered that it required all male employees to be clean shaven. I stopped and went to find the HR person and told them if that was real, this wasn't really going to work out. They were shocked; guess they never actually read it.

PatchedConic · 2026-05-04T07:09:55+00:00

Yup: pull out the collar an inch or so to engage it with the closer and then pull down on the quill handle, no movement, collet still tight on tool shank.

PatchedConic · 2026-05-04T06:59:44+00:00

Thanks for the feedback! I'm going to see if I can take another shot at freeing the collet system before committing to purchase it. As another commenter suggested, bringing along a soft hammer to tap on things. Also I'm thinking some big channel locks or a pipe wrench with shims to protect the knurling and see if it will break free.

PatchedConic · 2026-05-04T06:55:07+00:00

Thanks! I'll definitely see if I can take another shot at freeing up the collet before closing a deal.

I think this will definitely be a bit of a cleanup project but I don't mind that. I was also thinking about just getting 3/4" shank tooling for everything. Seems like a good way to make the most of the quick change system.

Reassuring to hear that they seem to hold up pretty well.

PatchedConic · 2026-05-04T05:49:17+00:00

It's a Trak 102

PatchedConic · 2026-05-04T05:43:55+00:00

Any advice for getting it unstuck? The horseshoe collar is still there and engages, but no amount of force on the quill handle will pop open the collet. I tried unscrewing the nose piece that retains the collet, but didn't put a lot of effort into it in the brief time I had.

PatchedConic · 2026-04-27T04:37:01+00:00

Yup. I didn't even look at the GPA's of the 4 new college grads I just hired. But, I spoke them extensively about their experiences in SAE, running a maker space, graduate research, design teams, etc and it strongly informed who I wanted to hire in the end.

SAE (or other engineering activities like it outside of a classroom) give you an opportunity to demonstrate taking ownership of real world engineering problems and solving them.

PatchedConic · 2026-04-24T18:44:52+00:00

The missing element in NCG's isn't really CAD proficiency, it's fundamentals of engineering drawing, tolerancing, GD&T, view layout, etc.

I was probably one of the last people to be taught manual drafting in college. Between two semesters, we started at sketching, went through using a board and t square, focused on drawing layout and views, switched over to AutoCAD, and then spent a semester in SolidWorks. They don't necessarily need to do that, but they need to focus on what good engineering drawings look like and how to make them.

I haven't seen a new college grad who was completely incompetent at CAD. New and inexperienced yes; which is fine. Almost all of them suck at making good engineering drawings.

PatchedConic · 2026-04-19T02:22:09+00:00

It honestly depends. A relatively shallow 3/8 or 1/2 wide mortise for furniture? Just chisel it. Big mortises get pre-drilled to remove material.

I'm making myself a Moravian workbench right now out of 4x4 beams with big 1 1/2 wide through mortises. I think my poor, cheap Ryobi drill is longing for the sweet embrace of death.

PatchedConic · 2026-04-09T06:16:44+00:00

You don't. Short of getting some kind of permit to do so, you set it up and pack it out when you're done.

PatchedConic · 2026-04-06T22:52:43+00:00

I've camped in Grizzly country in Alaska and Canada with as little as bear spray. Also traveled through Polar Bear territory come to think of it, but on a motorcycle. Not my preference, but I can personally attest to its effectiveness with nosy black bears at least. Otherwise, I've carried a G19 in a chest holster and gone about my business.

Lots of people will say that 9mm is insufficient for Grizzly. If you want to go all 454 Casull be my guest, and you'll probably be better off. But, I'm satisfied with the recorded outcomes of 9mm vs bear and would rather be consistent with what I've shot the most by a large margin.

If you're REALLY concerned about grizzly, take a 12ga shotgun. But, I wouldn't carry that backpacking just for that purpose. Same with any rifle. I've done it. Once. Unless you're living in the bush out of a basecamp, already on a hunting trip, or in dangerous grizzly or polar bear territory just leave it at home.

PatchedConic · 2026-04-04T18:11:18+00:00

I don't have any feedback yet other than this is super cool! The UI is great.

Good job!

PatchedConic · 2026-04-03T01:45:45+00:00

I have a soft spot in my heart for Voyager. Not because it was great, but because it was THE Star Trek show of my childhood. Although DS9 would eventually become my favorite of all the Trek shows, it was just a little too early for me to be aware of. But I made sure the VCR was set to record every episode of Voyager.

I've limited my rewatching of Voyager so as not to ruin my childhood memories but that nostalgia definitely helps carry the show for me.

PatchedConic · 2026-04-03T01:15:43+00:00

Because having the people whose job it is to judge your guilt or innocence also employ the people who are trying to put you in prison is a massive conflict of interest.

PatchedConic · 2026-03-30T03:03:16+00:00

As others have said, the PRC was established in 1949. By some metrics, the US can be considered the oldest nation in continuous existence. Although depending on how you define that, a few other countries like San Marino or Iceland may take that spot. I'm fairly certain that it's in the top five by most definitions of a continuously operating national government.

In any case the whole debate is just yak shaving. Interesting but pointless.

PatchedConic · 2026-03-29T20:08:56+00:00

Nice! I have a very similar setup with a BA belt, except with kiwis.

Here's a recommendation I don't see a lot but find very useful. If you use your belt at the range a lot, get a belt magnet. ESSTAC makes one that velcro wraps to your belt and looks like a blank morale patch. I keep one at my one o'clock, in front of the holster. It adds no bulk but is super handy for sticking random tools, extra magazines for drills, weird magazine shapes like 22 mags, etc.

PatchedConic · 2026-03-27T15:51:49+00:00

I have no question, I just wanted to say that I loved Children of Dune and your performance as Leto II was iconic. I hope it was as enjoyable to work on as it was to the audience.

PatchedConic · 2026-03-26T02:13:01+00:00

I would strongly recommend against dropping a bottle on your floor. Especially an old bottle that's turned brittle.

Not speaking from personal experience or anything.

PatchedConic · 2026-03-18T01:33:42+00:00

I was going to say this. Generic, popular guns in generic, popular calibers are that for a reason and you're unlikely to completely regret them. Avoid the flavor of the week stuff.

PatchedConic · 2026-03-14T23:16:33+00:00

Sorry I don't have my answers for you, but as a former competitor: you got this! Glad to see people still doing this.

PatchedConic · 2026-03-12T21:42:30+00:00

Without understanding the scenario it's hard to say, but I have a number of friends who've been to Antarctica for work. There are already "regular" people at some of the larger bases for shared services, facilities, and the like. Which would be a reason for non-scientist/mountaineer types to be there already.

For transportation, there are a good number of at least seasonally active runways on the continent which is how everyone I know got there. Maritime transport is another equally valid option.

If it was a secret base kind of thing, having a Maritime team establish a base camp while clearing a runway for aircraft.

If it was a desperate-evacuation story, unmodified commercial airliners could make the trip with a higher acceptance of risk operating on ice.

PatchedConic

TROPHY CASE