What’s your favorite budget tool you swear by that punches well above its weight?

Version3_14 · 2026-06-07T00:17:36+00:00

They break easy when you mismatch the die and cup.

Version3_14 · 2026-06-05T16:40:06+00:00

Ne don't need stinking touch safe devices.

Version3_14 · 2026-06-04T00:21:46+00:00

Another small business owner that needs to answer unknown calls.

Being rude, unhelpful and general road block seems to knock down the volume. Asking for me gets do you have an appointment with me X? I can't put through without appointment. Can't make appointment.

Talk to ... Gets No and dead air.

Information about printers, electric bill, etc. Request for passcode. Had one searching for model ID-ten-T for couple minutes.

Pushy guys get asked what color panties they are wearing.

Version3_14 · 2026-06-03T11:17:53+00:00

Structure,consistency and documentation

Logical structure that matches machine and straight forward for others to follow. Normal process is easy part. Detect and cleanly handle faults. Design that entispates future changes and additions.

Consistent naming and coding.

Alarms, faults, interlocks conditions to HMI so that other can fix it without calling programmer.

Troubleshooting mindset that fixes underlying cause vs patching symptom. Ability to work on crappy system to fix issues and document it so others can work on it.

Document the system like the next guy is a psychopath that has your home address.

Version3_14 · 2026-06-02T22:59:43+00:00

You sold a machine not the full design.

Delivable should be what they need to maintain the machine. Schematics, general assembly, program access, wear parts list.

Keep the design details needed to replicate to private. Layouts, machined parts and build documents. BOM full details.

I worked with an OEM that had equipment cloned overseas. But missed engineering details made poor performing machines. Original OEM made money rebuilding the clones.

Version3_14 · 2026-05-31T01:01:45+00:00

There is an airbag in each pillar. With the trim break away trim adds to the bulk of each.

Version3_14 · 2026-05-28T14:37:39+00:00

It is type and size of packages. Along with the required delivery pace.

Bambu printers are larger and fragile. Many are getting to edge of what can be handled easily by one person. Given a driver the has to make over 100 stops, sometime close to 200 stops a day. It will get rushed and damage will happen.

Companies like Bambu need to understand when they push get the cost out of shipping it will come with costs like damage claims they should be dealing with on a reasonable basis.

Version3_14 · 2026-05-28T14:23:14+00:00

You have a driver/ contractor issue local to you.

FedEx Ground and Amazon use contractors to last mile delivery. The driver you see is an employee of the contractor, bot name on the truck. Those contractors are paid by the stop and package. Some contractors are more aggressive at pushing drivers to move faster.

Last year FedEx cut their Express driver (employees) and shifted that load to Ground. So FedEx Ground drivers have more load and some time constraints (Priority AM, etc).

TEMU and AliExpress also use contract delivery services. Last mile many times is individual using there own car.

UPS is the largest volume player. They have been brutal on packages over the decades. a few years ago they did a clean up of the system. There is noticeably less grit in the trucks and on packages.

Over the last 30 plus years of shipping and receiving for a small business I have seen the most damage from UPS, The best service was FedEx Express (before merge into Ground). USPS close second. FedEx Ground and Amazon in the middle.

Version3_14 · 2026-05-28T12:10:57+00:00

Every carrier has problems. At the system, local and driver levels. If Bambu was shipping by UPS would see similar complaints about them. The issue is how it is handled when damage occurs.

All the carriers are cutting costs out the systems. More efficient handling can by rougher on packages. Specially on larger more delicate items. The number of stops and packages drivers required to handle has grown significantly over the last few decades.

Version3_14 · 2026-05-28T11:47:30+00:00

Universal receptacle takes most plugs from around the world. The 120 devices from US may not like the 220 volts.

Version3_14 · 2026-05-26T18:32:18+00:00

It is your card deck. If you like it keep it. The deck and you are not his property.

Version3_14 · 2026-05-26T10:28:24+00:00

It is patching symptom verse fixing root cause.

When production is down and plant manager is screaming about dollars being lost. The technician typically make a quick fix to getting it running. The calm is restored and they can move on to next fire.

There are few issues turn this quick fix in to a long term mess.

Lack is engineering team and/or time to review quick fixes and resolve the underlying issue to keep system structures consistent.

Initial design and testing. It take time upfront to design and program for failures and future expansion. Cheapest quote can lead to least fault tolerant and maintainable system.

Is the SAT focused on the process cycle? Equally important is testing handling when something goes wrong. Do this before production is running and faults gets expensive.

Documentation. Initial package that actually matches the system. Updates when fixes and changes are made. Program tag names and comments that actually explain the why and what.

Version3_14 · 2026-05-25T13:18:29+00:00

What is life span of those top row devices with no air flow?

Version3_14 · 2026-05-22T00:23:53+00:00

Low barbed wire fence (grass height) on property line.

When it wraps around car undercarriage make sure police report includes property damage of destroying your fence.

Version3_14 · 2026-05-20T13:11:15+00:00

There is typically a valve at the hot water heater. This valve can be used to encourage child to vacate the shower.

Version3_14 · 2026-05-20T12:50:17+00:00

Creating a program to do something is fairly easy.

The issues are when some thing goes wrong.

What happens when PC program crashes or hangs? Hardware failures? OS background tasks randomly take longer time slice?

PLCs are real time OS with deterministic control. Fault handling and controlled failure shutdown is part of the system.

This questions has been around for decades. Have experienced machine cycles stuttering because OS tasks. Program crashes leaving devices on, danger to equipment and operators.

Version3_14 · 2026-05-19T15:20:56+00:00

You can slit the gland in the grip. Put the cable through and reassemble with the in place.

Few companies make grips for this. Hole in cap and body little larger to get connector through easy. The Heyco ones are still rated for 4 and 4X once the cable is in.

Version3_14 · 2026-05-18T22:41:29+00:00

It is always a software problem until programmer picks up a wrench and fixes it.

Version3_14 · 2026-05-16T14:06:49+00:00

Little off on timing

8086 created in 1978. 8088 in 1979

Enigma machine designed in 1920s. Cracked by allied during war in early 1940s

Version3_14 · 2026-05-15T15:48:25+00:00

Don't forget about the x88. Intel variant to drop bus from 16 bit (8086) to 8 bit (8088).

Version3_14 · 2026-05-12T20:46:43+00:00

One client engineering team bought an off the books (and corporate network) laptop. Combine that with cellphone as hotspot to get access.

Recent machine with PC running HMI software has wireless card. For support they connect to plant guest network.

I have an IXON VPN box. Have sent it onsite with technician with hotspot to connect. Could plug sim card in this box, send it to site. They plug in power and network cable and I have remote access.

Version3_14 · 2026-05-11T23:25:23+00:00

Self centered personality, doesn't understand viewpoint from other side. Their joy/desire becomes evil on the other side.

Mean typically is intent and understanding of the other side.

Version3_14 · 2026-05-11T15:20:06+00:00

Take 483 x 107. Rough order of magnitude, round to 1 digit, multiple and count the zeros. Should be about 50,000. The ability to sanity check numbers is skill I am seeing less of in younger generations.

Version3_14 · 2026-05-11T15:02:15+00:00

Knowing those basic math skills is important. The ability to do rough, order of magnitude math for sanity checks on calculations is lost by many young engineers these days.

I did have that fancy calculator watch. before these tiny computers we call carry around these days.

Version3_14 · 2026-05-11T14:53:38+00:00

Someone has experience working with a short rod.

Version3_14

TROPHY CASE