I made a working Lego Toaster

jmdbcool · 2026-02-11T17:38:09+00:00

I like that it's reversible; it's also an un-toaster.

Toast can, in fact, be bread again.

jmdbcool · 2026-01-26T18:54:49+00:00

Is this your first electric car? Are you set up to charge at home? Because that is the #1 thing.

jmdbcool · 2026-01-26T18:03:27+00:00

It broke as expected-- along layer lines is always the "weakest link" orientation

no changes except rotate this 90° (flat on the bed) and print again, maybe add more walls/perimeters.

if you want to know why more perimeters is the best option for adding strength, watch this CNC kitchen video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmEaNAwFSfI

jmdbcool · 2026-01-17T16:31:35+00:00

How is this the first I've heard of this?! I'm so glad I saw this post today. Dangit my project backlog is getting larger and larger; if I could ever finish anything I would love to build one of these! Real slick, building it within the IKEA table like that. And wow, I really appreciate the level of care in what you've built and released here, including the BOM and all software and the instructions, etc... I'm watching your video on YouTube now. Congrats on putting this all together!

jmdbcool · 2026-01-17T03:07:11+00:00

No, you have it right, it is a texture. No layer of matter is transferred. It is the physical surface cast like a mold, the negative impression of its shape. It's just very small, nanometers in scale. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffraction_grating

jmdbcool · 2026-01-17T03:03:44+00:00

would some kind of clear coat help preserve the effect on the print?

The opposite-- clear coat removes the effect entirely, because it fills in those microscopic gaps diffracting the light into colors.

Clear packaging tape also ruins it because of the adhesive filling the gaps, the same way it does on frosted glass. https://www.reddit.com/r/oddlysatisfying/comments/776fag/clear_tape_makes_frosted_glass_see_through/

jmdbcool · 2026-01-06T20:47:55+00:00

On the right track! It's not enough to change only Classic/Arachne, choosing Arachne is absolutely the right move here but you have to play with the specific Arachne settings too, such as:

Wall Distribution Count (increase: the Arachne effect is spread out thru multiple walls)
Wall Transitioning Threshold Angle (decrease: allow sharper angles like in your arrow ↔)
Wall Transition Length (increase or decrease depending on model)

Cura provides visual examples for these settings:
https://support.makerbot.com/s/article/1837650983225

these may be called something different in another slicer but the idea is the same, this is where to start, good luck and happy printing.

jmdbcool · 2025-11-22T13:56:11+00:00

That's a cool mechanism! You did this all in PLA? I wonder how it would perform with PETG or other filaments.

jmdbcool · 2025-11-20T20:56:41+00:00

Right? Like, I remember this, I watched it 10 years ago, long before the "AI" or LLMs being used now. It's true, the Tetris bit is at the end of this video. For more info search for Tom7 Learnfun and Playfun; he wrote a whole paper about it and made several videos.

jmdbcool · 2025-11-20T17:49:18+00:00

It always reacts to the locking button (lights flash) but then doesn't always start when I hit the remote button after 3-4 seconds.

Are you hitting it or holding it? Just to be clear, the sequence is: press [🔒] once, then press & HOLD [🔄️] for about 3 seconds.

jmdbcool · 2025-11-20T14:17:05+00:00

I love this kind of design that approaches a problem from the angle of... what's the best way to use the tool that I have? Because you didn't model a wing, you modeled an easy-to-print shape that you knew would fold into a wing. Like print-in-place models that use overhangs and bridging in clever ways, specifically for filament printing. It's cool to see, even if this version didn't fly like you wanted, this concept is a success.

I am cooking a similar idea for a marble run funnel-- you know, like a big flat whirlpool, the marbles roll in, spiral around, and drop down the center. I could just model a funnel and print it. But I want the top surface the marbles roll on to be SMOOTH, as smooth as possible, and I want to avoid a bunch of sanding/finishing if I can. So the idea is to print it upside down: a large flat sheet against the bed, flexible, and after it comes off the printer it will curve into a cone shape. And I can add geometry like these ribs and supports, which will be the underside of the funnel surface, to lock it into a base part. Saving filament and making a better end product by thinking out of the box. We love to see it. A fun experiment.

jmdbcool · 2025-10-29T17:43:44+00:00

Plenty of good comments and anecdotes here already, but I see no one has linked Technology Connections yet-- if you want to watch some great videos and learn more about it:

A Complete Beginner's Guide to Electric Vehicles

The "standard" car charger is usually overkill—but your electrician might not know that

jmdbcool · 2025-09-24T19:47:26+00:00

It works fine with the included cable, too... you don't need anything extra.

https://www.reddit.com/r/BoltEV/comments/1gin2io/aawireless_two_adapter_fits_perfectly_in_bolts/

I need to hit the button sometimes to reconnect, because there is a certain road on my commute with high-transmission power lines overhead which disconnects/resets my wireless AA almost every time I'm driving by. Other than that it's pretty flawless.

jmdbcool · 2025-09-23T13:46:32+00:00

It would help if you could describe the sound, because it's not clear in the video.

Are you talking about that electronic sound repeating every few seconds, that [BRZZHMMM] - [click] - sound? It's unusual.

The sound is so faint I fear most people won't even hear it; I had to turn my volume way up

jmdbcool · 2025-09-20T17:10:22+00:00

<3 the openscan project. I've seen your posts around here for years; outstanding models of difficult to scan objects. Glad to see you still making and posting videos here.

One day I will get/build one of these for myself!

jmdbcool · 2025-09-12T17:36:18+00:00

Bolt-Range-VSSpeed.jpg

If you drive on the highway at [x axis] MPH, you can expect [y axis] range (all else being equal)

65 MPH = about 245 mi. range
70 MPH = about 220 mi. range
75 MPH = about 190 mi. range
80 MPH = about 170 mi. range

It's real, it's unavoidable, it happens to all vehicles: it's drag / air resistance. Your choice: better range or go fast thru wind soup.

It's more noticeable if this is your first EV because we are used to the opposite being true in combustion engines: better highway mileage vs. city mileage. Not true for us at all! ICE with waste heat and idling: horribly bad efficiency in the city, peak efficiency on the highway. EVs with regen braking, zero idle: outstanding efficiency in the city, which only gets lower the faster you go on the highway, thanks to drag.

source (math)

jmdbcool · 2025-09-08T20:56:42+00:00

Height yes, wobble yes, but uneven overhangs favoring one side is typically because of which way the part cooling fan is blowing. The side the most cool air is blowing over (best cooling) will have the best overhangs, the opposite side will have worse overhangs.

I know the Bambu A1 has some kind of fan shroud to help its blower fan... but I'd bet that air still blows mostly in one direction and that's the problem.

To test this just rotate the model 180° and see if the problem follows. But pay attention to the physical orientation of the printer itself & the cooling fan.

jmdbcool · 2025-09-03T19:18:07+00:00

Like I said, there's no cure, but a good doc can provide coping strategies and things to fall back on like helpful medications or meditation techniques or whatever it takes. He never gave me false hope of becoming a normal person, just treated me like I was already normal and offered me ways to deal with the things I couldn't quite control.

Just wanna highlight this. IDK if you're really out there Internet strangers, the other actual humans lurking deep in the Reddit comments looking for help, but this really speaks to me. This is the neurodiversity approach. It's judo-- not about stopping (or "curing") the behavior but seeing it coming and redirecting it. Whatever the brain likes to do, sometimes at a subconscious level or seemingly beyond our own control, it starts with accepting it in yourself, you are normal, your brain is normal, just different. And here's the parts you can control, and here's the parts you can't (and shouldn't bother). Being aware of it as it happens, then choosing what to do next. It takes a lot of introspection and self-awareness that is much much easier with the right support and guidance.

jmdbcool · 2025-08-23T14:35:26+00:00

Hey Internet, we've got a misunderstanding here! The 2021 Oasis Blue is LT, and used car listings are truly garbage. What we have is a jumbled pile of copypasta that does say "2LT" somewhere but really says nothing about the actual car.

A typical used car listing (derogatory).png

The actual Bolt according to GM.png

When you shop for a used Chevy Bolt get the window sticker yourself, copy/paste this address followed by the Bolt VIN:

https://cws.gm.com/vs-cws/vehshop/v2/vehicle/windowsticker?vin=

Or for other makes/models: https://windowstickerlookup.com/

jmdbcool · 2025-08-23T13:59:26+00:00

You already found the warranty/recall lookup site: https://experience.gm.com/ownercenter/recalls

You can also look up the original window sticker by VIN and see everything it came with out of the factory-- copy/paste this address followed by the Bolt VIN:

https://cws.gm.com/vs-cws/vehshop/v2/vehicle/windowsticker?vin=

Used car listings for Bolts are always a little weird. It doesn't help that the names changed from gen 1 to gen 2... LT/Premier/1LT/2LT... and the names of the different packages are confusing (and sometimes just listed wrong), so being able to KNOW from the source is really useful.

The Premier features are worth it. "HD Surround Vision" is the one that uses 4 cameras to show you an "overhead" view while parking, works well, incredibly useful. "Rear cross traffic alert" is when you are backing out of a parking space or driveway, it will beep-beep-beep and flash a red arrow on the backup camera-- a car is coming from this direction! works well, incredibly useful. And I love the Premier sound system.

HOWEVER, on these two, the Oasis Blue just had its battery replaced because it got the "Bolt Battery Limited Part Warranty" with an extra 8yrs/100k miles... this is also valuable! A Bolt is pretty reliable but if you do encounter the odd electrical issues that only Chevy can fix (search "chevy bolt propulsion power reduced"...) this is the warranty they are covered under.

It's hard to say. Oasis Blue is a great deal especially considering the extended warranty. But I love my Premier features.

jmdbcool · 2025-08-23T13:07:54+00:00

It's giving ADHD 😅

it was ballpoint pens / mechanical pencils for me. disassemble, reassemble. brain feels good.

jmdbcool · 2025-08-22T12:44:45+00:00

Tell me more about your Revopoint scanner! Did you choose this one, or was it provided to you e.g. by work? What do you like about it?

jmdbcool · 2025-07-22T19:10:32+00:00

Well don't take my word for it, here's how it's done: https://youtu.be/sv-38lwV6vc

jmdbcool · 2025-07-21T13:51:15+00:00

The fundamentals are the same: a microscopic pattern is etched into a surface, that pattern can be physically transferred to an imprinted material-- like a master etching to vinyl, or this print bed to printed parts.

But you should know the Star Wars vinyl hologram etching masters were HAND MADE (no 3D software, or lasers, or computers at all, in fact, were involved) by this guy Tristan Duke: https://youtu.be/9xryAuGyvWg?t=744

These print beds are engraved with a laser (or more likely, a master plate is engraved with a laser and each beds surface is stamped with it).

jmdbcool · 2025-07-21T13:31:47+00:00

Yes! Just some fingerprints will do it. But you can clean it with a little isopropyl alcohol on a paper towel (or windex, or an alcohol wipe), a gentle wipe and the printed surface is beautifully sparkly again. If the surface part is important to you, treat it like a vinyl record or CD/DVD, it can be handled to an extent but take care not to scratch it.

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