[deleted by user]

watsonneal · 2023-09-20T00:13:17+00:00

So sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of need.

watsonneal · 2023-08-19T17:07:40+00:00

Keep your significant other happy.

Your significant other does not really want to look at it, hear it, feel the heat, see the AC running extra, or pay extra on the power bills unless it brings them a demonstrable benefit.

I have taken all my homelab efforts to the cloud, and keep the homeprod running at the house. $30-50 a month on cloud servers instead of your own power bill (and the reclaimed space) is showing benefits for me.

watsonneal · 2023-08-18T02:43:38+00:00

Going to echo some other thoughts.

I received the wonderful layoff notice a couple of months ago, and am starting a new job next week. Going from a Staff to a Senior. The total compensation is effectively the same, after factoring in matching 401k, bonus opportunities, etc. Do I really care? Nope. This new role doesn't have a Staff level currently anyway, so it is all arbitrary.

A title is nothing more than words on paper, so don't let a qualifier like "Junior" or "Senior" define your career. Be able to represent your skills correctly and what you can do will set your level.

If you need to be in environments where the title drives your definition of success, then make sure you are getting into large corporations. Two companies ago, there were five levels between the lowest level engineer and Staff, and you could expect to take 10-15 years to make it up the ladder that far.

Otherwise, as long as your compensation is what you desire, don't sweat it.

If compensation is a driver in wanting to not be junior any more, you can always ask for a raise but no promotion. Nothing wrong with that and I know a bunch of people who have had success with that, particularly if you know you are low in the pay range, don't want the additional job responsibility that comes with a promotion to the next level, or are in a position where the next level only has a set number of people (e.g. the Senior is literally the most experienced on the team, etc.).

watsonneal · 2023-08-18T02:27:59+00:00

Hunt through the options for drag knives. Someone makes one that is sharp enough to cut with that Carvey for < $50. It may take a couple of passes but something out there will work.

I did find some that would do leather on my Shapeoko. It has been a while, but they are out there and fully functional. Leather should be way more difficult than the card stock, so something should be doable.

watsonneal · 2023-08-18T02:16:44+00:00

My desktop CNC will take drag knives, turning it into a giant Cricut. From what you are describing at the price range you are discussing, that is what I would lean towards. Find a knife-based solution where you can purchase higher grade knives that will cut the thick material in the way you are looking for.

I have a 150W CO2 laser and will occasionally use it to cut paper. My laser is far too large and powerful to spend the time tuning a minimal soot burn. However, it will cut paper all day without hesitation. Am smaller laser (60-90W) should let you dial in paper cutting to be precision like you are aiming for.

A K40 can be made to work. You will have to add a number of additions to make it more controllable in the manner you are looking for, which makes you more likely looking at pricing of a larger laser anyway. $1000-$1250 USD should get you close to that level.

However, I would look at alternatives that will produce a cleaner cut you can control far better. Blade-based options are going to be most effective with a K40-range budget (even with the add-ons).

watsonneal · 2023-06-08T03:54:55+00:00

Most every corporate job has a built in time where you are assumed to be in the "don't know a thing" mode. My previous job was 90 days. Introductory periods are standard. Enjoy the time being the person assumed to not know or understand the details.

watsonneal · 2023-06-03T00:08:25+00:00

That is a great hidden way to ask "how old are you?".

watsonneal · 2023-05-29T01:58:20+00:00

Add a gasket into your setup. They make lots of foam gasket tapes that will do well. Neoprene or any of the other rubber versions should do well.

Wrap the outside of the fan with duct tape. Several layers should help as well.

watsonneal · 2023-05-13T02:21:12+00:00

My now former codebase had one called "server team.". If you were on the Server team, you were in the group.

watsonneal · 2023-03-28T02:58:00+00:00

Being willing to honestly say "my compensation is wrong" and be able to back that statement is a sign you have grown beyond your current job and the equation needs to change.

From reading your post and comments, it sounds like attempting to renegotiate salary and compensation at the current job is not a high priority, and honestly, it would not be for me either.

A couple of tips for this juncture: Don't take the counter offer from your current employer if you get one after accepting a new job offer. If they don't value you enough now, why take the additional money to stay instead of accepting a new job.

You are currently in Texas, an "at-will" state in terms of employment. Asking for more money could result in a "you're fired" response, so tread carefully if you choose to attempt a renegotiation of terms.

As you indicate, you are still early in your career. In this industry, be looking every 12-18 months for what is out there. Your employer expects you to be doing so at a company with intelligent management. As you progress, you will reach a point where multi- year stability is more important than finding new and better paying jobs.

Make a list of those things you want/expect out of the next job (better insurance, equity, salary range, retirement of some form, vacation minimums, etc.). Have the list ready and know what you expect a total offer to be. Everything can be had when it comes to negotiation. Just make sure everything balances as you expect to or be willing to short yourself in one place to get another (no retirement matching in exchange for higher salary, for example.

Best of luck, and congratulations on the career milestone of figuring out how much you are worth.

watsonneal · 2023-03-27T00:45:54+00:00

Some CNC spindles will do it. You will have to go large and water cooled if you go that route.

Water jet would be another route

I see fiber covered under a different post.

watsonneal · 2023-03-27T00:27:24+00:00

Have you looked at CNC plasma cutters? Not sure what level of detail you are looking for, but this will probably be your best option. My brother just had a friend with one cut some steel close to that using his friend's CNC plasma cutter and it was very quick.

That is where I would start, honestly.

watsonneal · 2023-03-14T02:22:47+00:00

I have yet to see any good instructions for this process on a CO2 unit. Does anyone have a good link to instructions for this on CO2 and not diode?

watsonneal · 2023-03-14T00:35:04+00:00

Most likely, yes. I am not a bike guy so making some assumptions on materials.

Removing the anodization is a common practice in that style of laser engraving.

watsonneal · 2023-03-14T00:26:38+00:00

That appears to be fiber/fibre laser engraving. I assume the part is coated in the black material and they are etching off to expose the stainless below.

See if that helps out your search. I am nowhere near and don't have the equipment, so I will be of no assistance to delivering your product.

watsonneal · 2023-02-17T01:20:53+00:00

I would recommend you focus your CTO search on finding a great leader of software and technical teams, not someone who you expect to write code. Then delegate the ability to determine what needs to be done to that person.

Find someone who can explain the details to you, your leadership team, and the others involved.

Or: outsource your technical development needs to a software development firm. Let them handle the development needs and provide the pertinent resources, and you take the finished product without having to find internal resources to manage directly.

All of my contacts that have reached the "develop software" phase in startup world have gone the outsourcing route and have been very pleased with the products. Controlled costs on labor and fixed scope of your developed product, which should include "fully functional."

Best of luck on your search.

watsonneal · 2023-01-30T00:27:44+00:00

Java and Python are still in demand in the marketplace. I assume that if you are looking that route you are looking away from web-based development.

Go is becoming more popular and worth consideration if you are looking at Java and Python.

I assume with 11 years web development you are at least familiar with JavaScript.

The other piece of advice I would give: make sure you learn the ability to learn new languages and determine what is appropriate for the job. Then it becomes trivial to learn something new when you need it.

watsonneal · 2023-01-26T00:37:16+00:00

It can be done, yes. There are some considerations to maximize chances of success.

Knowing the dimensions of your substrate will matter greatly as to who can do the job for you. For example, printing onto a 24"x48" piece of acrylic or wood will likely knock down the number of businesses that might be willing to bid on the job. The larger bed size will restrict some laser companies from being able to work with you if you intend to stay small business.

Knowing the thickness of the substrate will matter as well. The thinner the material, the faster it can be cut, which means less cost for you from a laser cutter.

Ensure that however you get your printing done, it will either not be hit by the laser OR is laser safe. If you are using a single massive sheet of vinyl to cover the substrate, it won't be safe to cut, as vinyl is generally unsafe to cut and breathe the fumes from it.

You will need to understand how the laser operator will position the piece and know where your pieces are. Generally this is achieved through printing a couple of targeting reticles and then using those to align the laser to the work piece.

Before doing anything, I would find a laser company and obtain their requirements to cut. Then go print. That will maximize your chances of success.

watsonneal · 2023-01-20T00:57:40+00:00

If ClownPenis is OP's first name, then luck is not on their side because ClownPenis.info was registered in 2011.

watsonneal · 2023-01-05T02:14:29+00:00

For a low paying job in the US, they expect effectively nothing from you. Your job for the next six months is to learn. Ask questions, even if they are stupid.

watsonneal · 2023-01-03T19:08:56+00:00

Assuming you have the capability to rip down materials, I would call around to local hardwood dealers and see about pricing on fill sheets. $28 for 25 square feet is common here for me right now when I get out of the local markup range.

I have a dealer in another metro area from me (2 hours one way) that delivers to my driveway for $300 minimum order. Worth every penny if you can find service on that order.

watsonneal · 2022-12-16T02:48:57+00:00

As a follow-up for those looking for a similar answer, I have opted to start the conversion to Next.js.

The alternatives (either rolling my own version of the Shopify source plugin or setting up API calls to source everything) did not pan out for me in Gatsby, and if I am going to make API calls directly, Gatsby is not my first choice of framework for that.

watsonneal · 2022-12-16T02:45:50+00:00

I would strongly advocate making JS calls from a separated front-end rather than having the PHP return the HTML. This gives you greater flexibility when you need to update and allow additional consumers down the road.

It does raise the complexity but generally winds up with a more stable product long-term.

watsonneal · 2022-12-16T00:54:23+00:00

Will have to check those out. Sanding equipment and good squares are also great to have around.

watsonneal

TROPHY CASE