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Hack Chat Transcript, Part 2

A event log for Finishing Your Projects Hack Chat

Zack Freedman on project follow-through

dan-maloneyDan Maloney 02/10/2021 at 22:210 Comments
itsshreyarora12:49 PM

is it cool if i do everything with an rpi and a bunch of relays?

itsshreyarora12:50 PM
cool its rpis and relays,,, big tech can get tf outt

sn3ll12:50 PM
@Zack Freedman Do you have any advice on making videos from your projects?

joeykrause3712:50 PM
if i stop chatting it means i got electrocuted by the battery im playing with

aidanprocopio12:50 PM
Is the chat on the optagon? Can you hold it up so we can see what the glasses look like from the inside?

joeykrause3712:50 PM
no its not

aidanprocopio12:50 PM
okay

Michael Murillo12:50 PM
I like onshape as opposed to autocad

Mikael Grön12:51 PM
@Zack Freedman : Tried mindfulness? It helped me to get rid of some of my dist... Oh look, a squirrel!

Generic Human12:51 PM
How do you finish a project you've lost interest in?

Michael Murillo12:51 PM
onshape has the same workflow as solidworks

Ticktok12:51 PM
I made the full freecad switch and i'm never looking back

morgan12:51 PM
@itsshreyarora I mentioned this before (and on YT), I'm using NodeRED/Tasamoto/ESPHome for my home automation and it keeps things really simple (low code for me)

Tom Nardi12:51 PM
OpenSCAD 4 lyfe

ian12:51 PM
big desk for the win

austinlambert82 joined the room.12:51 PM

aidanprocopio12:52 PM
Can we see what the optagon looks like from the inside?

samsam joined the room.12:52 PM

Ben joined the room.12:52 PM

theTruthBeSold12:52 PM
@Zack Freedman What's a good starter project for learning PCB design?

Samantha12:52 PM
@Zack Freedman how do you feel about implantable computers and microchips?

Inne12:52 PM
When starting a project I really get a drive to put effort in stuff about the project (not project itself). Stuff like over-planning, flowcharts, super specific milestones preferably in an automated way so it is easy to update share etc. How do you handle wasting motivation on this, how do you know what is worth doing and what holds you back.

Telra12:52 PM
Question Zack❓ what is your input on Humanoid Android in the DIY Space❓

Inne12:53 PM
You seem like a man that sees opportunities everywhere. How would you prevent these new opportunities from distracting you from current projects.

austinlambert8212:53 PM
How do you balance learning skills with projects? For example, learning to 3d model can take a lifetime, but learning enough to complete the project at hand may only take a couple hours. At the same time, only a couple hours of learning may cause you to do things wrong for a long time if you never circle around and continue learning.

sn3ll12:54 PM
@Zack Freedman Do you have any advice on making videos from your projects?

vasilevvs10 joined the room.12:54 PM

Jade Paradox12:54 PM
what if you have to save up money for the project for several weeks/months before you can get started?

Telra12:55 PM
Question Zack❓ what is your input on Humanoid Android in the DIY Space❓

MiteZ12:55 PM
What happened to the new Optigon and what to the data glove

ian12:56 PM
@Zack Freedman how do u deal with the buy vs diy dilemma?

Ticktok12:56 PM
I like that look mum no computer made a second channel for his making videos so they can be long and dry and detailed for those that want to watch that(like me)

Ticktok12:57 PM
making/tutorial

Nemanja Vukmirovic12:57 PM
So i am working on a project (code) for a client that is several thousand miles away...

I wouldn't have any problems if he had defined everything upstart, but while working he is thinking of more and more features that already intervene with my existing code so I am on a peak of trashing everything and starting again...

Question: Do you work projects as a freelancer if so how are you dealing with bad | way expecting clients?

James Finch12:57 PM
I got hooked on DesignSpark Mechanical.

DJ joined the room.12:57 PM

idontwanttotell12:57 PM
What if you lose interest after getting all the parts? @Zack Freedman

morgan12:57 PM
yyyyeah, it does that

Tom Nardi12:58 PM
I thought we had that chat scrolling thing fixed, but seems it's back again

Ticktok12:58 PM
for saving up money, I will say at least in the world of electronics, while saving up, see how much you can do in simulation and design before you receive the parts

morgan12:58 PM
a badge

@Tom Nardi - yeah, still here

morgan12:59 PM
TRUTH! a lot of my early PCBs died because I made them too small and they could not be debugged

idontwanttotell1:00 PM
Why do most makers have adhd?

Ticktok1:00 PM
my first pcb design I had flipped footprints and everything. had to cut traces and hand rewire all kinds of things. just expect it and be ready for a board v2.(i.e. don't order 100 of board v1)

joeykrause371:00 PM
what is your favorite project that you never finished?

perlinwarp1:01 PM
@Zack Freedman How long do you spend deciding what tool/component to buy vs just buying what someone recommends? Related: Recommend your Hakko FX888D?

sn3ll1:01 PM
Advice on making videos from your projects?

Ticktok1:01 PM
also, surprisingly r/electronics is totally open to doing free pcb design reviews

MiteZ1:01 PM
When the new video about the new Optigon and why don't you use the data glove that you made several months ago?

Hey @Zack Freedman, we're getting up to the end of our hour. Do you want to wrap up the "official" chat and leave the stream as an after-party?

Samantha1:01 PM
@Zack Freedman checkout pegleg.org :)

Ticktok1:01 PM
err, r/electricalengineering

Seth Howell1:03 PM
@Zack Freedman how do you balance your projects with the rest of your life so you dont get burnt out or neglect things like fitness or your friends/family by getting constantly sucked into projects?

m.robles1600209776 joined the room.1:03 PM

ian1:03 PM
anyone have any soldering iron recommendations all i have is a old crappy one?

James Finch1:04 PM
I'm whipped on the SH72.

Tom Nardi1:04 PM
I'm still pushing my Radio Shack digital station

MiteZ1:05 PM
What happened with the upgraded version of the Optigon

coderguy6000 joined the room.1:06 PM

coderguy60001:07 PM
How do I protect from frying my laptops motherboard again with an Arduino?

morgan1:09 PM
project question: What's the PVC structure behind you?

Jacob1:09 PM
@coderguy6000 How'd you pull that off, ground loop?

Tom Nardi1:09 PM
As somebody who has to take screenshots of these videos to write about them online...having it just sit still for a few seconds once and awhile would be kind of nice.

QualitytheCactus1:10 PM
what is on you back? is that a sword?

@Tom Nardi +1000 on that

coderguy60001:11 PM
@Jacob idk I was using a pro micro and I accidentally soldered a little on the side of the board the light went off on the board then once I realised I fixed it then my laptop died a day later

QualitytheCactus1:11 PM
nife i mean nice

Inne1:11 PM
What's your opinion about contests, with regards to finishing stuff. A distraction that forces you to postpone/steer projects in a different direction. Or is it free hardware with an extra motivation to finish stuff. Ever felt that you get parts you wouldn't use otherwise and now need extra effort in finding out how they work.

James Finch1:11 PM
Two days back the delivery came in of the ten packs of male and female 5.5x2.5 barrel connectors to make the splitter for the dual SH72 tweezers. There are 3D STL's for if you search around.

valentin.jisa joined the room.1:11 PM

coderguy60001:12 PM
@Zack Freedman how do you not short your laptop with an arduino

koen.lammers joined the room.1:12 PM

coderguy60001:12 PM
definitely not personal experience

coderguy60001:12 PM
just happened

coderguy60001:13 PM
to my MacBook and im very dad

coderguy60001:13 PM
sad

Ticktok1:13 PM
a fun project would be to build a simple one using opto-isolators

koen.lammers1:13 PM
How do i finish lubing my switches? (Keyboard switches)

Generic Human1:13 PM
@coderguy6000 a USB isolator isn't very expensive.

coderguy60001:13 PM
with a pro micro aswell

Generic Human1:15 PM
They're less that $20 on Amazon. Make sure it isolates power as well as signal.

coderguy60001:15 PM
@Generic Human https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nobsound-Isolator-Eliminator-Industrial-Protection/dp/B07GF8643T will this work?

wiktor.brzostek123 joined the room.1:16 PM

Generic Human1:16 PM
@coderguy6000 that should work well

Inne1:16 PM
Btw, thx Zack and Brooke for taking so much time with this, very appreciated. (Also someone queuing up questions is an excellent idea. good prep).

Erik Olson1:16 PM
What are some problems that can come up when you DO reach that 90 day deliverable Version 1? I assume motivation and ideas are in place.

raeford1:16 PM
Did you build your workshop/workbench one tool at a time or did you go through an acquisition stage?

wiktor.brzostek1231:16 PM
What do you think about the Pi Pico?

coderguy60001:17 PM
@Generic Human will it carry signal aswell like can I just compile my code to it

Generic Human1:18 PM
@coderguy6000 yes

Michael Murillo1:18 PM
How did you manage your time specifically when you had a full time engineering job? I find it hard to work on projects when I'm mentally tired from work at the end of the day or week. The morning is a good time, but waking up at 5 to do projects is tough.

Eduardo L. Francisco joined the room.1:18 PM

Hey @Zack Freedman, we're pretty far over our hour now. I'm fine with letting it go, but if you need to tap out, let me know.

wiktor.brzostek1231:20 PM
Keep goin!

Seth Howell1:20 PM
mas

Richard DeBellevue1:20 PM
keep going!

Tom Nardi1:20 PM
Let it roll

Richard DeBellevue1:20 PM
I am down to keep watching

ian1:20 PM
keep it going pls

Ticktok1:20 PM
I'm supposed to be working right now, so I"m not going anywhere :P

Vincent1:20 PM
This is all gold!

olivergaskell100 joined the room.1:20 PM

All good on this side, keep going if you want

Sam P joined the room.1:21 PM

Love the constraints that contests force on a design.

pacmanboy1:21 PM
cute

Eduardo L. Francisco1:21 PM
@Zack Freedman, I'm not an engineer, I just love science and learning everything. I'm starting with Arduino, what do I study first, electronics basics or read the Arduino site documentation? [ I have a stressful and mind-heavy day job.. =/ ]

olivergaskell1001:22 PM
Should I get a 3d printer? Even a cheap one would be a big investment for me, since I'm only 16, but I feel like it'll help me do more projects. I feel like I don't wanna do a project too often cause I can't make stuff like housings or cases etc.

Inne1:22 PM
@Dan Maloney hackaday contest are absolutely amazing, very creative subjects and so motivating. Thx for them.

DJ1:22 PM
Have you thought about doing some projects for people with disability's?

anton.wenemark joined the room.1:23 PM

@Inne: Thanks! we've got some good ones coming up.

aidanprocopio1:23 PM
do you have any budget 3d printer recommendations? I'm 13, so not a big budjet

aidanprocopio1:23 PM
nevermind, you just answered it

wiktor.brzostek1231:23 PM
Ender 3 propably

Valentin1:23 PM
what is your recommended function for my first custom designed pcb.

wiktor.brzostek1231:23 PM
do not go with anet a8 because it does not have thermal runaway

Ticktok1:24 PM
i can 100% suggest the ender 3. I have two and host a 3d printing meetup group

aidanprocopio1:24 PM
thanks

wiktor.brzostek1231:24 PM
It is better to pay some more for the Ender 3 than have a risk of a house fire

Ticktok1:24 PM
I just assembled a new one and the QA has fastly improved over the old one

DJ1:24 PM
Have you thought about doing some projects for people with disability's? Ie my step dad has parksions and there's not a lot of designs out there.

pacmanboy1:25 PM
what software do you use for pcb making

aidanprocopio1:25 PM
my dad has one for work that I can use sometimes, but I kind of want to get my own

Ticktok1:25 PM
@wiktor.brzostek123 the ender 3 now comes with thermal run away protection and fixed power cables. no longer worry about house fire(any more than all 3d printers)

Alwec1:26 PM
What is your opinion on the raspberry pi pico as a big teensy fan?

Valentin1:26 PM
what is your recommended function for my first custom designed pcb.

Inne1:26 PM
If you use mouse click and drag the bar on right a little to the top of the page the chat doesn't auto scroll

wiktor.brzostek1231:26 PM
@Ticktok yeah, i was saying about the house fires with anet a8

noahcombs523 joined the room.1:26 PM

DJ1:26 PM
Im gald to hear that from you, thx

Ticktok1:26 PM
ah, yea. the anet a8 is the only one I knew of that cause a bunch of house fires

aidanprocopio1:27 PM
maybe do what integza did, and find someone who can use it, and then build something for them with their input

Ticktok1:27 PM
ah, sorry @wiktor.brzostek123 I misread your comment

DJ1:27 PM
i have owned a A8, please do not buy those, a ender 3 is a great mahcine for a starter

pacmanboy1:27 PM
What software do you use to make 3d models and pcbs?

aidanprocopio1:27 PM
thanks chat for the reccomendations

noahcombs5231:27 PM
Any canbus experience? I'm working on canbus for my car but it's great to communicate between. I think it would make a great vid

olivergaskell1001:28 PM
How much better is an Ergo keyboard than a regular non-split one? Considering buying a kyria but can't decide whether to or not

mhgwilliams joined the room.1:28 PM

Ticktok1:28 PM
@m.robles1600209776 fusion360, tinkercad, or my personal preference Freecad. for PCB design KiCad

morgan1:28 PM
^^^ I'm FreeCAD/KiCAD

olivergaskell1001:28 PM
KiCad is brill for PCBs, I've used it and Eagle and KiCad is so much better imo

pacmanboy1:28 PM
I use kicad freecad

Valentin1:28 PM
what is your recommended function for my first custom designed pcb.

Marcel Haazen joined the room.1:28 PM

aidanprocopio1:29 PM
I think I should go to class now

mhgwilliams1:29 PM
Would you recommend renting a space to do things like resin casting and more "smelly" hobbies if I'm not making money from it? I feel limited but I can't justify getting a space. Especially in brooklyn where it's expensive.

aidanprocopio1:29 PM
can we see the inside of the optagon?

Alwec1:29 PM
What is your opinion on the raspberry pi pico as a big teensy fan?

theTruthBeSold1:30 PM
Do you have advice for breaking into freelance prototyping? How do you avoid working for $1.00/hr or (on the other end of things) competing for full on engineering firms?

Inne1:30 PM
If you use mouse click and drag the bar on right a little to the top of the page the chat doesn't auto scroll

m.robles16002097761:30 PM
What about the pi 4

Marcel Haazen1:30 PM
Do you have some recommendation about learning some PCB designs

olivergaskell1001:30 PM
Given the choice, would you use CircuitPython or Arduino C for a MCU?

aidanprocopio1:30 PM
we need to see the inside of the optagon!

DJ1:31 PM
Is ham radio something you'll mention or do a vid about? QRP laps has some neat stuff. We need more makers in the hobby!

Valentin1:31 PM
what is your recommended function for my first custom designed pcb.

m.robles16002097761:32 PM
what coding language did you learn first

ian1:32 PM
@Zack Freedman what do recommended for pcb design ?

wiktor.brzostek1231:32 PM
Mood.

Seth Howell1:33 PM
@Zack Freedman what projects are on your TODO list that youre most excited to finish?

noahcombs5231:33 PM
Any canbus experience? I'm working on a canbus for my car. I find it a interesting way to communicate between projects.

sami joined the room.1:33 PM

sami1:33 PM
hey zack am working on huge project (a car ecu for my bmw E30 ) should i use a teensy or stm32

redleader36 joined the room.1:33 PM

noahcombs5231:34 PM
Sami what e30?

aidanprocopio1:34 PM
Can we see what the optagon display looks like to you? I am very curious.

Valentin1:34 PM
Would you recommend PIC over STM32

sami1:34 PM
yuup E30

wiktor.brzostek1231:34 PM
How to get yourself to get your ass up and do something?

m.robles16002097761:35 PM
Umm... what type of project that you would recommend for a 10 yr old

Ticktok1:35 PM
that's unfortunate zack. when I was in school spending more time in lab and getting in to engineering clubs was one of my main suggestions to new students to get their feet wet and actually see all the math they learned actually was fun when it did something.

olivergaskell1001:35 PM
How do you budget for projects? All my projects end up costing 2x or 3x my original estimate

sami1:35 PM
noah it's a 1989 318i m10 engine

Tom Nardi1:36 PM
I try not to think about how expensive a lot of my builds end up being, would never start another one otherwise.

redleader361:36 PM
Do you use any software to track projects -- Freedcamp, Trello, Excel, anything like that?

JosephGertz1:36 PM
Hi this is my first day on hacker chat

m.robles16002097761:37 PM
Same

olivergaskell1001:37 PM
All my hobbies are too expensive xD this, mech keyboards, Custom PCs...

aidanprocopio1:37 PM
@JosephGertz me too

morgan1:37 PM
^^^ yeah @Tom Nardi ! I try very hard to not think of the $2k i sank into failing to deliver more than 3 of #The Cacoffiny

@JosephGertz - Welcome! Hope you'll come back for some other chats.

aidanprocopio1:37 PM
can we please see what the hud display looks like to you?

Speaking of which, next week's Hack Chat will be a great one too:

wiktor.brzostek1231:38 PM
How to get yourself to get your ass up and do something?


https://hackaday.io/event/176475-signal-conditioning-hack-chat

m.robles16002097761:38 PM
ILL try to go

DJ1:38 PM
What do you think is the largest project you would like to do, if given the funds? whats the #dreamgoal

sami1:38 PM
hey zack am working on huge project (a car ecu for my bmw E30 ) should i use a teensy or stm32

DJ1:39 PM
Mine would be building robot taco trucks

aidanprocopio1:39 PM
@Dan Maloney the link doesn't work

DangabeGriffiin joined the room.1:39 PM

olivergaskell1001:39 PM
I backtracked on a PCB and ripped up half my routing, it ended up being sooo muc

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