IT

So, needed to export from OpenSCAD so we can cut some stuff on a laser cutter....

God this is a nightmare process, spent a good few hours trying to figure out what's up with it, and finally figured it out. The "proper" method is as follows:-

1) Export from OpenSCAD to a PNG file.
2) Load the PNG file into Inkscape.
3) Have Inkscape run a path trace algorithm on the png file.
4) Spend ages (even a simple file can be five-ten minutes of fiddling) cleaning up the paths.
5) Complain, moan be annoyed as Inkscape's output just isn't straight, and is strangely laid out.


Okay, number 5 is just my step mostly I finally decided that this just wasn't a good method of handling the export, so after a quick google search I discover that the program I used to slice the STL files I generate from OpenSCAD for printing on the RepRap will also export SVG files... and what it does is generate it so each layer is a grouped option in Inkscape... hmmm.... okay, so the new method (which by the way takes about thirty seconds for me now) is:-

1) Export from OpenSCAD to an STL file.
2) Load Slic3r and tell it to export the STL as an SVG file. (Note here, see below)
3) Load the resulting SVG into Inkscape.
4) Delete all layers not needed for the cut.
5) Ungroup the layer, set No Fill and have the Stroke solid with a 1 pixel width.
6) Rejoice as the output looks perfect.... then save the file.

Okay, the only concerns here is that Slic3r needs to have a few settings adjusted to generate nice looking SVG slices, first off, 0 Infill, 1 Perimeter and 0 Solid Layers, not sure if this really makes much difference but it works for me.

Given this I can now generate what appear to be valid SVG files for use with the Laser Cutter.... hope so as the Hubby is going to give them a whirl in a few hours.

So, it's been a while, mostly as I've had about 25 billion little projects and things come my way in the last little while.

First off I started looking into the Arduino boards, they're so cheap it's scary. And they've reminded me of a whole bunch of little project things I used to do when younger.

So, the hubby and I have had a lot of fun hauling out the old soldering station, getting workspace cleared up, setting up new boards, testing things, etc. It's given me some neat ideas on things to do around the place, so I suspect there will be some additional stuff coming along here eventually once things get settled.

Next, we picked up a 3d-printer (A Mendel-Prusa reprap, from Makergear), that guy has been giving us some fun little fiddling, in fact it's been a huge time sink for me the last few days. First off it took us a week to build it (as we could really only work on it at night), then it's been a week or so of printing calibration and alignments... it's only been in the past few days that we've really gotten some nice prints. I've gotten pics from it, but those will have to wait until tomorrow.

The above things have taken a lot more of my time than I had realised, so much so that I'm actually glad I've got a few minutes to update this. That's good though as we needed some things to do other than play computer games when not working

So, finally cleaned up the code enough, that I've released the first Open-Source version of TankStats.

You can find it at the TankStats Google Code Site (http://code.google.com/p/tankstats/).

If you use it, please let me know what you think of it, either here or over on the Google Code site, also please note that the Google Code site is the only place I'll actually pay attention to bug reports...

The new light came in for the SW tank, so I've got a new pic for it.

SW Pico - Day 11

And here's the current pic of the FW tank.

Freshwater Tank

Okay, so the freshwater aquarium is chugging along nicely once more. We picked up a bargain this weekend, an older-model AI Sol, for $100 off! Anyhow, hooked that up to the Apex and the fish and plants are now looking even better than before.

The saltwater tank isn't so lucky, I stripped it right down to a bare tank and I'm still getting copper readings, even after effectively draining it dry... I've got Cuprisorb in the filter, so we'll have to see how that goes, so far it looks promising, but I might need to replace the filter pads and the standard media in the filter... Well, have spare now so we'll just have to see.

We did re-arrange the saltwater setup, will grab some new piccies, and I also found (and have ordered) a new heater, the old one was 5/8" tubing, and the filter is 1/2", so we had to use weird fittings, they're all PVC fittings, but still, we could do much neater and nicer, and less leak possibilities with the 1/2" heater.

I also have the Seachem copper test kit coming in tomorrow, we'll have to see how that goes, I hope it to show an easier to read output than the API test kit.

Lastly, I've been working on my aquarium stats/notes program, so far it's looking reasonable. I have a few last things to shift from the config file to the database, and need to generate a small config modification script, once that's done, and I've had a few others test the install process to see if they can get it to work for them without me needing to prompt I'll be releasing it, probably via Sourceforge, but will figure that out when the time comes.

Okay, so first off, good news, got my memory upgrade for the laptop today. Overnighted from Crucial and it's exactly what they said, it arrived when they said, and it works just fine (in fact it's almost 2 points higher on the Windows performance score, and given this is supposed to be my travel/gaming laptop, improved performance is nice).

Next, as the package arrived earlyish, ran out before heading to work to the LFS.... bad idea... I'm going to write off completely the LFS near us, second time I've gone in there and the store person has basically told me that I didn't really want what I came in to purchase. Idiots, it's like they want to lose money or something, there never is anyone in the store other than staff from what I can tell, the tanks looks mostly healthy, but they don't seem interested in selling anything. Anyhow, anyone in Sunnyvale or the surrounding area, I'd steer clear of Aquatic Life Forms, and instead recommend you go a little further afield if you need something the big box stores don't have. So far I've been greatly impressed by Aquarium Concepts in Dublin, and Neptune Aquatics in Milpitas. There are some others in the south bay, but I don't like Dolphin Pet Village's staff (see other aquarium store rant *grin*), Seascapes appears to mostly sell livestock, T&T Marine Aquarium & Koi Pond is way out of the way, but appears reasonable, with a decent livestock selection, and the staff try to be very helpful and they are willing to order just about anything in.

And now, for another complaint of mine, shipping companies.... So I've ordered a bunch of stuff from Amazon this week, mostly bits for around the house, and food supplies (Amazon has a neat selection of long-shelf-life food products, I feel like I've gone back in time and stocking the pantry from the mail-order company *grin*), however as I have Prime, I don't always get to select what shipping company they use for a specific shipment. Now, I have my issues with UPS (just had annoyances with them in the past), and Fedex has always been great to me, but the one that gets me most annoyed at the moment is ONTRAC.... I can't understand how they're in business, must be very cheap for people. This morning, just before heading out to the LFS, I hear what sounds like someone yelling outside, then a WHOMP noise, and so I open the door, and there's my package, tossed from outside my fence to the front door. Glad the contents turned out not to be fragile, but seriously? Throwing the damn package from outside the fence? Can't be bothered to open the gate and at least try knocking? The UPS guy even does that much! Oh well, rant at Amazon as well, telling them to please stop using those bozos, never know it might work, and the more people who complain about that sort of package treatment, the better off we'd be as the companies would stop using them.