Thoughts about what to do in their free time and diversify the routine have undergone certain changes against the background of recent world events, which have significantly limited our social circles and entertainment.
If you are reading this, you are most likely somehow connected (professionally) with the IT sector. It just so happened that many of the results of our work cannot be “touched by hands”. Yes, there may be years of experience and mountains of code, solved problems, built infrastructures behind your back ... But all this is “out there”. Personally, I really miss the feeling that I have created something that I can touch: just pick it up and touch it, put it on a shelf ...
Without pretending to be a universal solution to this problem, I will tell you about how some people cope with it from the engineers of our company.
1. 3D printing
Thanks to our Chinese colleagues and their notorious markets, 3D printing has become truly affordable.
Someone may say right away that “at school, from my drawings, the teachers condescendingly put 4 for their efforts, so I won't even try to model something”. However, artistic skill is not at all the main thing here . That is, of course, if 3D modeling is a vocation, then you simply have to try yourself in 3D printing. But this does not negate the fact that the "simple techie" can find a very wide application here.
If you (like me) do not know how to draw or model, take ready-made models from thingiverse.com .
Simple examples from personal experience
Here is a nice designer flowerpot for my wife (to justify the investment in front of her, if such arguments are required):
And such a headphone stand will help them stop lying around and take their place:
Some models of animal figures can be used to calibrate and hone their skills in the press. Well-obtained copies - to distribute to children:
And this is not the whole list of categories of available ready-made models, many of which are simply printed, but extremely useful in the household:
- cap for sealant ,
- bag handles ,
- key to remove the mixer aerator ...
Or, for example, a colleague xandr0sTogether with my friend, I built a shelf mount
in the trunk: The
shapes of the parts are simple, but the lack of technical specifications with dimensions will make you tinker with the model and the barbell.
Further more
All this was about simple printing. Want it harder? Ok, how about an OpenRC F1 RC model ?
Trust me: some parts of this model, or rather the materials for its printing, can be a real challenge. Nylon gears, soft plastic tires, intricate body details ...
But, of course, the quintessence of 3D printing appears precisely when the model you just sketched * appears a couple of hours later in a solid, tangible body , with every bend ... Yes, it is indescribable pleasure from the fact that you have created something “on the PC screen” and now you are already holding it in your hands. And even if it's not perfect, the printing and modeling skills need to be improved ...
* You can write a separate article about existing editors. Without any experience, I settled on Fusion 360, which is available for free under the Education / Personal / Startup license.
One of my first projects, drawn from scratch, was this case for a wrench and latch taps. For a beginner, nothing is easier than square shapes, which are also easy to print.
3D printing is a very common hobby with its own community and chat rooms. Taking this opportunity, I will leave links to several channels in Telegram:
- K3D - All About 3D Printing - a large (over 4,000 members!) Community of 3D printers, many of whom seem to know the answers to all the questions newbies might have;
- Ender-3 Russian users - 1200+ Russian-speaking owners of the most affordable / competitive and lightweight printer for beginners (I personally use the model of this printer myself);
- Uncle Pasha Chat Fusion 360 is a Russian-speaking CAD / CAM community, the author of which also runs a YouTube channel with lessons.
2. Lasers
Next to 3D printing is another hobby: lasers.
I am sure that most of the readers are sane and sober-minded people, but it is still impermissible to overlook the safety aspect . So remember:
- Before getting carried away with lasers, think 5 times why you need it and whether you should not start with something safer !
- Read articles on types of lasers, wavelengths, power, and effects.
- Always work with a laser with safety glasses, but remember that no glasses provide 100% protection from prolonged (several seconds) direct exposure to the laser beam!
Not scared? Then some ideas / examples of how to take your time ...
If you have a 3D printer and you are already familiar with its mechanics, then assembling a laser will most likely not be a big problem. Although: what is the problem if this is already the beginning of entertainment? ..
And help here:
- openbuilds.com with many examples of kinematics;
- already mentioned thingiverse.com .
Here is an example of what can be assembled from two profiles, seven wheels, two motors, two bearings, two pulleys and two belts ... Board - with grbl ( cncjs as a server for Linux). The rest of the parts are printed. And, of course, a laser, but here I will not specifically write what I took for myself, tk. this issue needs to be studied by everyone individually, according to their needs.
There are plenty of examples of engraving on the internet: just search for vector art or " free dxf " on Google can be a great starting point. I will only add that a good hood (not into the common channel!) Is a must.
For example, this lion was burned out on a homemade engraver, the project of which is described above. Lion - vector (Inkscape + plugin gcodetools), but burning along the contours took about 40 minutes.
The result was not without jambs, but there are already ideas on how to please homemade drawings on cutting boards.
3. Classics
Sometimes you want to move away from the already almost become one whole laptop / PC and chair with you. Still need a tangible result, but as little or no sitting in front of the screen as possible? For inspiration - some of my colleagues' work.
Key holder carved from wooddiafour. Stained:
Bench fromzimmermann. Simple, but so useful for landscaping work with your hands:
Who does not know the smell of grandfather's carpentry workshop? .. Why not continue the traditions and work with wood, as ours doesvadim_s_sabinich, involving the younger generation in the process:
By the way, about children ... Do you want "a little science"? Such Brovin's caster was created by his colleague Alexander Ivanchenko for his son and may be of interest to young physicists:
And here is another project from the same author: an electromagnetic mass accelerator.
Instead of totals
The best rest is a change of activity. Working with your hands allows you to escape from your usual activities and warm up a little. The main thing is to find what you personally like ... and not go to extremes. On my own behalf, I want to add that a hobby does not necessarily have to bring some kind of income and be economical. What you have chosen to do is primarily chosen for yourself. Do what you like and who knows where it will lead!
PS
Read also on our blog: