Proving yet again that I suck at the mechanical / industrial design side of things...

Posted by: @zander

why do the temperature sensor and the battery+controller need to be close together at all

temp sensor has i2c connection to the Wemos and is also powered from the Wemos  The Wemos transmits the temp data via its wifi.  The battery needs to be close enough to the Wemos so its leads can connect. 😀 

Posted by: @zander

On a scale of 1 to 10 how difficult to assemble?

That would be a 1 - easy peasy.  Apart from the side boxes it was printed as flat panel's that were super glued together.  The top is a friction fit and can be removed to retrieve the sensor.

@byron I was referring to the 3D printer re 1-10, sorry if I wasn't clear, is that your understanding too?

Posted by: @zander

I was referring to the 3D printer

In that case I will give it a 5.  One does have to read the very good instructions and double check oneself at each step of the way.  When it was assembled, which I did over 2 days, I was having some difficulty in understanding the calibration technique but the Prusa forum soon put me on the right path.  

At that time I did note that someone on the forum was complaining that it was all too difficult, so perhaps be aware that some folks who are not mechanically minded may find it rather hard.  I used to maintain and fix my old cars in my youth (a split screen morris minor 😎) and I do the plumbing and electrical work in the house and have a nice woodworking workshop so I'm used to getting hands on (even with painting and decorating which I don't really relish 😝 ) 

@byron Likewise re plumbing, electrical, woodworking so I am leaning towards the kit. Thanks.

Posted by: @zander

@byron Likewise re plumbing, electrical, woodworking so I am leaning towards the kit. Thanks.

Fitting that this comes up on a post titled "I suck at mechanical..." 😉

@binaryrhyme,   lol...for me, being from an industrial background, I find those thing both challenging and rewarding.. there's nothing like finding a problem, fixing it, and making it work like it's suppose to!

Now if I can just learn this C++ thing, I'll be in my happy place again..lol

Posted by: @inst-tech

Now if I can just learn this C++ thing, I'll be in my happy place again..lol

We'd make a good team. Complementary. lol 

@inst-tech FYI, I have learned and used a few languages in my professional life. Keep in mind once you are competent in one language like say Pascal, then learning another language like PL1 is not so difficult because they are quite similar. HOWEVER knowing how to write a program and being truly an expert takes years of working 40 hr weeks 50 or so weeks a year. By the same token, learning a totally different language like APL is very much like starting from scratch. C++ for me at least was closer to starting from scratch knowing K&R C than learning a similar language AND I was not doing it professionally.

@inst-tech

Posted by: @binaryrhyme

Posted by: @inst-tech

Now if I can just learn this C++ thing, I'll be in my happy place again..lol

We'd make a good team. Complementary. lol 

C++ is not hard at all... bad teaching is the cause of pain 🙂

@zander

Posted by: @zander

@inst-tech FYI, I have learned and used a few languages in my professional life. Keep in mind once you are competent in one language like say Pascal, then learning another language like PL1 is not so difficult because they are quite similar. HOWEVER knowing how to write a program and being truly an expert takes years of working 40 hr weeks 50 or so weeks a year. By the same token, learning a totally different language like APL is very much like starting from scratch. C++ for me at least was closer to starting from scratch knowing K&R C than learning a similar language AND I was not doing it professionally.

 ... because you mentioned pascal. it prompted me to inform you that I also use Delphi, and there is a freeware open source Delphi project called Lazarus... It's virtually Visual Basic like, in that and you can drag and drop GUI components in exactly the same way as Visual Basic, and Borland C++ Builder for rapid prototyping.

Look it up and download it... I'm sure you will be impressed 😉

Cheers

Posted by: @inst-tech

Now if I can just learn this C++ thing, I'll be in my happy place again

You may be well aware of the following, but as I see you are endeavouring to learn C++ just to remind beginner folk that a learning the whole of C++ is not necessary to produce code for the Arduino boards.  

Whilst the Arduino IDE and its libraries are written in C++ the Arduino reference language is a subset that enables full control of the Arduino boards.  Indeed it endeavours to provide much help by providing a setup function and a loop function and automatically does things in the background like making forward declarations of functions.   You only need to master what we may call the Arduino language to be able to do all that you probably will need when programming the Arduino. 

Thats not to say don't go further and master C++ if you wish.  The use of classes for example would be good if you want to construct your own Arduino libraries.  However I have yet to see an Arduino sketch that uses classes to control an Arduino board.  (I expect there are good examples out there but currently unseen by me.. so maybe I will soon be enlightened 😀 ).   But my point is you will be able to fully control your Arduino board by just learning the Arduino language as per the Arduino language reference and eduction web pages without the slog of trying to master C++ most of which you may never need to use.

This is just my observation and meant to be of assistance to those stating out and facing learning a daunting new language.  Its not meant to provoke, and I'm sure other observations that a full learning of C++ should be undertaken should also be duly considered.   Do enjoy your endeavours into programming microprocessors, its all rather fun.

I think that the kit is a great option but if you have a few pieces of scrap wood around, a saw, and glue you can enjoy making your own. I had a scrap piece of stainless steel that a friend gave me that I used for the faceplate. I found that the stainless was difficult to work with and I will not be using it again. The wood is scrap flooring underlay (really cheap thin plywood). I just butt joined them and cut up some small blocks of wood to reinforce the corners. 

I have a "universal" laptop power supply so I had to include the selector as the default is 15v. I used two inexpensive buck converters, one for 5v and one for 3.3v. The variable voltage/current regulator I bought years ago and never used.  There are holes in the side to adjust the pots for the buck converters. 

My only contribution to this thread as I struggle with C and my soldering skills are not the best, is to suggest using cardboard to make a concept/prototype so that you can check clearances, wire routing, and proportions. For switches I try to use round switches so that I do not have to cut out square holes. 

Paul

@messyworkbench 

Posted by: @messyworkbench

My only contribution to this thread as I struggle with C...

Please feel free to post your C struggles (and others of course), here, and we will be happy to help.

Cheers.

@frogandtoad  Indeed, no such thing as a bad student, just bad teaching....lol

As part of my job as a maintenance process controls technician, teaching classes on subject matters such as digital control valve positioners, and control valve technology was indeed a challenge , especially since the students were all 50 and 60 year olds. The two classes of students the most difficult to teach are the kindergarten variety, and old men...the former don't know anything yet, but lack patients and logic skills. The latter think they know it all already, and are not usually geared up for transitional  thinking out of the box..this made it difficult to explain concepts of digital technology to those accustomed to the analog world..many of our senior electricians and some of the Instrumentation techs had little formal training in electronics, or computer programming, (PLC's, DCS programing and troubleshooting), so getting them on board with the ever changing dynamics of the digital process control world, was to say the least, difficult.  What I found was, using K.I.S.S was the best method..(keep it simple stupid) so being a more or less self taught guy in the programming world, my goal is to write sketches that not only work, but are efficient with memory and easily understood coding. That said, thank you all for your support and the knowledge you are all willing to share.

regards,

LouisR