3D Printer part 10: Build plate

At the end of my last post in this series, we had attached the z-axis screw rod and made a start on the heater plate.  This post focuses on the build plate, covering issues 36 – 39 of 3D Create and Print by Eaglemoss Technology.  If you’ve skipped a part of this series you can start from the beginning, including details of the Vector 3 printer I’m building on my 3D printer page.

This set of issues also needs the heater sensor part from issue 35.  Unpacking this set of four gives two study plates that will form the build base and lots of interesting looking wires.

EDIT: if you do not have the protection coil or strengthening strip and have a metal clip instead of a plastic one, do not worry.  Eaglemoss upgraded these parts and delivered these for me with issue 70.  If you are a few months behind then you may already have the better parts. Continue reading 3D Printer part 10: Build plate

Girls Can Code – episode 2 thoughts

Alice Levine showing that Girls Can Code
Alice Levine showing that Girls Can Code

After somewhat mixed reviews of last week’s episode I was interested to see whether episode 2 of Girls Can Code had any more emphasis on the coding side.

It started with a comment that the girls were building a tech business rather than actually learning to code themselves.  This justified one of the major criticisms of the show – that it was nothing about coding.  While I’m sure that this was all fixed months ago, I did wonder if the voice over for the start of the show had been rerecorded after the response to the first episode. Continue reading Girls Can Code – episode 2 thoughts

Getting ready for M208 and DB123

M208 workbooks
M208 study materials for the next year…

It’s that time of the year again.  Twitter is full of people posting images of all their books for new OU modules with excitement ahead of the October starts.  I was no exception with M208 and DB123  both on the cards for this year.

This year means the start of level 2 modules with M208 Pure Mathematics, which is a 60 point module (the equivalent of a half a normal university year) but also the 30 point DB123 Personal Finance as I had to complete level 1 in parallel if I was to start level 2 this year1.  So, in addition to a full time job at a start up company2 I am also doing the equivalent of 3/4 full time on a university course. Continue reading Getting ready for M208 and DB123

The Gamechangers – BBC Make it Digital Season

Daniel Radcliffe in the Gamechangers (BBC)
Daniel Radcliffe in the Gamechangers (BBC)

After yesterday’s Girls can code the BBC kicked it up a notch with the Gamechangers – a TV movie about Rockstar Games and the controversy around GTA San Andreas.  At the start, it was made clear that Rockstar weren’t involved and that it had been pieced together from court reports and third party interviews.  If you missed it then it’s available on iPlayer for the next month. Continue reading The Gamechangers – BBC Make it Digital Season

Girls Can Code – episode 1 thoughts

Alice Levine showing that Girls Can Code
Alice Levine showing that Girls Can Code

As part of the BBC’s Make it Digital season, there was a great program on BBC3 showcasing that “Girls Can Code”.  Such a shame it was on a minor channel at 9pm rather than BBC1 or BBC2 earlier.  However, BBC3 is aimed at the youth market so I’m hoping that enough young women watched it to be inspired.

If you missed it, it’s available on iPlayer (UK only) for the next month, with the second episode next Monday.

This isn’t the apprentice – they don’t need to crush each other to get ahead – Alice Levine

Continue reading Girls Can Code – episode 1 thoughts

3D Printer part 9: Heater plate

At the end of my last post in this series, we had attached the z-axis motor and limit switch although hadn’t tested the action.  This post looks at adding the z-axis screw rod and making a start on the heater plate, covering issues 32 – 35 of 3D Create and Print by Eaglemoss Technology.  If you’ve skipped a part of this series you can start from the beginning, including details of the Vector 3 printer I’m building on my 3D printer page.

Opening up this pack and seeing parts with “heater” in their description was quite exciting – I know there’s still a way to go but I can’t wait to get some filament threaded through to a heater and start trying out some of the many free designs included with the magazines.

You may want to save the plastic bag that the magazines came in so that you can cover the printer after these steps. Continue reading 3D Printer part 9: Heater plate