iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Yikes! The carriage has about 3/16 difference on left and right. WTF?!

Left side, X carriage flush with supports.

Right side, carriage is almost 3/16 off the supports.

David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

One of my assumptions when I CNC things is that if I clamp against something the machine cut itself, my workpiece is aligned with the machine axis. But this is quite far off. The machine's homing must be causing this. And it's going to cause me a lot of grief now.

My CNC setup: a workpiece clamped up against a fence.

At the left, negative X end, the features are centered.

At the right end, positive X, Features are off by about 3/32 inch.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I took a nice little break from life's more demanding tasks today to make something neat for a friend.

A CNC machine is tracing out letters as it cuts a plastic sheet.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

This is mean. Why did you post this? :-)

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

My family and I are on our second road trip this summer. This time to Belding Michigan for a huge family reunion.

A highway sign saying "Welcome to Pure Michigan"

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

As a teen, I would climb this tree and I thought I was too old for that now. But look at me! I'm all the way to the top!

I'm standing on a stump, about a meter wide, at ground level.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Because who doesn't love robots and servos.

A mars-rover looking base drives off the sidewalk into the grass.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Nice evening for a kayak excursion.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

A Great Crested Flycatcher? First time I've seen one.

Bird on a bath with pale yellow belly, light grey chest and a darker grey crest that is floofed a bit.

Same bird, close to my window, side view is grey and brown, dark and white bands in the back of its wings. It's a long sleek bird like a skinny catbird.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Nothing like a little time on the water.

Wide view of lake water and sky. A tree with flowers in bloom leans out horizontally from the shore.

Closer shot of the tree. It forms a flowery arch over the water. On a branch that dips down to the water, a little turtle can be seen.

Close up of the turtle resting on his branch over the water.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Snow? Anyway, I hope to see you at # RMRRF.

Selfie in a sweatshirt peppered with snow. (matches my hair)

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

I really enjoy all the things you share so it's the least I can do.

Tuxedo patterned cat, laying on its back.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

This is the fifth time I've run this particular CNC job with no issues but this time the bit breaks? Never trust a CNC machine.

Closeup of a wood workpiece with half a spiral bit laying in one of the pockets.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

This 5-year old Makita router that I use on my CNC has never had any maintenance. Today I want to try and replace the brushes and bearings. Old vs new brushes pictures.

A small router with the motor brushes removed. Old brushes are worn to less than half the length of a new set, also pictured.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

I finally decided what I want to make with my Linden Oak. And I barely have enough material. Stay tuned for more. (The Linden Oak was a 300+ year old tree in Rockville, MD, that had to be cut down. I bought a slab of it in the county's urban lumber sale a couple years ago.)

A rough slab of oak, about 7 feet long with varying width.

In CAD, the good parts of the previous slab overlaid with pieces to be cut from it.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 14/12/2025

Wow, black looks really good. I did mine in white.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 07/12/2025

It's family wreath laying day at Arlington Cemetery.

Rows of white grave markers. In the distance, parked cars line the road.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

I think we underestimated this tree! We went to a cut-your-own tree place and chose this one. It's easily the biggest tree we've ever had. The second pic shows an old bird's nest that was still in it before we cut it down.

Our tree in the house. It's so wide it obscures the fireplace in the middle of the wall. The top is an inch from touching the ceiling.

A birds nest with a single little egg among pine branches.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

The plywood bumper saga has concluded successfully. These were more work than I bargained for but they turned out nice.

Completed plywood frames for an FRC robot.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

Dammit! The bit slipped, going too deep, and broke off.

Aluminum sheet on a router table. There's a cut line that ends with the bit laying in its own groove. The router kept going without the cutter until I stopped it.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

I'm happy to report the battery replacement surgery was a success.

My digital watch, in working order, on my wrist.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

I've been dialing in CNC settings to prep for FRC build season. The issues I had with too-small bearing holes are solved. I had to adjust a couple bit diameters (due to wear?) and change the max deviation setting from 0.05mm to 0.01 mm on the onefinity CNC.

Four test pieces in aluminum and polycarbonate with various rectangle and circle cutouts.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

What a great day for the Owl Moon Raptor festival at Black Hill park. We got to see a red tailed hawk and this Saw-whet owl released from rehab.

The director of owl moon raptor center holds a tiny owl.

The just-released saw-whet owl sits on a branch.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

My Lucky 13 Dragon by @lucky13toys.bsky.social (I lost one joint ball and couldn't connect the hand!) Prusament PETG Anthracite grey, Polymaker Hedgehog Makes red, and Protopasta Blood of Mine Enemies.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

Today is Gabe's, @lucky13toys.bsky.social, birthday! This fellow is an outstanding community member in the 3D printing world. His designs bring joy to everyone who sees them. Go buy one, download and print it, you'll be glad you did.

Gabe at 3D Printopia with a table of Dummy 13 prints.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

I don't print with PLA enough. This is Zombie Makes red PLA by Polymaker and it's just beautiful.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

Probably salvageable but I'll put this roll in the dryer before I use it again.

A 3d print with lots of stringing between various small pieces.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

Coming soon: 3D Printopia photos.

A crystal cube in a black chamber is revealed by spots of green light. A single green laser beam passes from top to bottom of the cube. A sculpture is taking shape where the beam lands.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

Through all the ups and downs at Hillcrest / Interdigital / CEVA over the years, I've worked with some really great people whose name tags now reside in this box, on the shelf, in the supply cabinet. Today mine joins them.

A cardboard box labeled "cube name tags". The top one says David Wheeler.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 26/07/2025

E-stop Saturday: My workpiece holding failed me. I broke a bit in the CNC.

A CNC machine bed with a piece of aluminum tube. There's a hole in the tube with a ragged edge, where the workpiece slipped. And there's the tip of the broken bit laying next to it.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

For once I've got a project to show for the Friday Call! Sign up and join us tonight if you like talking 3D printing, CNC or anything maker-y.

A weird shaped knife blade is half way through being cut on a CNC machine. It's made from black Corian material, like a kitchen counter top.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

Half way there. All the electric inflator gadgets I thought would help with blowing these up have failed me. I'm blowing up most of these 72 beach balls the old fashioned way.

Me with a huge bag of inflated beach balls and a stack of uninflated ones in my hand.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

This transformer is leaking rainbow all over the sky.

A bright rainbow arc intersects a set of transformers on a power pole.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

Another nice evening for a kayak trip. (Third one of the season.) About 1 hour, 15 min out past the bridge and back. I was looking for sign #8 on the water trail but didn't find it where I expected it.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 08/06/2025

Yesterday's chore was pulling up the stump of an old Azalea bush. I think there, like 6 more to do.

A wide hole about a foot deep by my sidewalk. It's very muddy and all the dirt is piled behind it. The removed roots sit further back in the yard.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

I got some stock faced down to the right thickness and mounted on the pin alignment jig. The next step is starting a 3 hour carve so that will have to wait until tomorrow.

On the bed of a CNC machine, A maple board is on top of the alignment jig with pins connecting and aligning the two.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

Bonus: a raccoon foraging along the shore.

Viewed from the water, a raccoon is wading along the edge of a lake. Green bushes cover the bank.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

My first kayak session of the season. It was a relaxed hour. I saw points 3 and 4 of the Black Hill water trail.

A sign: Black Hill water trail 3, viewed from the water.

A sign says Black Hill water trail 4. The view is from the water onto shore.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

Here's a little weekend project I did: It's a jig for aligning parts on the CNC bed. Basically it's an array of 5mm holes on 1 inch spacing. (Disrespecting both the Imperial and Metric unit systems at once.)

A board screwed down to a CNC machine with a rectangular pattern of holes.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

Cleaning the deck, I uncovered an Easter Ratsnake with a cozy little nest. I thought it might be a Copperhead at first, but no.

A juvenile snake emerging from a ball of dry grass and feathers?

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

While we're waiting for all those photos, though, here: enjoy this group of 3D printing superheroes.

The E3D crew with, Joel Telling, David Tobin, and Iron Man.

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David Wheeler @daveofthings.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

#RMRRF is a wrap. What a great weekend! Thank you @breacor3d.bsky.social for making trip possible and thank you @pezliz.bsky.social for the Maker chips. They were very useful!

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