@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

Nixie

@[email protected]

ELECTRIC UNICYCLER #euc
Random technological DiY shit, wind turbines and solar panels, with sprinkled abadonalia and infrastructure.
May contain content, hiking and mines in various degrees, or none whatsoever.

Danger of really bad jokes.

Run away while you still can, you have been warned.

Survivor of workplace mobbing.

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. View on remote instance

@Nixie@nixie.name avatar Nixie , to random

Can someone explain to me, like I'm a 1yo, how can I know if my instance is federated enough, or at all?

Sometimes I think I only see posts of the people I have close, but I'm blind to the rest of the world.

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

@FediTips Thankyou!

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

@FediTips It's right now 4.4something, (it's a paid service, so it should upgrade soon-ish)

@Nixie@nixie.name avatar Nixie , to random

I don't understand shit, but this, THIS is proper steampunk:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_xe0k5alwQ

@Nixie@nixie.name avatar Nixie , to random

LOL, yesterday we discovered my brother in law also plays
Took me a LOT of effort to cut the talk short so gf wouldn't kill us both.

It's not like we're going to play together, but it was fun the whole 3 minutes it lasted. XD

@Nixie@nixie.name avatar Nixie , to random

Bring your RAM meemz:

Red van that has seen a better life, with crappily drawn letters that say "Free DDR5 Ram", obviously making a joke of the vans with "free candy"
ALT
@molly0xfff@hachyderm.io avatar molly0xfff , to random

fixed that for you

Grokipedia attribution text: "The content is adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License."

Grokipedia attribution text: "The content is adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License."
ALT
Nixie ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

@molly0xfff In what universe is anyone (except musk fans) use a wikipedia made by him?...chances of veracity are not even zero, but negative.

@Nixie@nixie.name avatar Nixie , to random

Be afraid when it becomes REALLY HARD to distinguish between AI hallucinations and real things:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9F_Tq6n_6_w

@Nixie@nixie.name avatar Nixie , to random Spanish

I think I'm getting sick. EVERYTHING hurts.
Even my eyebrows.

Hopefully it's not covid, tho.

@Nixie@nixie.name avatar Nixie , to random

My journey into (electric unicycle)

So, just been googling around to see what kind of modding can be done to the device.
I'm surprised to learn that the whole enclosure is not a simple shell, but integral part of the battery and controller assembly.

Fashion Thread: https://nixie.name/@Nixie/114773183454279475

Actually owning a good wheel (burned up): https://nixie.name/@Nixie/114669442592618031

Owning a NEW good wheel: https://nixie.name/@Nixie/115191975897465811

Airwheel Electric Unicycle (EUC) controller unit side.
ALT
Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

This is more or less how is it going to look. I am considering adding another row of bristles and also two columns to make it an even 20cm wide (rn is 17cm)

Indon't need a full broom, but I don't want it to look ridiculous either 😅.

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

Working on some aesthetics. Being limited to a 3mm endmill means I have some limitations on the fine details.

I'll get there, wherever it is I am not entirely sure I want to get.

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

That's looking better, even half finished.

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

Well, I think this is the better it's going to look for now.

I'll be machining it on monday. Definitely NOT looking up to all the threading, tho. (I'll have to do that on my vertical drill, otherwise they will come crooked, and that's no good, XD)

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

Slightly better:

I just wasn't sure about the ends. May tinker with it a bit more.

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

Also, the bristles got some rework.

I had removed almost all threads, but that was a bit too much, so I added 2 more than the bare minimum (2 on each side + retainer)

The last one is noticeable more thicker to generate a friction spot, so the bristle remains in place once screwed.

image/png

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

AHA, FOUND IT!

I needed a ball adaptor with Less than 12mm in diameter head, but I was only finding 13,5 or more, until this one:

Also, finally ordered a 1/4-20 tap, because there is nothing metric in the camera world.

The block I ordered has 3/8ths rear thread, I'll deal with that once the device arrives, maybe I'll try rethreading to M12 (M10 is too close for comfort), maybe just print an adaptor, not sure.

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

The sacrifice to the machining god has been made.

image/jpeg

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

Threaded all the holes by rotating the mandrel by hand, since I only had one piece (machined very conservatively and took a looong while to do) and did not want to risk fucking it up.

Let's say my wrists would not have been able to do more than one or two extra holes, BUT, it was worth it.

I am missing the 1/4-20 tap for the center hole, tho.

Also, definitely would love to 3D print yellow and black bristles (but that'd be 110€ in filament I am not willing to pay right now)

image/jpeg
image/jpeg
image/jpeg

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

Ah, forgot this pic:

Everything is at body temperature except the tap head that was slightly hotter.

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

IT'S HERE!!!!

image/jpeg

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

And now, we wait.

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

Well...I went for a ride...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
AND I HATED ALMOST EVERY SECOND OF IT. 😭

There is an explanation, tho.

The wheel is considerably heavier and bigger (and wider) than the one I burned. Thus the feelings were a bit mismatched, from what I was used to, to what I was able to do in this one.

Also, the APP in conjunction with the firmware update seemed to go slightly haywire and wasn't really updating the wheel, wich made me wary of having fucked up on the update...

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

BUT

The worst part was that the beeper and tiltback didn't work.
Well, the tiltback worked but like at super high speed, like 40+ kph or something.

I tried and tried and in the end, frustrated, went home.

Some googling later, I found out that the wheel, BY DEFAULT, wants to play the beeps through bluetooth, instead of the dedicated LOUD beeper.

Not only that, the menu that controls that is called "voice commands"...because calling it "info prompts" was not an option, I guess?

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

Aaaaanyway, after disabling that stupid shit, I got the beeps back.

Then I deleted the newest APP and reinstalled the older one I still had the APK of, wich made things better, as the wheel now seemed to retain (or comunicate) the speed and alarm values)

After that, I sat the wheel in the rollers I use to oil the motorbike chain, and tried the tiltback, wich too seemed to work.

And that was that for the day.

Tomorrow morning I'm gonna go for a ride, and hopefully I have more fun than today.

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

Just got a very good deal for these Macna rime gloves for the EUC at 56% off. (43€ shipped)

Yes, got them in orange to sorta go with the EUC. XD

I'll be doing a lot more in this wheel, having gloves is a must now.

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

Just bought one of those cheap-ish AI tracker thingy gimbals something to experiment a bit.

Will probably take it out from all that crap and just use the small tracker section and do a custom mount.

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

Alright, I just received one of the ball joints, and it's a perfect fit for my purposes only requiring an adaptor from 3/8-16" to...how the heck do I extract the theead in this fucker???
Thread OD seems to be 21mm with a pitch of 0,75mm. That may be M20 or M21, i'd bet M20 tho.

image/jpeg
image/jpeg
image/jpeg

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

I tried M200,75 but that didn't fit, so I had to kludge an M210,75 by scaling the M20*1,05 to aproximate M21 (because fusion does NOT have M21, it's either M20 or M22...

It's printed in PA12 and has a central reinforcing pin so it doesn't snap in the two thread joint as easily.

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

Personally, I think this is gorgeous.

It is one lenght short of what would be the most convenient sweeping pole lenght BUT I was also aiming for lightness and compactness.

Maybe in the future I'll take a look at a new stick and try to use said extra lenght.

For now, we wait 1h for all the bristles to print.

image/jpeg

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

Final piece would be something something like this.

Probably with the bottom part being longer to have an adequate gluing surface with the carbon tube of the final extension.

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

Aaaand it is done, for now.

The adaptor piece won't really hold for long, but will help with testing nonetheless.

Future "developement" includes different bristles and a longer stick.

image/jpeg
image/jpeg
image/jpeg

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

Today, out of curiosity, I'm gonna try a different bristle in TPU95A (something more suitable for home than asphalt)

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

Went for a ride to try the broom after being sick for a few days...

I sweeped, EXACTLY, one rock. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Well it's more about being prepared than a good first impression, right? 😅

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

Weeeeell, so I got some small wounds in my calves. However, they got slightly infected because they lay, EXACTLY, under the knee protection belts...
So, no riding for a week until they heal well. (just apply some antibitic cream the nurses gave me and that's it)

BUT

My legs look funny now:

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

Just received the new selfie stick, and this time I cut it at the apropriate lenght.

This is the printed piece that will hold everything together:

The internal thread is for a reinforcing screw so the top piece doesn't rip apart the whole thing.

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

Cancelled the print and remade the piece better:

Made it somewhat hollow and lengthened the bottom cone to match the reinforcing screw actual size (15mm)

not that weight saving or anything would be noticeable, but it bothered me that it was a solid piece.

image/png

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

HMMM...THAT may be a problem:

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

Okay, now we're talking:

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

Oh, no!

I accidentally got Begode A1'd, I promise I'm innocent, tho.

Saw a review and thought, damn, that's a pretty little wheel to play and teach randos in the street. ALMOST got one, then thought better and had a laugh.

Told gf about it, just because sharing y'know. She jumped on it like a feral animal "I've been wanting to gift you something but never know what (I'm not much of receiving gifts in general, I like to give them, tho) that's exactly in my budget AND it's pretty, BUY IT!"

LOL

Begode A1 order from today.

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

Finally did a good ride today!

I don't know if it was the almost a month of not riding or the fact that today I used music, but the wheel felt almost great.
Suddenly it didn't feel extremely wide, just slightly thicker, and I didn't have any scares with the flat-ish shaped tyre, either.

Had lots of fun and made lots of exercise, so nice.,.mmmñ

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

Remember the broom?

Well, the other day I thought...what if I used it as a stand for a camera when I want to get some video?

So I bought a cool little tripod that works very well...except my hindbrain went ahead and right afterwards said...

"We have internal space, since the innermost sections were removed, what if I make a tripod that fits inside???"

image/jpeg
image/jpeg
image/jpeg

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

So...here we are:

Body to be printed in nylon, legs in PPA-CF

image/png
image/png

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

Well, it's a bit on the flimsy-ish side, but as concept, works. Now I need to redesign it on the strenght side, but got plenty space to do so.

https://youtu.be/XJNt6QSCaXE?si=IjOvsXwr4NJb2t-3

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

Just modded the wheel a tiiiiny little bit.

You see, the extendable handle sits in front of a smooth plastic surface that, given contact with anything sharp, like, for example, wristguards that have seen some action. So I decided to both save more scrapping (already changed my gloves, tho) I added a 1mm silicone rubber layer to that section.

Frankly, in that photo looks factory made.

Only downside is that I covered two screw holes, but that only needs to be accessed when tyre changing.

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

And finally, a real world broom test!

Today the straight leading to my favourite chicane-like section had a lot of glass, and since I really wanted to train there, it was time to sweep!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnXIm1dtydY

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

Long time no see. Look what I found today in my wheel standoff:

I wasn't particularly worried, It's a small grubscrew, so nothing loadbearing going on, but I could not know if it was from the EUC or something I picked up from the road.

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

After a quick checkup, I found the source:

Pedal rod securing. The one this grubscrew came from had moved about 5-6mm out, but the other side was completely missing it's one, and had not moved at all. 🤣

Just substituted both with a 6-3mm pair of grubscrews to create a self-lock, and that's it.

image/jpeg

Nixie OP ,
@Nixie@nixie.name avatar

Pushing 43kph (briefly saw 44) is NOT the bestest moment to nottice you forgot to wear the elbow protectors. 🤣

Dammit.

Just went home, I have zero need to see what are the chances that i would fall PARTICULARLY TODAY.