I really enjoy programming, and now even more so cause I hate being a buyer. Looking for an item, getting to field the same questions; comparing prices, it's so tedious. Really happy I know how to use a spreadsheet. And I have to be careful not to give wrong specs, I keep copy-paste of a lot of my replies. I've been doing supplier research for over 2 weeks now, and I'm royally fed up with this part of the project.

I've been moving "my stuff" from a small room to half my basement; you know, that part of the house that you accumulate garbage over 30 years and 3 kids. Well I've cleaned up nearly 1/2 of my new area; PC and printer is back up and running. I didn't even take the time to paint the cement floor, or finish the gyproc walls; I've spent enough time moving my daughter in, then back out a few days later. :/

I've got most of my shelves and storage bins set up, but I don't have a soldering workspace up yet and that really bugs me. I'm taking a bit of time to make a special area for the 3D printer, a secondary PC and my pet project; a custom CNC machine to fabricate PCB boards, plastic parts, that sort of thing.

The cost of PCB boards is just insane now; even tiny ones. I figure I'll cover the cost fabricating my own milling machine with this first model. I don't need anything fancy; just X, Y and Z axis for now. I know I'll want pick-and-place one day, same with an automated tool changer, but those things can wait.

It's nice to be able to test designs soooooo much faster. It won't be as nice a professional PCBs, but I know it'll work for a fraction of the cost. Darn, even if I go back to chemical etching, it's still cheaper and faster than waiting 1 week for the DigiKey special offer.

I was getting "good enough" at PCB fabrication too; and this time I have a LOT of space to set myself up properly. Like install my own kitchen vent that evacuates fumes outside, instead of working on the kitchen stove. I can use that for a tiny paintbooth as well. And there's been progress in the DIY PCB fabrication world; guys are now finishing their boards green (that has to be cheaper and less "fumy" than the silver coating I was dipping mine in, some even doing silkscreen.

Only downside, I had to disassemble my pool table. ;(

Robert