Latest news with #hobbyists
CNET
15-07-2025
- CNET
The Budget-Friendly 3D Printer I Like Best Is $50 Off Right Now
For almost 10 years now, I've been testing and using a variety of 3D printers. I recently had the chance to try out the latest model from Bambu Lab, the H2D, and wrote about that model here. The company has made quite a few quality 3D printers, and one of its devices, the A1 Mini Combo, has become a firm favorite in my household. The A1 Mini Combo is on the smaller side but reliably produces excellent print quality. With a number of printers to choose from, it's the one we break out whenever we need a small something printed quickly. If you're already immersed in the 3D printing world, you may find the Mini too small for you, but if you're new to 3D printing or you know someone who's been thinking about getting into the hobby, this is one you'll definitely want to consider. That's especially true when you can find it at a discount. Right now Bambu is offering the A1 Mini for $249, a $50 discount. I've been using the Mini since it first came out in 2023, and it's such a simple machine to use. It's the one I fire up when I want something quickly and easily. The bed is small, just 180 by 180 millimeters, so you can't print giant things like helmets or masks, but you can make smaller pieces like sculptures or detailed miniatures for your Dungeons & Dragons game. It prints speedily, too, with a max print speed of 500mm/s, meaning you can print little jobs nice and fast. It also comes with a four-color system called the AMS lite that will feed four different materials into the printer so you can make full-color models like what's in the image below. A1 Mini Combo specifications undefined Build volume 180x180x180 Hot end Swappable Extruder type Direct Drive AMS (color system) Nozzle diameter 0.4mm Nozzle max temperature 300C Build plate max temperature 80C Official max speed 500mm/s Supported material PLA, PETG, TPU, PVA Auto bed leveling Yes Filament run out sensor Yes Connectivity Wi-Fi, app enabled Time-lapse camera Yes Slicer Bambu slicer Read more: A1 Mini Combo review My colleague recently asked me which 3D printer she should get for her 13-year-old son, and this is the one I suggested. It will fit on a normal desk, even with the AMS color system. It's pretty quiet, and, as long as you have a bucket to catch the waste, clean to have in your home. If you're using it inside, I would recommend using safe materials like PLA or PETG, especially in a bedroom. Ideally, you would want it to be in a spare room or garage if possible. Even better, consider opting for the A1 Mini Combo, which includes the AMS Lite for multi-color printing and is currently discounted to $399. That opens up even more fun printing options as you get up and running. This cute little pumpkin is practically perfect and printed all in one piece. James Bricknell/CNET There are many options for your first 3D printer, and I've seen many people on Threads and Reddit recommend the A1 Mini. They agree that the A1 Mini is a great starting place, though you may need something bigger as you advance in the craft. Why this deal matters 3D printing can be an expensive hobby. A new 3D printer is a big-ticket item and the cost of filament adds up over time too, so any savings you can find are important. The A1 Mini Combo is also excellently priced to be a gift for someone you know who wants to jump into the world of 3D printing -- or to try it out yourself without making a huge investment. At $399, it comes with the AMS Lite for multicolor printing, which means you'll be able to do more with the machine over time. What other expenses come from owning a 3D printer? After the initial layout, you'll need to buy a few 3D printing accessories and some materials to get the most out of your 3D printer. If the printer doesn't come with a roll of filament, I would suggest grabbing some from Overture. Its PLA is excellent and comes in plenty of fun colors. Start with PLA, as it is the easiest and cheapest material. The accessories are all optional, as your 3D printer will come with every tool you need, as well as fun projects to print some of those tools. Eventually, you'll probably want to replace your nozzle, but Bambu makes that incredibly simple and cost-effective. You won't need a new one for a long time, so don't worry.
Auto Blog
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Watch This Mini V8-Powered RC Chevy Roar Like the Real Thing
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. The world of radio-controlled (RC) vehicles is driven by passion, and it's gained serious traction over the past few years among hobbyists. YouTube creator JohnnyQ90 stands out in this space, with nearly two million subscribers and a knack for building shockingly realistic, fully functional microscopic machines. In one of his latest videos, he showcases a working RC Chevy truck powered by a tiny 44cc V8 engine. Small Truck, Serious Engineering To most people, an RC car is just a small toy with a minuscule electric motor, barely fast enough to outrun a walking person. Johnny's V8-powered micro truck is the exact opposite. It has a top speed of 29 kph (18 mph), which is faster than the average human can run. And like any real car, it needs regular maintenance. The video begins with Johnny cleaning off the dust and performing a routine oil change. After draining the old oil, he fills it with 25 ml of 5W-50. It's a little ritual any gearhead can appreciate, even if the car only weighs 8.8 kg (19.4 lbs) and fits on a table. The $2,099 Small-Block Heart Source: YouTube @ JohnnyQ90 Powering his Chevy truck is a water-cooled, four-stroke 44cc OHV small-block V8 made by CISON Gasoline. It puts out around 4.8 horsepower, revs up to 10,000 rpm, and weighs just 1,700 grams (3.75 lbs). Despite its tiny size, it sounds shockingly similar to a full-size American V8. Engines this intricately engineered don't come cheap. The CISON V8 costs $2,099 on its own, and that price climbs quickly once you factor in the body, tires, and potential upgrades like a six-speed transmission or alternator. This isn't a budget-friendly RC build; it's a mechanical work of art, meant for enthusiasts. Why We Can't Stop Watching This V8-Powered Toy Source: YouTube @ JohnnyQ90 Sure, it sounds ridiculous on paper: watching a grown man drive a toy truck back and forth. But bear with us. This isn't just a toy. Watching Johnny clean, maintain, and drive his mini V8 truck is oddly satisfying. There's something undeniably charming about seeing a scale model treated with the same love and care as a full-sized car. Between CISON's attention to detail and JohnnyQ90's passion for his build, it's easy to get lost in the realism. And the occasional moment where the truck flips over because it's too fast for its own good? That's just the cherry on top. About the Author Marnus Moolman View Profile
RNZ News
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
How to ride a horse, if you don't have a horse
sport life and society 21 minutes ago Two non-traditional sports - hobby horsing and pickleball - have gained popularity in the last several years, and Kiwis are joining in the fun
Washington Post
25-06-2025
- Science
- Washington Post
Hackathon teams race to solve defense tech challenges as Europe boosts military capabilities
SANDHURST, England — Hunched over laptops, the team of four raced to solve a challenge: how to get a set of drones to fly themselves from one place to another when GPS and other signals are jammed by an enemy. Elsewhere around the hall, groups of people — engineering students, tech workers and hobbyists — gathered around long tables to brainstorm, write computer code or tinker with more drones and other hardware.
Daily Mail
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE It's caused the most unimaginable deaths. But bizarre hobby gripping America is also a secret source of deep sexual arousal
There is a growing subculture of amateur explorers building homemade submarines in their backyards and garages. But it might be driven by something more insidious than a quirky passion for engineering or a curiosity about the deep sea. A new book suggests that the bizarre hobby of plunging thousands of feet in makeshift submersibles could, for some, be linked to unusual sexual desires and Freudian fantasies of returning to a 'womb-like' state - impulses that, in extreme cases, overlap with violence.
