Home Blog Page 33

Custom Made Hexagon Shelves Using 3D Printing

Michael Klements
-
0
Custom Made Hexagon Shelves Using 3D Printing

These awesome hexagon shelves can be customised to suite your storage needs and all of the connectors are 3D printed! This project is a really cool way to get some functional use out of your 3D printer.All you’ll need to complete this project is some 1″ x 8″ (25mm x 200mm) pine lumber, some 0.5″ (10mm) screws and your 3D printer.

If you enjoy projects which make use of 3D printed components, have a look at these Amazing Homemade 3D Printed Nautilus Speakers.

This project by TonyH0612 is shared under the Creative Commons license – CC 2.5 BY NC SA.

What You Need To Make Your Own 3D Printed Hexagon Shelves

  • 1″ x 8″ (25mm x 200mm) Pine Lumber – You Can Use Wider If You’d Like To
  • 0.5″ (10mm) Wood Screws
  • 3D Printer With ABS or PLA Filament

How To Make Your Own 3D Printed Hexagon Shelves

To start off, you’ll need to plan your layout in order to figure out how much lumber you need and how many of each of the two types of 3D printed connectors you need.

plan your layout

Each joint in your shelving system will either be a two connection or three connection joint and you’ll need one at the front and one at the back of each joint. Your board length can also be as long as you’d like it to be (to make bigger hexagons) but keep in mind that all of the boards need to be cut to the same length in order to form perfect hexagons.

For the design shown in the sketch, you’ll need:

  • 24 Boards
  • 24 Double Connectors
  • 16 Triple Connectors
  • 96 Screws

Cut Your Boards To Length

Depending on what type of lumber you are using, you’ll need to either use a handheld or powered mitre saw to cut your boards to the same length.

The boards in this design are all cut to 7.5″ (185mm) lengths, meaning you’ll require a total length of 180″ (4440mm).

cut your boards to the correct length

You need to pay special attention to getting consistent lengths when you’re cutting your wood. It doesn’t matter if your boards come out fractionally longer or shorter than your planned length as long as they’re all consistent. This is best achieved using a stop block on a powder mitre saw. You can also achieve good results with a handheld saw but make sure that your measurements are accurate and draw a pencil line on the wood where you intent to cut it.

After you’ve cut all of your boards, use a piece of 220 grit sandpaper to go over the edges and clean them up. You could also choose to paint, varnish or stain the boards for a different finish. Make sure that the paint or varnish is properly dry before moving on to the final assembly stage.

3D Print Your Shelf Connectors

Once you’re done cutting your boards, you can start with printing out your connector pieces. If you’ve got a 3D printer with a large print bed, you could set up to print a number of connectors at once and then start printing your connectors while you cut your boards to length.

3D printing your connectors

Download the 3D print models here.

  • 3 edge connector
  • 2 edge connector

Depending on your 3D printer setup and model size, you may need to adjust the settings but a good starting point is to use 3 layer walls and 20% infill. This should be thick enough to get the edges to be printed solidly and the body of the connector to have the 20% infill.

Final Assembly Of The Hexagon Shelves

Once you’re finished printing your connectors, you can start with the rough assembly. The connectors should fit over your board with a bit of an interference fit so that the joint is sturdy.

Put all of the connectors onto one side of your shelve system and then flip it over and put the connectors onto the back side. Push the connectors right up against the edge of the wood so that there are no gaps in your finished product.

connectors in place

If a connector feels too tight, try sanding the wood a little, don’t force the connector as it may crack.

Once all of your connections are in place, you can put the wood screws in to secure each connector. You may need to drill a small pilot hole in the wood to avoid cracking the ends. Also be careful not to over-tighten the screws as you may crack the 3D printed connectors.

completed shelves

Once you’re finished screwing the connectors together your hexagon shelves are complete! Good luck with your build and let us know how your project goes in the comments section below.

How To Replace A Damaged Or Cracked iPhone 5s Screen

Michael Klements
-
0
How To Replace A Damaged Or Cracked iPhone 5s Screen

Do you have an old iPhone 5S lying around your home with a cracked or damaged screen? Did you know that you can repair the screen at home quite inexpensively and then make us of it again or sell it for some extra cash. All you need is a replacement screen which is widely available online with the required small toolset for around $15 – $30 (depending on the quality). This repair usually takes around 30-45 minutes and the guide below will show you step by step how to do it.

Most of the replacement screens available online come bundled with a small toolkit. While these are not the best quality tools, they are sufficient to do the repair once or twice. If you do damage the tools during the repair, you can buy the small tool kits individually online as well, I’ve provided some suggested links below.

For other model iPhones, have a look at the guides below:

What You Will Need To Replace Your iPhone 5S Screen

  • Replacement Screen & Tool Kit
  • iPhone Repair Tool Kit – Buy Here
    • Note – your replacement kit may come with a basic tool kit. This is usually good enough to get the job done but the screw driver heads often strip after a few screws.
  • Cheap Replacement Screen & Tool Kit

How to Replace your iPhone 5S Screen

Replacing your iPhone 5S screen is done in four stages, first you’ll need to remove the old screen from your phone, then you’ll need to remove the additional components from your old screen, then install the components onto your new screen and finally install the new screen onto your phone.

The most important part of this replacement is to keep your screws really well organised. You need to know exactly which screw came out of which hole in each bracket or component. There are a number of different sized screws in your phone and installing the incorrect one may damage the hole or the surrounding components. I like to draw a quick sketch of each bracket or component and lay the screws onto the sketch over the corresponding holes.

Also be very careful when opening your iPhone 5S the first time, the home button ribbon cable is right at the bottom of the screen and may tear if you pull up on it too hard.

Lastly, the ribbon cable connectors simply snap into place and are easily removed by sliding your plastic spudger under the edge of the connector and popping it up. To reconnect, align the connector with the one on the body of the phone and simply press down gently to snap it back into place.

Here is the complete video guide to replacing the screen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpiMVdohgN0

Good luck with the repair and let us know how it goes for you in the comments section below.

If you enjoyed this guide, you may be interested in these 5 Secret iPhone Codes You Didn’t Know About or find out how to Charge your iPhone Battery the Right Way.

Moving Timeline: A Chores Calendar to Help You Stay Organized

Robert Wise
-
0
Moving Timeline: A Chores Calendar to Help You Stay Organized

Moving is stressful; that’s a fact. The best way to stay sane pre-move, during the move and post-move is by planning accordingly and creating a moving calendar you can commit to.

A moving calendar is a document that helps you list important tasks and prioritize them accordingly by indicating when each particular task needs to be accomplished. The key to creating this checklist is to copy a general template and customize it based on your specific needs. After doing so, you must remember to stick to it to make your relocation more manageable.

To help you create your very own moving calendar, here is a list of important tasks you need to accomplish and the period (before the move) when you should do them:

8 Weeks

  • Start a moving calendar.
  • List prospective home removal companies for your move. Rate them according to customer reviews and their overall reputation above the cost and choose the best one.
  • Have a digital or actual folder ready which will serve as your go-to document for recording all the estimates, receipts, and other important documents for the move.
  • Purge your belongings. Donate or sell the things you no longer need or use to help make packing easier.
  • Prepare an inventory list for what you will bring with you to your new place. This can be a physical list or a digital one, depending on what type of folder you decided to have.

6 Weeks

  • Start getting your dental and medical records together. This is also a good time to look for a new doctor or dentist in your new location. To make it easier, you can ask your doctor for referrals.
  • If you are moving with children who are studying, now’s a good time to prepare their credentials and process their transfer to another school in your new neighborhood.
  • Keep a record of measurements of the actual space you’ll be moving into. If possible, get a layout or floor plan of the new house to help you determine where you’ll be putting your belongings and if you need to reduce your inventory further.
  • Start buying packaging supplies and begin packing. By the end of the fifth week before your move, you should have already begun packing some of your possessions, particularly those that you don’t regularly use.

4 Weeks

  • This is the perfect time to deal with items which require special attention in packing. This includes liquids, furniture, and electronics. Additionally, remember to check with your removal company for a list of items they can and cannot transport in their vehicles.
  • Pack an “open first” box that should contain basic necessities for your first day. This includes clothing (especially uniforms and underwear), bedding (blankets, pillows, and bed sheets), dining essentials (cutlery, plates, and drinking glasses), a small toolbox, kettle, and medicine (medication and first-aid).
  • Label boxes appropriately. Don’t forget to put “fragile” stickers on those boxes containing breakables. It is also wise to establish a coding system (color coding per room is highly recommended) to help make unpacking easier when you arrive at your new house.
  • Deal with your subscriptions by changing the address or canceling them altogether.
  • Process changes in address for your social security, credit cards, employer, car registration, and other important correspondence.

3 Weeks

  • Make sure to file for the disconnection of your utilities in your old home on the date of your move and apply for your new place.
  • Hire someone to deep clean your old apartment to bring it back to its original state. This will ensure that you can claim your deposit.

2 Weeks

  • If you have pets or small children who need to be taken care of during the move, arrange for a sitter to keep them out of the way when the removal company does their work.
  • Finalize everything with the moving company to ensure that you’re on the same page about matters involving the move. Verify all the things you expect them to do and those that you ought to do yourself to avoid any misunderstandings.

1 Week

  • Start disassembling large furniture to expedite your packing. Make sure to keep all of the hardware for each item of furniture together and label everything appropriately.
  • Do some final cleaning before your move out.
  • Plan and shop for food items for your first 24-hour stay in your new house.

2 Days

  • Defrost your fridge to avoid unpleasant smells and liquids from leaking during the move.
  • Make sure all your valuables are in one place. Never pack them with your other possessions.

Day of the Move

  • Set a reminder for the scheduled time of your move.
  • Have a checklist ready for all of the things which need to be moved.
  • To make sure that everything is in order and packed for the move, check every room of your old home before you go.
  • Read all of the documents presented to you before you sign them.

Get Moving

Whether you’re relocating for work overseas or looking to start anew with your family in a new neighborhood, moving should be a time of celebration and not one filled with stress.

Make sure you have everything planned and ready before you relocate by having a moving calendar of your own.

Once you’ve moved into your new home, be sure to have a look at how to furnish your home without breaking the bank.

Share This Calendar:

Moving Timeline- A Chores Calendar to Help You Stay Organized

How To Replace The Earpiece Speaker On An iPhone 6

Michael Klements
-
0
How To Replace The Earpiece Speaker On An iPhone 6

Have you had problems with the earpiece speaker on your iPhone 6? Is the sound crackling or distorted or does it not work at all? If you’ve had any of these problems then you’ll want to try and replace the earpiece speaker. It’s a relatively easy repair, it should take you around 15-30 mins and the replacement earpiece cost under $10.

The guide below will take you through the process of replacing your iPhone 6 earpiece step by step.

If you’ve got other problems with you iPhone 6, have a look at these guides:

What You’ll Need To Replace Your iPhone 6 Earpiece

  • Your Damaged iPhone 6
  • Replacement Earpiece – Buy Here
  • iPhone Toolkit – Buy Here
  • Replacement Earpiece With Toolkit – Buy Here

How To Replace The Earpiece

Find yourself a nice flat and well lit area to work on. You’ll need an area to lay down the screws you have removed. I like to keep a small sheet of paper nearby and lay the screws I’ve removed down on the paper and mark off where they were removed from. There are a number of different sized screws on the cover plates and it’s important that you put them back in the correct places.

The two most important parts of this repair are to keep your screws really well organised so that you know exactly which one came out of where and to be careful when working with the ribbon cables, especially when opening up your phone, they are extremely fragile.

If you enjoyed this guide, have a look at these other iPhone repairs you can do yourself. Most iPhone repairs can be done at home for a few dollars, so don’t replace your iPhone until you’ve had a look at whether you can repair it at home first.

Good luck with your repairs and let me know how it went in the comments section below.

5 High Tech Investments To Include In Your Next Home Improvement

Mattea Jacobs
-
0
5 High Tech Investments To Include In Your Next Home Improvement

If your home is due for some improvement and renovation projects, now is the time to think about high tech and all the way it can make your life easier and more comfortable. Smart technology has been around for some time now and if you still haven’t boarded the high-tech train, there’s no time like the present.

We have made a list of some of the best high tech investments you can add to your home that will completely change your life. Not only do they make your home and your life more comfortable, but they will also make them significantly safer, more functional, and efficient. They will automate your home, save you a lot of money in more ways than one, and eventually pay for themselves.

Once you’ve lived with them, you will never want to live without them again. Here are our top five high tech investments for your next home improvement project.

Lighten Up With Some Digital Lighting

How many times have you left the room and forgot to turn the lights off? Have you ever left your home and forgot to turn them off as well? We all sometimes forget to do that and, although it may seem a bit insignificant, this is one of the ways in which we waste energy in our home. Digital or smart lighting will help you reduce that energy waste to a minimum, as well as increase the comfort levels in your home.

Digital Lighting

With digital lighting, you can turn the lights on and off remotely, even when you’re not home. You will never have to flick the light switch again or go back upstairs to check if you left the lights on. You can manage them from wherever you are through a simple app on your smartphone.

When it comes to energy efficiency and money savings, these lights are based on LED bulbs, the most efficient light bulbs at the moment. Compared to the traditional incandescent light bulbs, the LED ones last as much as 25 times longer and convert significantly more electric energy into light. This means that very little energy is wasted and that your utility bills will decrease.

Additionally, you can even change the colors and the brightness, have them flash while watching TV or listening to music, and connect them to your smart home assistant, such as Alexa, Google Home, and others.

Stay Safe With Smart Locks

Similarly to turning the lights off, we can sometimes forget to lock the doors when we leave the house. And this, on the other hand, presents a safety issue. Installing some smart locks will significantly improve the security of your home, keep your home safe, and give you peace of mind when leaving for work or for travel.

A smart lock will lock the door automatically when you leave, so you won’t have to worry if your home and your possessions are in danger. They also come with a great number of amazing features that you can choose from. You can control your locks through the app on your phone and through your smart home assistants, and, for example, unlock the door remotely if you want to let someone in.

Apart from that, you can connect the smart lock with your security system, track and record everyone who gets in or out, and receive alerts whenever someone unlocks it. Another amazing option is that you can set the smart lighting and the smart thermostat in your home to turn on when the door unlocks so that you don’t have to stumble in the dark while you try to find the light switch.

Keep Your Home Clean With Vacuum Baseboards

Cleaning a house is such a hassle for a lot of people, and not necessarily because you don’t like to do it, but simply due to the sheer amount of rooms and spaces to clean. Vacuuming the entire house can be a very time-consuming task and we sometimes simply don’t have the time for it. That is where vacuum baseboards come in very handy.

This great high tech investment is an ideal addition that can save you a lot of time and effort, significantly increasing the functionality and convenience levels of your household. This kind of vacuuming system is also known as a central vacuum system, vacuum units or sweep inlets, and you can install it wherever you want around your house.

Apart from saving you a lot of time on cleaning, vacuum baseboards will also save you the trouble of getting tangled up in cords, and having to plug the vacuum in and out when you go into different rooms in the house. With them, all you have to do is turn on the main switch and practically let the house clean itself.

Stay Warm With A Smart Thermostat

Trying to find the optimal temperature and constantly adjusting your thermostat is not only a hassle, but it can also be a way of wasting energy. If you want to have an energy-efficient household, receive lower utility bills than you do now, and always be comfortable inside your home, no matter the season, think about installing a smart thermostat. It is an indispensable high tech addition, yet very affordable and simple to install.

With it, you will always have the optimal temperature indoors and you will never be too hot or too cold again. It will create a comfortable living space in a functional and efficient way. It can be connected with an app on your phone so that you can control it remotely as well, and it can be set to turn on and off automatically. For example, one of the great features is that it can lower the temperature when nobody’s home, or even completely turn off, and then turn back on to the optimal temperature just before you arrive back home.

A great benefit is that the thermostat can be connected to other smart technology you have installed in your home, such as the smart lock, for example, so that it turns on when you unlock the door. The greatest benefits, however, are the significantly improved functionality, comfort, and energy efficiency of your home.

Be Energy-Efficient With Solar Panels

Although solar panels may seem like a big investment, their benefits are equally big, if not bigger. This is a high tech addition that will pay off greatly in the long run and that will help you make use of the energy that nature gives us and lower the negative impact on the environment. It is a sustainable and environmentally-friendly solution that has become widely in demand and that adds value to your home.

Solar panels absorb the sun’s energy, turn it into electricity, and cover the majority, if not all of your household’s energy demands. This can have a huge impact on your utility bills, lowering them significantly, and in addition to that, in some areas, you can even sell the surplus of energy you don’t need back to the grid. Therefore, apart from saving money, you can also be making money with solar panels. You could even try building your own solar panel from scratch.

Solar Panels

Including these five excellent high tech investments into your next home improvement project will make your home not only more comfortable but also highly functional and financially and energy-efficient. You will quickly see the positive changes in your life and the benefits will last you for a long time.

Once you’ve converted your home into a high tech smart home, you may want to get a digital assistant to help you run your home, have a look at these 35 useful things to ask Amazon’s Alexa.

Make Your Own Home Recycling Centre

Michael Klements
-
0
Make Your Own Home Recycling Centre

We could all do a little more to make our homes greener and one of the easiest ways to do this is to start recycling. One of the problems with recycling is that you’re generally required to separate your trash into recyclable categories, which is usually done through having a number of different containers or bins, and this takes up a lot of space and can be a bit of an eye sore. Well we’ve set out to find some creative ideas to build your own home recycling centre which is both functional and looks good.

Here are some of our favorites:

The Easy DIY Home Recycling Centre

From Laura’s Plans this colourful and functional home recycling centre would look good in anyone’s garage and the bright colours make it easy and fun for your children to play a role in your home’s recycling too.

Make Your Own Home Recycling Centre

Items Required For This Recycling Station:

Wood Pallet Recycling Separator

If you’re better with wood work then this amazing recycling separator by Cory Spain which is made out of old wood pallets is the perfect addition to your home.

If you love pallets and recycling, have a look at these 8 creative ideas for recycling wood pallets.

Wood Pallet Recycling Separator

Items required for this recycling station:

Plastic Container Recycling Station

If your recyclables are collected a bit less often and you need larger and more durable storage containers then this recycling station made from plastic storage containers from Design by D9 is definitely for you.

Plastic Storage Container Recycling Station

Items required for this recycling station:

Home Office Recycling Station

This recycling station by Lia Griffith is perfect for a home office or study and is made from some simple stack-able storage containers.

Stackable Storage Container Recycling Station

Items required for this recycling station:

  • Stackable storage containers – Buy Here

Have you built your own home recycling station? Let us know in the comments section below, we’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas.

Don’t Replace Your Broken iPhone – Repair It Yourself

Michael Klements
-
1
Don’t Replace Your Broken iPhone – Repair It Yourself

Did you know that there are a number of common problems with iPhones which are relatively easy to repair yourself for much less than the price of a professional iPhone repair? Although your iPhone looks like it’s a well sealed unit, it’s actually quite easy to take apart and there are a number of suppliers of cheap generic parts to get your iPhone back up and running as if it were new.

Even if you’ve replaced your old damaged iPhone, its probably worth fixing it and selling it rather than just leaving it lying around until you throw it out one day.

So here are some of the most common iPhone problems and step by step guides to repair them.

The Most Common iPhone Problems And How To Fix Them

Cracked or Shattered Screens

By far the most common problem with iPhones, and most other smart phones, is a cracked, shattered or otherwise damaged screen, usually caused by a drop. Since the release of the iPhone 5, Apple has made it considerably easier for the screens on their phones to be replaced. The screen (with a few small camera, home button and speaker components) is a completely stand alone assembly and it simply plugs into the main body of the phone with a few ribbon connectors.

Get yourself a good quality replacement screen, which usually comes with the tools required to complete the repair and you’re ready to tackle repairing your iPhone.

Here are our guides to replacing your iPhone screen on a range of iPhone models:

Depleted Batteries

For most smartphone users, charging your battery is a daily activity. Because of this, you can expect your iPhone’s battery to lose around 20% of its capacity in the first two years (the general life of a mobile phone contract). A battery which no longer holds its charge is one of the leading reasons people upgrade their phone, not realising that it is in fact a very easy repair to carry out.

Here’s our guide to replacing your iPhone battery. Although this guide is done on an iPhone 6, the battery replacement for iPhone models 5, 5S, 6, 6 Plus, 6S, 6S Plus, 7, 7 Plus, 8 and 8 Plus are all very similar.

Lightning Charger Port, Button & Switch Problems

The last set of common problems is generally due to mechanical wear and tear on the lightning port due to daily (or more frequent) charging or the buttons around your iPhone.

The lightning port replacement is a little more tricky than the other repairs listed here but it also one of the cheapest to carry out. If you’re experiencing problems with the charger port or your audio port, this fix will solve it. Here’s a step by step guide to replacing the lightning port assembly on your iPhone.

The volume and mute button assembly replacement fixes problems with your volume buttons not operating correctly or with your mute switch not functioning. Here’s a step by step guide to replacing the volume and mute button assembly on your iPhone.

Finally, the home button replacement. If you’ve got a faulty home button, there’s some good news and some bad news. The good news is that the button functionality can be easily fixed, usually for a couple of dollars and it shouldn’t take you more than 15 minutes to complete. The bad news is that Apple’s touch ID sensor is paired to the logic board of the phone and for security reasons it cannot be reset. So in doing this repair, you’ll lose your touch ID functionality. The home button replacement can be done by following the steps in moving the home button across to your new screen in the screen replacement guides above.

That’s it, with the guides above you should be able to fix the majority of these common iPhone problems and they’re all relatively easy to do. If you’re looking to save money instead of buying a new phone or make some extra money off of selling your old phone then it’s definitely worth trying to repair your own iPhone.

Have you tried repairing any of the above problems on your iPhone? Let us know in the comments section below.

Bosch PLR 50 C Laser Distance Measurement Tool Review

Michael Klements
-
14
Bosch PLR 50 C Laser Distance Measurement Tool Review

The Bosch PLR 50 C is one of their higher end laser distance measurement devices which boasts accurate laser measurement up to 50m with an accuracy of 2mm in additional to angle measurement and leveling functions. With the ability to quickly sum up lengths as well as calculate volume and area, it is an extremely versatile tool for any DIY enthusiast or contractors.

The Bosch range of laser measurement devices can be bought at most major hardware outlets, they’re also widely available online.

Here are links to a few of the laser measurement devices in the range which are available on Amazon:

  • Bosch GLM 35 Compact Laser Measurement Device – Buy Here
  • Bosch GLM 50 C With Bluetooth – Buy Here
  • Bosch GLR 825 Long Range Measurement Device – Buy Here

Lets have a look at the PLR 50 C…

Whats In The Box

Bosch PLR 50 C

Included in the box or plastic packaging (depending on the region and model) is the PLR device, a handy cover, batteries and a small wrist strap.

Bosch PLR 50 C In Case

Technical Specs

  • Measurement Range: 0.05 – 50.00m (0.16 – 164ft)
  • Accuracy: 2mm (0.08″)
  • Weight: 0.13kg (0.28lbs)
  • Measurement Time: 0.5s
  • Batteries: 3 x 1.5V AAA
  • Laser Diode: 635nm

Basic Measurement Functions

The PLR 50 C is really easy to use, it has a single button to turn on and off as well as take measurements. All other settings and mode changes are done through the colour touch screen display.

There are two primary settings for the mode, the type of measurement and the zero reference point – the point at which the measurement is taken from.

The measurement type selection lets you choose between length, continuous length (giving you maximum and minimum), area, volume, angle, level and then three forms of indirect measurement which use trigonometry to calculate heights or distances based on two distance measurements and the angle of the device.

Measurement Type Selection

Three zero reference point settings are provided. These tell the unit where to take the measurement from, the front of the device, the back of the device or from the plastic clip on the bottom used for measurements from corners or tight spaces.

Reference Point Settings

Measurements are really simple to take. Once you’ve selected your mode, you press the button once to activate the laser pointer to direct you measurement point and then press again to take the measurement.

If you’ve selected the area function, the pointer will come on again after the first measurement and you’ll line up the second then push the button and the two measurements will be displayed along with the calculated area.

Area Calculation

The volume measurement works in a similar manner but with once extra button push for the third distance measurement.

Volume Measurement

Angle Measurement And Levelling Functions

Another useful feature is the inclusion of an inclinometer which lets you measure angles or alignment.

The angle measurement interface is also really simple with a display indicting the angle and a beeping tone when the device is perfectly horizontal or vertical.

Horizontal Measurement

There is also a sort of spirit level function which allows the unit to lie on its back for levelling tables, counter tops or other flat surfaces. Again, the unit emits a beep tone when the ball is perfectly centred.

Bubble Level Function

App Interface

Perhaps one of the most powerful features of the Bosch PLR 50 C is the app interface. The app is a very well thought out tool which enables you to take photos of your work, organised into projects or locations, and then automatically transfer measurements from the device via bluetooth and overlay them onto the photos.

This enables you as a DIYer or a contractor to take photos of a room or area, overlay measurements and then save the sketch to your phone to take along to your DIY store or interior designer etc.. You can also automatically compile your project into a PDF file to email through to your contractor or designer.

The PLR 50 C is really easy to pair to your phone via bluetooth and pops up in the app for you to select without any further setup.

Bosch PLR Measure and Go

You’re then able to create a project, take a photo and begin dropping measurements onto the image. You can also add notes or text and edit dimensions as you need.

Console Measurement

You can add lengths, areas and angle measurements directly into your photos.

Area For Tiling

The app keeps your projects organised with customisable names and thumbnails. All of your information is automatically saved and projects can be created or deleted as required.

PLR Measure And Go App

Likes And Dislikes

Likes

  • The PLR 50 C is easy to use. All of the options are graphically represented and easy to find.
  • The device is very accurate. I compared the results to a number of physical measurements and they were always spot on.
  • The range of functions and reference point settings make it an amazingly versatile tool. This is an accurate 50m measuring tape, level, calculator, log book, and height estimator (for trig based measurements) in a mobile phone sized package. You no longer need to carry a notepad and pen around with you.
  • The app is fantastic for home projects or for contractors who need to quickly take measurements for quotations and quantities and keep them well organise.
  • It is small, reasonably durable and with its pouch it fits into your pocket or bag really easily.

Dislikes

  • The PLR 50 C is quite expensive. Granted it does do a lot and with the colour touch screen and bluetooth functionality it is the flagship model. But paying over $100 for a device which competes with a measuring tape is hard to justify unless you use it daily or at least weekly.
  • The capacitive touch screen works well and is really responsive but only works with a physical skin touch. You can’t use the back of a pencil or gloves to operate the display which is sometimes an issue when you’re busy with DIY projects.
  • It takes AAA batteries. The battery life is fairly impressive and you’ll get well over a week’s worth of work out of a set but I would have liked to have seen a USB based rechargeable interface rather than having to carry replacement batteries around.

Final Thoughts

The PLC 50 C is a fantastic tool for your DIY or contractor toolbox. It makes taking measurements a whole lot quicker and easier. It is extremely versatile and accurate and the app does away with the need to carry a notepad and pen around.

The price is a little high but it really is worth it to get the app interface, you definitely won’t be disappointed. If you feel like you can do without the app then go for the basic version and you’ll save quite a bit of money.

Let us know what you think of the Bosch PLR measurement devices in the comments section below. If you’ve enjoyed this review, have a look at these 7 power tools to make your DIY work easier.

Using The Arduino IDE Serial Monitor

Michael Klements
-
0
Using The Arduino IDE Serial Monitor

The Arduino IDE serial monitor is an extremely useful tool for troubleshooting and fault finding in your code. If your code is giving you erratic or unexpected results then a good place to start is by displaying the key variables used in your code through the serial monitor tool in order to see where the problem arises. This tutorial is going to briefly take you through setting up and using it in your code.

This tutorial assumes that you have worked with and are familiar with the Arduino IDE and interface. If this is your first project then we recommend that you familiarise yourself with programming an Arduino first.

What You’ll Need To Use The Serial Monitor

  • Arduino (Uno Used in this Example) – Buy Here
  • USB A to B Cable – Supplied With The Above
  • A Computer

How To Set Up And Use The Serial Monitor

In order to be able to use the serial monitor function, you need to add a single line to the setup function of your code to initialise the serial communication.

void setup ()
{
Serial.begin (9600); // initialize serial communication at 9600 bps
}

Next, you’ll simply need to use a single line of code to display anything on the serial monitor.

Serial.println (variableValue);

You can also display static text to help organise what is displayed, such as:

Serial.println (“Temperature Sensor Value: ” + tempSensor);

Once you compile and run your code, you’ll need to open the serial monitor on your computer in order to be able to see the data being sent to it. It can be opened through Arduino IDE by clicking on Tools > Serial Monitor.

That is, it is a really simple and very effective tool to assist you with fault finding. Let us know if you have any queries or issues in the comments section below, we would love to help you out.

Why Buy Cubby Houses and Sandpits for Your Young Brood

Michael Davies
-
0
Why Buy Cubby Houses and Sandpits for Your Young Brood

Play is an essential component in the proper development of young children. The activity presents them with the opportunity to think for themselves or use their imagination to work out simple life dynamics.

However, due to the rise of digital technology, the brand of play that a lot of young children get into has changed immensely. They are often spoon-fed information and they do not even get to explore the world outside their home. A lot of tots even grow quite obsessed with gaming consoles, smartphones, and tablet PCs that they become so oblivious to what is going on around them.

If you are not keen on your children getting sucked into a virtual world and failing to develop good social skills, invest in traditional toys and play equipment for kids. Among the best options for play equipment are cubby houses or small house-like structures and sandpits.

Developmental Advantages Provided by Cubbies

Cubbies create a “domain” for your little ones. Although you may be in charge of filling it up with decor (toys basically), it is a place that your kids can call their own and have full control of. They can turn a cubby into anything that they want it to be for imaginative play. Also, here, they can create stories that depict their growing understanding of the world they live in.

Not only is a cubby house perfect for that kind of play but it likewise makes for a cozy, ready nook. If your kids are learning to read, you can assign their cubby as the place to enrich their vocabulary by reading books.

And perhaps, the most important function of cubbies for little kids is how they serve as a private hideout or hideaway for them. A cubby may not be too much of a secret hideout but it can pretty much perform the same job because when young children need a place to let off steam or a getaway to think without being disturbed by an adult, a cubby easily meets this need.

Developmental Advantages Provided by Sandpits

Sand is a great sensory stimulus, which is pretty much the reason why young kids can spend countless hours just playing with it at the beach.

Child development studies also reveal that sand promotes physical development. Children build strength as they work with sand as a medium. Plus, they develop eye and hand coordination as the young ones manipulate it according to the vision in their head.

Early childhood care and development specialists also point out that because sand is not quantifiable, it is an ideal toy for socialization. You can place young children in a small sandpit with fun rainbow sand and the likelihood of them fighting with each other is lower. This is because their area will always have more than enough sand for the play they have in mind.

It is worth noting as well that sand is what ECCD specialists call a “didactic” toy. It is educational because with its “manipulative” quality, children learn various concepts such as shape, texture, and the cause and effect of certain interactions between sand and other media. Best of all, sand can turn into anything — there are countless possibilities with it.

Smart Play Investments

Toys and play equipment that hone gross and fine motors skills, encourage social interaction, and creative thinking are always smart investments in ensuring the healthy development of your young brood.

These allow children to fully explore what they are physically and mentally capable of. And, when they obtain an understanding of this, you secure them an advantage in this often challenging world.

Truly, you cannot go wrong with these investments. And because your children need to use their imagination when playing with such toys or play equipment, you can have the assurance that they will not get bored easily.

As opposed to digital games whose excitement is simply concentrated on reaching a new level (which, at times, will require you to dole out more money), traditional play implements like cubbies and sandpits are guaranteed to enhance playtime and learning.

If you’ve enjoyed this post, be sure to check out these unorthodox ideas for the back yard. Let us know in the comments sections below what you’ve included in your back yard for your children to play with.

1...323334...62Page 33 of 62