Small holiday updates: upcoming release, public beta, Discord closure, and assorted design recap

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season.

Here's a small holiday update on some developments.

Upcoming Release: PPPX

At last, after many months of testing and documentation refinements, I have submitted the PPPX for release to the Gatalog. You can find it published over there after it passes their review. This is my last principal release for 2023, and possibly for a while as I regain footing on my health.

Upcoming Beta: DDxx.3

You may recall the proof-of-concept of Gen4/5 rails being possible from over a year or so ago. A number of refinements and new development since then that accommodate the Gen4 and Gen5 parts kits have been backported to Gen3 parts kits too by Aves Rails. I have been helping them with some background work towards a revised spec, namely with documentation, testing, and whatnot. A public beta will be opening from them in the new year, first targeting Gen3 parts kits. 

Discord Closure

I have decided to close the Discord server I set up many years ago. I do not have time or energy anymore to moderate or cultivate it, so I figured it would be best to shutter it rather than let it languish. (I am still reachable here on Patreon or by email!) Accordingly, the "special Discord role" perk has been removed from the Patreon tiers. I'll leave it up until the new year so that you may connect and make arrangements to stay in touch with any particular members you chat with.

Assorted Designs

While I haven't been able to work on my usual CAD work, I'm trying to not let my skills perish by working on some lighter oddities and accessories around the house.

If you haven't been to my Printables page, please swing by and throw me a follow! (It helps my account level up and become more established on there.)

Some highlights include...

• a disposable lens adapter for the Nikon NIKKOR1 (N1) mount, along with a basic lens cap. You can view a small photo gallery on my Behance here! This was a fun endeavor merging two of my favorite hobbies.
• a manually retractable tailor's fabric tape measure replacement case. This is a simple design, but I think it is one of my few dynamic, "movable" assemblies that isn't just a static design. I really had to use my brain muscle on this one, namely with figuring out how to retain the tape inside the case. Maybe I'll do a write-up soon- working with overlapping parts that fit into each other was quite a brain teaser!
• conversely, the simplest things I've made this year have been some feet for a shoe rack and a replacement thumb drive cover after I finally lost mine for good.
• a Steam Deck OEM dock cover for those with a case on their device! I made this because I wanted to continue using the OEM dock, but the silicone case on my device made it hard to keep it secured in place.
• a remix of a reMarkable 2 Charging Dock, but adapted for the Type Folio! This was a fun exercise I detailed in a previous post.
• an assortment of weird car stuff- like a remix for a Toyota switch adapter to accommodate a keystone (that I used to install USB-C high-speed charging in my car), replacement cigarette socket holder, clothing hooks for my car's backseat, and a Chevy Volt cargo net retainer knob I designed for someone.

Now that I think about it, these are rather niche designs that arose from particular circumstances. The camera lens being that I came across a camera with a broken set of lenses that didn't make (financial) sense to replace due to the obsoleted mount; fabric tape measure because my original one of twenty years broke; charging docks because of the tight arrangement of my space; and odds and ends for my car to get it into the current decade. Perhaps this is one of my favorite things with 3D printing- you can print specific solutions for little to no cost, and the world of possibilities is made wider if you know CAD. Hopefully, these help someone down the line!

Miscellaneous Musings and Closing Thoughts

For those who have been wondering how my health has been going, the answer is "eh". I still waver in and out of flares, and it seems that every day is a small gamble on the "status effects" (in MMO terms) I will have to juggle that day. The doctor's visits are plenty, but I am managing them on a decent rhythm. (Although, I could do with NOT getting bloodwork at every visit, but it's necessary I suppose. 😅)

Recently, I've been reading up more on my condition and lurking in some support groups on Reddit and Facebook. I'm finding that I have a LOT to learn and read about, not only on medical info, but also personal experiences that others have shared on how they are managing and living life with the disease. I'm balancing the various sources namely to find out what to expect and such beyond what I already experience.

Regardless, I am committed to staying positive and looking forward ahead so I can tackle the new year at the best I can give each day. 2024 is going to be a very interesting year, since I will start it with an almost entirely different set of circumstances than I did for 2023.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas (yes, it's Christmas until the Epiphany!), and Happy New Year.

Thanks everyone,

Vinh