fest

Thanks, seems to fit the theme!

When I was doing stepper control on rp2040 I looked into using PIO but the 5 bit counters and 32 instruction limit made it too awkward to use. What worked better for my needs was dedicating 2nd core for just motion control and bit-banging the step/dir signals- simple to implement and good enough for the modest needs I had (just trapezoidal velocity profile for single axis motion).

On this topic I've been wondering why are the air-air heatpumps significantly cheaper than air-water units?

As far as I could tell, there's not that much of a difference (different heat-exchanger, circulation pump instead of a fan, maybe a three way valve for hot water)- but I have hard time seeing how they contribute to the price difference of several thousand EUR.

There are also quite a few conversion projects (where an air-air unit is converted to air-water), so I'm wondering if it really comes down to just higher demand for air-air?

I found it interesting that CNC machines aimed at precious metal processing have an optional access control system for swarf/dust collection bins- presumably so that the technicians operating the machine don't steal the "waste" material.

Metallurgical microscopes illuminate the sample "from the top side". The actual implementation even goes as far as making sure the illumination happens on the optical axis of the objective (as if the light was emitted from your eyes/camera, reflected from the sample and then seen by your eyes/camera). They are also called reflected light or epi-illumination microscopes.

Biological microscopes, on the other hand illuminate the sample from the back side (which doesn't work for fully opaque objects).

> Might as well use PIO to implement I2C or UART :)

PIO actually came in handy for me when interfacing with an x-ray sensor which had 12 or 14 bits long UART data frame- not many micros have such a flexibility in their UART peripherals.

Yes, but I always found it strange (though I lack any exposure to "enterprise" networking equipment).

Can you weigh in on the decision to require UniFi controller instead of providing on device configuration interface as well?

I can't really go into details, but FrontRow wasn't the most bizarre thing Ubiquiti was working on, just the one that got reasonably close before being shelved.

IIRC Access reader isn't the only product the FrontRow R&D cost/stock of parts was tried to be recouped, but at that time I wasn't working there anymore.

This is actually a common problem for test fixtures that involve miniature coaxial connectors (pretty much all of them are rated for few tens of mating cycles): even if the connector on device is used for assembly/repairs and goes through very few mating cycles, the automated test fixture used during manufacture of such a device is expected to last longer.

Most connector vendors have specialized connectors for test fixtures that last much longer (they are also a lot more expensive).

Why are these reasons wrong? I have a similar attitude in my field (UAVs), where many desperately chase the next whizzbang technology, ignoring the boring, old fashioned stuff (workflows, UX, 3rd party addons).

It would, if I had them in the first place (most of the systems I've seen locally don't- it's typically just a motor and keyfob here).

I use a very crude DIY setup for garage doors and yard gate: bought a spare keyfob on aliexpress, took it apart and connected it to wall power supply and ESP relay board running esphome. Works great and will work as long as my garage door and yard gate openers work.

The only drawback is that it's less secure, as it uses RF but I can't be bothered to dig a new cable to gate motor through already paved driveway.