3D printing can be cost effective for small production runs too. There are large format printers both FDM and SLA with print quality, large bed size and speed more than sufficient.

Injection molding is only cheap when print runs are huge. In a rapidly developing space like drone warfare, a lot of plastic parts get changed frequently enough that injection molding becomes cost prohibitive, due to small production runs between design changes.

Take the example of a propeller vs a custom bracket to hold a new type of clip for ammo.

Propellers can be standardized according to motor, frame geometry, and power source parameters, so they can be mass produced with injection molding by the ton.

A bracket needed to test out a new configuration may only be made in runs of a few hundred before some other update changes things again.

All this is to say that drone warfare is logistically an insanely complex supply chain to manage.

3D printing will have a role in drones that see combat until the day the designs are completely perfect and never need to be changed again. Then the economy of scales can overcome the high setup costs of building an injection mold.

And the Pentagon will stockpile them by the billions to give SkyNet something to work with later. yay.

Yes, regarding the mesh. I was wondering if a flexible mesh might be better. Toynbee tiles seem to become illegible mostly because individual pieces shift over time and make them look more of a jumble, this becomes more pronounced as the individual pieces become smaller. I was thinking more fiberglass, too, but even burlap would be fine probably.

A good flexible adhesive on the back of the pieces then pressed firmly into the fiberglass/cloth and weighted until set up.

One thing to consider is that the asphalt crack filler needs to be pressed into and around the pieces, serving a role similar to grout in tile. So the order of operations would be important. That’s more of an assembly issue, I guess.

There are numerous open source tile mosaic softwares out there that will generate the tiling, including the needed gaps for ‘grout’.

And Armstrong Flooring makes VCT in a huge array of colors. A source for vinyl tile of specific colors

Super fun, I am going to talk with my local folks and find a good location for a small test of these ideas. Such fun, thanks for engaging

Yeah, it’s intriguing.

I have given it some thought and they could be made even more durable by using vinyl flooring adhesive to adhere the mosaic pieces to a backing of wire mesh.

The usual method uses only asphalt crack filler, which is still necessary, but it also requires one to assemble the design backwards. Adhering to metal mesh first would allow one to assemble it front the viewer’s perspective and reduce shifting of the pieces over time for more durability.

Not to mention that a basic CNC machine could cut the vinyl very precisely and in elaborate shapes. One could really take the quality and durability of the designs up a notch or two using the old noggin and modern Maker tools.

So now I am going to have to think of a place locally to do this….

Reminds of something my dear old grandpa said to me growing up: “If a hot girl DMs you about crypto, block him!”

Has anyone heard of Toynbee Tiles? These are interesting by themselves but the relevant point is how they are made.

You make a mosaic out of vinyl flooring chunks on a backing of paper and roofing tar as mastic.

You place them paper side up on asphalt pavement in hot weather. As cars drive over them, the paper and tar wear off revealing the vinyl mosaic.

Just a thought that a group of people could quickly make a rainbow crosswalk that can’t be painted over.

Toynbee Tiles

Jfc, it never was effective. Anyone who has ever taken this formula seriously is an emotional moron.

Thank Glob. Let me be an ‘individual contributor’ while those who don’t know better yet run interference with corporate.

What the Hell even is that?

Hang in there, kitten!

The only achievement me or my extended family feel any pride in bragging about is an uncle who got a picture of a severe psoriasis outbreak on his ass in a medical textbook. Several members of the family have a copy of that textbook on their bookshelves and these people can barely read.

I agree, and perhaps some deep diving to find an older dot matrix printer? Should be supremely hackable. I only have experience with these:

Next-gen teletypes

They were extremely durable and low maintenance. Also loud and more stress inducing than a modern SMS notification.

Good times

That was a complete rabbit hole. Thanks.

The only thing possibly more epic would be converting a Linotype to a Linux terminal. It uses hot lead to create type for newspapers, etc.

I was trained to use one as there were so many in use they still have some niche applications for specialty printing.

Anyhow, I call them Satan’s Typewriters and still have small scars from hot lead all over my forearms. And I love technology.

A good film:

Linotype: The Film

I hope Zelensky goes back to comedy after his political career. So much source material!

Your experience is valid, as it happened to you and none of us in this thread were there probably anyway.

In my experience, friends don’t end friendships over homophobia. They just suddenly become very busy and they have less and less time to spend with the person who comes out as bi.

‘Bi erasure’ is such a common phenomenon that we invented the term ‘bi erasure’.

‘Standing’ is usually just a way for judges to block or promote hearing of cases. It is very arbitrary and squishy.

Due to her previous crimes and involvement in the justice system, followed by her ‘career’ as a ‘public figure’ centered around these issues, a judge can safely grant standing if they feel like doing so.

Much too soon! (but totally a good one, i ill be stealing this one)

She is a unitary executive

Except that they will use Lindsey as a scapegoat in an attempt to make it ok to say fake mean shit about gay people.

Kim Davis is asking the Supremes to reverse the decision that enabled gay marriage nationwide.

These idiots all talk to each other, and they are acting in coordination.

I really wanted to see where this was going. The obvious flirtation, the passive-aggressive challenge, it was really building to something.