Many prints need support structures to be able to print correctly. Supports are a critical addition that helps keep overhangs and bridges from collapsing and sagging. Unfortunately, if you’ve got support structures, you’ll need to remove them during post-processing. You don’t want your support structures being a permanent part of your model. In many cases, support removal is … [Read more...] about 3D Printing Basics: How to Remove Support Structures
Posts About Hardware
VR Oculus Quest 2: What Is the Quest 2 and Why Is It Special?
The Oculus Quest 2 is a Facebook-owned type of VR headset that stands out from most other VR headsets in a few ways. The biggest aspect is the fact that it works entirely without cables. While other headsets commonly need to be wired to a computer, the Quest 2 doesn’t. The good It CAN be connected to a PC but it doesn’t require it. Options like the Oculus Link give users the … [Read more...] about VR Oculus Quest 2: What Is the Quest 2 and Why Is It Special?
What Is a Stack Puke?
Stack puke is the name for a process in which processors in computers save their internal states when they encounter an exception. The term comes from the description of the way the process is visualised – as the processor ‘puking its guts’ into the stack. The stack here, is a LIFO data structure that contains instructions. LIFO means last in, first out, and it describes a way … [Read more...] about What Is a Stack Puke?
What PC Components Do You Need?
If you’re wanting to build your own PC, you need to plan out what parts you need. Working out which components are necessary though can be daunting for a first-time system builder, especially when you know that not all components are compatible with each other, and you don't need all the ones available either. … [Read more...] about What PC Components Do You Need?
3D Printing Basics: Does Acetone Smoothing Affect the Strength of ABS?
One of the common methods of post-processing prints made with ABS is called Acetone Smoothing. Acetone smoothing is smoothing and eliminating layer lines by placing the print in an acetone mist. Nicely, doing so also leaves the print with a smooth and shiny surface. … [Read more...] about 3D Printing Basics: Does Acetone Smoothing Affect the Strength of ABS?
What Is a Passive Heat Sink?
Heat generation is an issue that affects a lot of modern technology. Historically, many things simply haven’t produced enough heat for it to be an issue to get rid of. The story is different with modern microelectronics, though. Heat production is a real issue that limits performance. One key to continuing to increase performance is to improve cooling solutions. … [Read more...] about What Is a Passive Heat Sink?
What Does Scroll Lock Do?
Scroll lock is a key on most keyboards, although most people never actually use it. Realistically the use case of scroll lock has been superseded by the computer mouse. … [Read more...] about What Does Scroll Lock Do?
3D Printing Basics: How to Find Out What Filaments Your 3D Printer Supports
If you’re a newcomer to 3D printing it can be easy to assume that your 3D printer can print every material. Theoretically this is somewhat true, but in practice there are often limitations. These limitations can be worked around, but requires you to get another printer that is more capable or to modify your existing printer. Below we’ve listed four of the main restrictions on … [Read more...] about 3D Printing Basics: How to Find Out What Filaments Your 3D Printer Supports
How to Build the Best Streaming PC for Your Budget
Streaming is a pretty awesome hobby – it’s social, it combines gaming with chatting with friends, and of course, if you have a big enough audience, you can make some money from it. To start streaming, you do need to have access to certain things – and the primary thing in question is a powerful PC that can handle the challenges of streaming. … [Read more...] about How to Build the Best Streaming PC for Your Budget
What Is a Data Path?
A datapath is a sequential collection of functional units. To put it more simply, it’s a set of logical processors that perform data processing in a certain order. Datapaths form the basics of a CPU, when combined with a control unit. Larger datapaths can consist of multiple smaller datapaths as well. Think of datapaths like city maps – smaller neighbourhoods connect into … [Read more...] about What Is a Data Path?