I went a bit overboard with my Christmas shopping this year, but it's OK since I spent the most on myself :D  There were some really great combo deals on Kobalt 24V cordless tools this season, and one was particularly good (which is over), but seemed to fly under the radar.  Needless to say, my old cordless tools (Black and Decker 18V), which have served me pretty well (aside from a sawzall that burned up recently), are gonna have to step aside to make room for a new starting lineup.  The Kobalt tools themselves seem pretty well regarded, and they check off quite a few boxes, being brushless, 24v, and having a good batter warranty (on paper at least), and most of all, the price's were great.  In addition to the sawzall, I picked up several 2.0 and 4.0A battery kits, which included a "free" tool.  I ended up with a oscillating multi-tool, jigsaw, trim router and a couple drills.  Now however, I need a place to put them all.  I really like this set of wall mounts for the Kobalt tools, however I need to mount them to a pegboard.  I started working on a pegboard adapter for that set, and then decided to see if I could mount the battery holder on top of the toolholder, so I just ran a test print of that (which will need some work).  If it all works out I will post some pics and a link to the models here.  I may also post the pegboard adapter separately, since it should be compatible with the remix source design too.  I didn't want to start a new project this year, but it is what it is, and really, it will be a remix so it's not really a "new" project lol.  

Update 1/2/2025:  I printed a few of the remixed designs, but found that I wanted to make changes to the parts of the design which interface with the battery and tools, so I am abandoning the remix and starting over from scratch.  A couple things I want to focus on with the design are a snug fitting tool holder, a latching battery holder, and vents for the battery (I don't want to block them).  Printability is also something I'm working on, which will be a bit tricky, since the holders will need to be printed in two orientations depending on the tool it's designed for. 

So far, I've printed a few iterations of the parts of the holders which connect to the tool and battery to test them with my Kobalt stuff, and they are getting close.  There may also be a spring detent version of the holder for tools, however that is just an option I'm considering.  

Since I decided to work on this from scratch, the tool+battery holders will be my own design (fully), but I already made a pegboard adapter for CarbonForged's Kobalt 24v tool holders, and that model will get posted as a remix, however right now there is only one size (and 3 sizes of adapters is required).

Update 1/3/2025:  After a couple test prints and iterations to the design, the prototype holders are fitting nicely.  I used the stock 2.0Ah battery as a basis to design both the battery holder and the tool holders, and added some extra clearance (but not too much), since I don't want them being loose.  There is an angled section near the front of the battery, which took a few tries to get right, but I made some simple printed template pieces to check that angle, which turns out to be 9°.  It's a small detail, but it was buggin' me when I looked at the prototype holders and saw that the angle (5°) was not correct, but it is now.

It felt like the tool holder needed some form of lightly engaged mechanical hold on the tools, but I did not want to have a release button for the tool, so I thought a simple spring loaded detent would work OK.  That element is now fully designed out, and should work, though I need to find my Harbor Freight tool collection to verify that (it will use a 7/32" x 1.5" compression spring from the Harbor Freight Spring Assortment Kit).  Some additions to the now (should be) final design are a pair of battery vent holes in the sides of the mount, a 2 color label insert (so I know what tool goes where), and a cover for the sprint detent stuff.  The base of the tool mount is an even 60x100mm, however I may need at least one larger size (maybe 60x120+mm) for some of the tools. 

The designs for the pegboard adapters for CarbonForged's Kobalt 24v tool holders are done (in a small. medium and large size to match the bases of the CarbonForged's holders).  However I'm having second thoughts on them, since I'm not sure how robust they will be due to the weight of the tools.  I'm gonna wait till I can test similar pegboard adapters for my Kobalt Tool mounts, and see how I feel about them before I post those.    

Update 1/6/2025:  I think I have the peg mount design completed for my new Kobalt tool and battery mounts (which were inspired by but not a remix of CarbonForged's design), so now I just need to test them.  If the peg mounts work well, then I will apply the same changes to complete the peg board adapters for CarbonForged's Kobalt 24v tool holders as well.  The new design will utilize some steel peg board mounting clips, which should resolve any of my worries about the peg mounts being too weak.

Something else I noticed is that Lowes has the deal of the day today for a 2.0Ah and 4.0Ah battery, charger, case and a free tool for $80.  This is the best deal on that combo yet (lowest I saw it for was $90 during the holidays).  These kits are a great way to get started with the Kobalt lineup, since they have a good selection of free tools to pick from with that combo.  If you get the deal, and cannot seem to be able to pick a tool for the free gift (other than the jigsaw), click on the "Choose your gifts" (on the right side under the price) and then click the minus sign "-" next to the jigsaw (to zero that choice out).  Then you should be able to pick a tool from any of the dozen or so tool choices they have with the combo.

Update 1/9/2025:  I've been going through my tools and designing holders for them (untested currently), but when I got to the sawzall I hit a problem.  The best way to mount the sawzall would be to have it hang from the holder, but the current design is set up to only have a spring detent, and not a latching mechanism similar to the way the batteries mount to the tool.  I could mount the sawzall upside down, so the sawzall "drops" into the holder, but that would put a lot of torque on the holder and the pegboard mounts.  I decided to back up a bit, and redesigned part of the mounts to allow for a button release mechanism, which I'd use for some of the tools that require a latching holder.  Some tools will need a latch due to their mounting orientation, or just to have a bit more security with a heavy tool.  I like the spring detent for most other tools though, since they can just be popped in or out of the holders, without trying to manipulate buttons to release the tool.  

This design is not yet fully tested however.  The peg mount works pretty much as well as I could hope for, and are very solid, but I'm waiting on some 6x40mm springs from AliExpress to test the holders. I may just break down and buy another assortment from Harbor Freight, just to test it, since I seem to have lost the springs from the assortment I thought I had around here.

So far this design has been fun, but I have many hours of work into it already, so I'm hopeful when I get the parts, everything will work (or can be made to work).  "Works in CAD" has burned me before lol, but the proof will always be in the prints.

I'm still planning to make a peg adapter for for CarbonForged's Kobalt 24v tool holders, which inspired this whole project (my original plan was just to make the peg adapters, but as you can read above, it didn't quite work out that way :-)  Those however will be done after I can test my designs, which will use a similar peg board adapter, using the full weight of the tools on them.  I have little doubt though, that the new design with the steel clips will be up to the task.   

Edit- I just noticed the peg clips in the third pic below are upside down.  It's just a matter of rotating the base 180° though, so not a bit deal, but I thought I'd mention it.  

Update 1/10/2025:  Not much to add about the mounts, I'm still working through them for my collection of tools, but I did see a smoking deal today on a kit with a hammer drill, 1/4" impact, LED light, a 2.0 and 4.0Ah battery, charger, case and 2 free tools for $150.  The 4.0Ah battery in the kit is the upgraded "Ultimate Output" battery as well. This is a great kit for the money, but they seem to be selling out of them (I had to go 10 miles away to find one in stock).  The deal (which is half off), ends at midnight I believe.  

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-XTR-3-Tool-24-Volt-Max-Brushless-Power-Tool-Combo-Kit-with-Hard-Case-Charger-Included-and-2-Batteries-Included/1002274128

Christmas and the holidays are like the capstone for the year that is now mostly behind us.  Whether it's the religious significance, or just having a reason to see or talk with old friends and family and catch up, it's cool to know that our ancestors had the wisdom to set aside part of the year for a small break, and as a time to reflect.  I hope that you will have a warm place, and a welcoming friend or family member (furry family members included), to enjoy the holidays with.  I hope you have a Merry Christmas and Very Happy Holiday!

I'm not much for managing social media, due to the hype, hate and just plain old bad info that it seems to be a conduit for, but I decided to give BlueSky a chance.  It will hopefully not end up as a billionaire's plaything, but if it does, it cost me nothing to join, and it will cost me nothing to quit.  I just made my first post there, and plan to post updates on some things I'm working on or upload to 3D printing repositories.  But due to the character limits, I will be keeping the interesting details of my projects over here.  My "handle" is @mystoopidstuff.bsky.social 

I probably will not be able to devote a lot of time to using Bluesky, so please don't be offended if it takes a while for me to reply or like a post, but I will check it occasionally.  I tend to monitor comments more frequently on MakerWorld and Printables, since that is where I go to check for feedback on the designs and projects I've posted on those platforms.

I have been working on an update to the "Dummy 13 Weapons Pack v2.0" for a while, in order to optimize the frame and update some of the other components from scratch.  The update will include brand new katanas, holsters, handguns and updates to the frame to help with adhesion issues (which have been the biggest complaint from some users).  It will still be a more advanced print since there are overhangs, which are supported, but nevertheless some people have had issues with them.  Due to the small features, the regular pitfalls of 3D printing require more attention.  If the plate is not clean, or the printer is subject to drafts or ambient temp changes, or the slicer is not tuned well for the material used, there could still be issues.  But I've done everything I can think of to make those problems less of an issue, with the updated version 2.1 model.  

I'm also working on several other designs, but only one is planned for release later this month.  That will be a "Dummy 13 Alpine Search and Rescue (SAR) Pack", which I posted a teaser pic of a couple days ago of.  I've tested this design over several dozen small iterations, and am finally happy with the result.  Making small features on 3D printed parts is a big challenge, since, to fit correctly, there needs to be just enough clearance, but not too much.  This is often down to less than 0.1mm for very small features, or when tuning a built in support features, like I used in this model.  The Alpine SAR pack will include a backpack, ice axe, knife, and have skis and poles as well.  There will also be a wall mounted display for it (with a secret surprise :D, and possibly something extra to go with the wall display, which will follow on later as another model (waiting on parts).  

For both the "Dummy 13 Weapons Pack v2.0" update to v2.1, and the Alpine SAR pack for Dummy 13, I'm gonna target December 16-18 for the release of those designs.  It's not much time to print them before Christmas unfortunately, but the prints don't take too long to run.  I could probably release them right now, but to be honest, I keep stumbling on rip offs of my Dummy 13 stuff, along with other people's work on various marketplaces, and it bugs me.  My stuff is either released under a CC non-commercial license or the standard digital license, neither of which allow commercial use.  I'm of course not surprised, and going after the sellers is something I'm gonna look into.  Until then though, I'd at least like to deny them the opportunity to further profit from my work this Christmas.   

Finally, there are a couple other Dummy 13 packs in the works or ready to go, but those will wait till 2025, when I am planning to start up a Patreon and maybe an LLC.  I want to provide a way to commercially license some designs, since the folks stealing my designs to sell have no legitimate option right now (other than not stealing lol).  Patreon will also help me to gauge if there is support for my work generally, and which types of designs supporters would like to see.  I feel like I've more ideas than time to see all of them through, so it would be good to focus my attention on designs that people want to make as well.  

Update 12/7/2024: It was suggested that a kit card version of my Dummy 13 Astronaut Remix would be handy, and I agree.  Having the parts on a card could make it a neat way to give as a gift.  It was not as simple as I expected though, since I forgot about the supports.  When I make a kit card, I try to make any supports integrated into the frame, so the part can just be printed.  The helmet on the astronaut has some moderately complex supports, at least when I had to model them, but it turned out to be a lot less difficult than I though.  The card however has been though dozens of iterations due to small tweaks, including fixing "ASTPO", which was not due to a misspelling, but rather a problem with projecting the text onto the model.  I've done about half dozen test prints (so far), but I think it's almost ready now.  If everything goes well, it should be released along with the other updates later this month.

Update 12/9/2024:  I think the Dummy 13 Alpine "SAR" (now Adventure) Kit is done.  There were dozens of small tweaks and fixes, but all the latest test prints look good, and the helmet supports are working great.  The stand is also ready to go, and thankfully it has been less difficult to get ready.  The stand will not be carded though, and may be posted separate from the kit card for the Alpine tools.  The "Dummy 13 Astro-Pack" and the "Dummy 13 Weapons Pack v2.1" are also pretty well done now as well.  I decided to add a few extras to the update as well, since I had the space and it's also Christmas time :D  I'm not sure if I will have the time to color the models, but the single color profiles will certainly be ready for the 16-18th when they will be posted. 

Update 12/13/2024:  There was one more thing I wanted to add to this project, which I was not sure if I'd get the parts for or not, but it arrived in time, so why not?  I'm currently test printing a light holder, which will mount above the "glacier outcrop" that Dummy 13 can stand on.  It will however require a few parts, which are:

1. Remote Control Waterproof LED Light (which I bought from AliExpress but it looks like they also sell them at Amazon)
2. 8x3 cylinder magnets (8 are required)
3. Large 3M Command Strips (3 are needed for both the lower platform and the light housing)

The light housing at the top is in 2 parts.  The top half will mount to the wall using large 3M Command Strips, while the lower part will attach with the magnets.  The LED light will install in the top, and be held by a magnet, but also should be retained by the lower half of the housing too.  I also updated both the "glacier outcrop" and the light housing with some extra places to store the skis and poles, as well as some climbing anchors, which can be seen in the pics below.  

Update 12/16/2024:  The models for the Dummy 13 Alpine Adventure Kit and lighted wall mount can find the models at the following links:
Dummy 13 Alpine Adventure Kit Card:
https://makerworld.com/en/models/885809
Lighted Wall Mount Display Stand:
https://makerworld.com/en/models/887586

The Weapons Pack V2.1 update will be posted tomorrow, and I will try and get the Dummy 13 Astro-kit updated this week.

Update 12/17/2024:  The Weapons pack v2.1 has been uploaded.  You can find it over at MakerWorld:

Dummy 13 Weapons Pack v2.1
https://makerworld.com/en/models/888476#profileId-844361

Update 12/21/2024:  The last big update this year for my Dummy 13 related stuff has been posted.  It's a carded version of the Dummy 13 Astronaut, which can be seen pictured above, modeling the new Dummy 13 Weapons Pack v2.1 update.  The card has integrated supports for the helmet and visor, which took some trail and error, but have been tested multiple times and seems to work well.  The update includes a 3mf profile which has a 4 color option, but since the plate is set up to print by object, there are only a few color swaps required (each part is a solid color).  You can find the updated carded version at the links below:

https://makerworld.com/en/models/189444#profileId-860644

https://www.printables.com/model/674660-dummy13-goes-to-the-moon-astronaut-remix-single-co

I wanted to drop some links and info on a couple of CAD programs which I think are interesting (and are on sale).

The first is Punch! ViaCAD, which is on version 14 now.  I started off with (I think) version 7 and currently run version 12 Pro with the "Power Pack".  It is easy to use (which is saying a lot for CAD software), and does the job, though my experience is that it tends to crash every few hours, which is frustrating.  Thanks to using ViaCAD for so many years, I am in the habit of saving every 15 minutes or when I reach a point where losing the work would really set me back.  So I have a bit of a love, hate relationship with ViaCAD.  I guess I fall more on the "love" side though, since I was considering upgrading to version 14 Pro (with the "Power Pack"), when I saw it was on sale today for 30% off (coupon code "PCBFCM30").  However when I searched their forums, it seems they may not have fixed some of the stability issues.  I'm sure they will eventually, but if you consider ViaCAD, it should be noted that the entry price is low, but to get some features as simple as a push-pull tool, the Pro version is required, and now we are talking some bucks (about 499 of them to be exact).  The "Power Pack" adds more features, which I don't use too often, but are really handy for converting (simple) STL's, so I can work on them, and also for threading.   Despite all the wonderful CAD tools out there for free or much less, I've stuck with ViaCAD for many years, since it has a great user interface (in my opinion of course).  What it lacks in power, or stability, I've made up for with work-arounds and constant saving.  But in a nutshell, I cannot recommend it to a new user unless they are willing to deal with possible stability issues, but hey, it's on sale.

So that brings me to what I'm thinking may be worth diving into next, CAD-wise.  I've heard good things in the past about Plasticity, which is a new kid on the block for CAD applications.  It's similar to ViaCAD in that it is geared towards direct modeling, and not parametric modeling (think sculpting vs drafting).  That's not to say that you cannot make a good production ready model using ViaCAD or Plasticity, it's just how you get there is a bit different than software like Fusion.  Something that kind'a blew my mind though with Plasticity, was the xNURBs "library" which is added functionality that can pretty much work magic when creating unusual surfaces that are "watertight" (xNURBs is offered in the "studio version only).  Still, even after seeing all the magical and cool stuff that Plasticity offered, I went back to using ViaCAD to resume working on a project.  Then it happened, a simple translation operation caused ViaCAD to grind to a stop, and I had to wait, and wait... and wait, with the hope that it was not going to crash (which it didn't).  In fairness the slowness was probably related to the complexity of the model, and not the translate operation, but at this point the slowness is a regular and expected, yet very frustrating occurrence.  I'm also better than 50% in guessing when a crash will occur after an operation, with the radial blend tool being the odds on favorite for causing one.  It seemed like a sign from the CAD gods, so I took the $260 I was gonna spend to upgrade my ViaCAD 12 Pro to 14 Pro (with Power Pack I'd add), and bought the Plasticity "Studio" package (with the magic xNURBs sauce), and had 20 bucks to spare.

I know this is gonna take time to shift over to learning and using Plasticity, and it may end up being something I use when ViaCAD runs out of road.  But if it is stable, that will be a huge time savings.  I literally spend at least a quarter to third of my time while modeling, waiting for operations, saving (frequently) or recovering from crashes.  All those interruptions really mess with the "flow" during modeling.  So I figure that if I invest some of that time into learning Plasticity, it will pay dividends in the future.  Plasticity also seems to have some buzz around it, and what seems like an active user base.  I'm not gonna say that ViaCAD should not be considered though, since I still think it is about the easiest to learn, and my experience with the crashing may be unique.  It may also be that there is some underlying problem with my PC that creeps up when I use it (though I've read enough posts in their forums to think it may be more a "them" problem than a "me" problem).  If Punch! could really fix the stability issues in ViaCAD, I'd have no problem recommending it, and would probably upgrade too, but for now I'm gonna hedge my bet, and try out Plasticity (on the next project).