AI, love it or hate it? But is it useful?

[QuarterMaster]

For me? Yes.

Really, I could not care less about others opinions regarding AI.

We've been here before when the abacus, electricity, Xacto knives, Roto-tools, Calculators, Computers, CnC Machining, Laser Engraving, EZ-Pass, 3D printing. Some rejoice, others lament, jobs lost, jobs created. I have bad news for you sunshine....we survived. I for one will welcome our robotic overlords. Hey, they can't do worse than we did.

I was part of an email thread today, names not mentioned, protect the innocent. But it got me thinking to share that not only do I use it quite a bit now, but some insight at what I find it useful for. (Of which I share here, if no likey...re-read sentence two.)

Not to do my taxes, diagnose medical symptoms, write college papers, plan revenge on my neighbor with blaring Christmas lights in October...at zero dark thirty, or that I ignore asking it about people, that is for me to decide.

Of the tools out there, I for one prefer Gemini since I'm a Google user. Yeah, they probably have been spying on me and know more about me than I care to want to know, but at least someone pays attention to me.

I find it great for tech questions.

The following examples at why it's good for newbies who lurk instead of asking...

What can you tell me about radio control submarine ballast systems?

Radio-controlled (RC) submarine ballast systems are essential for controlling the model's buoyancy and allowing it to dive, maintain depth, and resurface, similar to full-size submarines. The system works by adjusting the amount of water carried, thus changing the submarine's overall density.

Types of Ballast Systems
There are several common methods for achieving variable buoyancy in RC submarines, often categorized as static divers (using a variable ballast system to submerge) versus dynamic divers (relying on forward motion and dive planes to submerge):

Piston Ballast Systems:

This system uses a watertight cylinder with a motor-driven piston (like a large, motorized syringe).

To dive, the piston retracts, drawing water into the cylinder, increasing the submarine's weight.

To surface, the piston extends, expelling water and decreasing the weight.

They offer very precise, proportional control over buoyancy.

Air/Water Pump Systems:

These systems use a pump to manage water in a ballast tank.

To dive, a vent valve is opened, allowing water to enter the tank (flooding).

To surface, an air pump draws air from a dry compartment (like the watertight cylinder) and forces it into the ballast tank, displacing the water, or a water pump is reversed to actively push the water out.

A common variant is the Semi-Aspirated System (SAS), where the air pump draws air from the dry hull to blow the tank clear.

Compressed Gas Systems:

This system stores a liquefied or compressed gas (like CO2 or propellants) in a small pressure vessel.

To dive, a vent is opened to let water in.

To surface, the gas is released into the ballast tank to rapidly expel the water. This is generally used for emergency surfacing or as a high-power surfacing mechanism, but offers less proportional control than piston systems.

Operating Principle
All these systems follow the same fundamental principle based on Archimedes' principle:

Surfaced: The submarine is positively buoyant (its average density is less than water), often with its main ballast tank full of air.

Diving: The ballast system takes on water, increasing the submarine's average mass and making it negatively buoyant (or neutrally buoyant).

Submerged Operation (Neutral Buoyancy): The ideal state for submerged cruising is neutral buoyancy, where the submarine's weight exactly equals the weight of the water it displaces. In this state, the submarine can use its dive planes and propulsion to control depth with minimal effort.

A common design approach for more complex models uses a Main Ballast Tank for quickly transitioning between surface and submerged states, and a smaller, more precise Trim/Proportional Ballast Tank (often a piston system) to achieve perfect neutral buoyancy for stable underwater control.

The video below explains the function of a semi-aspirated ballast system, which uses an air pump to displace water and resurface the model. HOW DO RADIO CONTROLLED (RC) SUBMARINES WORK ?

See? Somehwt useful for a newb. Go ahead and try for yourself with other newbie questions. How deep do RC Submarines go? Can I use torpedoes on RC Submarines? What radio systems do RC Submarines use?

Always be SPECIFIC in the questions.

The following is a specific question I asked when I didn't have a chance to as it of an FrSky Application Engineer at a recent Dive Tribe meet. It worked great for me....

I have an FRSKY Tandem TDSR10 Stabilized receiver. I am trying to understand the gyro gain settings between a pot set as a master gain on channel 13, and the individual gain channels, IE Elevator set in the receiver configuration.

The master gain on Channel 13 of your FRSKY Tandem TDSR10 receiver acts as an overall multiplier for the stabilization gains configured in the receiver's Lua script (or configuration pages), including the individual gains set for channels like Elevator.

Here is a breakdown of how they interact: ✈️ Gain Interaction on TDSR10

• Individual Channel Gains (e.g., Elevator): These are the base gain values you set within the receiver's stabilization configuration (via the Lua script on your transmitter). You typically set these specific values for each control axis (Aileron, Elevator, Rudder) and for each flight mode (Stabilization, Auto-Level, Hover, etc.). These values determine the amount of correction the gyro applies to that specific surface.
• Master Gain (Channel 13 Pot): This is a single scaling factor that multiplies all the individual base gains simultaneously.
  • If you set your pot on Channel 13 to a value representing 100%, the receiver uses the individual gain values exactly as you set them in the configuration.
  • If you set the pot to 50%, the effective gain for every single channel/mode setting will be half (50%) of the base gain value you configured.
  • If you set the pot to 0%, the effective gain is zero, essentially disabling the gyro's stabilization function, regardless of what the individual settings are.

⚙️ Practical Application


The master gain is designed for quick, on-the-fly adjustment during flight testing, allowing you to fine-tune the overall "aggressiveness" of the gyro without having to land, connect to the Lua script, and change multiple individual settings.

1. Initial Setup: You set the base gains for Elevator, Aileron, and Rudder in the receiver configuration. For example, you might set the Elevator gain to 80% in your stabilization mode.
2. In-Flight Tuning: You assign a pot or slider on your transmitter to Channel 13.
3. Effect: If your pot is set to 50% on Channel 13, the effective Elevator gain becomes $80\% \times 50\% = 40\%$. If you move the pot to 100%, the effective Elevator gain becomes the full $80\%$.

This hierarchical system gives you both precision (individual gains for careful tuning) and flexibility (master gain for global adjustment).

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You can check out this video for a general guide on setting up gyro stabilization with a similar FrSky receiver and the Ethos system, which often shares similar gain structure logic. Setting up gyro stabilization in an FrSky SR10+ and X20S using Ethos - YouTube


A follow-up question on the same thread, treating my RC sub in water as a large Aircraft

Are there recommended initial base gain settings for large aircraft?

That is an excellent question, as the "right" initial gain is highly dependent on the size, speed, and design of your aircraft. While there is no single, universally perfect number, the general consensus for an initial base gain setting for a large, non-3D, standard aircraft (like a sport plane, warbird, or jet) is to start low and work your way up. Recommended Initial Base Gain Range


For the individual channel gains (Elevator, Aileron, Rudder) set in the TDSR10's configuration:

Control Surface	Recommended Initial Base Gain Range (via LUA/Config)	Rationale
Aileron (Roll)	30% - 40%	Roll is often the most sensitive axis and the first to show oscillation at high speed. Start conservative.
Elevator (Pitch)	35% - 45%	Pitch is usually less sensitive than roll, especially on larger, stable aircraft.
Rudder (Yaw)	40% - 50%	Rudder is often the least sensitive and can typically handle a slightly higher starting gain without oscillating.

Export to Sheets

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⚠️ Critical First-Flight Tuning Strategy


Remember that the goal is to find the maximum gain before oscillation for each axis. The fact that you have your master gain on Channel 13 is your biggest asset for this process.

1. Set Base Gains (Config): Set the initial values in the receiver's configuration (e.g., Aileron at 35%, Elevator at 40%, Rudder at 45%).
2. Set Master Gain (Channel 13 Pot): Before takeoff, set your Channel 13 pot to its minimum position (usually -100% or 0% output) to ensure the gyro is effectively off or at its lowest possible gain.
3. Takeoff and High-Speed Pass (Master Gain Low): Fly the plane and get it up to a safe altitude and a good cruising or high speed. Ensure the master gain is still low/off.
4. In-Flight Tuning (Increase Master Gain):
   • Switch to the Stabilization Mode.
   • Slowly turn the master gain pot up while maintaining high speed and level flight.
   • Watch the control surfaces (or the attitude of the plane) for oscillation (a rapid, uncontrolled twitching or fluttering).
   • If the plane starts to oscillate, immediately turn the master gain back down until the oscillation stops.
5. Finalize Base Gain: Land the aircraft. The maximum position your master gain pot reached without causing oscillation should be your new target.
   • If you found the sweet spot at, say, 80% on the pot, your effective gain was 40%×80%=32%.
   • If you had to lower the pot to 50% before oscillation stopped, your effective gain was 40%×50%=20%.

If you find that the plane oscillates even with the pot at a very low setting (like 20% of the base gain), it means your initial base gain in the receiver configuration is too high and needs to be lowered (e.g., from 40% down to 25%).

Key Rule: A fast plane requires lower gain; a slow, high-wing plane can often handle higher gain. Always tune for the fastest speed you intend to fly, as oscillation is worst at high speeds.

To aid in defining the answer, adjust questions, ask follow-up questions...but BE specific. Want to find that OEM Filter for your HVAC??? give it the Air Handlers model number.

In summery, like the abacus, electricity, Xacto knives, Roto-tools, Calculators, Computers etc. that have preceded it, it is a great tool, and just a tool. The answer is in knowing how to use said tool.

[QuarterMaster]

BTW, I use the TDSRxx onboard stabilization in Auto-Level mode for Pitch control as opposed to a separate APC like the AD2. Hence the Gyro question.

[Fishb0y]

ChatGPT is what finally helped me make sense of the FrSky controllers, including moving the stern planes to the slider while keeping stabilization intact. I also use it to clean up my emails and reports for work and school. I think of it like a calculator—only for writing. It helps me get my thoughts out, especially since I sometimes struggle to put what’s in my head onto paper.

[QuarterMaster]

ChatGPT is what finally helped me make sense of the FrSky controllers, including moving the stern planes to the slider while keeping stabilization intact. I also use it to clean up my emails and reports for work and school. I think of it like a calculator—only for writing. It helps me get my thoughts out, especially since I sometimes struggle to put what’s in my head onto paper.

Exactly my point....

I'm thinking over migrating over to Dessault Solidworks from Fusion 360 (I was originally trained on Solidworks), and I risk losing 5 years or so of layout. SO I asked the question BEFORE even hitting their website and avoid giving up my email for marketing just to ask if how to migrate over. Whether I do or not will now be based on fact and not assumption.

It's just a tool.

Can Dessault Solidworks read native Fusion 360 files?

No, Dassault SolidWorks cannot natively read Autodesk Fusion 360 design files (which typically use the *.f3d or *.f3z format).

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Interoperability and Workarounds


Since SolidWorks cannot directly open Fusion 360's native files, you must use an intermediate file format to transfer the geometry. This process is necessary for virtually all transfers between different major CAD programs.

The most common and recommended formats for transferring 3D solid and surface geometry are:

• STEP (*.stp or *.step): This is the most widely accepted and robust neutral file format for mechanical design. It is highly recommended.
• IGES (*.igs or *.iges): An older but still commonly used format.
• Parasolid (*.x_t): Since both SolidWorks and Fusion 360 use the Parasolid geometric modeling kernel, exporting to this format can sometimes offer better results, though the STEP format is typically the most universal and reliable.

⚠️ Loss of Design History


It is very important to note that when exporting from Fusion 360 to a neutral format like STEP or IGES, the parametric feature history (the timeline of sketches, extrudes, fillets, etc.) is lost.

• The file will import into SolidWorks as "dumb" solid geometry (just a collection of surfaces and solids).
• Your SolidWorks coworker would likely have to use direct editing commands (like moving or modifying faces) to make changes, rather than editing the original parametric features.

How to Export from Fusion 360 for SolidWorks

1. Open the design in Fusion 360.
2. Go to File > Export.
3. In the Export dialog, choose STEP Files (*.stp, *.step) as the file Type.
4. Specify the file Name and Location, then click Export.

Once exported, the resulting STEP file can be opened directly in SolidWorks.

This video shows a user successfully opening a SolidWorks file in Fusion 360, but the reverse process (Fusion to SolidWorks) involves using an intermediate file format like STEP.

SolidWorks to Autodesk Fusion | How easy is the switching process?? Can I migrate my data over?

[Fishb0y]

I love it! I'm tossing around ideas to build a camera platform. I asked my "digital assistant" to create some plans for R/P Flip and this is what I got:
Nice, H2S + water ballast is a killer combo for this.

Here’s a complete plan for a ~4 ft (≈1220 mm) simplified, functional FLIP-style model, broken into segments that fit your Bambu Lab H2S (340×320×340 mm build volume). Bambulab

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1. Overall design & scaling


Real FLIP:

• Length ≈ 355 ft / 108 m
• Max hull diameter ≈ 6–6.5 m Wikipedia+1

Your model:

• Target length ≈ 4 ft = 1220 mm
• Scale ≈ 1:90
• Hull diameter at scale ≈ 6.5 m / 90 ≈ 72 mm

Segments (for H2S build volume):

• 4 × hull segments, each ~305 mm long → total ≈ 1220 mm
  • Bow segment (A) – simple bow + tower mount
  • Mid segment 1 (B) – plain hull
  • Mid segment 2 (C) – plain hull
  • Stern ballast segment (D) – hollow water tank

Common parameters to use in CAD/OpenSCAD:

• seg_len = 305;
• hull_d = 72; // outer diameter
• wall = 2; // shell thickness
• spine_d = 10; // hole for a wooden dowel / carbon rod

I’d run a single 10 mm wooden dowel down the center as a spine for strength and straightness.

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2. Parametric model (OpenSCAD → STL)


If you’re ok using OpenSCAD, here’s a parametric script.
Workflow: paste this into OpenSCAD → uncomment one * line at the bottom at a time → F6 render → File → Export → STL for that part.
// R/P FLIP-inspired 4 ft model (simplified, modular, water ballast) // Scale ~1:90, sized for ~305mm segments & 72mm diameter. // Global quality $fn = 128; // Main parameters seg_len = 305; // length of each hull segment (mm) hull_d = 72; // outer hull diameter (mm) wall = 2; // hull wall thickness (mm) spine_d = 10; // center bore for alignment rod (mm) //------------- Basic hull segment (tube with spine bore) ------------- module hull_segment(len = seg_len) { difference() { // Solid cylinder hull cylinder(h = len, d = hull_d, center = false); // Axial bore for spine rod translate([0, 0, -1]) cylinder(h = len + 2, d = spine_d + 0.5, center = false); } } //------------- Bow segment with rounded tip ------------- module bow_segment() { union() { hull_segment(seg_len - hull_d/2); // rounded bow (hemisphere-ish) translate([0, 0, seg_len - hull_d/2]) sphere(d = hull_d); } } //------------- Stern ballast segment (sealed water tank) ------------- module ballast_segment() { // Outer shell minus inner cavity, plus spine bore difference() { // Shell (outer minus inner) difference() { cylinder(h = seg_len, d = hull_d, center = false); // outer translate([0, 0, wall]) cylinder(h = seg_len - 2*wall, d = hull_d - 2*wall, center = false); // inner } // Spine bore through full length translate([0, 0, -1]) cylinder(h = seg_len + 2, d = spine_d + 0.5, center = false); } } //------------- Simple tower / forward superstructure ------------- module tower() { // Base “deck” that glues onto the bow segment deck_len = 80; deck_w = 40; deck_t = 4; union() { // Deck translate([-deck_w/2, -deck_w/2, 0]) cube([deck_w, deck_w, deck_t], center = false); // Main tower mast translate([0, 0, deck_t]) cylinder(h = 80, d = 10, center = false); // Side boom (hint of FLIP’s long boom) translate([0, deck_w/2, deck_t + 30]) rotate([0, 0, 0]) cube([80, 4, 4], center = true); } } //------------- Simple cradle stand (for horizontal display) ------------- module cradle() { // U-shaped cradle that matches hull_d cradle_thick = 8; cradle_w = hull_d + 10; cradle_h = hull_d/2 + 20; base_len = 80; difference() { // Block translate([-base_len/2, -cradle_w/2, 0]) cube([base_len, cradle_w, cradle_h], center = false); // Cylindrical cut-out for hull translate([0, 0, cradle_h - hull_d/2]) rotate([90, 0, 0]) cylinder(h = cradle_w + 2, d = hull_d + 2, center = true); } } //------------- Preview full assembly (for checking fit) ------------- module assembly_preview() { translate([0, 0, 0]) bow_segment(); translate([0, 0, seg_len]) hull_segment(); translate([0, 0, 2*seg_len]) hull_segment(); translate([0, 0, 3*seg_len]) ballast_segment(); } // === CHOOSE WHAT TO EXPORT === // Uncomment ONE line at a time, render (F6), then export as STL. // bow_segment(); // hull_segment(); // use twice for mid segments B & C // ballast_segment(); // tower(); // cradle(); // assembly_preview(); // just for visual check – don't export How to get STLs

1. Open OpenSCAD (free, cross-platform).
2. Paste the code above.
3. Uncomment bow_segment(); → F6 → File → Export → STL → bow_segment.stl.
4. Repeat for:
   • hull_segment(); → export as mid_segment.stl (print two copies)
   • ballast_segment(); → export as stern_ballast.stl
   • tower(); → optional tower.stl
   • cradle(); → cradle.stl

Now you’ve got all the STLs you asked for, sized for a 4-ft assembly.

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3. Printing on the Bambu H2S


Material:

• For water use: PETG or ASA is safer. PLA can work but may soften in hot sun.
• Nozzle: standard 0.4 mm is fine.

General settings (per segment):

• Layer height: 0.2 mm
• Walls/perimeters: 4
• Top/bottom layers: 5–6
• Infill:
  • Bow & mid segments: 15–25% gyroid or cubic
  • Stern ballast shell: you actually want the shell, not solid – the OpenSCAD model already creates a thin-walled cavity. Set infill low (0–10%) just for internal stiffening.

Orientation:

• Easiest: print segments standing upright (cylinder axis vertical):
  • Better circularity
  • No supports needed for the sides
• For the bow, some supports will be required under the rounded tip.

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4. Water-ballast “F1” system


The stern segment (ballast_segment) is a sealed shell with:

• 2 mm wall
• Internal cavity running almost the full length
• Center bore for the dowel

Creating the fill/drain port


After printing:

1. Drill a 5–6 mm hole near the very aft end, on the side or end cap.
2. Use:
   • A silicone plug or
   • A short piece of snug silicone tube with a small printed cap
3. Optionally brush the outside with thin epoxy or clear coat to help with watertightness.

Assembly & ballast tuning

1. Slide a 10 mm wooden dowel or carbon tube through all four segments.
2. Dry-fit first to check alignment, then epoxy the joints (avoid gluing the dowel inside the ballast cavity area if you want to tweak later).
3. To flip in water:
   • Place the model horizontally in a tub/pool.
   • Submerge the stern so the ballast fills.
   • When you gently let go, the center of mass should shift aft and down, and the model should want to sit much more vertically.
4. If it’s not “flippy” enough:
   • Add a few stainless bolts or lead shot inside the ballast segment (through the fill hole), then seal again.
   • You want the stern to be significantly heavier than the bow.

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5. Little FLIP details you can add later


Once you’ve proven the flip behavior works, you can layer on more “FLIP-ness”:

• Extra short side cylinders as outriggers/struts
• Antenna masts and platforms on the tower
• A more detailed boom

All of those can just be more small cylinders and cubes in the same OpenSCAD file.

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If you’d like, next step I can:

• Tweak the code for a different length or diameter, or
• Add bolt holes for mechanical fasteners instead of just glue.

[Subculture]

I think it's a very useful tool for technical and engineering questions. It is helpful to have a decent underpinning knowledge, because they're all capable of chucking out some nebulous answers sometimes.

I find Grok and Gemini are best for technical stuff, ChatGpt seems to be a bit more strange.