May '25 Update

Hi guys, it's time for an overdue update on what I'm up to.

Short term I have an alternate case design for the SSR1 on the way, longer term I have a rather unique multi-axis device getting close to a first prototype.

SSR1 Beta was designed to be simple and uncomplicated, a significant improvement on the Alpha design. It's a device that's intended to be used hands free with a mount of some kind. However, something that I have intended from the beginning has been to design an alternate case for handheld use. That is, an alternate case base, case cover and fan housing that can be used without changing any of the other parts.

As well as providing a viable option for people wanting to use the device in places where a mount is not available, I also have some ideas for an autonomous mode for the device that will depend on it not being fixed in place. I'll share more on that as and when I get to work on it. I have always been bitterly disappointed with the lack of imagination shown by the automatic modes on commercial toys and I'd like to demonstrate just what can be done with just a tiny bit of original thought.

The other device that I mentioned above is a pre-prototype concept I have been developing. I get a lot of requests for a twist mechanism for SSR1 and I've been putting it off because I haven't really come up with an elegant way of doing it. This is not as module for SSR1 this is a whole new machine. If the prototype works as intended I will probably share the design as an Alpha. SSR2 Alpha? Maybe I'll call it that.

I have a summer holiday coming up and it is my intention to get the new SSR1 case out on 1st June before I go. This will be on the Maker ($8) tier.

For my Supporter ($2) tier I have not had a good opportunity this month to do a livestream so I'm going to make sure I get a couple scheduled once we're into June. I wanted to demo the new case this evening but it still needs work and the parts take a while to print!

I'm quite pleased to say that my Benefactors ($16 tier) newsletter is up to date at this point! Being a Benefactor has the perk that you get to see my regular posts about what I'm working on in real time on Discord, and of course each month I put out a 3,000 word write up, sharing my deeper thoughts and an insight into my workflow.

That's it for now. Happy building!

Tempest.