Ari [APz] Sovijärvi

https://some.apz.fi/@apzpins

A pinball addict. I tend to enjoy working on pins as much as playing them! Owner of Hopeakuula Arcade, apzpins on Twitch and YouTube. Also: cats! 🇫🇮

This account is all about casual and tournament playing, streaming, restoring, repairing and owning pinball. I also repair all kinds of stuff and do plenty of 3D printing. Other casual nostalgia and retro stuff might also sneak in. Feel free to ask me stuff.

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/apzpins/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@apzpins
Pronouns: He/him
Hopeakuula Arcade: https://pelitaivas.fi/ha/eng

Public Key

npub1hzy4v5a5zxtc5xd6sse5hw3c7a3nt9ue37x42nl7skyfhe9jg0msyxwwp4

NIP-05 Address

apzpins_at_some.apz.fi@momostr.pink

Profile Code

nprofile1qqst3z2k2w6pr9u2rxaggv6thgu0wce4j7vclr24fllgtzymujey8acpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0dss2sj9y

Publishing to

relay.damus.io

nos.lol

Author Public Key

npub1hzy4v5a5zxtc5xd6sse5hw3c7a3nt9ue37x42nl7skyfhe9jg0msyxwwp4

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Last Notes

2026-06-07 16:08:54 UTC

Music video shooting day at the arcade, the lighting looks neat with the crew's smoke machine. #pinball
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/709/687/253/715/384/original/03815109dcd94d6b.png

2026-06-05 22:42:53 UTC

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I wonder if they produce different version for export, because this one here has pure sugar in it. I always try to check the ingredients as most artificial sweeteners taste like ass to me. This one promised just sugar.

2026-06-05 22:36:42 UTC

It's Friday so only the stiffest of drinks, please!
This one I actually knew earlier. If you've been following me trying out weird sodas, you've probably guessed I'll always sample the local goodies when I'm on the road. This one I found when investigating Glasgow, glad that it's nowdays imported here too.
The taste is really hard to describe. Back in the early 80s we'd visit the local market (remember those?! People actually setting up tents and selling anything from potatoes to kitchen ware) and there was a guy selling raffle tickets. With every ticket he'd give you a wrapped candy and he always had weird, undefined fruit flavored ones. This tastes exactly like that, like doing some kind of an overload of mixing every possible fruit candy and then making soda out of it. I definitely like this one in all of its oddness.
#soda
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/699/860/412/806/743/original/57ea31e1dedcda6a.jpeg

2026-05-19 20:24:53 UTC

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Fortunately they snapped out of it and started to think about things that really matter in life. Like making more money.

2026-05-19 12:00:00 UTC

Oh, lovely. #Kickstarter has jumped the "we don't want objectionable PORN material on our platform" bandwagon. Can't wait until they start classifying more and more stuff into that category. #censorship

2026-05-10 12:29:46 UTC

Another Jarritos today, the mandarin variant this time.
This reminds me of Fanta back in the 80s. The very first Fanta I had was mandarin, I believe that was in Spain. They later had that in Finland too and I was really bummed when they phased it out and the orange version took over.
But at least I can have this. It's good, as all Jarritos sodas have been.
#soda
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/550/272/086/497/037/original/0c722a5495107381.jpeg

2026-05-08 23:14:34 UTC

The long cat is long.
#cat #cats #caturday
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/541/491/160/567/427/original/7d0be5d83467a063.jpeg

2026-05-08 15:52:37 UTC

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This was in Borås. The price list just had hamburger, there was bit of a language barrier as the older employee didn't speak English and this is what I got.
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/539/754/403/590/227/original/a1ba910a060e65b2.png

2026-05-08 14:02:41 UTC

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In the US I was served "burger and chips" which I assumed to be french fries with the burger. Nope, potato chips.
Then in a Swedish street kitchen I discovered a "hamburger" which was just the patty with a side of mashed potatoes. I was unsure at first that I got the right order but the locals told me I was supposed to ask for a hamburger with a bun. 🤷

2026-05-04 16:23:43 UTC

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Personal observation from my days as IT manager: everyone not in IT department, apparently.
The accountant? Absolutely. Workfloor manager? Totally. CEO? Without a doubt. A random person on the factory floor to whom a scammer called? Sure! Sounds legit!

2026-05-04 11:52:50 UTC

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Yeah, I have a Mitutoyo as the "real" thing. This hacked one is a no-name crap I picked up from a local car parts store.

2026-05-04 11:45:44 UTC

Laugh if you want, but I got sick and tired of this thing always either being out of battery or the battery contacts being flaky. This is a the cheapo caliber I use at home, I have a proper one at the arcade. #hacks
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/516/133/798/992/821/original/f1eb2431302b28f2.mp4

2026-05-03 00:45:25 UTC

Here's Sanpellegrino's Melograno & Arancia, or pomegranate and orange soda.
I had not seen this one before and I think this is 4th flavor of their sodas I've encountered.
Not sure if I've ever tried pomegranates as is, but this is pretty brisk tasting thing, the others were a lot more tamer. While not bad at all, I think the three others I've tried are better than this one.
#soda
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/507/854/721/103/913/original/08963557211b211a.jpeg

2026-05-02 21:14:35 UTC

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After digging through the release notes, it wasn't just in my head. The new firmware gives it about 20% speed boost.

2026-05-02 21:03:42 UTC

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The firmware that supports Octoprint protocol can be downloaded from here:
https://forum.snapmaker.com/t/snapmaker-2-0-firmware-updates-and-downloads/5443
You need V1.21.0 or newer.
Note that they also have a public beta of the 2.x series software that also has the Octoprint feature, but also some major changes that require recalibration of basically everything. This 1.21.0 just adds the Octoprint and some non-destructive fixes.

2026-05-02 20:01:38 UTC

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The outcome was an intact Benchy but I found something extremely odd about it. It doesn't have that slight layer shift that the machine has had since the beginning. I'm starting to wonder if Cura was somehow misconfigured or just not optimal for this machibe.
The most noticeable difference are the fast moves. Snapmaker Luban generated G-code makes sudden stops, what Orca generates audibly ramps down the speed just before changing direction. The quality difference is noticeable. It's almost like this thing was reborn in both, speed and quality-wise.
From this brief experience I can already wholeheartedly recommend ditching Luban, flashing the beta with Octoprint support and moving to vanilla Orca.
#snapmaker
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/506/759/399/495/637/original/ff0c24655f0ac23b.png

2026-05-02 17:32:13 UTC

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It also did print head repositions noticeably faster than I have ever seen. Plus the Orca is about 100x nicer than Luban. Curious to see the print outcome.

2026-05-02 13:56:34 UTC

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Here's we go! Set sails for ... not fail.
The Snapmaker sounds really different somehow when printing non-Cura G-code. I could swear it's also faster. A lot faster.
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/505/313/677/104/700/original/2f301fe7129ba93d.mp4

2026-05-02 13:51:20 UTC

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Everything looks good in vanilla Orca's interface, extruders and all seem to be in order. Since it's summer and boating season, let's make us a ride.
The 1:1 Benchy looks a bit lonely on the A350's huge print bed.
#orca #snapmaker
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/505/299/078/467/156/original/678872df6ca59903.jpg

2026-05-02 13:47:58 UTC

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Orca's device-tab for the thing has a very Chinese and barebones vibe, but I don't mind.
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/505/280/543/179/098/original/b788a553debcafd5.jpg

2026-05-02 13:29:07 UTC

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I poked around in the Snapmaker-Orca and it was a horrible steaming pile of shit. Just what you'd expect when a company takes an open source product and tries to make a "value added" version. It just adds their stupid, worthless model store which ironically causes it to crash at random in the start screen.
So I just added that onto the Mariana trench list and tried what happens with the plain Orca that has served me well so far with the Flsun (while that lasted).
...and:
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/505/215/702/297/158/original/83e7ea12c991680c.jpg

2026-05-02 13:19:58 UTC

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I wonder if some childhood "please-please-please-don't-be-dud" chant would help?
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/505/180/334/895/311/original/3cab9029935f3a0e.png

2026-05-02 12:36:40 UTC

Oh my god, Snapmaker has released a beta firmware for the 2.0 series that has integrated Octoprint protocol emulation. Since the beginning they have insisted on their proprietary protocol, which has tied the users to their proprietary slicer, Luban. Luban again is a 3-in-1 3D print slicer-CNC carving-Lasering suite that is equally bad at all three, especially in 3D printing.
They have also bastardised Orca with their own horse shit additions and made it work with their latest models, but since Octo is supported, I can hopefully switch to vanilla Orca.
If it works, I'm going to charter a ship, find the exact spot of the Mariana trench and drop Snapmaker Luban in there, encased in concrete.
#3dprinting #snapmaker

2026-05-02 12:10:31 UTC

Next up in leveling up my #kicad skills: learning to make a BOM and actually order something populated from JCL or PCBWay.

2026-05-02 01:02:26 UTC

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I remember standing there between the water intake towers and and wondering how the rock walls were still showing where the water level had been in the past.

2026-05-01 23:12:16 UTC

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That's his patented face plant sleeping pose. #cat #cats
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/501/844/191/203/332/original/9ff2940ff7c5f111.png

2026-05-01 16:26:25 UTC

A local favorite today! Hartwall has a traditional line of sodas, the locally probably best known being the first of the series, the apple lemonade. They later added other flavors, including this pear one. It's pretty sweet, but also really good.
#soda
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/500/242/175/307/592/original/c708d52c102d3b5c.jpeg

2026-05-01 16:17:20 UTC

This is one of his subtle hints that he wants some lap time.
#cat #cats
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/500/212/940/324/075/original/db9dfa0e37729037.jpeg

2026-05-01 11:52:20 UTC

Finally got around to order a spool of PVA. Curious to see how good the print surface looks when it's printed directly onto the water soluble support.

2026-05-01 10:42:37 UTC

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Do you know if sharing the 4 files, .kicad_{pcb,prl,pro,sch} in a similarly named directory is a workable solution or do people export them into more universal format usually? I've done some projects in KiCAD but only for myself.

2026-05-01 10:13:33 UTC

Let's say I want to share something I've done with #kicad, what's the most useful way if we're talking about a piece for hobbyists that aren't necessarily familiar with KiCAD but want to make their own copies of the thing in PCB fabbers?
Just zip up the gerbers or something else?
#electronics

2026-05-01 01:39:27 UTC

I swear the most common #pinball related interaction with non-hobbyists goes like this:
Them: Hey, can you tell me what pinball machine this is? (Shows picture)
Me: (Reads the title from the backglass)
Them: Wow, you really know your stuff.

2026-05-01 00:26:11 UTC

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It was supposed to rotate, but they removed the motor after the prototype. They however left its control in the software.
If you put the motor back in the game and add an opto switch for the home position, you can enable the head movement and it will move during gameplay.
I just had to add the mechanism after I found the lost manual page for them.

2026-04-30 23:54:32 UTC

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I mean if you have to drink this as a cure for that, I'd just opt for celibacy.

2026-04-30 23:33:38 UTC

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This stuff tasted nothing like any root beer I've tried and I've tried quite a few. It's very hard to describe the taste, as it begins and ends as whole different thing. It's almost like drinking some soda after a breath mint but then just goes weird, almost stale.

2026-04-30 23:01:24 UTC

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Plenty of weird stuff out there in the world. You'll always learn something when you venture beyond your own neighborhood! This is one example.

2026-04-30 22:50:28 UTC

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This tasted nothing like any root beer I've tried. It was just plain weird.

2026-04-30 21:22:40 UTC

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Doctor Who was supposed to have the old Bally style cabinet, where the speakers are at the top and the display is seen through the backglass. Some of the prototypes were like that. The production version however used Williams style cabinet and that piece that sita between the speakers was left over.

2026-04-30 21:12:15 UTC

This is Fanta Hướng Xa Xỉ, a Vietnam exclusive flavor. It's supposed to taste of sarsaparilla, whatever that is.
The taste begins with aniseed, quite strong one at that. But then it goes all weird in a wrong way and just tastes like ass. I love sampling these country specific sodas, but this is definitely not going to my short list of weird but good sodas.
#soda
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/495/708/987/357/137/original/7c856b3e48ff548c.png

2026-04-30 21:04:18 UTC

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...or:
#doctorwho
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/495/680/829/738/325/original/e6fcde0dde35c38b.mp4

2026-04-30 19:40:49 UTC

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What can I say? #success
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/495/352/908/203/661/original/518c07dea825c3f7.mp4

2026-04-30 19:33:21 UTC

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Well dang! The whole PCB project worked on the first try!
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/495/323/411/908/265/original/8f696a4955890d66.mp4

2026-04-30 19:22:21 UTC

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Here goes the phototransistor side. I can't believe I got away with one board for both sides, while the originals are unique. If I ever make a second batch, I'll just order the same thing in blue and green.
They can be told apart from the parts, the LEDs are clear and phototransistors almost opaque.
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/495/277/876/452/309/original/d52282c1e8dcc6f2.png

2026-04-30 18:38:11 UTC

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The best part? It actually works! #repair
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/495/107/211/600/058/original/09bb31315aa7f417.mp4

2026-04-30 18:20:52 UTC

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I assembled the first LED board. Works fine in switch test! Next up: the phototransistor side. #repair #electronics
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/495/035/408/719/231/original/b957bdf23ac1ea41.png

2026-04-30 13:29:00 UTC

My Doctor Who DIY mini playfield target project progresses! Today I got the PCBs from PCBWay and at a glance they look right. I'll be assembling one hopefully this weekend.
And look, they even come with instructions!
#pinball #repair #Kicad
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/493/889/377/855/204/original/0a1ad1d5605723af.png
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/493/889/491/817/340/original/5bdf5ac5a318879a.png

2026-04-29 22:46:46 UTC

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The game sure uses glow-like effect, but it's all the UV lamp's doings and the effect instantly disappears when the lamp goes off.
There's also a problem with the plastic coated balls; they pick up dirt from the playfield and the pretty fluorescent yellow surface is soon more of less black. This again is less fun when the game is otherwise all dark save the UV tube.
But a very well cleaned Viper Night Drivin' in a dark room is a pretty sight.

2026-04-29 22:40:36 UTC

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That game uses UV tubes and special plastic coated balls that react to it.
They look something like this:
https://pu-parts.com/pinball-glo-ball-yellow

2026-04-29 22:06:20 UTC

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Yes, as with all glow in the dark filaments. I murdered one brass nozzle with just couple of tiny prints with the eSun's glow in the dark stuff I have. On the other hand, the hardened Prusa nozzle cost like 25€, so it didn't exactly break the bank and I haven't had any negative effects from just leaving it on and using it like a brass one.

2026-04-29 21:28:52 UTC

Got some filament samples to play with. This is Glow Galaxy and as the name implies, it's a glow in the dark filament, except it's mostly transparent with glowing glitter inside. It comes in many colors, I got blue and green. Can't wait to make something stupid out of it! #3dprinting #filament
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/490/111/237/128/607/original/2dbcd44dcf03b761.png

2026-04-29 21:21:25 UTC

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Lap cat activated. Also featured: a murder mitten!
#cats #cat
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/490/086/286/161/110/original/e1c7fbf786bbbb0b.png

2026-04-29 21:17:12 UTC

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This seems like an interesting channel too, I'll be sure to check it out. Thanks!

2026-04-29 16:36:59 UTC

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I went nuts there, almost sugar OD'ing with all the weird and new stuff I found. Most notable cultural thing were soda colors. A mystery green soda? Here's it's pear or apple. There it was water melon. That was on tap in a lot of burger places. Then there were a lot of other odd options, like cakes in a soda can.

2026-04-29 16:25:25 UTC

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Their Asian lineup is pretty weeaboo-spirited anyway and save the "cool" looking labels, bear no resemblance to actual Japanese or Korean soda flavors.

2026-04-29 13:18:43 UTC

Lap cat status: available
#cat #cats #catsoffediverse
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/488/185/519/270/025/original/4750dedcc364a458.png
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/488/185/612/576/821/original/389586600de785ca.png

2026-04-29 13:12:12 UTC

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Me neither.

2026-04-29 13:05:21 UTC

Another Acr drink from their Asian-style drink selection. This time it's their black cherry ice. Reading the label, I came expecting it to taste like cherries, which it did remotely, but I swear I could taste something else too, so I read the ingredients list carefully. It's actually carrot juice (!) with cherry and apple flavors added. I don't know how to feel about it. It has the same issue as with the mystery flavor, tasting somehow watered down.
Curiously translating the label results in "Fresh blueberry". Blueberry this is not, trust me, I'm an expert on blueberries.
#soda
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/488/079/300/890/067/original/bce50ec10f85e472.jpeg

2026-04-29 10:22:44 UTC

I've been using FreeCAD for quite a while now and can make basic and intermediate level models for 3D printing and CNC'ing, but still every time I watch Mang0Jelly's videos, even the very basic ones, I learn some insanely handy trick or tool that I wasn't aware of.
If you haven't found these already, have a look:
https://www.youtube.com/@MangoJellySolutions
#freecad #learning #cad

2026-04-29 00:50:51 UTC

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I deliver.

2026-04-29 00:03:13 UTC

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I was hoping for that, as they made one-off licorice long drink last summer. I also have the licorice vodka always at hand!
But alas, this was not it. It was just the taste of mystery. A disappointing one at that.

2026-04-28 14:33:11 UTC

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Those are words to live by.

2026-04-28 10:17:47 UTC

This is Acr's Black Gazoz. I have absolutely no clue what this is supposed to taste like. It's like someone took a generic lolly pop taste and diluted it with Sprite. I had to look up what it was supposed to be and the manufacturer calls the taste mysterious. I have never licked anything mysterious before, so I can't be certain if mysterious is supposed to taste like this. I think I liked their Strawberry soda with the cool transparent can more. #soda
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/481/814/981/498/332/original/1d697b0958a17d01.png

2026-04-27 23:12:26 UTC

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That sounds wrong in so many ways, yet so right.
Then again, I once found soft ice with chocolate tasting soda which was the weirdest thing in a long time.

2026-04-27 22:55:45 UTC

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To be honest, the other variants' colors look a lot more attractive than this.

2026-04-27 20:57:13 UTC

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It wildly varies from brand to brand how they are. Some are brewed and those are generally mediocre, the good stuff was done with grapefruit lemonade and gin.
The typical DIY here is the Jaffa branded grapefruit lemonade and Beefeater.

2026-04-27 20:55:08 UTC

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Dude I'm telling you, it'll be just fine after you paint it!
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/478/658/993/180/847/original/c6d5418cff8549b9.png

2026-04-27 20:18:25 UTC

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It was skillfully spray painted black to hide the crime.

2026-04-27 20:06:55 UTC

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If you refer to the Finnish premixed beverages, those come in a lot of flavors these days, grapefruit being the original, made for for the '52 olympics in Helsinki.

2026-04-27 19:50:14 UTC

I had stashed this long ago as a backup lockdown bar. I remembered I had one horrible spare, but this went above and beyond. #pinball #welding
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/478/398/457/591/757/original/2932c48cdbfdbfdd.png
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/478/398/556/991/719/original/0494b5d12dbff8c6.png

2026-04-27 18:27:05 UTC

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The sweetness seems to vary a lot between the flavors, or them some just have more bitter taste to begin with. All in all, pretty decent line of lemonades and they even work with a hint of vodka poured in.

2026-04-27 18:15:47 UTC

This is Calypso's Island wave lemonade. Pretty sweet but not over the top. Can't quite put my finger on what fruit it tastes like. If I'd have to guess, I'd say all of them. #soda
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/478/010/830/197/543/original/b1455d4725ecb1cf.png

2026-04-26 20:50:27 UTC

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In general, a lot of drive by commentary on Youtube and to be honest on most social media sites is just pure cancer. I swear a lot of them start their day by thinking what's the shittiest way they could interact with other people.

2026-04-26 13:59:05 UTC

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Ain't that a life lesson right there. Poor kid.

2026-04-26 13:49:21 UTC

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It has added sugar, but less than in a average soda.

2026-04-26 13:37:47 UTC

Continuing to sample the Sanpellegrino line of fruit sodas, here's their Pompelpo that I was recommended in a previous post. According to the ingredients list it is grapefruit. Again, nice genuine fruit taste with no nonsense crap added. Excellent stuff! #soda
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/471/272/980/715/563/original/20165d817b7fb0d8.png

2026-04-26 11:37:02 UTC

Our arcade was open yesterday for our monthly Saturday event. The day's fun anecdote was a mom and her probably 6-7 years old boy. They were playing the games in some kind of a in-family tournament and they were on Stern James Bond when I was loading the diswhasher nearby.
The mom played a full game and got 6.3 million on the game. That was pretty impressive, as I can't even begin to understand how you can score that amount in a game that scores in billions and basically every major shot starts something that has tens of millions per shot lit.
The kid played next, plunged the ball, made the skillshot and within first seconds already had 13 million on the screen. The mom just went nuts, starting to explain how the machine was "all messed up" and how it was obviously faulty. I left the scene at that point, but when they were leaving, the mom was still explaining how there must've been serious faults in the game, especially when the game for no apparent reason gave the kid 3 balls to play and she didn't see that on her own game.
I've seen sore losers but that's a whole new level. The kid was over the moon as it was probably the only game where he beat his mommy. #pinball #arcade

2026-04-26 11:25:23 UTC

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By afternoon it was melting away again. I hope that was it for the snow for now.
Didn't expect to dig the car out of the snow one more time.
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/470/753/771/699/452/original/a67ff7b96d5f2b5f.png

2026-04-26 10:25:36 UTC

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I had heard of some X-Com -like games, but this was new to me. I will be definitely checking it out!

2026-04-26 03:12:06 UTC

Winter, round 2. The view changed overnight from green to white. #spring
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/468/814/055/673/491/original/21034242b8125155.png

2026-04-25 22:14:59 UTC

It happens to be best of us.
#3dprinting #fail #snapmaker
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/467/645/909/042/786/original/71eb3d25fed1aac5.jpeg

2026-04-25 22:03:04 UTC

I wonder if I'm like the only person out there who back in the 90s loved X-Com: Terror from the deep?
A lot of people say it's just a lazy asset swap, which it in some places is, but I always found the underwater exploration more ominous and curious than the land based first games in the series. Naturally I've finished both several times.
I only learned that people had hated the second game when the current era X-Com remake came out and I wondered if they'd make a similar sequel to it as the original.
#xcom

2026-04-25 19:28:46 UTC

Summer was overrated anyway. #spring
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/466/993/936/120/732/original/c190eabca73dbeef.mp4

2026-04-25 18:30:34 UTC

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The outcome is actually faster to load than the original simple holder. Just put the spool center piece in the spool and drop it in place. The big center piece prevents any unwanted movement and the filament feed is now butter smooth! I didn't even need extra parts, I reused the bearings that were at the bottom of the case. I believe they had originally intended to get away with just the cylindrical piece, but that caused rocking motion which again made the spool hit the box sides. They had then added 2 small rollers at the bottom to try to prevent that. Now those are reused in a lot better working design.
#3dprinting #mods
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2026-04-25 18:25:45 UTC

The box's inside was a bit more complex than I would've liked, but I eventually managed to come up with a bracket with #freecad that just drops into the existing grooves and locks in. The bracket has a V-shaped slot on top.
There's a spool that just fits a filament spool and has ball bearings in it. At the ends we have two square pieces, that slot onto the bracket when the spool is lowered into the box.
#3dprinting
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2026-04-25 18:15:18 UTC

This week's #freecadfriday project, the first working prints finished today.
I use Polymaker's Polydryer boxes, that are silica gel boxes that can be just dropped onto their dryer machine without taking the spool out. While it's a decent product, the spool hub has annoyed me for a long time about them. There's just this plastic cylinder that goes there and while it's passable with plastic filament spools, it introduces noticeable drag on the cardboard ones that most of mine are these days.
I set out to find a way to modify them to get rid of this nasty misfeature.
#3dprinting
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2026-04-25 16:59:09 UTC

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That is one very majestic feline!

2026-04-24 16:44:08 UTC

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AI tech bro is salivating on it.

2026-04-24 01:42:27 UTC

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I've replaced almost all of the classic games' displays with LED repros. This way I can get rid of the high voltage part in the power supplies that's rotting away anyway. Besides, the display glasses themselves are really starting to get expensive as new old stock ones are reaching their end of shelf life aswell.

2026-04-24 01:31:45 UTC

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Most of the issues are pretty obvious by just moving the mechanism by hand. If the glass if off for any reason, I'll usually check the flippers almost unconsciously.
Just grab the flipper and wiggle it sideways, that'll instantly reveal any play in the bushing.
Worn out link can be tested by stopping the plunger with a finger and then wiggling the flipper bat among its normal path. Any play will be very visible when looking at it from below.
For most problems I don't have to open the machine, I can just feel it when playing and diagnosing by playing is how I catch most of these cases.
Space station has high current end of stroke switch, which needs to be filed clean every now and then. There's always a bit of arcing at the moment when it opens and since the high power side of the coil gets its power over that, issues with the switch will make the whole thing feel tired. Flipper button switches are another place that needs periodic filing.
That and replacing the wear parts should restore their strength.

2026-04-24 01:04:57 UTC

Midnight cat roll
#cat #cats
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2026-04-24 00:38:45 UTC

The flipper mechanism is probably the most used moving part in a pinball machine. It being in a good shape is important, as a lot of things can be wrong in a pinball machine while it's still somewhat playable, but bad flippers just kill the whole game.
Fortunate for the maintenance point of view, everything is relatively easy to replace and these parts are widely available even for older machines. In some cases little creativity can be used to retrofit newer parts in older games.
A lot of the parts are manufacturer or even platform specific, but since almost everyone uses the same plunger diameter, the coil sleeves for example are truly universal if you get the kind that you cut yourself to correct length.
Parts sellers also often sell these as kits, so everything needed gets replaced at the same time.
A rebuilt flipper mechanism will serve years and makes the game feel like it was new again!
#pinball #repair #retrotech #arcade
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2026-04-23 23:25:19 UTC

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I was not quite sure what would I see before the media loaded but yeah, that's a substantial one and in two colors too!

2026-04-23 20:33:27 UTC

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The tiny #Prusa Mini+ has been a lot more capable than I originally anticipated. I got for cranking out quick and dirty prototypes while the big and slow Snapmaker was doing its thing. The Mini's print quality is very decent, something that could go into final products as well, so I've been testing the Mini for some end product materials too, like ASA and PA. Much to my surprise it has handled those like a champ, but obviously there's bit of a lack of enclosure issue here.
We thought about it for a while and it wasn't that much of a problem after all. Walls got added to the shelf and I'm going to make sliding doors out of transparent polycarbonate. I'll make a shim out of polystyrene or something, so the compartment is sealed with the brick wall being the actual back wall. I can then went that space outside with some air duct + fan.
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/455/918/488/677/263/original/13fa97ec016518b1.jpeg

2026-04-23 20:19:17 UTC

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I reinforced the the shelf where the small printers live. Some plywood, which I glued with Sikaflex and some screws. Now the slight wobble from the shelf material is gone.
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2026-04-23 20:15:38 UTC

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One of the major things I've been wanting to do is to turn this general junk pile shelf into a 3D printing material storage. I originally planted the Prusa Mini there and it fit there like a glove.
There's however several things I could see improved here and this was a good spot to do some upgrades.
The shelf is probably from the late 70s, so it's heavy and sturdy as hell, but I printed 4 brackets out of PA and bolted the shelf onto the brick wall with them. It was already stable, now it's really, REALLY stable!
https://some.apz.fi/system/media_attachments/files/116/455/847/271/529/460/original/5aca0b4f633b5d1f.jpg

2026-04-23 19:59:58 UTC

Now that the Mars Trek is out of the way, I have finally time to play some workshop rearranging tetris and get the 3D printing corner in order.
Here's the current setup:
- Snapmaker A350 with dual extruder mod
- Prusa MK4S with MMU3
- Prusa Mini+
- Flsun S1
A lot gets done in this part of the shop!
#3dprinting #workshop
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2026-04-23 19:11:27 UTC

Found the enemy! It was hiding under all the junk in my drawer!
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2026-04-23 18:22:23 UTC

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You may also connect with more people as AFAIK a lot of instance admins have shitlisted the .social for never ending scams and spam.

2026-04-23 15:36:44 UTC

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Weird how much these differ depending who's making them under a license.
Many years ago Coca-Cola went to another brewery brand here and the outcome was noticeably different. Ditto with imported ones. A friend brough some from Russia back in the 90s, it was way sweeter than ours.

2026-04-23 15:06:50 UTC

Work my children, work! #3dprinting
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