Ditto - I laid down a couple of sketches, bit the bullet - ran off (uninformed) to eBay and started buying stuff (even got some things that worked in the "plan").
Stuff started showing up at the door and --Then I got to try and figure it out - sculpting not planning I guess. Hobbiest - I agree - - Isn't this the soul of INVENTION - trial and error?
The only thing I think I got real right was looking a bit ahead and trying to make the second/third systems out of the stuff I have - rather than a total restart. And maybe I was lucky - and maybe not - time will tell - better informed decision making would save some "experience" and $$$$
Sorry, I stray from the facts and move to the philosophy. Hobbiest, your comments struck a chord - how/where can a newbie get all they "really" need to know quickly, and clearly, and at a level of detail they can deal with? We have a lot of experience and info, we just need to organize and present it - and wow!
Phil - again you're spot on - all mine (HD) gets to is 5/8". My next may use the recycled (rods) from lexmark printers and scanners I scored yesterday - but what are those 2 wire motors? Just flip/flop dc that drive the printheads back&forth? But then, 4 wires on the paper drives - interesting....
Experience is the BEST Teacher. Is that why it usually arrives in a shower of sparks, flash of light, loud bang, a cloud of smoke, AND -- a BILL to pay? You usually get it -- just after you need it.