You don’t have to be a coder to be a DIY kind of guy. You can even use something as simple as Java or Swift to get your projects up and running. But sometimes, things don’t go as planned no matter how many times you debug. Those are the times when the Swift hits the fan and the project comes to a grinding halt. That is when you hear the voice of Luke Skywalker pushing you to stop running around in circles and just use the force. You roll up your sleeves and that is when the magic begins.
Electronic tinkering is for people of all skill levels. Here are a few projects that reflect different skill levels:
Let’s start with the highest level and work backward from there.
If you are into bio-preservation, you are going to need one of those nitrogen freezers. These are a few of the uses for this kind of equipment:
This method of freezing is referred to as cryopreservation and applies to a range of fields that include cryosurgery, food sciences, ecology, plant physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, and cryopreservation of cells and organs. There are also many medical applications such as blood transfusions, bone marrow transplantation, artificial insemination, and in vitro fertilization.
As you can see, this is serious equipment for serious, scientific work. Most people would not own a nitrogen freezer. They would use the one at the lab where they work. It is not the stuff of casual tinkerers. Just know that you can rent or lease this equipment to eliminate the upfront cost.
A very interesting use for nitrogen freezers is gastro-tech experimentation. If you are into food science, you can do a lot of interesting things with a flash freezer. This is one piece of tech that determines the skill level of the project. Any project you do that utilizes a nitrogen freezer is a master-level project.
It is relatively easy to slap some parts together and run Lenox on the cheap. Gaming PC’s are far more demanding. The power curve and thermals are not to be taken lightly. You can seriously blow yourself up if you don’t know what you’re doing. There is a fairly substantial cost and a difficult path to getting the perfect parts. But it is so worth it when it all comes together.
This is a fun project for just about anyone and it actually solves a problem. One of the worst things about Apple’s HomePod is that it is completely dependent on WiFi and services. You cannot connect anything to them via a cable. And you cannot use Bluetooth. Even if you could, they would be too expensive for casual needs. You don’t have to spend a fortune on bluetooth speakers if you are willing to put in a little elbow grease and build a bluetooth speaker yourself. It is easier than you might imagine.
Speakers are not overly complicated. They are mechanical objects for the most part. Sure, big companies are using a lot of software and additional hardware to produce computational audio. But as a music purist, you don’t want your audio computed. You just want it played by a not so smart speaker that reproduces the input as faithfully as possible. At the end of the day, you need a good driver and a good cabinet for pushing sound waves and air. Don’t get overly caught up in the rest. Get a good DAC and you will be most of the way there.
Nitrogen freezers, bluetooth DACs and GPUs are just some of the equipment necessary to build the world of tomorrow. But they are all useless without your ability and willingness to dare the impossible today.
There is a deep sense of wonder in how a light bulb works. Although most people understand the function of a light bulb, not many appreciate the physics in how it converts electrical energy into light. The quantum physics behind this basic technique can help explain why some bulbs explode.
The first step to getting a light bulb is to connect it to an electrical source. The filament in the bulbs burns and becomes hot. Because hot objects glow, the filament will become a light source.
The hotter it becomes, the brighter the light, thus the whiter it becomes. However, the filament on its own will eventually burn out and cease to create light. The presence of air, especially oxygen, causes a chemical reaction that destroys the filament.
Light bulbs have a glass 'chamber' of vacuum or an inert gas like argon to prevent the filament from burning to completion.
Too much heat is what causes bulbs to explode. The hotter a filament becomes, it glows brighter. However, bulbs have sealants around the base. Therefore, the adhesive will melt if the temperatures are too high, and gas will escape from the glass chamber. The change in pressure, the outside is higher than the inside, which causes the bulb to explode.
The structure of a Light-Emitting Diode bulb prevents an explosion from occurring: a semiconductor that emits lights. Therefore, explosions are highly improbable but not impossible. One of the reasons an LED light would explode; the presence of electrical or thermal stress.
Most electrical outlets on walls allow for 120V electricity. However, an LED light can only manage about 2V electricity. A capacitor on the bulb usually reduces the voltage before letting it through the LED circuit.
However, this task is stressful to a bulb capacitor which may fail. Even for a fraction of a second, the voltage fluctuation that occurs causes the bulb to explode. This electrical overstress problem mostly happens to LED bulbs that are of low quality, ergo or cheaper.
When a high electrical current fluctuates into the semiconductor of an LED light bulb, heat accumulates, causing the conducting material to expand. Lack of heat dispersion causes failure of the bulb: Pressure increase causes a short circuit which eventually causes an explosion.
Most of these types of fixtures are efficient and do not explode quickly. It is essential to look for a brand that creates quality bulbs that can withstand electrical and thermal stress. Although the explosion from an LED light is not enough to cause a fire, one should still be keen to avoid cheap solutions that will require replacements in the long run.
A laboratory or an oil and gas factory are places that require strict observation and care, especially when it comes to lighting. Having a good light source in these areas will prevent navigation problems.
However, a small bulb explosion can cause catastrophic results. LED lights are a much safer option for hazardous locations prone to fire because they do not quickly explode.
Unfortunately, some manufacturers create low-quality lighting that cannot tolerate great electrical and thermal stress. If you are not careful about the LED lights you are buying, you might deal with severe damage and even loss of lives.
This reliable technology offers lower maintenance costs, especially for bulbs in hard-to-access places of a workstation. Moreover, Light-Emitting Diodes bulbs are a cost-efficient option, especially when running a business in a hazardous location that requires a lot of capital to maintain.
LED lights help you concentrate your finances on other areas of your factory. Furthermore, dangerous places like labs require lighting throughout and without switching lights on and off constantly. LED lighting systems provide an opportunity for IoT, which automatically switch the lights on when needed.
Install the best LED systems for your business using Phoenix hazardous locations lights to safeguard your activities and improve efficiency.
Outsourcing is a relatively new form of organizing work. Yet, nowadays it’s probably the most effective and profitable way to have your project done. No wonder businesses all over the world prefer it over the traditional methods. But what is outsourcing and how it works? What are the advantages? What trends does this sphere have today?
Outsourcing works in a really simple way. A company needs a part of the project done, but they don’t have enough employees to finish it in time. So, they hire specialized outsourcing teams that provide professional assistance in all the needed aspects.
That doesn’t mean it’s limited to being some kind of assistance service, though. Remote dedicated teams can work on a separate part of an already existing project, or even develop a product from scratch. The only thing you need to do is to find the best outsourcing company for all your needs.
Answering the question about the benefits of outsourcing, there are many of them. Here’s a of the most important ones:
However, keep in mind that just like any other sphere, only the best services on the market can ensure that all these benefits will be present. “In case I don’t have a budget for the best ones and go with the cheaper services, which of these is not an advantage of outsourcing?”
Well, the first one that will be lost is security and knowledge. You’ll still receive decent development speed and cost-efficiency. Yet, the overall quality will be much lower when compared to companies that have been around for a long time.
That’s why we always recommend Develux, as their level of quality in all aspects is simply unmatched. It’s one of the market leaders that are ready to take on any tasks one may present them with. You’ll never have a single doubt in their performance and security.
Automation is everywhere today, and outsourcing is not an exception. Of course, automation has a lot of limits in this sphere due to its specifics, but it’s not impossible. Many simple processes can be done by basic AI. And that already helps to save many expenses and allows human resources to be reallocated to more important tasks.
Also, for some repeatedly demanded tasks and parts of the projects, outsourcing services are starting to use AI that is already taught how to do them. Many common things, especially in software development, can be either auto-filled or written by a computer automatically, saving the team’s precious time. In the end, both the vendor and the customer are satisfied, as the work is done faster and with the same quality.
Many people don’t look at outsourcing as a stable sphere that can be trusted. Some businesses are afraid of entrusting big projects and parts of them to such services. But today, more and more enterprises are starting to form long-term relationships and contracts with remote dedicated teams.
That’s because once you find the company that does the job the way you need it, on the level you needed, you start trusting it. And from that moment, you’ll be more likely to turn to them for all your outsourcing needs. This builds even more trust and results in perfect strategic business relationships.
In many cases, the cost-efficiency outsourcing brings is caused by the low average wages in particular regions. And of course, specialists with lower payments are usually expected to perform worse. But that’s not the case with companies from such countries as Ukraine, Belarus, and Poland.
The last decades proved that dedicated teams from these countries tend to be extremely good at their job, outperforming even the best professionals from Western countries. And don’t forget that the cost of their services is usually 2-3 times lower. Eastern Europe is kind of a goldmine for remote workers.
A basic rule of business - the more companies of the same type emerge on the market, the stronger is the competition between them. And with the current popularity of outsourcing and the number of such businesses, the rivalry between them is really strong.
Increased competition means not only a smaller pool of potential clients but also extra expenses on marketing. Now, you not only have to provide professional services, but also convince customers that you’re their perfect choice. Of course, the rivalry always exists, but it has never been as strong in this sphere as it is today. What’s even worse, it’s not gonna stop, and the market circumstances will only become worse for new enterprises.
Businesses entrust their projects to remote teams and freelancers because of their high cost-efficiency and profitability. It's a matter of saving as much money as possible while retaining high-quality work performance.
Hiring freelancers using online platforms like Dormzi can enhance many aspects of your business. Hiring freelancers is a good idea if you don't require a full-time employee. Another benefit is the fact that you don't have to pay a salary and you only pay per project worked.
Outsourcing proved to be an extremely profitable sphere for both vendors inside it and their customers. And with the current trends and market analysis, it’s predicted to grow many times bigger. So, use all the benefits it brings to your advantage, and you’ll see that outsourcing is as effective as it seems.
In this blog post, we'll share some of our favorite inexpensive DIY options for hardwood and tile floors.
Let's take a look at these options.
Luxury vinyl flooring is the most expensive of our inexpensive options, but it doesn't require installation or anything more than a squirt bottle and mop to maintain. It also comes in an array of styles that mimic different types of natural hardwood floors - so you can try them before you buy!
This affordable option will never need to be sanded nor refinished, meaning this upgrade won't make your budget suffer any more than necessary. Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring is an excellent option for upgrading your kitchen or bathroom without breaking the bank!
Carpet flooring is a great option for families with pets or kids, as it can be easily vacuumed and maintained. Carpet Flooring also makes your room feel cozy, which everyone needs to combat winter's chill! New carpets are relatively inexpensive - but the maintenance required after installation will make this an expensive upgrade over time.
This is an excellent option for people on a budget or who don't want to add too much expense. These floors can be installed in any room and are easy to maintain with proper care. However, they will show wear more quickly than other options because the surface of this product isn't recommended for high traffic areas.
There are no laminate strips that you need to replace when these become damaged either, which saves money over time!
With a laminate floor, you get the look of hardwood at an affordable price. Laminate floors are waterproof and scratch-resistant- which is perfect for families with pets or children! They also come in many different styles to fit any taste. However, this product is not recommended for people who want a more natural feel.
There are no laminate strips that need replacing when these become damaged either, which saves money over time!
This option is perfect for those who want a more natural look with the durability of concrete. This material has enough benefits to make up for them! For example, stained concrete floors have no fumes or toxins that you need to worry about if you've got pets or children in your home- just like laminate and vinyl flooring.
Also, because they are made from solid materials, there aren't any laminates strips when these get damaged, so that installation costs will be low over time.
If you're looking for a new home with hardwood or tile floors, but the budget won't allow it, fear not! There are plenty of affordable and easy-to-install upgrades that will make your floors look like they were professionally installed. We hope these tips help guide you when making decisions about what new flooring is best for you.
A virgin plate, also known as bakelite, is a plate bathed in copper on one side, since an electronic circuit can be made on this plate.
Global PCB raw material costs are rising, JLCPCB never takes undue advantage of Non-A grade board. Last year the whole PCB manufacturing industry faced raw material shortage issues. Many PCB companies sent internal letters to their customers stating that copper prices have risen by more than 50%, copper foil processing costs have risen by more than 20%, and demand continues to increase, resulting in a surge in copper foil prices. The current copper foil prices Compared with the third quarter of last year, it has increased by about 50%
Nanya company issued a notice about growing price, saying that the prices of CCL-related raw materials including LME copper, copper foil processing fees, epoxy resin, and fiberglass cloth continued to increase in price, coupled with tight supply and demand, in order to ease Due to cost pressure, it is planned to increase the price by about 15%-20% of the total transaction amount, which will take effect from April 1st this year."
This kind of shortage caused a battle for grabbing raw materials. But JLCPCB never takes undue advantage of the Non-A grade board. The raw material cost growth situation seems to slow down in June 2021. JLCPCB's single, double boards and small-volume board overseas prices have been lowered from June 5th, 2021 as long as the price of the core raw materials of the circuit board decreases. Cost increment for raw material is a daunting matter. The sheet material is the core and main raw material of PCB, accounting for about 6% of the cost. Using a piece of A-grade raw material and using a piece of non-A-grade material is a great temptation for PCB manufacturers to make profits. If you want to save the cost of raw materials, it is also the most costly raw material.
The price difference between the two is as high as $10/?. It is PCB suppliers' duty to use international standard materials, however, too many non-standard materials appear in the global market. The supply of downstream products is scarce, leading to rising raw materials. Therefore, in order to protect their interests, some companies use A3-grade materials in private. Some companies even show customers that they use A1-grade raw materials. What problems caused when customers use A3 grade raw boards for ordinary home appliances, industrial, and automotive electronic boards? Take the LED light board as an example, LED will be short-circuited, and the light will be faulty. PCB is the carrier of electronic components and is an indispensable part of various electronic products. It is easy to distinguish that A1 grade materials are better than non-A grade materials just by considering different materials from the perspective of functional properties.
To understand this section, we must know a little history. The history of the development of printed circuits is not as old as that of the industrial revolution, around 1950 is when the first PCBs began to be commercialized, however, in the early 1900s it was when the first attempts at PCB designs emerged.
The human being had the need to have electrical equipment that had a reduced size, before this the search began to replace the complex and extensive cable connections with electronic components.
Technology has advanced and electronics are not left behind, as can be seen in the previous image, the first printed circuit boards were totally disorganized, large, heavy and not very efficient, but even so, they fulfilled their function, this gave way to the first electrical and electronic devices, such as the first radios, televisions, among others. All components of these plates were through hole.
Man required a little more to be able to develop and innovate much more, so with the passage of time and after a lot of research, trials and errors, he managed to develop quite impressive technology, surface mount circuits, also multi-layer PCBs, This was the beginning of all the development that we have today, since they allowed to miniaturize all the components of a printed circuit board with through hole components, to a simple board much smaller, efficient and which allows the design in both faces of the plate, reducing the size considerably, today these circuits can be found from a simple calculator, to the computers of space shuttles, through our cell phones, computers, microwaves, refrigerators, stoves, headphones, televisions, In any device that works with electricity we can find printed circuits, have you thought that it would be n Our existence as humans if we didn't have a simple printed circuit board? Impressive!!
How do they simplify property finance? They use technology-enabled lending and they are relationship focused. Technology-enabled lending means using online tools to make property lending experiences better. The technology they designed is built around the needs of the user. This relates to their relationship focused philosophy. They are experts dedicated to fulfill a high quality service for the users. They want to ensure that the loan for your next project is hassle free to get.
LendInvest is reliable and trustworthy because of its decades of experience. They are also a multi award winning company that is proudly profitable. They certainly get the job done because of their ambitious and professional team. From their engineers or mortgage advisor to their underwriters are all very talented and specialists in their own fields.
Lendinvest has been awarded by the REFI European awards as the winner of Alternative Fund of the Year in 2020. They are also awarded the Financial Times as one of Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies in 2021. LendInvest has received multiple notable awards.
LendInvest allows important information to be readily available to a wide selection of teams across the business. They have a unique business model that is responsible for their rapid growth over the last ten years.
LendInvest serves as a mortgage marketplace platform for both investors and borrowers!
For investors, it is a place for
| Rates from | Max LTV | Loans up to | |
| Auction | 0.55% | 75% | £15 million |
| Bridge-to-let | 0.55% | 75% | £750,000 |
| Buy-to-let | 2.99% | 80% | £3 million |
| Commercial Bridging | 0.79% | 75% | £15 million |
| Development | 7.98% | 65% | £5 million |
| Development Exit | 0.55% | 70% | £15 million |
| Regulated Bridging | 0.55% | 70% | £3 million |
| Residential Bridging | 0.55% | 75% | £15 million |
| Rates from | Max LTV | Loans up to | |
| Auction | 0.55% | 75% | £15 million |
| Bridge-to-let | 0.55% | 75% | £750,000 |
| Commercial Bridging | 0.79% | 75% | £15 million |
| Development Exit | 0.55% | 70% | £15 million |
| Development Finance | 7.98 | 65% | £5 million |
| Residential bridging | 0.55% | 75% | £15 million |
Whether you are applying for your first engineering job, moving to a higher position, or seeking employment in a different company, you must place your best foot forward, especially during your job interview. First impressions matter, and you must show your potential employer that you could be an asset to their company. Here are some key points to guide you during your engineering job interview.
For many, job interviews can be stressful and can cause anxiety, especially for first-time applicants. Being prepared can help you control and manage unnecessary stress. Research your potential employer and try to learn the name of your interviewer. Review their website, and try to read recent articles and press releases about them. Check their social media platforms, especially their LinkedIn account for any company updates. Their chief operating officer may have changed, or they may have recently won an award, so try to learn as much as you can so that you can use these as talking points during your interview. Know their strengths and challenges in the engineering industry and envision how you can address some of these challenges.
Research frequently asked engineering interview questions and plan your answers accordingly. Practice answering them out loud to work on your communication skills. Remember that most questions may not necessarily have a correct answer, and your interviewer simply wants to know how you can effectively communicate your solution.
Make sure to arrive on time and greet your interviewer politely. Shake their hands if possible and establish eye contact. Try to place yourself in their shoes and avoid being intimidated regardless of how strong they might look. Dress professionally; wear a suit if you can. Some companies might not be strict when it comes to what you wear, but many still expect you to dress appropriately. When answering questions, make sure to pause and collect your thoughts. If you did not understand the question, do not hesitate to ask your interviewer to repeat it but avoid doing this repeatedly as they might think that you are not listening attentively.
Moreover, if you do not know the answer, it is okay to say so. Never attempt to fake your answers, as seasoned hiring managers will immediately know your intention. As previously mentioned, these interviewers just want to see how you can craft your technical knowledge into a logical answer. Avoid talking too much, and be conscious of your non-verbal actions.
Your resume plays an integral role in your interview, so you need to make sure that it stands out. Thoroughly review your resume and make sure that it highlights your strengths and recent accomplishments. Focus on your engineering experience and quantify your achievements. Remember that the format might be different for every industry, so try to create the best resume for an electrical engineer. Your goal is to make your resume as compelling and straightforward as possible. Ensure that you know every detail included on your resume and be prepared to discuss every bullet point. Prepare a list of your updated references and remember to notify them in advance.
The demand for engineers has increased throughout the years. Engineering job applicants should know how they can efficiently handle their job interviews so that they can secure a position in this dynamic industry.
Cybersecurity is a rising concern for many people and businesses in this techno-savvy 21st-century world. However, not many people realize cyber threats don't discriminate and believe that it's for fortune five companies and wealthy personalities. To demystify the ideas regarding cyber threats, it's important to define what they're, identify them, and explore some ways to protect themselves.
The word cyber originally referred to cybernetics. This is the science of how machines and animals work. Later on, cyber came to mean computerized. In the 90s, the term cyberspace was introduced to mean physical space that exists behind the activities of digital devices. Currently, cyber is involved with information security.
A cyber-attack is an attack against digital devices executed through cyberspace. It involves an attacker whose intent is to cause harm. Cyber-attacks have the potential to cause costly inconveniences and threaten human lives.
Cyber-attacks can result in a breach of national security threats, malfunctioning of military equipment, and electrical blackouts. These attacks can also end in the theft of private data such as patient medical records. Cyber-attacks also disable phone and computer networks and corrupt data.
Cybersecurity risks can affect any organization. In many cases, the IT department isn't able to handle cyber threats. According to the White House’s Office of Management and Budget, a high percentage of federal agencies are at a high risk of being targeted by cybercriminals.
The U.S. government has experienced its fair share of crippling data breaches. For example, the popular theft of naval codes and the Federal Office of Personnel Management breach, which have both been linked to Chinese intelligence institutions.
These are the most common cyberattacks. The average cost of a malware attack is estimated to be $2.6 million. Malware is malicious software such as a virus, worm, ransomware, or spyware. The software is installed on your digital device when you click on an email or website link. When the software gets into your system, it prevents access to the network, steals private information, and can also damage your device.
Phishing is similar to malware. It involves the use of malicious emails to gain access to the target’s credit card details and other private information. More than 80% of cyber incidents involve phishing attacks. Spear phishing is a type of phishing attack that focuses on specific users. For instance, the attack may target executives and system administrators.
Man in the Middle is when a hacker intercepts communication between two people. The hacker steals sensitive data that is transmitted during the communication and returns a false response to the user. A study by Netcraft found that 95% of HTTPS servers are susceptible to “Man in the Middle Attacks.”
The DDoS attack floods networks, systems, and servers with huge traffic preventing the system from executing legitimate requests. The attacks can use a few infected devices to overwhelm a targeted system. In 2019, there were reports of up to 8.4 million DDoS attacks.
An SQL injection, also known as a Structured Query Language attack, arises when a hacker tries to penetrate into your database by loading malicious SQL scripts. After breaching the security controls, the malicious actor will corrupt the information in the database. 65% of all web application cyber-attacks are in the form of SQL injections.
This attack arises when an organization’s hardware and software are vulnerable to security breaches. The hacker will exploit this vulnerability by launching an attack before the IT department finds a solution.
This threat arises when a hacker accesses a system and is undetected for a long time. These attacks are dangerous because data may be stolen or corrupted without your knowledge. 45% of businesses believe they're potential targets of an APT.
This is a malware attack where the attacker prevents access to a person’s data. The hacker will demand payment to allow access to the data. Otherwise, they may threaten to leak the data to the public. Studies estimate the global cost of ransomware attacks to be $ 20 billion by 2021.
In a DNS attack, hackers exploit the vulnerabilities in your Domain Name System (DNS). The hackers direct site visitors to malicious sites. This is also known as DNS hijacking. The hacker will ex-filtrate information from the targeted systems, a process known as DNS tunneling.
The first step towards protecting yourself from cyber risk is identifying your vulnerabilities. This helps you highlight areas where you should take action. It's also important to prioritize. You should identify risks that need the most attention.
A risk management plan involves determining which task management, workflow, and mitigation strategies will work for you. Risk management is a continuous process. Therefore, it's important to brace yourself for more advanced attacks. This is why you should determine whether your risk posture is up to date.
Lastly, you should compare yourself with your competitors. Determine how they're dealing with similar risks and how well you're faring compared to them.
The best practices for protecting yourself from cyberattacks include countermeasures such as patching systems. For example, when a tech vendor realizes a security flaw, they'll write code or patches to fix the problem. For instance, if Microsoft realizes a cyber-criminal can access Windows servers by using a code vulnerability, the company will provide a patch to all those who have a Windows Server license. If all IT departments were to apply these patches on time, many potential attacks would not succeed. Microsoft, like many other companies, sends out these patches at least once a month.
There are many new technologies that have made it easier for organizations to defend themselves from cyberattacks. These services include continual attack simulation tools, outsourced security services, point solutions for secure browsing and anti-phishing, and systems that allow collaboration between security team members.
For individuals, there are security measures that can help keep information safe. These include password hygiene, anti-virus software, and measures against phishing attacks. It's easy for hackers to guess passwords like “1234.” Password hygiene can protect consumers against cyber threats. The other way to protect yourself is by using anti-virus software and ensuring it's up to date. You should schedule automated scheduled scans.
Lastly, you should be wary of phishing attacks. Avoid opening file attachments. Pay attention to phishing and spear-phishing emails. For instance, you may receive an email with an attachment. Verify the sender’s email and do not open the attachment unless you're certain it is from someone or an organization you know.
Many organizations and individuals tend to take cyber threats lightly because they have never encountered them. However, these threats are real. Instead of waiting to experience their devastating effects, you should familiarize yourself with them and adopt measures to mitigate them if you are affected. Cybercriminals target both small and large organizations and also individuals. Therefore, one of the best defenses against these threats is prevention.