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Saw a pretty interesting Guide floating around about building a cost-effective home lab for MakerMechanics experiments. it got me thinking about the different approaches people take. The guide focused heavily on repurposing old desktops and laptops, wich is a great starting point for saving money. Anyone else find that route provides enough power for their projects? I’ve been running simulations on a system with an older i5 and 16GB of RAM, and sometimes it feels like I'm pushing it.
The guide also touched on free software alternatives, which seems crucial for budget-conscious makers. What are your go-to software packages for CAD, simulation, or data analysis that don't break the bank? I've been experimenting with FreeCAD and some Python libraries, but always looking for better options. It'd be great to hear what free or open-source tools others are finding success with in their home labs.
the guide briefly mentioned safety considerations. This is definitely an area where you can't afford to cut corners, even when trying to save money. What inexpensive, practical safety measures do you recommend implementing in a home lab setting, especially when working with perhaps hazardous materials or tools? Maybe simple things like proper ventilation, eye protection, and fire extinguishers are good starter conversation?