Ricardo Gomes | Applications of randomness

shelly modules on a din rail

moving shellys out of power plugs and into the electrical panel

Posted on October 25, 2025

I got tired of cramming Shelly Plus 1PM modules inside power plugs. They barely fit, they’re a pain to service, and stuffing them in a sealed enclosure raises heat dissipation concerns — not ideal for something switching mains voltage. [Read More]
Tags:
server upgrade

new guts for the home server — ready for vms

Posted on October 19, 2025

My home Unraid server was getting cramped and slow, mainly because of all the containers I had been using and the amount of new workflows I’m pushing to it. With even more coming up and the need to start using VMs alongside the docker containers, the old hardware just wasn’t... [Read More]
Tags:
- 2025
- home lab
- server
speeding up multi-color prints with the ams speeder

shorter filament path, faster color swaps

Posted on October 14, 2025

The default AMS setup on the Bambu Lab P1S routes the PTFE tubes from the AMS, around the back of the printer, and into the filament hub — a long path that adds up on every single filament swap. On multi-color prints with hundreds of color changes, those extra seconds... [Read More]
Tags:
- 2025
- 3d printer
- 3d printing
- bambu lab
inline smart power cable

non-intrusive smart power control for 3d printers

Posted on October 13, 2025

I wanted to remotely turn my Bambu Lab P1S printers on and off via Wi-Fi and track energy usage — without opening or modifying the printers. [Read More]
Tags:
moving the printers next to the server rack

a dedicated room for noise, heat, and fumes

Posted on October 8, 2025

The two P1S printers were originally sitting in the open, next to the filament storage. It worked, but the noise during long prints was annoying and there was no way to manage fumes — ruling out more abrasive materials like ASA or ABS. [Read More]
Tags:
- 2025
- 3d printer
- bambu lab
- home lab
3d printed single-spool drybox

keeping moisture-sensitive filaments dry while printing

Posted on September 17, 2025

Some filaments like TPU, Nylon, and PETG absorb moisture quickly and print poorly when wet. The AMS helps with regular PLA/PETG, but for specialty filaments fed through the external spool input, a dedicated drybox is the way to go. [Read More]
Tags:
offline usb eraser with a raspberry pi

a standalone shredding station for usb drives and disks

Posted on September 3, 2025

Before lending a USB pen or returning an external disk, I want to be sure the data is properly wiped — not just deleted, but overwritten multiple times. Instead of plugging the drive into a computer and running commands manually, I built a dedicated offline eraser that handles everything on... [Read More]
Tags:
- 2025
- raspberry pi
- security
- linux
network rack

rewire

Posted on May 10, 2025

I finally took the time to rewire my network rack, and it turned out to be one of those upgrades that makes a huge difference in daily usability. I swapped out my old, custom-made Ethernet cables for UniFi Patch Cables, and honestly, I’m never going back. [Read More]
Tags:
- 2025
- network