Serial No. 514 First Light, and a couple of notes / feedback

[John Johnson]

(First Light being borrowed from the telescope community. Maybe First Blinkenlight would have been more appropriate.)

Thanks to everyone who makes this happen! Very cool!

Completed the kit. It was a good build!

• Rather than the prescribed cardboard, I used silicone bumpers to keep the Pi's USB connectors from contacting the PCB.
• The 25 self-tapping screws are PoziDriv. (This may have been intentional.) Using a PoziDriv screwdriver works better, and does not cam out as much as a Phillips.
• I will probably remember the third thing immediately after I post this.

[terry-...@glaver.org]

On Saturday, July 5, 2025 at 12:00:29 PM UTC-4 jjte...@gmail.com wrote:

• The 25 self-tapping screws are PoziDriv. (This may have been intentional.) Using a PoziDriv screwdriver works better, and does not cam out as much as a Phillips.

An old trick (which seems to have been mostly forgotten) for reinstalling self-tapping screws into plastic: Put the screw in as normal, but DON'T tighten it. Instead, loosen it (while continuing to apply gentle pressure with the screwdriver). You'll feel a slight pop / click / drop / whatever you want to call it. That's the screw's threads dropping into the threads they previously cut in the plastic. The screw will be a LOT easier to tighten, and you won't weaken / damage the plastic by cutting multiple sets of threads in it. 

[John Johnson]

Works for wood and wood screws too.