We need another sub-forum

[Frugivore8894]

This has probably come up before but I really feel that we need a place for CNC milling, 3D printing, 3D molding, laser cutting, and other similar stuff (basic at anything that has to do with CAD and 3D modeling. We have hobby electronics but I think there needs to be a more specific place for this. It could be a place to ask for help with models, questions about devices, design logs, and a place to share cool or useful models you found. 

[Skiiwee29]

We don't get enough traffic to warrant a new subforum for those. Hobby Electronics is the appropriate section for that type of content/material. 

[LogicalDrm]

Was gonna ask same, does Hobby Electronics get too much content that "maker-threads" get lost in the others.

[Radium_Angel]

23 minutes ago, Skiiwee29 said:

We don't get enough traffic to warrant a new subforum for those. Hobby Electronics is the appropriate section for that type of content/material. 

Does an extra forum cost that much to create/maintain?

[LogicalDrm]

13 minutes ago, Radium_Angel said:

Does an extra forum cost that much to create/maintain?

The reason is quite opposite. Is there point of having empty and dead subforums? More division would make it even harder for new members to find correct place to post. For example Operating Systems subforum is fairly often used for threads that would belong to Windows subforum.

[Master Disaster]

Perhaps a rename from the very specific "hobby electronics" to something a bit broader? I can see why people wouldn't want to discuss 3d printer and modelling stuff in there.

 

Maybe something like "The Maker Space"?

[Skiiwee29]

13 hours ago, Master Disaster said:

Perhaps a rename from the very specific "hobby electronics" to something a bit broader? I can see why people wouldn't want to discuss 3d printer and modelling stuff in there.

 

Maybe something like "The Maker Space"?

This I could see and get behind. Like instead of "Hobby Electronics" something like "Hobbies & Electronics" and a quick description of the subforum to state some use cases like 3d printing, RC cars etc... 

 

I can see how this is like this currently as it was likely implemented before 3d printing really became a viable thing for people and has only really picked up a ton of traction over the last 3 or 4 years. 

[LogicalDrm]

11 hours ago, Skiiwee29 said:

This I could see and get behind. Like instead of "Hobby Electronics" something like "Hobbies & Electronics" and a quick description of the subforum to state some use cases like 3d printing, RC cars etc... 

 

I can see how this is like this currently as it was likely implemented before 3d printing really became a viable thing for people and has only really picked up a ton of traction over the last 3 or 4 years. 

Not being native speaker might contribute, but I read "electronics" to mean more than just RPi and other tinkering. I would categorise under that 3D printers (which were one of the original targets for the subforum), RC stuff, custom arcade cabinets etc.

 

Problem with making it more wide (be it with "Hobbies &" or "Maker Space") is that then it would include things where tech isn't playing as big or any role at all. Which then makes it more off topic for this forum as a whole. And that then would weaken arguments against having subforums for cars for example.

 

Adding more detailed description for current subforum name is better overall imo.