I hope It&#x27;s not coming back to bite me in the ass to say that, but I have been slacking and collecting unemployment benefits in the last few years.<p>During this time I have re-kindled my interest in mechanics and electronics, bought and changed the electronics of a CNC router, learned to use it, learned a bit of woodworking, created the control software and tool path planning system ( <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;github.com&#x2F;nraynaud&#x2F;webgcode" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;github.com&#x2F;nraynaud&#x2F;webgcode</a> ). I have helped a guy on the internet with a laser cutting software, I have created an easy captcha breaker, played with Cypress PSOC MCUs (it&#x27;s the gateway drugs to FPGAs), started a project that uses Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystals (hint: you can control the 70V stuff with the parts destined for vacuum fluorescent display). 
And I learned a few techniques:<p>- CNC cutting vinyl and using it as a stencil for painting or sandblasting<p>- isolation milling of PCBs<p>- PCB etching<p>- CNC made wood inlays<p>- using a lot of glues<p>- learned a bit of Ember.js, lots of Chrome APIs<p>- a bit of mold making<p>- parametric mechanical CAD design<p>Now, I have accepted a job offer and should start next Monday, so I guess all those projects and learnings are over, but that was a good ride.