Python Coding On The Go!

As I get into Python coding, I think of things I would like to try. I may not always have access to my desktop or laptop. I bought this handy little device called a Pico Calc by Clockwork. It's a Raspberry Pi Pico based device with a full color screen and keyboard. It runs various apps such as MicroPython and a few other coding apps. I had to assemble it. That was pretty straight forward. I'm pretty excited to see what I can do with it and do some coding on the go. Stay tuned!

AU 2026 Call for Proposals Opens Soon!

 The AU 2026 Call for Proposals opens soon. I plan to submit a few proposals. Maybe a few topics on Civil 3D and AutoCAD.

Python on a Raspberry Pi Pico (Update)

 Here is an update to my Raspberry Pi Pico project. I setup the Python code to connect the Pico to Wi-Fi then grab date and time from an NTP (Network Time Protocol) server. I have it displaying the date and time on the first row. On the second row, it is displaying the temperature and humidity from a sensor connected to the Pico. I put it all together in a modular bracket I drew and 3D printed for my network rack. I used Thonny to write and Python with assistance from ChatGPT as I'm still learning how to write Python. The code to this project is below the images.

Hardware for this project is.

Raspberry Pi Pico 2W.

The screen model is the I2C LCD 1602.
The temperature and humidity sensor is the DHT-11 module.

You'll need to download the drivers for the screen.

https://github.com/dhylands/python_lcd

Here is the Pyhton code this project.

from machine import Pin

from time import sleep_ms

import dht

import network

import secrets

import socket

import time

import struct

import I2C_LCD_driver

sensor = dht.DHT11(Pin(15))

lcd = I2C_LCD_driver.lcd()

from machine import Pin

NTP_DELTA = 2208988800

host = "pool.ntp.org"

led = Pin("LED", Pin.OUT)

def set_time():

    NTP_QUERY = bytearray(48)

    NTP_QUERY[0] = 0x1B

    addr = socket.getaddrinfo(host, 123)[0][-1]

    s = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_DGRAM)

    try:

        s.settimeout(1)

        res = s.sendto(NTP_QUERY, addr)

        msg = s.recv(48)

    finally:

        s.close()

    val = struct.unpack("!I", msg[40:44])[0]

    t = val - NTP_DELTA

    UTC_OFFSET = -5   # <-- your timezone here

    t = t + int(UTC_OFFSET * 3600)

    tm = time.gmtime(t)

    machine.RTC().datetime((tm[0], tm[1], tm[2], tm[6] + 1, tm[3], tm[4], tm[5], 0))

# ---- WiFi Setup ----

wlan = network.WLAN(network.STA_IF)

wlan.active(True)

wlan.connect(secrets.secrets['ssid'], secrets.secrets['password'])

max_wait = 10

while max_wait > 0:

    if wlan.status() < 0 or wlan.status() >= 3:

        break

    max_wait -= 1

    print('waiting for connection...')

    time.sleep(1)

if wlan.status() != 3:

    raise RuntimeError('network connection failed')

else:

    print('connected')

    status = wlan.ifconfig()

    print( 'ip = ' + status[0] )

led.on()

set_time()

print(time.localtime())

led.off()

def display_time():

    while True:

        tm = time.localtime()

        year   = tm[0]

        month  = tm[1]

        day    = tm[2]

        hour   = tm[3]

        minute = tm[4]

        # Convert to 12-hour format without leading zero

        if hour == 0 or hour == 12:

            display_hour = 12

        else:

            display_hour = hour % 12

        # Format date as MM/DD/YY

        date_str = "{:02d}/{:02d}/{:02d}".format(month, day, year % 100)

        # Format time as H:MM (no leading zero on hour)

        time_str = "{}:{:02d}".format(display_hour, minute)

        # Combine date and time with single space

        row1 = "{}   {}".format(date_str, time_str)[:16]

        # Display on first row

        lcd.lcd_display_string(row1, 1)

        

        # Reading Temp and Humidity

        sensor.measure()

        tempF = round(((sensor.temperature() * 1.8) + 32), 0)

        humid = sensor.humidity()

        

        # Display on second row

        line = "TMP:{:.0f}F HUM:{:.0f}%".format(tempF, humid)

        lcd.lcd_display_string(line, 2)

        sleep_ms(2500)

        

        time.sleep(1)

display_time()

 I also created a Python file that stores my WiFi credentials called secrets.py. You can see the reference in the code below.

# Save this as settings.toml in the root directory
CIRCUITPY_WIFI_SSID="Your_WiFi_Name"
CIRCUITPY_WIFI_PASSWORD="Your_Password"

Python on a Raspberry Pi Pico

As I'm learning Python and Micropython to ultimately write code for Dynamo for AutoCAD and Civil 3D, I'm playing with some basics. Writing Micropython for a Raspberry Pi Pico to read temperature and humidity then display the readings on a 16x2 LCD screen. My plan is to mount the setup in my network home lab to see the temperature inside the cabinet. I will 3D model and 3D print a mounting bracket for screen and Pico. Cool things to come.

Autodesk University 2026!

 Autodesk University 2026 will be back in Las Vegas, September 15-17, 2026.

Bambu Lab - Maker World!

 Head over the Bambu Lab Maker World site to see and 3D print some of my 3D models. There are tons of other cool models from creators around the world.

Autodesk University 2025 Digital Pass!

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#AU2025

Raspberry Pi - Cyberdeck

 This was a fun personal project. I created a 3D printed case for a Raspberry Pi 5 and a 7” Raspberry Pi Touch Display 2 screen. The case was modeled in AutoCAD using solids and 3D printed on my Bambu Lab X1 Carbon printer. The back panel was modeled with keystone inserts so I can use various keystone jacks for the rear I/O. The rear I/O consists of ethernet, USB and HDMI. I currently have a 3D Printed mouse in matching colors and a small keyboard. My plans are to use it for motoring my Unifi home network lab, home automation and media streaming box. I also plan to create a miniature stop light setup and controller using Python and Scratch. Learning Python should be fun. Enjoy!