CAPS0ff team posted an article taking a closer look at 8 “PIC16C57s”: We were recently sent 8 “PIC16C57s” from: *High Seas Havoc (403/C013) *Wargods (U69, C020) *MACE (U96, C021) *Carnevil (U96, C022) *BioFreaks (C023) *Gauntlet Dark Legacy (C024) *Gauntlet (U37, C025) *Blitz 99 (U96, C026) More details at CAPS0ff blog.
Author Archives: DP
Nickelbot – wooden nickel laser engraver
bdring posted an update on NickelBot project we covered previously: The NickelBot is complete and it works great. The goal of the project was to create an easily portable machine that creates low cost items that could be given away at events like Maker Faires. I think it has completely achieved that goal. The nickels are […]
Makervilla 2.0
Makervilla is back! It will be held on August 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th at Batam, Indonesia. MAKERVILLA 2.0 is a 4-day creative learning retreat designed for local and international maker educators to gather under one roof for a time of learning, dreaming, hacking and sharing of ideas. MAKERVILLA 2.0 is specially organized to address the needs […]
PiggyFuse HVSP AVR fuse programmer
Nerd Ralph published a new build: Although I’ve been working with AVR MCUs for a number of years now, I had never made a high voltage programmer. I’ve seen some HVSP fuse resetter projects I liked, but I don’t have a tiny2313. I think I was also hesitant to hook up 12V to an AVR, […]
How not to build a semiconductor lapping machine
electronupdate writes: One area of silicon reverse engineering which has interested me is the delayering of a chip to see each layer which allows superior visibility into the circuitry. I know of two ways: chemical etch and mechanical means. In this video I try to make a mechanical grinder which can take micron levels of […]
#FreePCB via Twitter to 2 random RTs
Every Tuesday we give away two coupons for the free PCB drawer via Twitter. This post was announced on Twitter, and in 24 hours we’ll send coupon codes to two random retweeters. Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three times a every week: Hate Twitter and Facebook? Free PCB Sunday is the classic PCB giveaway. Catch […]
Attiny85 pogo backpack programmer
Facelesstech published a new build: So you are using a bare attiny85 in your next project but don’t have room for the programming header, What do you do? I came up with the idea of using pogo pins layed out on A PCB so that they will sit on top of the Attiny85 legs. I […]
HP 8566B Spectrum Analyzer “YTO unlock” repair
Kerry Wong did a repair of an HP 8566B Spectrum Analyzer “YTO unlock” and documented the repair process on his blog: While I was making a video on how to use HP 8671A as the frequency reference for an improved version of my simple DIY tracking generator for my HP 8566B spectrum analyzer, my spectrum […]
Free PCB Sunday: Pick your PCB
We go through a lot of prototype PCBs, and end up with lots of extras that we’ll never use. Every Sunday we give away a few PCBs from one of our past or future projects, or a related prototype. Our PCBs are made through Seeed Studio’s Fusion board service. This week two random commenters will […]
App note: Avoidance of ceramic-substrate-based LED chip cracking induced by PCB bending or flexing
Application note from CREE on the causes of ceramic-substrate-based failures due to PCB board stresses and how to minimize their occurrence. Link here (PDF) Printed circuit board (PCB) bending and/or flexing is an unavoidable phenomenon that is known to exist and is easily encountered during electronic board assembly processes. PCB bending and/or flexing is the […]
App note: Power management solution – Constant Voltage (CV) pulse charging of hybrid capacitors
App note from Vishay about constant voltage (CV) pulse charging as the most cost-efficient solution to use on Hyrid capacitors. Link here (PDF) Rechargeable energy storage solutions are of high interest because of their flexibility, low maintenance requirements, and reduced cost over their life-cycle. For compact applications, classic electrolytic capacitors are environmentally friendly alternatives and […]
Free PCB coupon via Facebook to 2 random commenters
Every Friday we give away some extra PCBs via Facebook. This post was announced on Facebook, and on Monday we’ll send coupon codes to two random commenters. The coupon code usually go to Facebook ‘Other’ Messages Folder . More PCBs via Twitter on Tuesday and the blog every Sunday. Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three […]
Using DC motors to power computers
Electric generator experiment from HomoFaciens: The generators I am using are in fact geared DC motors, left over from a project with my sponsor RS Components. The modern abacuses being powered during my experiments are a Raspberry Pi Model, a SIMATIC IOT2020 and an Arduino Uno. A 2×16 characters LCD is used to display results. […]
Portable bench power supply v2 project
Luke writes, “A few years back I made a compact bench PSU based on a DPS-3002 module and a 24v PSU. I have since made a improved version that also includes the ability to run on my power tool batteries making it ultra-portable.” See the full post on his blog here.
StyloCard
Stylophone business card project from mitxela.com Printed Circuit Boards as a business card are a great gimmick. I’d seen ones with USB ports etched into them, which enumerate as a keyboard and then type a person’s name or load up their website. It’s just about possible to build them cheap enough to hand out as a […]
#FreePCB via Twitter to 2 random RTs
Every Tuesday we give away two coupons for the free PCB drawer via Twitter. This post was announced on Twitter, and in 24 hours we’ll send coupon codes to two random retweeters. Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three times a every week: Hate Twitter and Facebook? Free PCB Sunday is the classic PCB giveaway. Catch […]
Raspberry Pi virtual floppy for ISA (PC XT/AT) computers
Dr. Scott M. Baker wrote an article detailing how he turned a Raspberry Pi into a virtual storage device for ISA bus computers: I’m tired of carrying compact flash cards and/or floppies back and forth to my XT computer. I like to do development at my desk using my modern windows PC. While I can […]
LoRa module in DIL form
Mare writes: Murata produces LoRa module CMWX1ZZABZ-xxx based on SX1276 transceiver and STM32L072CZ microcontroller. The soldering of the LGA module is not very hobby-friendly. I constructed small breakout PCB for this module with additional buck/boost switcher and place for SMA connector. The transceiver features the LoRa®long-range modem, providing ultra-long-range spread spectrum communication and high interference […]
Free PCB Sunday: Pick your PCB
We go through a lot of prototype PCBs, and end up with lots of extras that we’ll never use. Every Sunday we give away a few PCBs from one of our past or future projects, or a related prototype. Our PCBs are made through Seeed Studio’s Fusion board service. This week two random commenters will […]
App note: How to implement an SCR or a Triac in hybrid relay applications
Another app note from STMicroelectronics on SCR or Triac hybrid with mechanical relay to decrease power loss and manage inrush current. Link here (PDF) This document gives some key information about the design of the solid-state silicon AC switch stage of a hybrid relay, which can drive resistive, capacitive or inductive AC loads, such as: […]