Giorgos from PCBheaven has been working on a DIY hot-air gun NC machine and wrote a detailed explanation on his blog describing the build: Four pieces is all it takes to make the frame of the NC. And BTW, an NC machine is the same as a CNC without the leading C. CNC stands for “Computer Numerical […]
Category Archives: tools
RTCSetup – Real Time Clock setup tool
Video: Multiplexed Wired Attack Surfaces
In this presentation from the recent Toorcon 15 in San Diego, CA, Michael Ossmann and Kyle Osborn detail their efforts in hacking cellphones via multiplexed USB signals. Manufacturers of mobile devices often multiplex several wired interfaces onto a single connector. Some of these interfaces, probably intended for test and development, are still enabled when the […]
AnalysIR supports USB IR Toy
The crew from AnalysIR has added support for the USB IR Toy to their software. AnalysIR is Windows based IR Analyzer & Decoder software for use with Arduino, Raspberry Pi & similar platforms. Check out their blog for more information. You can your own USB IR Toy v2 for around $20 from Seeedstudio. Via the […]
New Energia version available
The Energia team announces the availability of version 0101E0010. Energia is an open-source electronics prototyping platform started by Robert Wessels in January of 2012 with the goal to bring the Wiring and Arduino framework to the Texas Instruments MSP430 based LaunchPad. Energia uses the mspgcc compiler by Peter Bigot and is based on the Wiring […]
Codebender web-based Arduino coding tool
Codebender is a web-based programming tool for Arduino. ” Traditionally, you would need to install an IDE, which includes all the necessary software, find and install the correct drivers, set permissions, etc. It can take 10-60 minutes. Or it can be a total mess. With Codebender, you can program your Arduino straight from your browser. […]
Transistor tester project
Hemal Chevli blogged about his transistor tester project: It has mega-8 as the brain, lcd to show specs of the transistor like which pin is which, what type of transistor it is eg NPN,PNP, N-MOSFET,P-MOSFET, etc., many components can be tested like different types of transistor, diodes, resistors etc, the good thing about this is that […]
Simple 3D gerber viewer
Jérôme Vuarand developed an application to visualize Gerber data, a simple 3D viewer for Gerber files. This tool helps to review Gerber files before sending them to a PCB fab house: Over the course of the last 5 months I developped an application to visualize Gerber data. The goal was primarily to review Gerber files before […]
rompar: a tool to analyze masked ROMs
You may have seen those highly magnified photos of decapped chips displaying the hardware architecture and wondered what information is represented by the solder-like designs. Adam “Major Malfunction” Laurie of Aperature Labs has developed a software tool to assist in deciphering the bits represented in these highly magnified chip photos. Known as rompar, its a […]
Arduino waveform generator
Chris from PyroElectro constructed this waveform generator using an op-amp, resistor ladder, some trimpots and an Arduino. You can find all the information on how to make your own step-by-step with photos, schematic and code at PyroElectro. Via the contact form.
ROM dumper test rig
EschatologicalEngineer developed a useful test jig for use in ROM analysis. “Greetings, I thought I would share a picture of my ROM Dumper rig. I used a Teensy 2++, ribbon cables and a “Glomper Clip”. I first learned of these clips from the brilliant works of Don Lancaster. I was able to purchase the clip […]
Open souce electronics design with Oregano
Linux Journal has posted an article describing the installation and use of Oregano. Oregano is an electrical design and engineering tool for Linux which allows for schematic design and simulation of electronic circuits. The actual simulation is performed by Berkeley Spice, or GNUcap or the new generation ngspice. Oregano is licensed under the terms of […]
Using a solder paste dispenser with compressed air tanks
Nickjohnson from Arachnid Labs shares that he successfully hooked up his solder paste dispenser to a CO2 tank!” One thing that’s dissuaded me from buying a solder paste dispenser for so long is that I’m really not keen on a loud and bulky compressor in my workshop area, and I don’t want to spend several […]
Tinkerer’s tricorder update
Nickjohnson posted an update to his network analyzer we covered previously: More tweaks and improvements! I’ve moved to a dedicated LED dimming controller for the backlight instead of resistors, and made a few other layout tweaks. It’s now out for fab. A friend put together some nice renders of the case for me Via the […]
2 in 1, ESR + component tester
In this video Dtmf demonstrates his ESR LCM3 meter-transistor tester. Via the forum.
Tinkerer’s tricorder
Nickjohnson wrote previously about his Loki PSoC based development board. Now he’s experimenting with the idea of building an ESR meter: I’ve been experimenting with different measurement options using the Loki as a test platform. I’m just about ready to start speccing out and designing a PCB soon, and I’ve got a nice case lined […]
Open source JTAGulator identifies OCD connections
Famed hardware hacker Joe Grand has released his latest open source project, the JTAGulator. This tool assists hardware hackers in identifying on-chip debugging (OCD) and/or programming connections from test points, vias, or component pads on a target piece of hardware. It interfaces with your computer via USB communicating through any terminal program. It’s based on […]
Free Virtual Audio Cable alternative
RTL-SDR enthusiasts who use Windows are familiar with the need for a virtual audio device to connect the SDR output to decoder programs such as dsd. The hangup is that you need to purchase Virtual Audio Cable software to the tune of $25 (more than the cost of the SDR dongle itself.) Now there’s a […]
Analog Devices releases free version of RF design tool
Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) released a new version of its popular ADIsimRF design tool: The free design tool is the software accompaniment to ADI’s complete portfolio of RF-to-digital functional blocks, allowing engineers to model RF signal chains using devices from across ADI’s RF IC and data converter portfolio. ADIsimRF Version 1.7 adds a number of […]
STM32F4 debug board v1.0 Rev2
TitanMKD posted an update to his STM32F4 based debug board we covered previously: This board is intended to be used as a portable multi-purpose debug/hack tool with very fast peripherals and MCU and use standard Dangerous Prototypes Sick Of Beige DP6037 case format A full open source firmware is planned using chibios and like Bus Pirate […]