Are you looking for a portable breadboard power supply with a selectable voltage? Also thinking about how long the batteries will last? This project utilizes one or two AA/AAA batteries to generate a preselected voltage of 5V or 3.3V, and squeezes the batteries untill they have almost no power at all. AASaver is based on […]
Category Archives: tools
20x to 200x USB microscope review
Tod reviewed Adafruit’s USB microscope with magnifications ranging from 20x to 200x. He rigged up a custom holder from a microphone stand and some magnets. This is a full review of the USB microscope that is sold by Adafruit. It does 20x to 200x and also will let you take measurements if you enter the […]
3D printed wire stripper with a wire contact indicator
Bjbsquared designed a wire stripper tool with a LED indicator that flashes when contact with the wires is made. To built it you’ll need to get the model laser cut from acrylic or 3D printed. This is one of the best wire strippers I have ever used. If setup correctly, it can be very precise […]
Review of the Hakko FX-888 soldering station
John reviews the Hakko FX-888 soldering station. It’s the latest iteration of one of the most cloned soldering stations, the Hakko 936. The stations are simple and sturdy, with a wide selection of tips. The tips are backward and forward compatible, 900M tips fit the FX-888 and the T-18 tips fit older 936 stations. Although […]
Scheme-It: Digi-Key online schematic editor
Digi-Key has an online schematic editor known as Scheme-It. “Scheme-it is an online schematic and diagramming tool that allows anyone to design and share electronic circuit diagrams. The tool includes a comprehensive electronic symbol library and an integrated Digi-Key component catalog that allows for a wide range of circuit designs. Additionally, a built-in bill of […]
Transparency Grenade blows WiFi privacy out of water
Created in January, 2012, by Julian Oliver for the Studio Weise7 exhibition at Labor 8, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin, the Transparency Grenade represents a more physical approach to fostering the process of corporate and government transparency than the slow, tedious process of policy reform. Equipped with a tiny computer, microphone and powerful wireless […]
Design Spark free schematic layout software
In examining the design files for the Maker Shed pulse sensor we noted that they weren’t produced using Eagle. Instead, the files were generated using Design Spark’s free Schematic Layout Software. This is a free (activation required at no charge) PCB design alternative and is available from the Design Spark website. These are the sample […]
Drag soldering tips for Hakko 900M series and compatibles
A few weeks ago we wrote about hollowed-out chisel tips, and how good they are for drag soldering. Unfortunately they are either hard to find, or made only for expensive soldering irons. There also seem to be some patent disputes that keep them out of the US market for most major brands. Recently we were […]
Kicad libgen tool
Boseji informs us of the new libgen tool for creating Kicad schematics symbols. This tool is based on Python and can generate one Component from a XML file.This tool in multiple ways emulates the Quick KICAD Library Component Builder online tool for generating the symbols. However since it’s standalone it becomes easier to edit and […]
MakiBox A6 $300 Desktop 3D Printer
Drone writes about a new 3d printer project he’s found: MakiBox A6 is a new crowd-funded project by Jon Buford in Honk Kong. Price is $300USD each plus $50USD International shipping. The basic kit includes all MakiBox parts with electronics and power supply and 1 kg of plastic (2 x 1/2kg spools of ABS). No […]
Adafruit launches Circuit Playground app
Adafruit has launched their Circuit Playground app for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. It provides a collection of reference formulas at the touch of a button, simplifiying calculations to make your project more fun. Decipher resistor & capacitor codes with ease. Calculate power, resistance, current, and voltage with the Ohm’s Law & Power Calc modules. […]
Drag soldering with a GullWing tip
SparkysWidgets posted this drag soldering video in the comments of yesterday’s flux-off solder flux trials. He solders an FT232 IC with a Weller NTGW tipped soldering iron. These GullWing tips have a dimple in the tip that suck up excess solder, making it very easy to drag solder. Similar tips are also available for Pace […]
Workshop Video #06: Battle of the solder flux
We broke out 4 different types of flux we had in the workshop and tried them with surface mount parts. Liquid flux, flux paste, syringe flux, and a flux marker are all tested. We used each to solder a 0805 resistor and some pins of a QFP 0.5mm pitch IC to an xQFP protoboard. Edsyn […]
PICkit3 programmers are 20% off at MicrochipDIRECT
By using the coupon code “MPLABX” you’ll shave 20% off of a PICkit3 programmer/debugger, or a PICkit3 Debug express kit. PICkit3 is the latest in the PICkit series of programmers from Microchip. It supports all PIC and dsPIC microcontroller families. There are cheap clones floating around on eBay, but with this discount you can get […]
ESR meter build and review
Wingnut built an Equivalent Series Resistance meter based on this design. He made a couple mods to the original design to get better performance: I used a LMH6619 opamp for the oscillator, this is rail-to-rail output/input and 35mA current sourcing. It was salvaged from another project. Because of this, I had to modify the transformer […]
REVIEW: Olimex PICkit3 programmer clone
A few weeks ago we wrote about a PICkit3 clone from Olimex available on eBay for $30. Compared to the original it is considerably smaller and at first glace it looks sturdier as well. We like that Olimex decided to use the large type-B connector which seems more reliable then the original mini-B. The ICSP […]
Precision function generator tear-down
Hak8or tore open a function generator and posted the pics for our enjoyment. Check them out in the forum.
Instek GW GFG-8016G signal generator review
Sqkybeaver bought an Instek GW GFG-8016G signal generator for his birthday. It’s capable of creating sine, square, and triangle signals from 0.2 Hz -2 MHz. There’s also a 6 digit counter available with a bandwidth of up to 10 MHz. As soon as it was in his possession Sqkybeaver opened it up an posted some […]
Ultra-fast camera capable of a trillion frames per second
MIT Media Lab developed a camera capable of taking pictures at a trillion frames per second. It can capture images of a bean of light moving through space. The light source is a short laser pulse, and and reminds us of a ray-gun. The camera only photographs one vertical line at a time. The process […]
PACE-ST50 soldering station with a TD100 pencil
Arhi recently received his PACE-ST50 soldering station and wrote about his first impressions (mechanical translation). A simple aluminum box with a display and a few buttons is the as most soldering stations. What sets this one apart from most cheap soldering stations is the complex electronics and features packed inside. Support for InteliHeat type pencils […]