#FreePCB via Twitter to 2 random RTs

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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 it every Sunday, right here on the blog
  • Tweet-a-PCB Tuesday. Follow us and get boards in 144 characters or less
  • Facebook PCB Friday. Free PCBs will be your friend for the weekend

Some stuff:

  • Yes, we’ll mail it anywhere in the world!
  • Check out how we mail PCBs worldwide video.
  • We’ll contact you via Twitter with a coupon code for the PCB drawer.
  • Limit one PCB per address per month please.
  • Like everything else on this site, PCBs are offered without warranty.

We try to stagger free PCB posts so every time zone has a chance to participate, but the best way to see it first is to subscribe to the RSS feed, follow us on Twitter, or like us on Facebook.

Simple soldering iron driver (SSID) with Arduino PID control

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Carlazar posted pictures of his simple soldering iron driver (SSID) with Arduino PID control in the project log forum:

Main features are:
– Any thermocouple type irons.
– Additional control mode: On-Off controller (besides PID PWM).
– External power supply: Some standard Notebook power supply DC 19V, 4.74A.
– Small dimensions: It fits into 90mm x 110mm x 45mm (WxDxH) box.
– Easy to assemble.
– Simple design: only a few components (besides Arduino).
The HQ soldering iron HQ20/HQ30 (24V, 48W) was used. It has the E-type thermocouple built in (68uV/degC) but you can change that value in software according to the soldering iron that is used (for example K-type is 41uV/degC).

NandLand – FPGA info and tutorial site

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Russell is interested in working with FPGAs. He’s developed an educational website: www.nandland.com. “It’s an educational website for people interested in learning about FPGAs and ASICs, mostly by focusing on VHDL and Verilog tutorials and examples. I have written all of the content on it myself and I’m adding new content constantly.”

Check it out!

Via the contact form.

OTTO – The hackable GIF camera

Gustavo Huber and his friends announced that OTTO – the hackable GIF camera is now being offered on Kickstarter!

OTTO lets YOU decide how it takes pictures. Besides being the only camera that makes animated GIFs, OTTO’s an image making machine that can transform into hundreds of different cameras with a quick tap. GIFs, time lapses, impromptu photo booths, or something brand new, OTTO is ready for adventure!
OTTO lets you take photos with a real camera, while still being able to easily share them to your favorite people. Photos taken with OTTO are viewed and shared from your smartphone.

BlueMatrix – Bluetooth controlled LED matrix


Luca Dentella has published his latest project: BlueMatrix.

It’s a portable LED matrix display based on Arduino Uno, powered by a Lipo battery and connected via Bluetooth to a personal computer or an Android smartphone. I’ve also developed the controlling app for Android, available on Google’s PlayStore.

All the schematics, source files, inkscape files for the enclosure etc., are available on my blog and in my GitHub repository.

Via the contact form.

App note: Current sensing high side switch

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App note from International Rectifier on their IR331x part which offers a bunch of power protection and control all in one chip.

The new IR331x devices designed in P3 technology provide enhanced accuracy for current feedback measurement. Ideal for high-demand applications — including advanced power management systems commonly found in online gaming infrastructures such as those powering a casino utan spelpaus — the IR331X series ensures robust protection through programmable current shutdown, over-temperature shutdown, and reverse battery protection. Its current sensing capabilities deliver precise current readouts, high-frequency bandwidth, and versatile shutdown control, eliminating the need for traditional shunt resistors.

App note: Current ratings of power semiconductors and thermal design

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Here’s an app note from International Rectifier discussing on semiconductor’s limitations.

This application note described the methods commonly used to calculate peak junction temperature in a power circuit. It also explains the assumptions behind the current ratings of power semiconductors.

Free PCB Sunday: Pick your PCB

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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 get a coupon code for the free PCB drawer tomorrow morning. Pick your own PCB. You get unlimited free PCBs now – finish one and we’ll send you another! Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three times every week:

Continue reading “Free PCB Sunday: Pick your PCB”

Free PCB coupon via Facebook to 2 random commenters

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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. More PCBs via Twitter on Tuesday and the blog every Sunday. Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three times every week:

Continue reading “Free PCB coupon via Facebook to 2 random commenters”

Week in (p)review May 16, 2014

Bus Pirate v3 probe cable labels male pins

Here’s a summary of major developments over the last week. Free PCB Friday is coming up soon.

Coming up:

  • Free PCBs via Facebook on Friday
  • App notes on the weekend
  • Free PCB Sunday
  • Free PCBs via Twitter on Tuesday
  • Weekly roundup and preview every Friday

Hacker Camp Shenzhen Video: Advanced soldering demo at Hacker Camp Shenzhen

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QFN, BGA, plastic connectors, other crazy advanced removal and replacement of surface mount components by a teacher at a Lande Mobile Repair School in Shenzhen China. Part of Hacker Camp Shenzhen 2014. Presentations, pictures, and overview here.

Next week we’ll have step by step instructions for reballing BGA chips. Get your BGA reballng practice kit from Seeed and follow along.

Via Hacker Camp Shenzhen mini-site: Hacker Camp Shenzhen Video: Advanced soldering demo at Hacker Camp Shenzhen

New Bus Pirate v3 probe cable with labels and male pins

Bus Pirate v3 probe cable labels male pins

Seeed Studio has a new Bus Pirate v3 probe cable in stock. This cable was prototyped with help from the community using our L-Mark shrink tube printer. Review and posts here.
Easily connect to chips with this probe cable for Bus Pirate v3.x (all versions). Each wire has a convenient male pin header for easily connecting to chips in a bread board. All pins are clearly labeled so you know the exact function at a glance.

Taco Crawl in San Francisco tonight!

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In San Francisco early for the Maker Faire? Join our annual taco crawl through the mission district. Meet up at Noise Bridge Hackerspace near 17th and Mission at 6pm. Thats just off the 16th and Mission BART stop. We’ll crawl down Mission and eat tacos the whole way, ending at Rosamunde for a sausage and beer if we’re still standing. Its been a great prefaire party for the past threeyears, and we look forward to seeing you tonight!

Bruce in a box augmented reality project

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Julie Wang  from Cornell University developed a Bruce in a box augmented reality project for her ECE 5760 final project:

My system makes use of a variety of digital signal processing and computer vision techniques, resulting in a robust and reliable system. The hardware I utilized was the DE2-115 board by Altera, a Video Camera, and a VGA monitor. All of the functionality of my project is achieved through custom hardware written in Verilog. There are an extensive number of modules, and each one is designed to be as modular and parameterizable as possible.

Via Hacked Gadgets.

Check out the video after the break.

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Taco Crawl 2014 Thursday before Maker Faire

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Every year before Maker Faire we spend a day in San Francisco to visit the Noisebridge hackerspace, Instructables, and other open hardware/DIY/hacker friendly people. Noisebridge is located in a neighborhood called the Mission District, and it has dozens of delicious Mexican taco shops called taquerias. We try to eat a carne asada taco at every shop, but there’s so many it’s an impossible challenge.

If you’re in San Francisco for the Maker Faire early please join us for the Dangerous taco crawl from Noise Bridge hacker space through the Mission District on Thursday the 16th. We’ll meet at Noise Bridge near the 16th and Mission Street BART stop at about 6pm. If you can make it please give us a shout via the contact form.

Make gave us two free tickets for friends, we’re going to give them away at the taco crawl. If you don’t have tickets yet let us know on Thursday and we’ll give you our extras.

Route map below the fold. Hit us up on the contact for for a cell number if you want to track us down after the crawl is under way.

Continue reading “Taco Crawl 2014 Thursday before Maker Faire”

Execute Arduino code in a PIC MCU using MPLAB IDE


Want to run Arduino code in a PIC MCU? “Here’s an approach that enables Arduino code to be configured for execution with the Microchip Technology PIC32MX250F128B small-outline 32-bit microcontroller. It uses the Microchip Technology MPLAB X IDE and MPLAB XC32 C Compiler and the Microchip Technology Microstick II programmer/debugger.”

Via Circuit Cellar.

WS2812 level translator

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Bogdan of Electro Bob wrote an article on using the WS2812 level translator:

Although the data sheet states that you would need at least 3.5V for them to recognize as HIGH level(70% of 5V), many seem to have no problem being driven from a 3.3V micro. With the signal regeneration that each does, it is only a problem for the first one in the chain. But, as I found out, some LEDs simply don’t work as the first device, and to be safe it is best to use a level translator. Unless you completely forget about it and find yourself in need of driving a display with WS2812 which does not like 3.3V signals.
Luckily there is a simple solution with parts that you have available: just another WS2812 LED (or two) and a diode. The trick is to power the first LED in the chain from 5V via a diode dropping its supply to 4.3V*. At this level the 3.3V signal from the microcontroller is within specifications to be recognized as a high level. As each LED does signal regeneration the output of the first LED will be at a 4.3V level which is in specification for the next LED powered at 5V…