For anyone keeping score, we just published the 50,000th post on @hackaday
I've added a note to the top of the post to mark the occasion. The fact that it's about something as oddball as the right to repair ice cream machines seems particularly on brand for us.
Experimenting with using side-firing 1204 SMD #LEDs to light up #pcbart
The idea is to have a few #sao in this general layout for 2024 so I can swap the logo/text on the front by just replacing the copper/mask layers.
Here you can see the first attempt with the @somafm logo. Needs a diffuser on the back so the light is even. Using clear hot glue now -- works, but messy. Will be experimenting with a printed diffuser soon.
Don't think I ever posted picture of the finished project. Using 3 mm color-change LEDs and a pair of CR2032 cells in parallel which should give decent enough runtime.
This Christmas Eve, there's going to be a 13 year old elf assembling these at the dining room table.
Cyberpunk moment of zen: when it's faster (and almost as cheap) to have Amazon Prime send you out complete modules and strip them for their battery clips than it is to put an order for them through DigiKey/Mouser. #electronics
@tomnardi Crazy the times we live in. There is so much stuff out there that I feel if we just suddenly stop making it, we could make do for several decades just by scavenging.
Since I've seen other people posting their Supercon SAOs, I suppose it's time to show off mine: the Cyberdeck SAO.
Keeping the specifics a surprise, but pressing the button on the side will cycle through animations that reference various cyberpunk and hacking movies, plus a few other fun things.
Will have 30 of these on hand, trades for other SAOs would be appreciated, but not necessary.
Wrote up a recent side-quest I went through while working on my SAO for Supercon -- mounting DIP8 ATtiny85s like an SMD component by using a custom KiCad footprint.
My review of the new WAINLUX K8 is now live on Hackaday.
Verdict: while a diode laser will always be inherently limited compared to CO2 units like the K40, this turn-key enclosed and ventilated machine is a compelling package for hackers and makers with limited space.
I've taken apart a lot of stuff over the years, but I think this Epson printer front panel might be the only time I've ever seen reverse mounted SMD LEDs used like this.
Usually this is the kind of thing you'd see in a hacker conference badge, which is making me wonder who got the idea from who...
@tomnardi Fun trivia: These LEDs are commercially available for this explicit purpose even though you could just flip any normal 1206 package LED upside down to the same effect. The difference is that these are delivered upside down in the tape so that a normal pick and place machine can pick them up.
Working on a review for new WAINLUX laser, and part of that is making interesting things that are applicable to the hacker/maker crowd.
Recently came up this Kerbal-inspired flight sim panel out of black acrylic. Have to say, the capabilities of a small desktop laser (especially one that is designed with some level of safety in mind) are very exciting.
Just released the latest "Top Posts for the Week" Short on Hackaday's YouTube channel.
While I'm not overly thrilled about producing content in this form, I have to admit that the response has been very good. The videos get a decent amount of views and likes are always 90% or better.
Will probably start pushing these videos out to other social accounts soon. Which means yes, Hackaday will be on TikTok...