DIY project creates Zigbee to Ethernet bridge with WT32-ETH01

DIY Ethernet Zigbee Coordinator

We previously wrote about Ebyte E180-ZG120B-TB an inexpensive ($9.90) Zigbee 3.0 evaluation board based on Silabs EFR32MG1B Arm Cortex-M4 wireless MCU and the equally cheap ($7.78) WT32-ETH01 ESP32 Ethernet board. What do they have in common? Absolutely nothing! But GitHub user tube0013 decided to connect both boards over UART to create a Zigbee to Ethernet DIY coordinator/bridge running open-source firmware. The hardware also includes a Micro USB adapter for power, several 10cm jumper wires, and he/she also designed a 3D printed case. EZSP-Firmware is used for the Ebyte Zigbee 3.0 board, and ESPHome open-source home automation firmware for the ESP32 board. You’ll also need serial to IP code and ESPHome config. Note that flashing firmware to the Ebyte requires a programmer, and the developer used a J-link EDU Mini together with Silicon Labs’ Simplicity Commander. As mentioned above, a 3D printed case has also been designed, so everything is neatly […]

Breadbox Double weatherproof breadboard enclosure houses two standard breadboards

breadboard case

Breadboards are mostly used to experiment and quickly prototype circuits before either moving the said circuit to a perfboard or designing your own PCB. But if you ever need to transport your messily wired breadboard, let alone used it outdoors, you’d need a case. That’s exactly what Circuit Armour has built with Breadbox Double, a weatherproof breadboard enclosure designed to house two standard 1/2 sized breadboards. The Breadbox Double enclosure is 3D-printed with ABS, features a rubber foam seal between the base and cover to create a dust-and-waterproof seal, a waterproof connector for the wires, as well as a tiny lens that allows an LED to be viewed from the outside. The enclosure can be mounted to a wall, tree, planks, etc.. thanks to 12 mounting holes on the side of the enclosure. Once installed, you can still loosen the screws and remove the top cover to make any modifications […]

NODE Mini Server V3 Transforms Raspberry Pi 4 Into a Server or Mini PC

NODE Mini Server V3 Enclosure

Hardware hacker NODE has had a busy month starting with the announcement of Zero Terminal V3 modular Raspberry Pi Zero W powered handheld PC, and now he’s just showcased NODE Mini Server V3 that transforms a Raspberry Pi 4 into a compact server or mini PC. The project brings all ports to the same side in a similar fashion as Argon One enclosure through the use of custom adapter boards, but also enable easy integration of USB SSD drives, easier access to the MicroSD card socket, and support for fanless or dual-fan cooling. Besides the Raspberry Pi 4 SBC, NODE Mini Server V3 includes the following components: HDMI Micro HDMI Male Component. “Wedge Type” as this HDMI connector on Aliexpress. HDMI Type A Connector (47151-1001) USB Pololu USB 2.0 Type-C Connector Breakout USB-C Male Plug Breakout Board Male USB 3.0 Plug (692112030100) Female USB 3.0 Connector (48405-0003) Storage USB3 to […]

Kano PC 2-in-1 DIY Hybrid Laptop is Powered by an Intel Celeron N4000 Gemini Lake SoC

kano pc diy laptop

Kano PC DIY computer kit was launched last year with a low-end Intel Atom x5-Z8350 processor and designed to help kids learn about computers. The company has now launched the second-generation Kano PC with a faster Intel Celeron N4000 dual-core processor, and longer battery life making the 2-in-1 DIY Hybrid laptop/tablet capable of rivaling with entry-level laptops and Chromebooks. Kano PC specifications: SoC – Intel Celeron N4000 dual-core Gemini Lake processor @ 1.10 GHz with Intel UHD graphics; 6W TDP System Memory – 4GB DDR3L RAM Storage – 64GB eMMC flash with 164 MB/s write speed, MicroSD slot Display – 11.6″ touchscreen with 1366 x 768 resolution Audio – 3.5mm headphone jack, 3.5mm speaker level jack, 1x microphone Video 1x HDMI port Connectivity – Dual-band Wi-Fi 4 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0 USB – 2x USB 3.0, 1x USB-C LEDs – 1x power on (red), 1x barrel connector (red), 1x battery […]

Up2stream Mini & Pro v3 Audio Boards Add Bluetooth 5.0, USB Sound Card Mode and More

Up2stream Pro v3 smart audio board

Rakoit launched Up2stream WiFi audio board in 2018, followed by Up2stream Pro board in 2019 with additional Bluetooth, Ethernet, and USB interfaces. Those boards are designed to bring network connectivity to speakers for audio streaming. The company has now launched updates with the launch of Up2stream Mini v3 and Up2stream Pro v3 connected audio boards. Both Up2Stream Mini v3 and Pro v3 have gotten similar updates with the ability to use the board as a micro USB sound card so you can directly plug it into a PC to make it work as a USB DAC. The boards also added SPDIF out, an ADC KEY input for external buttons, two I/O for extensions such as volume knobs. Up2stream Mini v3 now includes both WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. Shared key features and specifications of the boards are as follows:  Audio Output – 3.5mm audio jack and header (shared), I2S & […]

Make PCB’s with a Modified Lexmark Laser Printer

Make PCB Lexmark Laser Printer

PCB manufacturing services are pretty cheap and fast nowadays. But imagine some kind of highly transmissible virus hits the globe, somehow the whole global economy shuts down, and you are stuck alone at home with nothing but a Lexmark laser printer. What can you do? Well, you can make your own PCBs! No paper involved. That’s exactly what Vítor Barbosa did by converting a Lexmark E460(DN) laser printer into a PCB making machine, not because of COVID-19, but instead, because of the price and delays of ordering PCBs in Brazil. Using a laser printing to make your own PCB like take some work, notably to strip the printer of unused parts such as the fuser and fit it with Arduino Nano or Pro Mini board, an aluminum guide, some resistors and more. The modifications are all explained on Hackaday.io, and this is not a new idea as the project was […]

Bored during Quarantine? Get some Soldering Kits to keep you Busy (Crowdfunding & Alternatives)

Quarantine Soldering Kits

I’ve heard some of you are forced to stay at home for some reason… HHTronik has decided to design what they call “Quarantine Occupation Kits” which are actually open-source hardware soldering kits of varying complexity. Five soldering kits are available: I learn soldering TH (Super Easy) – Ten solder joints with one LED, one resistor, one switch and a CR2032 coin cell holder using through-hole components. The end results is a flashlight board I learn soldering SMD (Easy) – Same as above but with SMD (surface mount) components, and a more compact PCB. I learn soldering Boost Edition (Moderate) – More complex board with a bigger variety of parts and footprints including some slightly smaller and unusual parts (side view white LEDs, SOT23-6, SOT23-3, and 0805 passives). The assembled board is a step up” or “boost” converter taking 3V from the battery and bring it up to 6V to light […]

SimplePnP is a Low-Cost, Open Source Hardware Pick-and-Place Machine (Crowdfunding)

SimplePnP OSHW Pick-and-Place Machine

If you have a small production run for your board, it may not be cost-effective to ask a factory to manufacture it for you, and assembling the boards entirely by hand will be a time-consuming process. Getting a pick-and-place machine to automate the process would save time, but even the cheaper models on Aliexpress cost several thousand dollars. Citrus CNC tries to address the cost issue with the SimplePnP open source hardware pick-and-place machine that brings the price down to several hundred dollars. SimplePnP key features and specifications: MCU – Microchip Atmega328p running GRBL firmware Motor Drivers – TMC2209 stepper for two-phase stepper motors Word Area – 300 mm (X) x 300 mm (Y) Z Travel – 23 mm Components per Hour – 750 with vision assist Component Size – As small as 0402 (1005 metric) Vacuum Heads – Single vacuum head (base model), or optional dual-head Nozzle System – […]

EDATEC Raspberry Pi 5 fanless case