Hackaday Podcast · 15 Mar 2024 · 1h 02m · Episode 262
Hackaday editors Elliot Williams and Tom Nardi discuss a German wheelchair manufacturer's controversial subscription model for app features, a community effort to document a poorly supported Hell Tech ESP32 dev board, and a review of Eric Hunting's comprehensive guide to mechanical building systems. They also cover techniques for reverse-engineering hex dumps in legacy devices, the use of scarf joints in 3D printing slicers, and Arya's new column on PCB design reviews and KiCad automation.
makers and hobbyists
Other shows on the same ground, closest first.
The host of The Electromaker Show reviews several maker projects, including Ralph S. Bacon’s exploration of wireless serial debugging, Carl Bugeja’s self-soldering PCB concept, and Ivan Miranda’s giant 3D-printed Lego go-kart. He also highlights the ZS Watch open-source smartwatch, the Puca DSP audio board, the FarPatch wireless debugger, and the newly announced ESP32 C6 module.
Hosts Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss a wide range of hardware topics, starting with Chris's preparation for Embedded World using FreeCAD and KeyCAD. They delve into Bluetooth Low Energy history and standards, then analyze the industry shift toward plug-in hybrids, citing Toyota's strategy. The conversation covers new silicon from Espressif, the TinyTapeOut project by Bitlooney, and Pete Bevilacqua's PowerMole Kickstarter, before concluding with a look at BeagleBoard.org's new Raspberry Pi-compatible board and a discussion on popular hobbyist components.
David Ray of Cyber City Circuits explains his company's transition from a kitchen-table hobby to a small-scale manufacturing hub for electronics and escape room props. He details a specific reverse engineering workflow for PCBs involving high-resolution photo scanning, GIMP, and Inkscape to recreate designs in KiCad, illustrated by his TI-83 calculator project. The conversation also covers the challenges of legacy component obsolescence, the utility of online communities like electronics Twitter, and the technical aspects of building interactive escape room hardware.
At KiCon 2019, Anool Mahidharia discusses using FreeCAD with KiCad, while AJ Keller from Neurosity explains the challenges of integrating 3D models for wearable headset PCBs. Uriel Guy presents KiCadShop, an open-source library for programmatic PCB layout, and Ste Kulov of HD Retrovision details the hardware and reverse-engineering efforts behind retro console video cables. Craig Bishop shares his perspective on PCB design tools, auto-routing, and the future of open-source hardware development.
Greg Davill, an engineer at an Australian aero surveying company, discusses his hobbyist work with KiCad, detailing how he uses Fusion 360 and Python scripts to create realistic renders of PCBs by converting SVG layers. Michael Ossmann, founder of Great Scott Gadgets, announces the shipping of the GreatFET One, a high-performance USB hacking tool, and discusses the company's transition from garage to scaling, highlighting collaboration challenges and testing failures with the HackRF.
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