🛠 KiCad Plugin Gives You PCBs That Handmade Look

The goal of this plugin is to algorithmically melt a PCB design, smoothing all tracks in a predictable manner. The plugin produces rounded corners and teardrop-shaped pads. By using it, you can make your boards appear like old-fashioned circuit boards.

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#electronics

📰 Breakthrough Discovery of the One-Way Superconductor

Associate professor Mazhar Ali and his research group at Delft University of Technology have discovered one-way superconductivity without magnetic fields, something that was thought to be impossible ever since its discovery in 1911 – until now. The discovery, published in the journal Nature, makes use of 2D quantum materials and paves the way toward superconducting computing. Superconductors can make electronics hundreds of times faster, all with zero energy loss.

In superconductors, a current flows across a wire with no resistance, which means inhibiting this current or even blocking it is hardly possible – let alone getting the current to flow only one way and not the other. The fact that Ali’s group was able to make superconducting one-directional – which is required for computing – is remarkable: it’s like inventing a special type of ice that has zero friction one way but insurmountable friction the other.

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#news #electronics

🎬 Making PCBs with 3D printed stencil and UV paint

How to use an UV-curable soldermask as an actual etching mask. This process is pretty quick and doesn't require chemicals to develop the etching mask, just UV light and some heat.

Pros:
▫️ no chemicals besides the soldermask, isopropyl alcohol and etchant are required
▫️ the stencil completely blocks UV, making it hard to overexpose the board; it also completly passes the UV in uncovered areas, making the exposure faster than with a plastic film
▫️ the stencil is reusable

Cons:
▫️ not suitable for fine-pitch components
▫️ requires adding "bridges" to the stencil to keep it from falling apart

https://youtu.be/QdvfGcdTSuA

#video #electronics

🎬 How I hacked a hardware crypto wallet and recovered $2 million

I was contacted to hack a Trezor One hardware wallet and recover $2 million worth of cryptocurrency (in the form of THETA). Knowing that existing research was already out there for this device, it seemed like it would be a slam dunk. Little did I realize the project would turn into a roller coaster ride with over three months of experimentation, failures, successes, and heart-stopping moments. It reminded me that hacking is always unpredictable, exciting, and educational, no matter how long you've been doing it. In this case, the stakes were higher than normal: I only had one chance to get it right.

https://youtu.be/dT9y-KQbqi4

#video #electronics #security

🎬 Self-Soldering Circuits

In this video, author shows how to create a PCB that will solder itself after plugging in. Compare reflow soldering with pizza making: the PCB is like the dough the solder paste is the sauce, and the toppings are the electronics, the oven's heat is what bonds these individual items together. So using the same analogy making a self-soldering circuit is going to be like putting the oven in the dough and make it edible PCBs are made from multiple layers of copper stacked together one. One of those layers is usually a solid ground plane and if we chop this up into a one long track it can also be used as a small resistor that heats the board up and melts the solder.

https://youtu.be/r0csHZveVvY

#video #electronics #design

📰 Quantum photonic technology reduced to the size of a coin

Light-based quantum technology could enable virtually unhackable communication networks and computers that can tackle problems that are currently unsolvable. Today, generating exotic quantum states of light requires bulky equipment that limits the scalability of any potential applications. A new device that squeezes all the necessary components onto a chip smaller than a coin could be the solution, say researchers.

In a new paper published 17 April in Nature Photonics, scientists unveiled the first photonic chip that integrates all of the key components required to generate entangled photon pairs. Their approach relies on merging two different kinds of semiconductor technology to create a hybrid chip that can both generate laser light and convert that light into high-quality entangled photons.

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📰 MIT engineers “grow” atomically thin transistors on top of computer chips

A new low-temperature growth technology allows the integration of 2D materials directly onto a silicon circuit, which could lead to denser and more powerful chips.

Emerging AI applications, like chatbots that generate natural human language, demand denser, more powerful computer chips. But semiconductor chips are traditionally made with bulk materials, which are boxy 3D structures, so stacking multiple layers of transistors to create denser integrations is very difficult.

MIT researchers have now demonstrated a novel technology that can effectively and efficiently “grow” layers of 2D transition metal dichalcogenide materials directly on top of a fully fabricated silicon chip to enable denser integrations. The interdisciplinary team of MIT researchers has developed a low-temperature growth process that does not damage the chip.

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📃 5 Tips for Better High-Speed Circuit Design

Improve printed circuit board performance by ensuring impedance matching and following these 5 design recommendations.

High-speed circuit design is one of the most fundamental, yet challenging areas of electronics design. High-speed circuits are commonly used today and require most professional electrical engineers to delve into the world of high speed.

High-speed signals introduce extra complexity and unique technical challenges that make designing hardware less straightforward. One of these technical considerations is impedance matching—a unique and lesser-known area of circuit design. In this contribution, author covers the basics of impedance matching and share 5 tips to ensure that any high-speed circuit design works as intended.

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#articles #electronics #design

🎬 Making a PCB Motor spin 30,000 RPM FASTER

In this video, the creator improves a small PCB motor's performance by building and testing different controllers. He explains the concept of an ESC and the importance of synchronization. He also explores methods to control the motor's speed using magnetic sensors and a laser tachometer.

The creator designs a development board and achieves impressive results, reaching a maximum speed of 33,900 RPM. However, there are some limitations, such as compatibility issues and the need for additional sensors. Overall, the video offers valuable insights into building custom electric motors and optimizing their performance.

https://youtu.be/NX7GHqq28uU

#video #electronics

🎬 Secrets of a $182 Billion Chip Maker: AMD's Labs

The documentary takes viewers on an exclusive tour of AMD's massive lab in Austin, Texas. The lab is a hub of innovation and technical prowess, where every product undergoes rigorous testing and development.

What you will learn:
▫️ Discover how AMD pushes the boundaries of high-speed limits in their silicon architectures, enabling faster and more efficient performance.
▫️ Learn about the industry-standard protocols utilized by AMD, ensuring compatibility and seamless communication between different components.
▫️ Witness the innovative "Splinter" interposer card, a breakthrough technology that enhances chip connectivity and enables efficient data transfer between silicon pieces.
▫️ Delve into AMD's thermal lab, where advanced cooling solutions are prototyped and tested. Explore vapor chamber prototypes and experiments with thinning lids to optimize cooling efficiency.
▫️ Gain insights into the meticulous testing procedures employed by AMD, including micro-benchmarks and performance analysis.

Embark on this fascinating journey and explore the intriguing world of AMD's labs, where groundbreaking ideas are transformed into reality, pushing the boundaries of innovation in the tech industry.

https://youtu.be/7H4eg2jOvVw

#video #electronics

🎬 Electrolytic Capacitors: Comprehensive Overview, Teardown, and Experiments

The video explains the importance of electrolytic capacitors in power supplies, as they stabilize voltage and ensure a continuous power supply. It introduces three types of aluminum electrolytic capacitors: regular ones with electrolyte, solid ones without electrolyte, and hybrid ones with both. The focus is on reducing Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR) to minimize heat generation and extend capacitor lifespan.

The video provides practical tips for designing circuits to enhance capacitor longevity. The video is likely to be interesting to electronics enthusiasts, hobbyists, and professionals working with power supplies and electronic devices.

https://youtu.be/MAP-VA1m-A4

#video #electronics