BGA Hand Soldering Uses Tombstone Resistor Technique, Demands Surgical Precision
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/bga-hand-soldering-uses-tombstone-resistor-technique-demands-surgical-precision/
Most Hackaday readers will be a pretty dab hand with a soldering iron. We can assemble surface-mount boards, SOICs and TSSOPs are a doddle, 0402s we take in our stride, and we laugh in the face of 0201s. But a Twitter thread from [Greg Davill] will probably leave all but …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/bga-hand-soldering-uses-tombstone-resistor-technique-demands-surgical-precision/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/bga-hand-soldering-uses-tombstone-resistor-technique-demands-surgical-precision/
Most Hackaday readers will be a pretty dab hand with a soldering iron. We can assemble surface-mount boards, SOICs and TSSOPs are a doddle, 0402s we take in our stride, and we laugh in the face of 0201s. But a Twitter thread from [Greg Davill] will probably leave all but …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/bga-hand-soldering-uses-tombstone-resistor-technique-demands-surgical-precision/)
Manufacturing in China Hack Chat
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/manufacturing-in-china-hack-chat/
Join us on Wednesday 10 July 2019 at noon Pacific for the Manufacturing in China Hack Chat with Jesse Vincent!
It started out where many great stories start: as a procrastination project. Open source developer Jesse Vincent decided that messing around with a new keyboard design was a better thing …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/manufacturing-in-china-hack-chat/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/manufacturing-in-china-hack-chat/
Join us on Wednesday 10 July 2019 at noon Pacific for the Manufacturing in China Hack Chat with Jesse Vincent!
It started out where many great stories start: as a procrastination project. Open source developer Jesse Vincent decided that messing around with a new keyboard design was a better thing …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/manufacturing-in-china-hack-chat/)
Teardown: VeriFone MX 925CTLS Payment Terminal
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/teardown-verifone-mx-925ctls-payment-terminal/
Regular Hackaday readers may recall that a little less than a year ago, I had the opportunity to explore a shuttered Toys “R” Us before the new owners gutted the building. Despite playing host to the customary fixture liquidation sale that takes place during the last death throes of such …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/teardown-verifone-mx-925ctls-payment-terminal/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/teardown-verifone-mx-925ctls-payment-terminal/
Regular Hackaday readers may recall that a little less than a year ago, I had the opportunity to explore a shuttered Toys “R” Us before the new owners gutted the building. Despite playing host to the customary fixture liquidation sale that takes place during the last death throes of such …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/teardown-verifone-mx-925ctls-payment-terminal/)
Trap Chess Keeps Players On Their Toes
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/trap-chess-keeps-players-on-their-toes/
Chess is a game that originated so long ago, we don’t have concrete information as to its origins. Rules have changed throughout history, and many continue to study and experiment with the game. [Yann Guidon] has a neighbour, [Bob], who is just one such enthusiast, and together, they built a …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/trap-chess-keeps-players-on-their-toes/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/trap-chess-keeps-players-on-their-toes/
Chess is a game that originated so long ago, we don’t have concrete information as to its origins. Rules have changed throughout history, and many continue to study and experiment with the game. [Yann Guidon] has a neighbour, [Bob], who is just one such enthusiast, and together, they built a …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/trap-chess-keeps-players-on-their-toes/)
A 3D Printed Micro:Bit Nunchuk
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/a-3d-printed-microbit-nunchuk/
As [Paul Bardini] explains on the Thingiverse page for his “Micro:Bit Hand Controller”, the Bluetooth radio baked into the BBC’s educational microcontroller makes it an ideal choice for remotely controlling things. You just need to give it a nice enclosure, a joystick, a couple of buttons, and away you go. …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/a-3d-printed-microbit-nunchuk/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/a-3d-printed-microbit-nunchuk/
As [Paul Bardini] explains on the Thingiverse page for his “Micro:Bit Hand Controller”, the Bluetooth radio baked into the BBC’s educational microcontroller makes it an ideal choice for remotely controlling things. You just need to give it a nice enclosure, a joystick, a couple of buttons, and away you go. …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/a-3d-printed-microbit-nunchuk/)
ESP32 Gets Advance Windowed Apps Using This VGA GUI Library
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/esp32-gets-advance-windowed-apps-using-this-vga-gui-library/
We featured [Fabrizio Di Vittorio]’s FabGL library for the ESP32 back in April of this year. This library allows VGA output using a simple resistor based DAC (3 resistors for 8 colors; 6 resistors for 64 colors), and includes functions for PS/2 mouse and keyboard input, a graphics library, and …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/esp32-gets-advance-windowed-apps-using-this-vga-gui-library/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/esp32-gets-advance-windowed-apps-using-this-vga-gui-library/
We featured [Fabrizio Di Vittorio]’s FabGL library for the ESP32 back in April of this year. This library allows VGA output using a simple resistor based DAC (3 resistors for 8 colors; 6 resistors for 64 colors), and includes functions for PS/2 mouse and keyboard input, a graphics library, and …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/esp32-gets-advance-windowed-apps-using-this-vga-gui-library/)
Wimbledon 2019: IBM’s Slammtracker AI Technology Heralds the Demise of the Human Player
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/wimbledon-2019-ibms-slammtracker-ai-technology-heralds-the-demise-of-the-human-player/
Whilst we patiently wait for the day that Womble-shaped robots replace human tennis players at Wimbledon, we can admire the IBM powered AI technology that the organisers of the Wimbledon tennis tournament use to enhance the experience for TV and phone viewers.
As can be expected, the technology tracks the …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/wimbledon-2019-ibms-slammtracker-ai-technology-heralds-the-demise-of-the-human-player/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/wimbledon-2019-ibms-slammtracker-ai-technology-heralds-the-demise-of-the-human-player/
Whilst we patiently wait for the day that Womble-shaped robots replace human tennis players at Wimbledon, we can admire the IBM powered AI technology that the organisers of the Wimbledon tennis tournament use to enhance the experience for TV and phone viewers.
As can be expected, the technology tracks the …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/wimbledon-2019-ibms-slammtracker-ai-technology-heralds-the-demise-of-the-human-player/)
Hacking The Pocket Operator
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/hacking-the-pocket-operator/
The number of easily usable and programmable microcontrollers is small, so when selecting one for a project there are only a handful of very popular, well documented chips that most of us reach for. The same can be said for most small companies selling electronics as well, so if you …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/hacking-the-pocket-operator/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/hacking-the-pocket-operator/
The number of easily usable and programmable microcontrollers is small, so when selecting one for a project there are only a handful of very popular, well documented chips that most of us reach for. The same can be said for most small companies selling electronics as well, so if you …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/08/hacking-the-pocket-operator/)
Rock, Paper, Neural Net
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/rock-paper-neural-net/
You might think the game of Rock Paper Scissors is just the random chance, but that’s not true. There is a strategy for Rock Paper Scissors, multiple ones in fact, and the best human players can consistently beat any Joe Schmoe off the street. But what about computers? [Paul] answered …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/rock-paper-neural-net/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/rock-paper-neural-net/
You might think the game of Rock Paper Scissors is just the random chance, but that’s not true. There is a strategy for Rock Paper Scissors, multiple ones in fact, and the best human players can consistently beat any Joe Schmoe off the street. But what about computers? [Paul] answered …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/rock-paper-neural-net/)
New Part Day: The $15 ESP32 With Cellular
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/new-part-day-the-15-esp32-with-cellular/
Cruise around AliExpress for long enough and you’ll find some interesting new hardware. The latest is the TTGO T-Call, an ESP32 breakout board that also has a cellular modem. Yes, it’s only a 2G modem, but that still works in a lot of places, and the whole thing is $15. …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/new-part-day-the-15-esp32-with-cellular/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/new-part-day-the-15-esp32-with-cellular/
Cruise around AliExpress for long enough and you’ll find some interesting new hardware. The latest is the TTGO T-Call, an ESP32 breakout board that also has a cellular modem. Yes, it’s only a 2G modem, but that still works in a lot of places, and the whole thing is $15. …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/new-part-day-the-15-esp32-with-cellular/)
The Saga of 32-Bit Linux: Why Going 64-Bit Raises Concerns Over Multilib
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/the-saga-of-32-bit-linux-why-going-64-bit-raises-concerns-over-multilib/
The story of Linux so far, as short as it may be in the grand scheme of things, is one of constant forward momentum. There’s always another feature to implement, an optimization to make, and of course, another device to support. With developer’s eyes always on the horizon ahead of …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/the-saga-of-32-bit-linux-why-going-64-bit-raises-concerns-over-multilib/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/the-saga-of-32-bit-linux-why-going-64-bit-raises-concerns-over-multilib/
The story of Linux so far, as short as it may be in the grand scheme of things, is one of constant forward momentum. There’s always another feature to implement, an optimization to make, and of course, another device to support. With developer’s eyes always on the horizon ahead of …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/the-saga-of-32-bit-linux-why-going-64-bit-raises-concerns-over-multilib/)
Soak up the Sun with this 3D Printed Solar Harvester
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/soak-up-the-sun-with-this-3d-printed-solar-harvester/
At first glance, adding solar power to your project might seem easy. Get a photovoltaic panel, point it towards the big ball of burning gas in the sky, and off you go. But in reality, there’s a bit more to it than that. Especially when you’re trying to do something …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/soak-up-the-sun-with-this-3d-printed-solar-harvester/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/soak-up-the-sun-with-this-3d-printed-solar-harvester/
At first glance, adding solar power to your project might seem easy. Get a photovoltaic panel, point it towards the big ball of burning gas in the sky, and off you go. But in reality, there’s a bit more to it than that. Especially when you’re trying to do something …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/soak-up-the-sun-with-this-3d-printed-solar-harvester/)
It’s NICER in Orbit
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/its-nicer-in-orbit/
Given the sheer volume of science going on as the International Space Station circles above our heads every 90 minutes or so, it would be hard for any one experiment to stand out. ISS expeditions conduct experiments on everything from space medicine to astrophysics and beyond, and the instruments needed …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/its-nicer-in-orbit/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/its-nicer-in-orbit/
Given the sheer volume of science going on as the International Space Station circles above our heads every 90 minutes or so, it would be hard for any one experiment to stand out. ISS expeditions conduct experiments on everything from space medicine to astrophysics and beyond, and the instruments needed …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/its-nicer-in-orbit/)
FlexLED Is A Unique Take On Persistence of Vision
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/flexled-is-a-unique-take-on-persistence-of-vision/
Many hackers have experimented with the persistence of vision effect. Whip around a bunch of LEDs, flash them at just the right times, and it’s possible to make images to appear to hang in the air. There’s plenty of ways to do this, whether by manually shaking the LEDs by …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/flexled-is-a-unique-take-on-persistence-of-vision/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/flexled-is-a-unique-take-on-persistence-of-vision/
Many hackers have experimented with the persistence of vision effect. Whip around a bunch of LEDs, flash them at just the right times, and it’s possible to make images to appear to hang in the air. There’s plenty of ways to do this, whether by manually shaking the LEDs by …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/flexled-is-a-unique-take-on-persistence-of-vision/)
Liquid Damaged MacBook Saved With A Keen Eye
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/liquid-damaged-macbook-saved-with-a-keen-eye/
Even among those of us with a penchant for repairing electronics, there are some failures which are generally considered too severe to come back from. A good example is liquid damage in a laptop; with so many components and complex circuits crammed into such a small area, making heads or …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/liquid-damaged-macbook-saved-with-a-keen-eye/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/liquid-damaged-macbook-saved-with-a-keen-eye/
Even among those of us with a penchant for repairing electronics, there are some failures which are generally considered too severe to come back from. A good example is liquid damage in a laptop; with so many components and complex circuits crammed into such a small area, making heads or …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/liquid-damaged-macbook-saved-with-a-keen-eye/)
Space Age Bitcoin Mining on an Apollo AGC
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/space-age-bitcoin-mining-on-an-apollo-agc/
Imagine you’ve got an Apollo Guidance Computer, the machine that took men to the Moon 50 years ago. You’ve spent ages restoring it, and now it’s the only working AGC on the planet. It’s not as though you’re going to fly to the Moon with it, so what do you …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/space-age-bitcoin-mining-on-an-apollo-agc/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/space-age-bitcoin-mining-on-an-apollo-agc/
Imagine you’ve got an Apollo Guidance Computer, the machine that took men to the Moon 50 years ago. You’ve spent ages restoring it, and now it’s the only working AGC on the planet. It’s not as though you’re going to fly to the Moon with it, so what do you …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/space-age-bitcoin-mining-on-an-apollo-agc/)
The Theremin Gets A Voice
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/the-theremin-gets-a-voice/
Every once in a while, we come across a project that adds a ridiculously good twist on an existing design. This is exactly what [Xiao Xiao] and the team at LAM research group at the Institut d’Alembert in Paris have done. Their project T-VOKS is a singing and Speaking Theremin …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/the-theremin-gets-a-voice/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/the-theremin-gets-a-voice/
Every once in a while, we come across a project that adds a ridiculously good twist on an existing design. This is exactly what [Xiao Xiao] and the team at LAM research group at the Institut d’Alembert in Paris have done. Their project T-VOKS is a singing and Speaking Theremin …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/the-theremin-gets-a-voice/)
Robot Harvesting Machine Is Tip Of The Agri-Tech Iceberg
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/robot-harvesting-machine-is-tip-of-the-agri-tech-iceberg/
Harvesting delicate fruit and vegetables with robots is hard, and increasingly us humans no longer want to do these jobs. The pressure to find engineering solutions is intense and more and more machines of different shapes and sizes have recently been emerging in an attempt to alleviate the problem. Additionally, …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/robot-harvesting-machine-is-tip-of-the-agri-tech-iceberg/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/robot-harvesting-machine-is-tip-of-the-agri-tech-iceberg/
Harvesting delicate fruit and vegetables with robots is hard, and increasingly us humans no longer want to do these jobs. The pressure to find engineering solutions is intense and more and more machines of different shapes and sizes have recently been emerging in an attempt to alleviate the problem. Additionally, …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/09/robot-harvesting-machine-is-tip-of-the-agri-tech-iceberg/)
Using Super-Efficient Solar Cells To Keep Your Electric Car’s Battery Topped Up
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/10/using-super-efficient-solar-cells-to-keep-your-electric-cars-battery-topped-up/
Who hasn’t thought of sticking a couple of solar panels onto an electric car’s roof to keep its battery at 100% charge while it’s parked out in the sun? While usually deemed impossible due to the large number and weight of PV solar cells required to get the necessary amount …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/10/using-super-efficient-solar-cells-to-keep-your-electric-cars-battery-topped-up/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/10/using-super-efficient-solar-cells-to-keep-your-electric-cars-battery-topped-up/
Who hasn’t thought of sticking a couple of solar panels onto an electric car’s roof to keep its battery at 100% charge while it’s parked out in the sun? While usually deemed impossible due to the large number and weight of PV solar cells required to get the necessary amount …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/10/using-super-efficient-solar-cells-to-keep-your-electric-cars-battery-topped-up/)
New Part Day: Two Millimeter Addressable LEDs
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/10/new-part-day-two-millimeter-addressable-leds/
The WS2812, or “Neopixels”, or whatever you want to call them, are the standard when it comes to adding blinky to anything. These chips are individually addressable RGB LEDs, which you’ve seen in many LED strips and a thousand other products. These LEDs are rather big compared to normal, dumb …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/10/new-part-day-two-millimeter-addressable-leds/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/07/10/new-part-day-two-millimeter-addressable-leds/
The WS2812, or “Neopixels”, or whatever you want to call them, are the standard when it comes to adding blinky to anything. These chips are individually addressable RGB LEDs, which you’ve seen in many LED strips and a thousand other products. These LEDs are rather big compared to normal, dumb …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/07/10/new-part-day-two-millimeter-addressable-leds/)