August is in full swing, meaning that Tindarians are cleaning out space on workbenches worldwide to make room for Halloween projects.* While some previously-valuable electronics will sadly end up in landfills, other electronic detritus may make it to the Tindie Flea Market. Let’s see what’s on tap this month:
*Is this true? I don’t know. Let’s be honest though, your bench could use a nice tidying up once in a while.
Linear Actuator/Stage
If you need to precisely position something for a CNC machine or other robotics application, this stage is described as “very rigid,” and is driven by a NEMA17 stepper motor. Looks like a great device for the right application.
5V Input ==> Lower Voltage Output
Yes, you might be able to run a component on 5V even though it says something different, but you really shouldn’t. This device, Texas Instruments part number PTH05050WAH, converts a 5 V input to an output between 0.8 V and 3.6 V at an efficiency up to 95%!
3D Printer Width Sensor Kit
If you’re worried about the variation in your 3D printing filament, this kit measures its diameter, allowing you to set up your printer to adjust accordingly. Note that the sensor itself is only included in some of the options.
Russian Vacuum Fluorescent Display
There is not a whole lot of info on these devices, with a product description that notes: “This was produced in USSR for use in some sort of electronic devices.” It displays 4 digits, as well as some Russian text, and could make a great prop for a retro-futuristic themed hack.
Tah: BLE Arduino-Compatible Dongle
Tah is a dongle that can plug into your computer or other system with a USB port to act as an HID. It’s Arduino-compatible, and since you can link it up with a smartphone, it opens up all kinds of control possibilities!
