Tindie

LED filaments have been around for a while now and have been increasingly spotted in all kinds of projects. They offer some really nice properties in terms of light output and physical flexibility, plus they are pretty easy to drive. One of the original industry use cases for them was making retro light bulbs that mimic older filament bulb aesthetics, therefore it’s really cool to see the RetroLite, a retro-looking modern seven-segment display using them.

Project creator Eean discusses over on the product page that RetroLite is a development continuing from an earlier product: the InfiDig, a similar project, which, under certain conditions, had some small issues with flickering. The form factor has changed a bit too, taking advantage of card-edge connectors which can be used with the proper connectors, or you could cut a slot into your PCB and solder them directly in place! With the proper slot width, you could easily get a tilted display for easy reading.

The RetroLite has moved away from Charlieplexing and now features an onboard direct drive approach to address each LED filament. The result is an easy-to-use device that only needs addressing for changes and makes the creation of numbers, letters, and custom displays even easier. It uses the classic 74HC595 shift register, so there are lots of libraries and example code to get you up and running.  You can drive these displays via an SPI bus, but it is equally possible to drive them from any GPIO.

Supplied fully assembled, their great instructions and documentation are over on the repositories linked on the product page, and the design files are also available. As such we expect to see these cute chain-able glowing displays popping up in lots of projects.

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If you haven’t come across the M5Cardputer before don’t be fooled by the header image of this post. That keyboard is usually a full qwerty setup. The M5Cardputer is an ESP32-S3-powered device with lots of hardware wrapped around it. There is Bluetooth and WiFi, a diminutive but crisp 1.14″ TFT display, a MEMS microphone, an SD card slot, USB-C and much more. It’s a heap of programmable fun and, best of all, it’s around $30. Therefore we are not surprised to see it begin to pop up for resale with custom firmware and modifications for specific use cases, like this excellent 10LC Reverse Polish Notation (RPN) calculator.

RPN is rarely seen in modern calculators but was once a more common option. If you are unfamiliar, in math using reverse Polish notation the operators follow their operands. This means that the conventionally notated “2 + 3 – 1” becomes “2 3 + 1 -“. All operations are based on a stack, and using an RPN calculator is a great way to learn about how stacks work from a practical point of view.

RPN calculators were a hallmark of Hewlett-Packard scientific calculators, and are very collectable, often fetching a few hundred dollars for a good-condition classic. While emulation in software/apps is a good way to explore RPN nothing beats the feel of some real clicky hardware.

With its Xtensa 32-bit LX7 dual-core processor, the M5Cardputer-based 10LC is pretty powerful under the hood. It’s capable of processing 100,000 iterations of a loop in around 10 seconds. The custom 10LC firmware (pre-installed) has font size and colour options as well as optional audible keyboard beeps. The 10LC also comes with custom stickers to add to the M5Cardputer, but as this is a stock M5Cardputer under the hood, if the RPN calculator isn’t ultimately the calculator for you, you’ll find many interesting projects based around this fun little handheld.

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It’s fair to say the RP2040 from Raspberry Pi has swept through the makerverse and become a solid and affordable microcontroller for lots of projects. The chip itself is finding its way onto many independent development board designs, which are getting smaller and smaller. The RP2040 Zero from Waveshare is a variant of an RP2040 board that is so compact it lends itself well to wearable projects. It’s great to see this fabulous little collection of RP2040 Zero wearable cases and mounts appear here on Tindie.

The project creator suggests that these are “nothing fancy” and that you could probably make your own; however, this isn’t easy for those without access to a laser cutter. The upper and lower sections of the cases are laser cut from 1mm microply. The upper panel has two cutout sections which, combined with the flex in the thin ply, form button covers for tactile buttons. There is also a small hole which aligns with the RP2040 Zero onboard LED. Between the upper and lower plywood parts, there is a plastic spacer forming the walls of the cases and also creating the wrist mount loops in the pictured option. There are other options, however. A plain standalone case is available, as well as a case with wings on the rear cover and screw holes for mounting onto your project.

If you have the tools, you might want to create your own case — but if not you might consider one of these well thought out, affordable cases. It might save you a few valuable hours that you can assign to other parts of your RP2040 Zero project!

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There’s a wealth of options to add small displays to microcontroller projects but it can be a little bewildering to know where to start; additionally, it can also be a little bit of a lottery in terms of getting a quality image and frame rate. The vPlayer is an innovative little ESP32-based touchscreen display that aims to make this easier.

The bespoke PCB design hosts an ESP32 and a smartwatch display as well as a collection of connectors and an SD card. In fact, the fully assembled and tested device comes with an SD card and an example test video file on board. Over on the documentation pages, there is a link to a custom Windows or Mac video converter application which allows you to convert video files to the correct format, which you can then copy to the vPlayer SD card and it will loop through all the files on the card. If you’re a Linux user then fear not! There is an example command also on the documentation page allowing you to use ffmpeg to convert files using the terminal.

Video playing aside, there are heaps of examples for the vPlayer listed on the product page and shown in the product video. Among the examples are direct ESP-CAM feed monitoring, a local weather station display, traffic webcam feeds, an external computer telemetry display and more.

Power comes via USB-C which also can transport data. As with all ESP32s, there is onboard WiFi and Bluetooth. The smartwatch display is small but crisp and there is onboard backlight control as well as a touch interface. Digging into the specs there are UART, I2C and I2S broken out to JST SH/SR connectors as well as further IO pads available on the PCB.

With a commitment to continued updates and examples being developed, this is a really interesting project which we hope to see incorporated into lots of projects!

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Interestingly, I’ve been wanting to write up the XIAO Powerbread product for quite a while. In a rare peek behind the scenes, we here at the Tindie blog only tend to write about products that are in stock at the time of writing. A while ago I came across the XIAO Powerbread and promptly bought one and, naturally, my purchase took it out of stock!

Now back in stock, the XIAO Powerbread is an excellent and clever breadboard power supply. While there are lots of breadboard power supplies available, this one has features that take it a notch above most. It offers two outputs of the commonly used 3.3 V and 5 V. With the built-in LCD display the onboard voltage and current sensing functions are clearly shown and updated in real time. It’s excellent to be able to see voltage, current and power use.

Supplied as either a kit or assembled the XIAO Powerbread utilises an onboard RP2040 IC and the entire project is open source. There’s mention on the product page that future updates might include additional functionality such as USB serial communication and even PWM control. However, as a robust power supply capable of delivering up to 1.5A it’s a fantastic tool to have on your desk as it stands.

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I’m not quite old enough to remember the CMOS 4000 series ICs being released. I do, however, have a massive fondness for the series as, some years ago, I fell into the heady world of “Lunetta” building. Lunetta builders, working in the vein of Stanley Lunetta, create noisy synths using only the CMOS 4000 series running at audio rates in a way that was never particularly intended. The fact that you can make 6 square wave oscillators from a single CD40106 still excites me and a close follow-up favourite was making lo-tech sequencers using the CD4017 decade counter. Nostalgia aside, the CD4017 is an excellent chip that allowed clock and counter devices to be made very simply, including many early digital timepieces. This excellent CD4017 Digital Logic Clock V2.0 kit allows you to learn about the CD4017 and also practice your surface mount soldering to build this attractive clock.

Supplied as a PCB and components you’ll need a fine-tipped soldering iron and some thin SMD solder around 0.4mm or less. If you have done some through hole soldering before and want to try surface mount then this is potentially a great project to learn with. Over on the product page, there is a link in the documentation section to a web page with numerous videos and guides on how to build this device. Another option is “drag soldering” using a flat-blade tip to “drag” the solder along the leads. There are some excellent videos online demonstrating all sorts of SMD techniques — be sure to check them out! It’s not nearly as hard as it’s made out to be.

The device combines 6 x CD4017 decade counters which allows it to have an LED display for hours, minutes and seconds. The timebase is built around a 32.768 kHz crystal, with a CD4060 and 4027 dividing that down by 2¹⁴ resulting in a 2 Hz clock pulse. It’s built largely using the same type of technology as now vintage digital timepieces and, as such, should keep time well. Powered over USB, we can imagine this sitting on a desk or workbench as an excellent and attractive conversation starter.

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For many years a common hardware tool for learning about attacking and testing WiFi networks has been the Deauther. The original Deauther tended to be built around the ESP8266 and could create and execute a variety of attacks on 2.4 GHz WiFi networks. The original is an amazing device and has been built into all kinds of form factors including the classic watch package. Of course, the march of time and technology moves onward and now it’s very common to see or own 5 GHz WiFi systems. This new Realtek RDl8720DN-based Deauther tool can now explore and attack both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks simultaneously.

Of course we need to mention that you need to check your local laws before owning this in your region and you should only use this device to attack your own WiFi networks and devices or those that you expressly have permission to do so. The device differs a little from the original 2.4 GHz Deauther tool in that it only acts to send Deauther packages whereas the original project had numerous attack methodologies.

This 5 GHz Deauthor tool is supplied fully flashed and assembled and there is a choice of colours for the 3D-printed enclosure. Power is supplied via an included USB-C cable giving you plenty of options for mobile and desk-based experimentation.

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Disposable vapes have been a huge issue over here in the UK. I spent a lot of time last year collecting and reusing vape cells found on the roads and building them into various projects. Interestingly after a year of lobbying, the UK government has passed a motion to ban non-reusable vapes which certainly will be better for the environment. I probably have a lifetime supply of small LiPo vape cells all checked and stored at a storage charge. Speaking of charging, that’s one of the moderately tricky areas you need to address if you are harvesting these LiPo cells. There are lots of options and modules out there but an excellent one we spotted is this EcoCell LithiumSafe PCB.

It’s a neat design and we like that the PCB has some mounting holes specifically enabling you to attach the device to the common size of disposable vape cell. The vape cells are reasonably fragile so attaching to a rugged PCB seems a good option. The PCB has a power switch to turn on and off the battery output making it useful for inserting into small projects. On the charge side, there is a USB-C connector and the attached LiPo cell is protected from overcurrent, short circuit and both under and over voltages. There’s also thermal protection on board so if you have salvaged and characterized a healthy cell you can be pretty confident in leaving this system in a device.

Perfect for small microcontroller projects or periodic remote sensing projects, this product is supplied fully assembled – battery not included!

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There is probably a reasonable percentage of the Tindie blog readership who appreciate the glow of a Nixie tube. However lovely they are it’s fair to say they can be a little tricky to work with on the average modern and mostly digital home workbench. This Plexiglass Digit module circumvents the challenges of delivering the classic Nixie look with modern addressable LEDs.

Supplied assembled, these excellent modules are essentially a stack of layered Plexiglas with each layer laser-etched with a number. The base of the unit contains an array of WS2812 addressable LEDs all connected to the 3-pin header connector. With a little power and your choice of a microprocessor, you can address LEDs directly under certain Plexiglas panels to light the laser-engraved number. A big advantage is not having to work with the high voltage required to drive real Nixie tubes, which can be both a hassle to get working and also a safety issue, especially if you are working with younger makers.

The beauty of this approach is the light doesn’t bleed to other layers, and you get a clean crisp number. They do have a slightly different look than traditional Nixies – the digits almost look like miniature micro-LEDs floating in mid-air. Of course, this means you can include these modules in all manner of projects to get a heavily tuneable Nixie-like display. Set in a 3D printed case clamped with threaded studs which are terminated at the top with round-headed hex nuts, these modules scream out for a steampunk-style clock, or the display for your next time machine build!

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I’m old enough to remember the pre-smartphone heyday of the PDA. It was a great era with a large diversity of devices. I was a Palm fan and still have a drawer full of old handhelds that I’m reluctant to ever get rid of. Of course, like any technology, the PDA movement came armed with a lot of peripherals and accessories, with a common add-on for your device being a folding keyboard. Often these came with either some kind of physical connector or used IR to hook up to your PDA. These devices weren’t cheap so lots of the older folding keyboards are of excellent quality. This Bluetooth module enables you to convert numerous older folding keyboards to be compatible with your modern smartphone.

The currently supported folding keyboard models are the HP or Compaq G750, the Dell G7L0 and the Treo G740 with different module options for each. For all these folding keyboards the installation is similar in that you replace the old docking connector in the keyboard with the new module. Once fitted the keyboard will function as a Bluetooth or a wired USB-C keyboard and can be used wirelessly with any host that supports BLE/Bluetooth 4.0 and later.

The module contains a small battery which can be recharged via the USB connector with charge and power LEDs providing feedback. The project creator offers a neat customisation service for the firmware. If you have a non US keyboard variant or want to otherwise customise the keyboard mapping it just takes a message or two after placing your order.

It’s great to see projects like this on Tindie. It’s so important to try and reduce the amount of e-waste hitting landfill and often, with a little effort to modernise older technology, you’ll end up with a great device that’s also a good conversation starter!

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