I’m lucky enough to own a few 3D printers, and largely in this modern era, they work really well without too much tinkering and optimisation. Most of the time my printed results are close enough and I don’t get too hung up on calibration. When I do need higher dimensional accuracy one of my starting points is to check the diameter of the filament and then calibrate my extrusion and flow rates accordingly. It’s quite interesting how variable a nominally 1.7mm filament can be. The bdwidth is a device you can place in the filament path and it will constantly check the filament width and report the filament motion; combine it with a Klipper-controlled machine and it will automatically adjust the flow rate to constantly match the filament properties.
It’s an interesting device. Powered via USB, the onboard screen gives live feedback to the user. Its optical system can return filament dimensions to an accuracy of +- 0.015mm using a high-resolution CCD sensor. It also has the more common filament sensor functions built in such as jam detection and it will detect run-out situations and again can link to Klipper to pause the printer on detection of these conditions. There are options to connect this back to your machine via USB or I2C, and the USB port can also be used to update the firmware. Over on the repository, there are instructions on how to install this into Klipper which looks really straightforward and a Klipper config file addition is also supplied.
So if you want to optimize your prints just a little bit more, check out the bdwidth and let us know what you’re printing with it!
I love my Prusa Mini+ 3D printer. It’s been a tireless workhorse on many projects. I have to say that despite many years of 3D printing I’m still fascinated by them and can lose vast amounts of time sitting hypnotised by their wondrous movements. For those of you less enamoured and more sensible, there are numerous options for remote monitoring your 3D printers with the fabulous Octoprint leading the way. Recently Prusa has launched Prusa Connect which offers a heap of remote control functionality with, of course, the option of adding cameras. The PrintCam is a neat camera add-on designed to work specifically with Prusa Connect and it’s super simple to install and get up and running.
The PrintCam kit is a WiFi-enabled camera running at 640*480 resolution. While 640*480 might not sound a lot in terms of modern camera resolution, it’s plenty to check that your printer isn’t creating a spaghetti mess! The PrintCam assembly is powered via a cable that sits between the USB socket and the USB drive and, looking at the product video below, it looks incredibly simple to install, instantly powering up as the printer boots.
The camera can be mounted behind the Prusa Mini display but the kit includes a neat mount to attach the camera in an enclosure to the X-axis stepper motor. It gives a clear platform and nozzle view in either position and it’s perfect for quickly checking your print continues well in your absence.
One of the most useful tools I ever made was a converted Dremel workstation to hold a cheap soldering iron to be used to heat and press into place thermal inserts into 3D printed parts. It’s a handy rig and you can create very strong threaded connections using thermal inserts; however the tip on my soldering iron needed modification to just get it to work well with one size, M3. These Hakko Thermal Insert tips have been manufactured to fit a range of insert sizes, while also preventing damage to your usual soldering iron tip.
These tips are designed to be compatible with the Hakko FX-888D irons and as such, they are classed as a T18 style tip. It’s worth pointing out that there are many other manufacturers of soldering irons out there that use T18-compatible tips so you may find other soldering iron options available to you for your rig.
The tips cover a range of insert sizes from M2 to M5 and include an M2.5 tip — a great choice as M2.5 is a common mount size for Raspberry Pi, and M3 is common across Arduino and many other boards. If you’re into 3D printing, it’s important to get a decent fit and finish on the inserts to maximise the strength of the joint and we think these would help make that job a breeze. Give your prints a professional touch with metal threaded inserts!
In the world of 3D printing, you want your bed to be perfectly level with respect to the print head at all points. Things are rarely ever perfect, but your printer may be able to compensate by probing the bed surface before the print process starts. This type of compensation in real-time is normally out of the question due to the need to physically approach the bed for measurement, but Mark’s Bed Distance Sensor presents a non-proximity option, eliminating the need for this touch-off probing operation altogether.
The sensor is able to measure the distance from bed to nozzle as the print progresses, with a resolution of .01mm (accuracy +/- .005mm), at a distance of up to 7mm. This non-contact measurement setup can even account for changes in the bed after the print process starts. This is demonstrated in an amazing manner at around the1:15 mark in the video below. A tool is stuck under the bed while printing, and the print head keeps going without missing a beat:
As of now, the sensor is only compatible with Marlin firmware, and you’ll need a control board with 2 free GPIO pins to hook it up. The code and further information on how the device works is found on GitHub.
Despite the importance of protecting our files – it is way too easy to forget to make regular backups. Save yourself from explaining to the teacher that the dog ate your USB stick with the ThinkLearnDo Key Holder. This key holder provides an innovative solution to file storage, backing up your files each and every time you hang up your keys!
Useful for everyone from studious school children to busy office professionals – this key holder backs up your files while you rest! Shipped as a fun DIY kit, the device is powered by an Omega2+ development board and features a high-quality encrypted backup system. Let this key holder take charge of your backups whilst you recharge your batteries.
The kit contains all of the parts needed to build your very own auto-backup key holder, and is exceptionally well documented with its own hardware setup guide. You can either create a custom enclosure that fits your home perfectly, or purchase the brilliant black 3D printed case as an optional extra. Inside the enclosure is the green PCB, housing the main components and circuitry that make up this clever device’s brains.
The Proto-Toast is the hottest new prototyping breadboard, the perfect place to spread your components! This PCB is better than any PB&J, and its tasty design brings the heat to any project. With its classy gold on white design, the PCB is instantly recognisable as toasted bread whilst being incredibly useful in your projects. Equal parts beautiful and amusing, a lot of effort has been put into the clean artwork – even the pads are miniature toast slices!
The toast-slice shaped pads are spaced 100mm apart, the same as a breadboard, which follows the standard for most DIP (drop in place) chips. DIP chips are used regularly in common prototyping tools such as Arduino or Raspberry Pi – making this toasty breadboard applicable to all sorts of projects!
It’s great to use a prototyping board like this because it enables you to ‘toast’ your ‘bread’ board idea without changing the layout or components. Just copy the design you’ve created on your breadboard, and solder it down to the proto-toast! This saves a considerable amount of time and confusion, as you can reference your original prototype at any time.
Breadstick Innovations is an independent electronics company on Tindie that are making a name for themselves with brilliant custom PCBs. Based out of Edmonton, Canada, these makers are engineering technologists with a passion for expression – the best thing since sliced bread!
Get a one-up on your vintage gaming friends and code your own games with this super retro gaming device! It’s a 70s style portable LEDBOY games console featuring a ten by ten grid of addressable LEDs, to play many of your old-school gaming favourites. Perfect for coders and gamers alike, this beautiful white 3D printed machine has been designed with a lot of thought.
After a conversation discussing why designers never revisited this LED gaming style, LEDBOY decided to create this well-disigned and versatile device for the world. The carefully-printed exterior complements the meticulously spaced LEDs and creates a gaming experience unlike many others today. Currently featuring three classic games, this console is also designed for coding enthusiasts to recreate their favourites – or push the boundaries and come up with something original!
You can even hook this device up to external components such as temperature sensors – why not create a game that’s influenced by the sun? The unusual control format includes a rotary encoder and two push buttons; learn how to use these to your advantage and ensure you’re on the high score table!
If you sell PCBs on Tindie, you’ve perhaps designed a board to be hand built, then eventually set it up as a PCBA for assembly elsewhere when the volume and maturity justifies it. I went through this process myself with one of my products. Admittedly, there was a part where I was applying solder paste for assembly which could have been done in a neater and less wasteful manner.
One solution is to use a solder stencil, which in my experience comes with its own set of challenges – including the need to actually design and make. The second solution is to use a dispensing setup that can help you more accurately dispense globs of solder paste than with a manual syringe. Such a device comes with its own set of challenges, often including the need for compressed air. The e.Dispenser from Dan M does things a little differently by precisely displacing solder paste with a servo-driven linear actuator.
I got my hands on one of these units to try out and I’ve been pretty impressed, but read on to see my thoughts on how the device works!
e.Dispenser Initial Impressions
The system sells for a list price of $149.00 USD, including enough accessories (sans actual solder paste) to get you going. There are also a number of additional options available, including a foot-pedal and on-dispenser device trigger.
The device is made in, and ships from, Mexico. As an American buyer, my first hesitation was that there might be some import duties and/or hassle, however, I’m happy to report that in my case getting it was no trouble whatsoever. It simply showed up at my house in Florida via UPS, 11 days after placing the order. The item was very well packaged in custom-cut foam, which could double as storage apparatus if you’re careful when opening it up.
The device itself was well-made, with a laser-cut housing, and an LCD character display that will be familiar to anyone who has browsed an Arduino projects site for even a few minutes. The reversible USB-C power input was a nice feature, and there’s a 3.5mm jack for accessory connection. Finally, the driving stepper motor is keyed in such a way that it can’t be reversed when plugging it into the controller.
Dispensing Solder Paste
The unit is easy enough to plug in and turn on, and features a menu system driven by two encoders. The left encoder selects the menu option, while the right actually modifies it. When you press the trigger button, settings are saved to the profile you’re working with. When either is pushed in (at any time) the left pushes the piston forward, while the right pulls it back.
To insert solder paste, a coupler is included that lets you push it out of your old tube into the new tube quite elegantly. From there, the machine’s piston can push it out blob-by-blob. This is where things got a little hairy, due to:
I had no idea of the scale needed to push out a component’s worth of paste
My roughly year-old paste, stored in a hot garage wasn’t doing me any favors.
Quite a bit of excess initially dripped out after dispensing, and didn’t get the right amount on my pads to begin with. I contacted Dan M. about my predicament.
Long story short: I was dispensing way too much paste, and, according to Dan, depending on the type of paste you’re using, tiny air bubbles can cause a sort of internal spring effect. He gave me a few suggestions on things to try, and after a bit of tinkering, it worked much better. Also, it might seem obvious to many readers, but pressing down on the board before triggering the paste seems to work better than triggering it mid-air and attempting to dip paste onto the pads.
Dan’s support was prompt and excellent, offering me input and settings to try. That being said, I should have perused the documentation on his website more carefully, especially the page about dot dispensing to get a better sense of scale. I eventually made several prototype boards using the dispenser, which turned out much better than my syringe-only attempts.
After a bit of adjustment, oozing improved significantly
In my testing, I still get some paste extrusion after finishing a job using the dot dispensing mode. If/when I continue to tweak things (and/or buy new solder paste) I suspect this will improve. This adjustability is an excellent feature of this device, and up to 5 setups can be saved to allow you to work with different paste setups and/or scenarios.
External Trigger
As mentioned earlier, there’s a 3.5mm jack into which you can plug a foot pedal, or a trigger that slips over the dispenser tube. Both worked as designed, and I primarily tested the pedal. It’s also easy enough to start the device via the button on the main controller, though using the foot pedal felt natural and helpful once I started using it.
Vacuum Pickup
In addition to outputting solder paste, this device is also capable of picking up components and small ICs using vacuum. As there’s no air compressor involved, the way it does this is by pushing the piston into position, then pulling back to create a vacuum when triggered. I tested this with a few addressable LEDs, and even the Ooberlights circuit board seen above, and it works well.
The fact that it doesn’t need an air compressor is probably the #1 feature that will draw people to this device. The tradeoff here is that the driving stepper motor is on top of the dispensing syringe, which means that the center of mass is well offset from its geometric center. This wasn’t a problem for the limited assembly work that I’ve done with it so far, and I am thrilled to have this as a part of my workbench for prototyping. At the same time, this would likely be problematic if put into constant use over a full production shift.
A fascinating possibility for this device is that it seems to be just begging for people to use it in an automated manner per its external trigger capability. Dan has a guide to setting it up on a 3D printer here, but who knows what other people will (and have) come up with? Notably, the device can dispense other types of paste, opening up possibilities further.
The Verdict
This dispenser is well built and well supported, and it fills the niche between “what am I doing with this squeezy syringe thing” and full offshore production. There’s also the exciting possibility of repurposing a 3D-printer or other robotics assembly to work with this device. If you fall in the category of avid SMD prototyper, then in my humble opinion, it’s absolutely worthy of consideration!
Disclosure
Dan M provided the product at a discounted rate to me for this review. I’ve tried to be fair, open and honest in my appraisal of it, but if you’d like a second opinion (or forty-second opinions), you can check out the device’s customer reviews.
The dawning of the cyberpunk era is upon us – with films, games, comics and anime depicting a roboticized future of neon lights and A.I. driven cities. Display your very own piece of cyberpunk art with the Pulse Driver Cyberpunk LED PCB Desk Ornament! Its cleverly designed LED lights show a sparse futuristic cityscape which subtly glows – a brilliant way to display your deliciously nerdy taste in dystopian decor.
This art piece has a slowly pulsating light show that is entirely controlled by the custom-designed PCB. Using red, yellow, blue, and green LEDs, this objet-d’art brings a significantly geeky flair to your living space, especially for fans of Blade Runner, Cyberpunk 2077 or Ghost in The Shell – it’s undoubtedly a conversation starter.
Its cyberpunk-esque silkscreen print creates a fantastic-looking landscape using only electronics and PCB elements. The board sits in a purpose-built 3D printed stand – which contains all of the components and allows it to stand on any flat surface. In the bottom left, the Pulse Driver logo brings the whole product together and creates a very professional final look.
This product was designed by Black Tie Products, an independent company based out of New York, USA. New to selling on Tindie, they deliver unique and handcrafted electronics to customers worldwide.
Inside this tiny, card-sized casing lives a fully programmable, open-source, analogue and digital Foxie CardClock! This clock fulfils all of your pocket timepiece needs with a clever combination of beautifully designed circuit board, translucent grey faceplate, and a colourful 3D printed case.
The well layed out and brightly lit PCB display contains two rings of twelve LEDs – used as an analogue clock face with the ability to display a brilliant colour wheel light show! Below this is a fully configurable 17 by 5 LED matrix display which shows the time in a conventional digital format – also capable of portraying the time in binary, with no extra programming required! These displays are controlled by an onboard light sensor, ensuring that the brightness of the LEDs is always suited to the setting.
This device arrives fully assembled and ready to use or program to your needs – and comes in a choice of bold and vivid colours! It contains an onboard real-time clock, which, combined with WiFi synchronisation, means that this clock will always be right on time! Powered by an ESP8266 (a well loved WiFi-enabled microchip), it’s fully programmable using C++.
The files for the 3D printed case and more are available on Foxie Products GitHub, meaning that you can modify and print the case to fit your needs! Why not install holes, or hooks, to mount the clock on your bedside or to a backpack?
Foxie Products are an independent company based out of Texas in the United States. They create all sorts of superb colourful DIY technology to brighten up your spaces; why not check out their rainbow coloured desktop style Foxie Clock?
Cookies help us deliver our services. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more.
Cookies help us deliver our services. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn More.
The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.
The 
