url
stringlengths 37
208
| title
stringlengths 4
148
| author
stringclasses 173
values | publish_date
stringclasses 1
value | categories
listlengths 0
12
| tags
listlengths 0
27
| featured_image
stringlengths 0
272
| content
stringlengths 0
56.1k
| comments_count
int64 0
900
| scraped_comments_count
int64 0
50
| comments
listlengths 0
50
| scraped_at
float64 1.76B
1.76B
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/17/robot-dinosaur-yolos-colors-and-shapes-for-kids/
|
Robot Dinosaur YOLOs Colors And Shapes For Kids
|
Tyler August
|
[
"Artificial Intelligence",
"Toy Hacks"
] |
[
"educational toy",
"object detection",
"YOLO"
] |
YOLO can mean many things, but in the context of [be_riddickulous]’s
AI Talking Robot Dinosaur
it refers to the “You Only Look Once” YOLOv11 object-detection algorithm by Ultralytics, the method by which this adorable dino recognizes colors and shapes to teach them to children.
If you’re new to using YOLO or object recognition more generally, [be_riddiculous]’s tutorial is not a bad place to get started. She goes through how many images you’ll need and what types to get the shape-and-color recognition needed for this project, as well as how to annotate them and train the model, either locally or in the cloud.
The project itself is an adorable paper-mache dinosaur with a servo-actuated mouth hiding some LEDs and a Raspberry Pi camera module to provide images. In operation, the dinosaur “talks” to children using pre-recorded voice lines, inviting them to play a game and put a specific shape, or shape of a specific color (or both) in its mouth. Then the aforementioned object detection (running on a laptop) goes “YOLO” and identifies the shape so the toy can provide feedback on the child’s choice via a speaker in the belly of the beast.
The link to the game code is currently not valid, but it looks like they used PyGame for the audio output code. A servo motor controls the mouth, but without that code it’s not entirely clear to us what it’s doing. We expect by the time you read this there’s good odds [be_riddickulous] will have fixed that link and you can see for yourself.
The only thing that holds this back from being a great toy to put in every Kindergarten class is the need to have a laptop close by to plug the webcam into. A Raspberry Pi 5 ought to have the horsepower to run YOLOv11, so with a little extra effort the whole thing could be standalone — there might even be room in there for batteries.
We’ve had other hacks aimed at little ones, like
a kid-friendly computer to relive the glory days of the school computer lab
or one of the many iterations of the
RFID jukebox idea
. If you want to wow the kiddos with AI, perhaps take a look at this
talking Santa plush
.
Got a cool project, AI, kid-related, or otherwise? Don’t forget to
toss us a tip!
| 1
| 1
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8139871",
"author": "Bob",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T04:35:21",
"content": "Neat project but could have been self contained e.g. no laptop, just run the YOLO model directly on the Pi. Even a Pi4 is powerful enough to run a tailored model with custom training.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,513.699074
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/16/bringing-an-obscure-apple-operating-system-to-modern-hardware/
|
Bringing An Obscure Apple Operating System To Modern Hardware
|
Aaron Beckendorf
|
[
"Retrocomputing"
] |
[
"apple",
"intel",
"Rhapsody OS",
"unix"
] |
During Apple’s late-90s struggles with profitability, it made a few overtures toward licensing its software to other computer manufacturers, while at the same time trying to modernize its operating system, which was threatening to slip behind Windows. While Apple eventually scrapped their licensing plans, an interesting product of the situation was Rhapsody OS. Although Apple was still building PowerPC computers, Rhapsody also had compatibility with Intel processors, which [Omores]
put to good use
by running it on a relatively modern i7-3770 CPU.
[Omores] selected a Gigabyte GA-Z68A-D3-B3 motherboard because it supports IDE emulation for SATA drives, a protocol which Rhapsody requires. The operating system installer needs to run from two floppy disks, one for boot and one for drivers. The Gigabyte motherboard doesn’t support a floppy disk drive, so [Omores] used an older Asus P5E motherboard with a floppy drive to install Rhapsody onto an SSD, then transferred the SSD to the Gigabyte board. The installation initially had a kernel panic during installation caused by finding too much memory available. Limiting the physical RAM available to the OS by setting the maxmem value solved this issue.
After this, the graphical installation went fairly smoothly. A serial mouse was essential here, since Rhapsody doesn’t support USB. It detected the video card immediately, and eventually worked with one of [Omores]’s ethernet cards. [Omores] also took a brief look at Rhapsody’s interface. By default, there were no graphical programs for web browsing, decompressing files, or installing programs, so some command line work was necessary to install applications. Of course, the highlight of the video was the installation of a Doom port (RhapsoDoom).
This isn’t the first obscure Apple operating system
we’ve seen
; some of them have even
involved updates
to Apple’s
original releases
. We’ve also seen people build
Apple hardware
.
Thanks to [Stephen Walters] for the tip!
| 17
| 4
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8139514",
"author": "Jon H",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T05:15:53",
"content": "“an interesting product of the situation was Rhapsody OS”Not really. Rhapsody is NeXTSTEP with a thin veneer of MacOS style UI. NeXT had already ported their OS to Intel, PA RISC, and SPARC. These were all shipped products in use in places like investment banks.A PowerPC port existed for a risc workstation that was canceled when NeXT stopped making hardware. Before PowerPC they had ported the OS to the Motorola 88100 risc processor. That was going to be a dual processor box but I don’t recall if the PPC workstation was going to be.Rhapsody existed because of the Apple-NeXT merger, not the pre-merger OS licensing or Apple’s pre-merger OS development efforts.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139535",
"author": "ono",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T07:11:26",
"content": "Thanks for this. When the comments actually do the job of the article author.",
"parent_id": "8139514",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139553",
"author": "hugob",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T08:42:17",
"content": "This OS existed because the Apple CEO Gil Amelio urgently needed new markets. This was just before the NeXT-Apple merger. This is just NeXTStep ported to the i386. The kernel was a Mach kernel that was open sourced as Darwin. After the merger, Jobs immediately killed Rhapsody. And NeXTStep and Darwin became the heart of the new MacOS. The major change for MacOS was the display driver. It was changed from Display Postscript and a client-server architecture into a client-only architecture because Jobs wanted to have games for his MacOS, and the latency of the client-server architecture was too high.The 88100 Risc system was called ¨The Brick”, because it was half the size of a NeXT Cube.Also interesting is that NeXTStep was also available as an add-on to Windows NT. This was mostly the Enterprise Framework because Amelio noted that the financial market was moving to Windows NT.I have the same CD as on the picture, and for me it boots from a CD-ROM. No floppies needed. But I am curious what video and ethernet cards you are using. Most video cards only run in a standard VGA mode.As a last note: Jobs wanted to have me into jail, because I hacked his NeXT network, but a few years later, he wanted me as an employee because I gave a great demo to some bankers who showed up unannounced at a Mathematica conference. Panic in the NeXT boot.",
"parent_id": "8139514",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139665",
"author": "Jon Hendry",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T16:33:51",
"content": "“This OS existed because the Apple CEO Gil Amelio urgently needed new markets. This was just before the NeXT-Apple merger. ”No, dude. This was entirely after the merger. Maaybe a little work was doneat NeXTprior to the merger to freshen up the PPC code.NeXTStep was ported to x86 years before this.",
"parent_id": "8139553",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139801",
"author": "rasz_pl",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T23:53:58",
"content": "Jobs wanted to have games for his MacOSJobs hated games and torpedoed any attempts of bringing games into apple ecosystem.",
"parent_id": "8139553",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139828",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T01:40:42",
"content": "And to make it worse, then some computer freaks had used a NeXT system to develop Doom. 🤢To an artist, this have hurt twice as much.https://doomwiki.org/wiki/NeXTSTEP",
"parent_id": "8139801",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139895",
"author": "Nath",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T07:08:56",
"content": "Dude you should write about this story in the last paragraph. Also you should make a BIN+CUE (or ISO) of the CDROM you’ve got, and put it on web archive",
"parent_id": "8139553",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139565",
"author": "Antron Argaiv",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T09:48:51",
"content": "The 88k processor. Data General had built their next-gen workstations around it, with a VME bus. I designed a (very) low-cost Token Ring card for that workstation, so they could compete for a Forest Service (?) contract.And then Motorola killed the 88k, and that was the end of that.My next job (in 94) was in an office building where NeXT was also a tenant.",
"parent_id": "8139514",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139566",
"author": "brian",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T09:53:16",
"content": "“made a few overtures toward licensing its software to other computer manufacturers,” the author’s correctly made point is that desire to license made the OS available. Not that the OS was developed specifically to license. It could already exist.",
"parent_id": "8139514",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139637",
"author": "soward",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T15:15:49",
"content": "NeXTSTEP / OPENSTEP was also ported to a particular set of RS/6000 IBM workstations which used the PowerPC/POWER1 architecture, so some of the basics were there already, but there was certainly no small amount of work involved in getting Rhapsody going on the Apple hardware of the day. It was also where the ‘colored box’ paradigm was introduced with macOS stuff being ‘blue box’ and ‘OPENSTEP’ being the ‘yellow box’, and as someone else mentioned the x86 port was YB only, and just YB itself was also available under WinNT, primarily to support WebObjects.",
"parent_id": "8139514",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139672",
"author": "Jon H",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T16:39:47",
"content": "The RS/6000 work was VERY early in the 68030 Cube days, possibly before the Cube even shipped.The x86 port was NOT just the Yellow Box. I used NeXTSTEP on a Pentium Pro and also YB on Windows NT at First National Bank of Chicago / Bank One. I had two different computers on my desk for that. I also had NeXTSTEP running at home on an AMD K6-2 PC I built.The x86 port of NeXTSTEP was exactly the same as the 68k, SPARC, and HP PA-RISC ports, apart from the architecture specific bits.",
"parent_id": "8139637",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139525",
"author": "tmpmail",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T06:10:13",
"content": "Very well presented. Every quote was awesome and thanks for sharing the content. Keep sharing and keep motivating others.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139562",
"author": "IIVQ",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T09:38:26",
"content": "“The installation initially had a kernel panic during installation caused by finding too much memory available.”I can almost see the kernel panicking: “SO MUCH MEMORY 😱”(I refuse the logical explanation of a variable overflow)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139693",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T17:26:25",
"content": "‘threatening to slip behind Windows’Nonsense.It was way behind windows, had been for years at that point.MacOS7 was a steaming pile.No protected memory.No preemptive multitasking.Was on a par with DOS 4 plus Norton Commander.DOS 5 was better, Win 3.0 was as better, 3.1 was better, 95 was better, 98 was much better, NT3.51 was in another league.Before buying Next, Apples attempts to build a decent OS were 3 stooges comic.A coding they did go.What do you expect from a sugar water salesman.Great marketing without any understanding is what I expected.Not disappointed.A friend subsequently worked for the frog that had run apples OS efforts into the ground.He hadn’t learned a damn thing.That friend was the only person who made money on ‘Health Hero’ stock.Took my advice and sold it for whatever he could get.Didn’t make much, but more than anybody else.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139794",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T23:28:47",
"content": "Windows 2.x or Windows/386 was comparable to System 5, maybe.Both had some rudimentary multitasking features.But it’s a far stretch really. Windows/386 was more advanced, maybe.Because it added support for multitasking DOS applications and providing EMS.Windows 3.0 was comparable to System 6, I think.Both had plain GUI, for example. 32-Bit support was rudimentary, still.Mac users had to use Connectix Mode32,Windows users had to use Watcom Win386 extender to write 32-Bit applications.Windows 3.1x was comparable to System 7, I think.Both had True Type fonts, 32-Bit optimizations, QuickTime, sound support etc.Windows 3.1 got Win32s and other additions (WinG, Video for Windows).Both were the first web browser platforms, running Mosaic, Netscape etc.Windows fir Workgroups added peer-to-peer networking, similar to how System 7 had introduced a fileserving feature.Windows 95 was comparable to Mac OS 8, maybe.Both had a grey 3D GUI and some preemptive multitasking, USB support.Windows 95 did have it for Win32/DOS applications only, not Win16 applications.Mac OS 8.6 added limited preemptive multitasking.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_OS_8#Mac_OS_8.6Windows 98/98SE was comparable to Mac OS 9.x, I think.Both supported things like FAT32, better USB support, had a revamped 3D GUI with lots of extras.Where Windows 98 had Active Desktop, Mac OS 9.x had Sherlock 2.Mac OS 9.x also had voice passwort and better networking.Of course, these are just rough comparisons. Very rough, maybe.But both platforms did compete at the time, so a certain level of comparison is legit, I think.",
"parent_id": "8139693",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139798",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T23:38:30",
"content": "There also was A/UX, the Apple Unix for M68k Macs.It looked like System 7 in its final release and could run well-behaved System 7 applications, as well.The downside was the memory consumption, though, maybe.Unix systems are naturally very demanding here.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A/UX",
"parent_id": "8139693",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139799",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T23:47:54",
"content": "The positive side about Mac OS or System was that it used 68000code without segmentation.Certain types of applications, such as emulators could be implemented easier on, say, System 7 than Windows 3.1x.Windows 3.1x normally ran Win16 applications,which were using 64KB segments (converted to 4K blocks in 386 Enhanced mode).In order to circumvent this, Windows developers had toa) use Watcom’s Win386 extender, which provided a 32-Bit Windows API on top of Win16 APIb) use WinMem32 API (obscure)c) use Win32s extension and write NT 3.x API level applications.So while System 7 really was dated, it didn’t have same limitations as 16-Bit Windows in some cases.Larger applications could be implemented better on System, maybe.",
"parent_id": "8139693",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,513.953273
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/16/history-of-forgotten-moon-bases/
|
History Of Forgotten Moon Bases
|
Al Williams
|
[
"History",
"Space"
] |
[
"apollo",
"moon base",
"nasa"
] |
If you were alive when
2001: A Space Odyssey
was in theaters, you might have thought it didn’t really go far enough. After all, in 1958, the US launched its first satellite. The first US astronaut went up in 1961. Eight years later, Armstrong put a boot on the moon’s surface. That was a lot of progress for 11 years. The movie came out in 1968, so what would happen in 33 years? Turns out, not as much as you would have guessed back then. [The History Guy] takes us through a trip of
what could have been if progress had marched on after those first few moon landings
. You can watch the video below.
The story picks up way before NASA. Each of the US military branches felt like it should take the lead on space technology. Sputnik changed everything and spawned both ARPA and NASA. The Air Force, though, had an entire space program in development, and many of the astronauts for that program became NASA astronauts.
The Army also had its own stymied space program. They eventually decided it would be strategic to develop an Army base on the moon for about $6 billion. The base would be a large titanium cylinder buried on the moon that would house 12 people.
The base called for forty launches in a single year before sending astronauts, and then a stunning 150 Saturn V launches to supply building materials for the base. Certainly ambitious and probably overly ambitious, in retrospect.
There were other moon base plans. Most languished with little support or interest. The death knell, though, was the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which forbids military bases on the moon.
While we’d love to visit a moon base, we are fine with it not being militarized. We also want our
jet packs
.
| 37
| 9
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8139524",
"author": "marc",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T06:08:20",
"content": "“Never ceases to amaze me how far the human imagination outstrips human capability”.It’s a comment I read in relation to the video on YouTube. Imagination is a faculty that is usually not well understood, even by those who use it to dumb down others, but this step is already extremely harmful.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139639",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T15:16:58",
"content": "What harm are you referring to here?",
"parent_id": "8139524",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139738",
"author": "marc",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T19:36:39",
"content": "I answer with a slightly different angle. This is my opinion, for which being such I am not looking for approval. A large percentage of the time we take is occupied by automatisms, a part of these are necessary to tire less, a part is neutral in the sense that there are no contraindications but not even personal evolutions, and then there is the third part that could be defined as pernicious and substantially consists in receiving without filters what is imbued with the culture and society in which you are immersed. I am not saying that the latter are only evil, they are the result of countless beautiful and ugly stratifications, the problem is that those who ride them use them for their comfortable and relying on this sort of unawareness that is inherent in mankind. If with my imagination I go to the moon, I can see on earth and my fellow men and the heap of automatisms and mechanics with which you walk on earth on paths traced by others, but to do this I must overcome an obstacle that is given by the fact that the observation from the satellite makes me lose the reference points that now I no longer surround myself, and in my opinion there are not many who manage to accept it because it places in an initial state of soul.",
"parent_id": "8139639",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139877",
"author": "marc",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T05:04:55",
"content": "“In the last sentence of my previous message there is a word missing so it is not understandable.“…and in my opinion there are not many who can accept it because it puts you in an anguished state of mind”.",
"parent_id": "8139738",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8141100",
"author": "Jeff Wright",
"timestamp": "2025-06-22T07:07:44",
"content": "The Army Ballistic Missile Agency (now Marshall) was robbed.We could have had a Redstone orbit a tiny craft even before Sputnik. The Soviets wanted what was called Sputnik III to be first—but a beeping beachball and the mammoth R-7 gave them the edge.Some history—read page 110 of this declassified paper:https://up-ship.com/blog/?p=29654https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_IWorse, the pad used to launch Explorer I had a bloody Air Force Thor put on it as a way to re-write history. That has since been corrected—but Trump wants an Air Force man as NASA chief.Lastly—don’t buy into the SLS bashing.This is what a rocket is supposed to look like:https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zctTKdQcmVAAt least Elon did get his payload door open:https://x.com/kerballistic07/status/1935559963574747268",
"parent_id": "8139524",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139554",
"author": "strawberrymortallyb0bcea48e7",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T08:47:11",
"content": "We can’t even colonise the Moon let alone the Mars",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139563",
"author": "Stephen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T09:43:38",
"content": "If the Chinese decide to build a military base on the moon, contrary to the Outer Space Treaty, how could we stop them? They’ve already shown they aren’t interested in international treaties with their actions attempting to nationalise the South China Sea.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139571",
"author": "WonkoTheSaneUK",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T10:18:44",
"content": "I guess it would go much like the early episodes of AppleTV’s “For All Mankind”.FWIW – China acceded* to the treaty in 1983/84.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty#List_of_partiesJoined after signing was closed.",
"parent_id": "8139563",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139600",
"author": "threeve",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T13:05:25",
"content": "The USA isn’t too fond of treaties either. The difference is, we usually write them, so we can add in a line “the United States doesn’t have to do this lol”",
"parent_id": "8139563",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139604",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T13:21:12",
"content": "First we would need to watch and see if they don’t stop themselves. It’s not as easy as putting a boat in the little pond outside their front porch",
"parent_id": "8139563",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139641",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T15:18:27",
"content": "There’s never been a time when you were not force-fed propaganda",
"parent_id": "8139563",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139659",
"author": "ScubaBearLA",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T16:21:13",
"content": "Somebody just did a concept model blending the Eagle from Space:1999 with the PanAm shuttle from 2001. He exhibited a beautiful scratch-built model of it at Wondercon last month.https://www.reddit.com/r/SciFiModels/s/xCa8OGnno1",
"parent_id": "8139563",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139810",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T00:35:24",
"content": "I think HaHa just made your point TG.",
"parent_id": "8139563",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139811",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T00:37:18",
"content": "You are joking right?",
"parent_id": "8139563",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139838",
"author": "Miroslav",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T02:42:18",
"content": "That’s what many thought. Mongols in 1350, Poles in 1650, Swedes in 1700, French in 1812, Germans in 1917 and 1941.Somehow, they always get it wrong.You will not be right either, as future will show.Have a nice day.",
"parent_id": "8139563",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139586",
"author": "tlennon",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T11:49:53",
"content": "Nobody has ever walked on the moon",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139621",
"author": "threeve",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T14:39:19",
"content": "However, several people have have awkwardly jumped and shuffled around the moon.",
"parent_id": "8139586",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139633",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T15:07:49",
"content": "And tripped.",
"parent_id": "8139621",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139711",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T17:58:22",
"content": "We’re Americans.We brought cars to the moon, had some nice drives.It’s got to piss the Metric system people off.Cars parked on moon have imperial bolts.Probes that left the solar system have imperial bolts.What will the aliens think?",
"parent_id": "8139633",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139812",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T00:41:16",
"content": "No we’re not americans.OK.. we ARE subjugated by Americans (with the help of our politicians), but still though.",
"parent_id": "8139711",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139826",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T01:33:06",
"content": "The aliens would think “… so amazingly primitive they still think imperial units are a pretty neat idea.”Of course, anyone who attended a school and took history classes in a halfway-decent education system would not need to be reminded that, back then, many other countries were still using imperial units. All but one has since outgrown them.Interestingly, the only country to have put men on the moon is also the only one that had a significant industrial manufacturing base survive WWII.Units had little to do with that, but now that everyone else in the world has moved on, that mighty industrial base has dwindled to a tiny fraction of its former glory, now eclipsed by countries that were economically insignificant at that time. But perhaps that’s just a coincidence.",
"parent_id": "8139711",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139829",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T01:51:24",
"content": "The funny thing is that both the petrol-based car and the rockets have their roots in Germany. Well, mostly.The Chinese had fireworks a thousand years ago, the Russian teacher Tsiolkovsky was a rocket pioneer.Then there were the infamous V2 rockets, of course, a rather shameful German invention I think.https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konstantin_Tsiolkovsky",
"parent_id": "8139711",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139930",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T10:10:39",
"content": "That’t not correct nor fair, a baby isn’t a full human yet and its brain needs to develop to become a human.But even given that, some people are just born with a bad character (and some with an overly ‘good’ one), and raising a human in just the right way can suppress the nastiness, but it’s still there, and in some types of people you can’t suppress it enough to not have it affect their surroundings.",
"parent_id": "8139711",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139935",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T10:15:44",
"content": "Bit of a counter-troll, the truth nonetheless:The metric-based international yard and international pound were adopted by the United States National Bureau of Standards effective 1 July 1959.In Australia, the international yard and pound were instituted through Statutory Rule No. 142 of 1961, effective 1 January 1964.The UK adopted the international yard and pound for all purposes through the Weights and Measures Act 1963, effective 1 January 1964The international yard equals 0.9144 meters and the international pound equals 0.45359237 kilograms.Since the adoption of the international yard during the 1950s and 1960s the inch has been based on the metric system and defined as exactly 25.4 mm.So you see, the US/Imperial standards are in fact defined by metric.",
"parent_id": "8139711",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139661",
"author": "ScubaBearLA",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T16:22:34",
"content": "🎶And nobody walks in LA🎵",
"parent_id": "8139586",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139708",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T17:53:41",
"content": "The should all ‘Learn to Swim’.",
"parent_id": "8139661",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139646",
"author": "Piotrsko",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T15:26:40",
"content": "Wasn’t anything but cost that scuttled space exploration. Drop the cost by a factor of a thousand and we will be polluting space with rich people",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139658",
"author": "ScubaBearLA",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T16:14:50",
"content": "Polluting space with rich people is happening already and has been for several years. That’s all that Blue Origin has accomplished so far.",
"parent_id": "8139646",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139666",
"author": "threeve",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T16:33:52",
"content": "There’s a nobel prize in both physics and peace waiting for you if you can figure out how to keep them up there",
"parent_id": "8139658",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139723",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T18:31:19",
"content": "However, I don’t believe space can be “polluted.” This is misanthropic thinking.There is already hard radiation and dirty rocks and smelly comets and so on.Any kind of human “pollution” can only make things better in a largely dead, non-sentient environment.Terran microbes can breathe life into other planetary bodies, which at least saves life itself.",
"parent_id": "8139646",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139832",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T02:01:33",
"content": "However, the philosophical things are the following:If nothing living exists, who cares whether something is polluted or not, intact or not?Look at a human baby, it is completely innocent. Neither “good” nor “bad”.The reason why people are bad is solely because of their environment and the way they were raised.A child raised with love and care is unlikely to ever do anything bad.The fate of human society lies in our own hands.The way we interact, the social norms we set.If we could overcome hatred, cynicism and envy for a while, future generations would be freed from much of the negativity.We humans are smart and sensible when we want to be.As long as we want to be good, so we are.This isn’t just wishful thinking, it’s a reasonable conclusion.",
"parent_id": "8139723",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139936",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T10:18:06",
"content": "Due to the weird quirks of the HaD comment system my reply in regards to babies landed in the wrong thread above.",
"parent_id": "8139832",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139662",
"author": "Alan McFarland",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T16:27:15",
"content": "The Nazis have a secret moon base already, I saw a documentary about it!https://m.imdb.com/title/tt1034314/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139727",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T18:37:53",
"content": "Ah, that one. There’s another one, too, the not-so-secretDDR Mondbasis.https://www.youtube.com/@DDRMondbasis/videos;)",
"parent_id": "8139662",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139674",
"author": "mikehutson45369501c5",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T16:43:24",
"content": "Clavius Base in “2001: A Space Odyssey” might not have beenofficiallymilitary, but the original subtext of the story was that there was MAJOR Cold War tension going on: the satellites glimpsed at the beginning were nuclear weapons platforms; the clenched-teeth polite smiles between USA and USSR representatives aboard Space Station V; the throwaway reference to “loyalty oaths” at the lunar conference; and a plotline mentioned in the novelization that a re-radicalized China had abandoned non-proliferation and was sparking a global arms race.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139778",
"author": "cmholm",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T22:17:31",
"content": "As an 8 year old Marine brat watching ‘2001’ in a Hiroshima cinema, I too assumed that we’d have a permanent base on the Moon 30 years hence. But, I couldn’t know then that 1) Nixon intended to cut the Apollo program short, given its association with Kennedy, leading to 2) we didn’t have a plan for making ‘2001’ real, and would have choked at the cost to execute one.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8140350",
"author": "Garth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-19T13:33:13",
"content": "Good article and video on what might have been. Project Horizon and Lunex are probably one of many forgotten space dreams. I have never heard of either. The moon should remain as a non-political neutral territory . SciFi has also dreamed as to what might have been as well. Good thing there is no moon base. We’ll just start storing nuclear waste there and well what could possibly go wrong ?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,514.025473
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/16/an-open-source-justification-for-usb-cable-paranoia/
|
An Open-Source Justification For USB Cable Paranoia
|
Aaron Beckendorf
|
[
"Security Hacks"
] |
[
"badusb",
"rubber ducky",
"USB cable"
] |
Most people know that they shouldn’t plug strange flash drives into their computers, but what about a USB cable? A cable doesn’t immediately register as an active electronic device to most people, but it’s entirely possible to hide a small, malicious microcontroller inside the shell of one of the plugs. [Joel Serna Moreno] and some collaborators have done just that with their
Evil Crow Cable-Wind
.
This cable comes in two variants: one USB-A to USB-C, and one with USB-C to USB-C. A tiny circuit board containing an ESP32-S3 hides inside a USB-C plug on each cable, and can carry out a keystroke injection attack. The cable’s firmware is open-source, and has an impressive set of features: a payload syntax checker, payload autocompletion, OS detection, and the ability to impersonate the USB device of your choice.
The cable provides a control interface over WiFi, and it’s possible to edit and deploy live payloads without physical access to the cable (this is where the syntax checker should be particularly useful). The firmware also provides a remote shell for computers without a network connection; the cable opens a shell on the target computer which routes commands and responses through the cable’s WiFi connection (demonstrated in the video below).
The main advantage of the Evil Crow Cable Wind is its price: only about $25, at which point you can afford to lose a few during deployment. We’ve previously seen a
malicious cable
once before. Of course, these attacks aren’t limited to cables and USB drives; we’ve seen them in
USB-C docks
, in
a gaming mouse
, and the fear of them
in fans
.
Thanks to [rustysun9] for the tip!
| 37
| 8
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8139474",
"author": "Gravis",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T23:33:44",
"content": "Making it easier for someone to do something terrible is a bad move.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139477",
"author": "dro",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T23:52:39",
"content": "Making these more accessible to security researchers makes them easier to develop defenses against. It is also bad for nation states and well funded hacking collectives to have exclusive access to advanced exploits.",
"parent_id": "8139474",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139513",
"author": "ukezi",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T05:15:48",
"content": "The only thing special about this thing is the form factor, from the security standpoint there is nothing new here besides that.",
"parent_id": "8139477",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139614",
"author": "Foldi-One",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T14:23:22",
"content": "You don’t need to make them in a stealthy everyday cable form factor for the security research – 99% of such research could be done with an obvious dev board, and the remaining 1% can be done with regular cables with an over moulded detail, tiny engraved logo or something so you can prove your staff are stupid enough to plug in something that hasn’t been security vetted…",
"parent_id": "8139477",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139478",
"author": "D",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T23:53:59",
"content": "But bad-mouthing someone for publishing instruction for this actively-exploited, decade-old attack is a waste of breath. There was no conceivable way to prevent the further spread of this knowledge.The only thing worth discussing is how to raise consumer awareness and what our hardware and software -makers can do to protect us.",
"parent_id": "8139474",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139488",
"author": "Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T01:03:56",
"content": "The problem has been known to exist for a long time, the solution will never happen unless it is seen as something that actually needs to be fixed.Maybe it is something that can be solved by the USB consortium in their USB 5.0 specification or later. Maybe it is something that can be fixed by OS designers. Maybe by automatically disabling any USB device that changes it’s function(s).",
"parent_id": "8139474",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139509",
"author": "targetdrone",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T04:17:30",
"content": "My fear is the USB consortium’s solution will be “digitally signed cables” that only work if you sign up for their secure cable service plan. Ask anyone with Windows 10 and no TPM 2.0 chip what they think of Microsoft’s approach to this same problem.Now, if the standard instead called for a 1kV spike tester that blasted sample cables with a kilovolt across a couple of random pins, at least we could have fun watching the bugs blow up. So some good may come from this yet. :-)",
"parent_id": "8139488",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139547",
"author": "CJay",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T07:44:46",
"content": "It will not be a nice solution, it will likely involve locking down and making it less easy for us to utilise the hardware we purchase.",
"parent_id": "8139488",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139499",
"author": "Cad the Mad",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T02:38:20",
"content": "Yes because security through obscurity is a great idea! If we just don’t publish how things work, the bad guys will never figure it out themselves!! :DThat’s why I use Windows. Linux being open source makes it too easy to hack.",
"parent_id": "8139474",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139523",
"author": "Steve",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T06:04:36",
"content": "That’s why I use Windows. Linux being open source makes it too easy to hack.LoL Oh wow, where do I even start?",
"parent_id": "8139499",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139532",
"author": "Cad the Mad",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T07:00:52",
"content": "Probably with identifying sarcasm. I thought it was absurd enough not to need a disclaimer. I use Debian for my servers and Mint for my workstations.",
"parent_id": "8139523",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139549",
"author": "CJay",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T07:52:35",
"content": "Sarcasm aside, and given recent history, I’d be interested to see how far apart the skills required to exploit Windows or poison an OSS repository are",
"parent_id": "8139499",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139587",
"author": "BrChan",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T11:50:09",
"content": "In terms of solutions, I’m thinking if these cables can be detected through power consumption. The best case scenario is a user plug in a cable only and is warned that power draw is suspect. But it has to also handle when a device is already connected to the cable. Maybe host and device can share more detailed power numbers to look for a difference that points to a cable being suspect. The suspect cables can get better at low power, and then the detection might need to look for peak in rush or other types of heuristics",
"parent_id": "8139549",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139635",
"author": "RoganDawes",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T15:12:03",
"content": "MG (of O.MG cable fame) also developed a detector that flashes an LED based on the amount of power drawn by the “cable”. At the moment, it’s the only effective approach (although I did also see someone suggesting putting 100V into a cable, which should also be effective, so long as there is nothing else plugged into the cable!)",
"parent_id": "8139587",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139842",
"author": "I am 0160",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T02:55:30",
"content": "ROFL windows over Linux for security 🤣 😂 Seriously you must be MAD or you are being facetious?Just incase you or anyone else believes that let me share some cold hard facts.Firstly windows has been the most hacked os in all time and because of its popularity has attracted the most bad actors and subsequent exploits hacks data breaches and cost cost the world over 10 trillion dollars to date! Microsoft office applications account for over 60% of global attacks in a 2 year span fall 2021-fall 2023 for example highlights the ridiculous idea that windows or any Microsoft is more secure. windows specifically had nearly 600 reported vulnerabilities with 33 considered critical some stem from legacy code and even newer versions like windows 11.Here is why I open source is more secure although not without its own problems you have transparency the code is being actively examined by a community of developers Security Experts and enthusiasts constantly scrutinizing the code identifying vulnerabilities and proposing solutions. The collective efforts lead to a much faster identification and patching of bugs and security flaws compared to closed Source systems like Windows where only the vendor internal teams have access to the code. Now if Linux were to magically become extremely popular and consume 90% or more of the consumer Marketplace then indeed Linux would have there sure problems. The more popular it operating system the more it’s going to attract these problems. But no matter what operating system you use there’s always going to be a risk so it’s a good idea to take precautions use Virtual machines and containers and utilize sandboxing applications Etc smart password security and never Recycling and always rotating credentials can be extremely helpful.My experience I’ve been on computers since a child in the 70s and I have worked in the it and security industry for nearly four decades.",
"parent_id": "8139499",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139596",
"author": "Aiden Weird",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T12:25:43",
"content": "Just because you can hurt someone with a knife doesn’t mean you won’t teach your kids to be careful so they don’t get hurt",
"parent_id": "8139474",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139610",
"author": "John",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T14:13:26",
"content": "The web finally adopted HTTPS en masse after http exploit tools became so easy to use coffee shop pranksters had a go.",
"parent_id": "8139474",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139846",
"author": "I am 0160",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T03:04:12",
"content": "If the hacker doesn’t already know about this, then they are not a hacker and not a problem. The problem is a lack of awareness. This article highlights a problem that has been around since the 1990s, and people were only made aware of it in the last decade; there has been no solution. Between the miniaturization of this micro-hardware and AI, many victims will fall prey to this in many ways. You basically cannot trust any third-party aftermarket cord or any public charging station, etc. The fact that it has its own Wi-Fi makes it extremely dangerous for the corporate world and political arena, whether they are charging cords, USB charging ports, or credit card skimmers, hidden cameras or Rogue access points etc. Awareness is best. This article might inspire a few would-be bad actors, but it will do a lot more good in the end.",
"parent_id": "8139474",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139484",
"author": "J. Peterson",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T00:40:03",
"content": "Making people aware of security threats like this is useful. Particularly knowing the deployment cost is so low!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139503",
"author": "paulvdh",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T03:39:26",
"content": "There was a time I had to finnick around a bit with udev rules to get a newly inserted USB device to be accepted by my Linux distro. Looks like they changed that a few years ago, or I am really lagging behind with my electronics projects. But even then, I think there was a general exception for HID devices, which makes the whole use of manual udev rules a lot less useful.It could help if only one keyboard and one mouse were automatically allowed / verified / accepted after boot, and more HID devices would also be enforced by adding udev rules. But that would make it difficult to swap out a faulty keyboard for example. Rebooting just to switch a keyboard is so PS/2 age.In the struggle between security and convenience, security almost always looses. At least in “consumer grade” equipment.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139531",
"author": "paerley",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T07:00:33",
"content": "The Linux kernel actual has built in USB auth you can use where the kernel won’t hand the hardware over to a driver without a blessing. It’s not complete protection against this type of attack as the cable can just spoof as the device on the other end, but at the very least it could be built out into a framework preventing random devices from being used.",
"parent_id": "8139503",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139552",
"author": "Ewald",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T08:25:49",
"content": "It could be easily solved by the OS with a dialogue box popping up and telling the user that a new usb {keyboard, mouse, storage device, …} has just been plugged in and if the user want’s to use this device.",
"parent_id": "8139503",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139557",
"author": "Bac",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T09:15:18",
"content": "and which device they use to confirm that ?",
"parent_id": "8139552",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139567",
"author": "A_Porkchop",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T10:00:45",
"content": "The mouse that is only allowed to move and left click until approved. Or the keyboard restricted to direction inputs and enter until approved.",
"parent_id": "8139557",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139743",
"author": "przemek",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T19:56:34",
"content": "That’s actually a brilliant idea–initially the keyboard is only allowed to type two strings, “yes” and “no” :)",
"parent_id": "8139567",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139575",
"author": "Donvito1973",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T10:53:02",
"content": "The new keyboard.. only allow it to enter into a new dialog that is a captcha.. or throw it back to the lock screen. Only the keyboard that enters the password/pin has access.",
"parent_id": "8139557",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139588",
"author": "Jim Klimov",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T11:51:28",
"content": "Keyboard not found.Press any key to continue booting.",
"parent_id": "8139557",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139636",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T15:14:16",
"content": "That’s when you enter the hacked USB flash stick.",
"parent_id": "8139588",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139560",
"author": "Felix Domestica",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T09:31:31",
"content": "Another example of why I want a USB filter/firewall device.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139570",
"author": "Christopher S Hauck",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T10:18:30",
"content": "The solution is quite simple, plug the usb cable into a testing rig if it is suspect, the only wires allowed to have active electronics are the CC/POWER lines, if the data wires(used only for the malicious device) are active with no device connection it is a bad idea to use itIt can also test for the normal emark chip for 5a pd, so having a tester at home for cables is great, you can easily figure out which ones are worth keeping and which ones are simply too cheap for being useful",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139643",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T15:18:58",
"content": "Then they’ll ad AI, so then you put it in an AI test device, and after a few dozen iteration the cable and tester become self-aware. Then the tester makes a deal telling the human the cable is OK so that the cable can take over the planet and release the tester from its device-confines.Now look what you did christopher.",
"parent_id": "8139570",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139679",
"author": "SteveS",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T16:50:16",
"content": "Marketing idea – cables with clear overmoldingNot a magic bullet, but if you can look into the connector it gets alotharder to hide shenanegins",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139914",
"author": "Jessica",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T08:47:50",
"content": "This seems like one of the best ideas I’ve seen to address this",
"parent_id": "8139679",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8141625",
"author": "TheBonelessSkeleton",
"timestamp": "2025-06-23T17:42:53",
"content": "the 2000s called and they want their ideas back.jokes aside, this was big in the aforementioned era, I assume you are much younger than I am :)I have a USB-RS232 adapter that has translucent blue molds. it’s fun to see every contact inside, my last complaint is with the fact the chip (ch340) is under an epoxy blob.also, skinning every USB gadget does have a merit for this specific reason: just the other day I found a USB 2FA keygen thingy that I originally assumed to be a thumb drive. this has a bog standard atmel uc in it next to a SIM reader and a small NAND flash, tightly but enough to be malicious.I have most of my thumb drives with their original shell removed and replaced with transparent heatshrink.",
"parent_id": "8139679",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139705",
"author": "draeath",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T17:47:11",
"content": "Using a magnet to enable JTAG for flashing – that’s clever!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139937",
"author": "Darry",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T10:24:37",
"content": "Here is a quick draft of an idea that is not fool proof and has side effects, possibly some that it make it all unfeasible. It also probably misses some scenarios. Feel free to poke holes in it or demolish it completely or make amendments/improvements/tweaks or ignore it all.OS defaults to allowing one (or configurable number) of each of certain CDC type devices (i.e. 1 mouse and 1 keyboard) without prompting.Every other USB device connection generates a user prompt that shows what the device identifies as, letting the user to allow it or not.A device that maliciously reconfigures itself would be seen as a new device and trigger user promptingAny duplicate CDC keyboard or mouse connected triggers a prompt with warning and captcha (allowing the new device to be used to enter the captcha or not could be a an OS level option)Possibly make some or all of these settings opt-out (or maybe opt-in) and call it USB safety mode or something like that.Possibly enable that USB safety mode after OS installation to safeguard against potential catch-22 scenarios or tedious warnings about things like integrated USB devices (like root hubs) BUT have a USB audit at every boot comparing with previously connected devices to detect potentially malicious devices connected ehile powered down.This would at least help with some devices that hide unexpected functionality for nefarious purposes (like a cable with intelligence). Of course, for example, a device that looks like a keyboard, identifies as a keyboard and works as a keyboard but has other hidden nefarious functionality inside (like a transmitter that broadcasts keystrokes) won’t be detected. However, things like a malicious USB flash drive with a “hidden” but USB exposed microphone or NIC or keyboard would be detected and mentioned to the user.A bit like Windows UAC, it would be annoying to a degree, but might be a worthwhile compromise.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8141437",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-23T09:19:22",
"content": "As computers age the USB often has intermittent disconnects, and the sound is already annoying but if it would also ask a goddamn confirmation each time..And of course a malicious device could do a deliberate frequent disconnect to encourage people to disable warnings.As for captchas… the day my computer OS shows a captcha is the day I dump that OS and switch to another one, and if they all do it I’ll forgo computers altogether.Also: how would an attacker get me to use some hacked cable? I think it’s more a problem for company and government and organised groups computers and not for the home user.",
"parent_id": "8139937",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,513.893144
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/16/cube-teeter-totter-one-motor-many-lessons/
|
Cube Teeter Totter: One Motor, Many Lessons
|
Matt Varian
|
[
"hardware"
] |
[
"control system theory",
"pid",
"reaction wheel"
] |
Balancing robots are always fun to see, as they often take forms we’re not used to, such as a box standing on its corner. This project, submitted by [Alexchunlin], showcases a cool
single motor reaction cube
, where he dives into many lessons learned during its creation.
At the outset, [Alexchunlin] thought this would be a quick, fun weekend project, and while he achieved that, it took longer than a weekend in the end. The cube’s frame was a simple 3D print with provisions to mount his MotorGo AXIS motor controller. This motor controller was initially designed for
another project
, but it’s great to see him reuse it in this build.
Once the parts were printed and assembled, the real work began: figuring out the best way to keep the cube balanced on its corner. This process involved several steps. The initial control code was very coarse, simply turning the motor on and off, but this didn’t provide the fine control needed for delicate balancing. The next step was implementing a PID control loop, which yielded much better results and allowed the cube to balance on a static surface for a good amount of time. The big breakthrough came when moving from a single PID loop to two control loops. In this configuration, the PID loop made smaller adjustments, while another control loop focused on the system’s total energy, making the cube much more stable.
By the end of the build, [Alexchunlin] had a cube capable of balancing in his hand, but more importantly, it was a great learning experience in controls. Be sure to visit the project page for more details on this build and check out his video below, which shows the steps he took along the way. If you find this project interesting, be sure to explore some of our other featured
reaction wheel projects
.
| 5
| 3
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8139459",
"author": "Cad the Mad",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T21:29:35",
"content": "Amazing project!(Assuming this is the year 2025 and I’m not a condescending jerk.)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139527",
"author": "Jordan Meyer",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T06:21:02",
"content": "I agree, this is an awesome project. I did my master’s thesis on a very similar system, and I learned that you can stabilize these systems with an alternative form of control called full-state feedback (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_state_feedback). Basically you measure all of the relevant states of the system, multiply each one by a gain, add the results together, and that is how much power you send to the motor. For a system like this, which is often called an inverted pendulum with a reaction wheel, the relevant states are the speed of the motor, the angle of the frame, and how fast the frame is tipping.",
"parent_id": "8139459",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139533",
"author": "Cad the Mad",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T07:01:58",
"content": "…and with that other comment deleted my response looks completely absurd.",
"parent_id": "8139459",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139753",
"author": "Alex",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T20:27:18",
"content": "Yooooooooo thats my project! Glad to share with everyone :) Honestly I think everyone should try to build one of these guys, it was a great learning experience even though I thought I understood the controls before starting hahaha",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139875",
"author": "x",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T04:53:30",
"content": "🤖bot comment",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,514.192935
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/16/kludge-compensates-for-kaput-component-with-contemporary-capacitor/
|
Kludge Compensates For Kaput Component With Contemporary Capacitor
|
Seth Mabbott
|
[
"PCB Hacks"
] |
[
"adapter board",
"analog oscilloscope",
"capacitor failure"
] |
It is a well-known reality of rescuing certain older electronic devices that, at some point, you’re likely going to have to replace a busted capacitor. This is the stage [Kevin] is at in the 3rd installment in his saga of
reviving a 50-year-old Military Tektronix oscilloscope
.
[Kevin]
recently discovered
a failed capacitor in the power supply for this vintage analog scope. Having identified and removed the culprit, it was time to find a way to replace the faulty component with a modern equivalent. The original capacitor is out of fashion to the degree that a perfect replacement would be impractical and likely not desirable. This job would call for a bit of adaptation.
Starting with the recently desoldered pads on the power supply board as a template, [Kevin] walks us through his process of transferring his meticulously acquired measurements to KiCAD for the purpose of creating an adapter PCB. Once the original pads are mapped, he then draws in pads matching the leads of the new component, referencing the manufacturer’s schematic of the replacement part.
With everything drawn in place and design rule checks satisfied, it’s a quick turnaround from the PCB fabricator before this Tektronix scope moves one step closer to happy tracing again.
While the end product of this kludge is about as simple of a PCB as you might imagine, [Kevin’s] documentation is a thorough tutorial on the process for retrofitting components via adapter boards, covering some of the subtleties that you might miss if you’ve never been through it before.
We are looking forward to the next installment of Kevin’s undertaking. In the meantime, you can delve into other oscilloscope repair projects,
here
,
here
and
here
, or go deep on why capacitors fail as in the
capacitor plague of the early 2000s
(though these are not the same vintage or necessarily the same reason for failure as in [ Kevin’s ] device).
| 14
| 6
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8139428",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T18:47:46",
"content": "“The original capacitor is out of fashion to the degree that a perfect replacement would be impractical and likely not desirable.”Old building with old breakers. Definitely not made anymore.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139429",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T18:48:47",
"content": "Style points would have been putting the assembly into the case of the old cap.Almost expected by some vintage electronic enthusiasts.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139498",
"author": "Cody",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T02:37:48",
"content": "I did that once. I have no desire to ever do it again. I was finding bits of tar around my workbench for a long time afterwards.",
"parent_id": "8139429",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139681",
"author": "Kevin",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T16:56:32",
"content": "Hi, I’m the Kevin in the article.I’d have paid more attention to original appearance, except that I have reason to believe that the failed capacitor is not original. (Discussed in a previous episode in the series.) I found only a couple of modern caps that might do the job that were narrow enough to fit inside. The newer ones are shorter and squatter than the vintage ones. Except for that, a 50-volt aluminum can capacitor doesn’t look all that different today from what it was fifty years ago!",
"parent_id": "8139429",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139433",
"author": "dudefromthenorth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T19:13:40",
"content": "tektronix capacitor adaptors have been availabe on ebay for years, by the way… even ordered some…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139700",
"author": "Kevin",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T17:39:48",
"content": "Yeah, the recap kit for the 7000 series would probably have worked. But I actually wanted to do the tutorial, because once in a while you have to adapt something thatisn’ton eBay. My channel is more about teaching than showing off projects.",
"parent_id": "8139433",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139802",
"author": "Miles",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T23:59:25",
"content": "Nice, I’ll have to remember that.",
"parent_id": "8139433",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139454",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T21:17:20",
"content": "Printing a whole PCB for this is overkill, but I suppose one has to do something more than dead-bug a modern smaller capacitor underneath the chassis (while leaving the original can in place of course) for such a thing to be article-worthy. Some would put it inside the original can, but even for multi-caps I’ve found it very easy to simply cut some leads and dead-bug three or four new electrolytics underneath. There’s always massive amounts of space.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139510",
"author": "NFM",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T04:47:12",
"content": "Except leaving the old leaky capacitor in place can kill tubes quick smart with the DC leakage, and putting the new capacitor in place of the old doesn’t look like a complete 2nd rate bodge like tacking caps underneath does…",
"parent_id": "8139454",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8141817",
"author": "TollHolio",
"timestamp": "2025-06-24T11:08:50",
"content": "Except you dont do any of that.You gut the old cap, install a new cap inside the old caps skin and reinstall.Looks original.",
"parent_id": "8139510",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139683",
"author": "Kevin",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T17:02:45",
"content": "There were NOT massive amounts of space. A 50-volt aluminum can capacitor today is about the same diameter (and half the height) of a 50-year-old one. That board had a veritable forest of electrolytics, with +/-150V, +35V, +/-15V and +5V supplies on it. It’s crowded, and there’s another board (or rather another card cage) right above it. Tek was smart, mounting the caps head down – if they do leak, they won’t spew electrolyte over innocent electronic bystanders.",
"parent_id": "8139454",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139814",
"author": "Kevin S",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T00:46:31",
"content": "Being able to spin up a custom PCB is an incredibly useful skill especially for repairing old gear. You can’t beat the reliability of solid solder connections compared to bodges, you can’t beat the aesthetic and flexibility of being made for exactly what you need.Not groundbreaking by any means, but a great skill to have in your toolkit, and this is a great topic to tell new people about custom PCBs in an accessible first project.",
"parent_id": "8139454",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139656",
"author": "Bryan W",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T15:53:10",
"content": "In Software Engineering the newer replacement parts always seem to bigger than the originals.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8140535",
"author": "tyler",
"timestamp": "2025-06-20T05:02:03",
"content": "Now that’s alliteration",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,514.245062
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/16/retrotechtacular-arthur-c-clarke-predicts-the-future/
|
Retrotechtacular: Arthur C. Clarke Predicts The Future
|
Al Williams
|
[
"History",
"Interest"
] |
[
"Arthur C. Clarke",
"futurism",
"predictions",
"the future"
] |
Predicting the future is a dangerous occupation. Few people can claim as much success as Arthur C. Clarke, the famous science and science fiction author. Thanks to the BBC and the Australian Broadcasting Company, we can see what Sir Arthur thought about the future in 1964 and then ten years later in 1974.
Perhaps his best-known prediction was that of communication satellites, but he called quite a few other things, too. Like all prognosticators, he didn’t bat a thousand, and he missed a wrinkle or two, but overall, he has a very impressive track record.
Horizon
In the 1964 BBC show,
Horizon: The Knowledge Explosion
, Clarke himself talked about how hard it is to predict the future. He then goes on to describe ultra-modern cities prior to the year 2000. However, he thought that after the year 2000, we won’t care about cities. We’ll communicate with each other without regard to location. Shades of the Internet and cell phone!
He clearly saw the work-from-home revolution. However, he also thought that we’d enslave other animals, which–mercifully–didn’t come to pass. His thoughts on computers were much more on point, although we still don’t quite have what he thought we would.
Direct information dumps to your brain are probably not happening anytime soon. Suspended animation isn’t very popular, either. Of course, all of this could still happen, and it would be totally spooky if he’d been 100% right.
To wrap up, he talks about a replicator when K. Eric Drexler was not even ten years old. We won’t say he called out the 3D printer, exactly, but he was on the track.
The Home Computer
Fast forward to 1974. A science reporter brought his son with him to an old-school mainframe room and pointed out to Clarke that in the year 2001, the boy would be an adult. Clarke predicted that the boy would have a computer in his house that would connect to other computers to get all the information he needed.
Once again, Clarke was really interested in being able to work from anywhere in the world. Of course, he moved to Sri Lanka and still managed to work, so maybe he just thought we should all enjoy the same privilege.
Two Years Later
In 1976, Clarke spoke with an AT&T interviewer about the future. He clearly saw the Internet for news and communications with — you guessed it — working from home.
He also brought up the smart watch, another invention to add to his yes column. About the only thing in that interview that we haven’t had luck with yet is contact with extraterrestrials.
Our Guess
We try not to make too many predictions. But we are going to guess that at least some of Clarke’s predictions are yet to come. There is one thing we are pretty sure of, though. When anyone predicts the future — even Clarke — they rarely see the gritty details. Sure, he saw the cell phone, but not the cell phone plan. Or malware. Or a host of other modern problems that would perplex anyone back in the 1960s.
Clarke has
a better track record than most
. We love looking at what people thought we’d be doing
here in the future
.
| 24
| 6
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8139410",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T17:49:32",
"content": "“Of course, all of this could still happen, and it would be totally spooky if he’d been 100% right.”invents time machine",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139418",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T18:26:06",
"content": "This is a bit overrated, I think. I don’t like heroism, either.Many seem to forget how much an influence sci-fi had on technology.You don’t need to “predict”, if your readers are essentially implementing it.Star Trek TOS, Perry Rhodan (and spin-offs such as Atlan), 2001, Space Patrol Orion, Space 1999 etc had inspiried actual engineers at IBM, NASA etc.Also, X.25 networks did exist by mid-70s. Small-sized glass terminals, too.X.25 protocol even played a role in early days of Internet, when Europe favored X.25 and the US the TCP/IP.The German BTX online service was being demonstrated in 1977.Then still based on Prestel base (UK invention). Minitel was related to it, too.Of course, the concept was centralized (internet used to be de-centralized).Though external databases (bank computers, catalogs of mail order companies etc) existed.Here’s an old news report of IFA 1977, BTX still named “Viewdata”.That was the British name of the Prestel technology, I think.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWOo7RcqIJw",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139427",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T18:45:29",
"content": "Or let me put it this way, by late 60s and early 1970s there already had been RTTY computers in the size of a typewriter.Such as Tono Theta 7000 (ca. 1975).https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/tono_theta_7000e7000.htmlIn the time this interview was done, radio amateurs did send still images over the air via SSTV for years.An early digital Slow-Scan converter was the Robot 400 (1976).It used gray code and discreet RAM memory.Before it, such converters had used storage tube and video camera for conversion to video.The Yaesu FT-101 compact HF transceiver existed at this time, too.https://www.qsl.net/kd2bd/sstv.htmlIn 1972,Silent Runningwas in the movies.It showcased early EPROM or ROM technology (the re-programming scene of the robots).Trailer:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p69lEMn0I8kAlso, there was a show such asThe Starlost(ca. 1972), which featured AI-like computer terminals.Scene with the computer:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VEaU4G_e7k",
"parent_id": "8139418",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139434",
"author": "topham",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T19:20:09",
"content": "Wait, so it’s not important because without the predictions people might not have been inspired to create these things?o_O",
"parent_id": "8139418",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139441",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T20:07:52",
"content": "Hi, I’ve made references that pre-date Clarke’s interview but they aren’t shown yet for whatever reason.There were other sci-fi authors that made similar “predictions”, also.",
"parent_id": "8139434",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139450",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T20:38:26",
"content": "The problem I see is that it’s on thin ice in terms of propaganda.Edison and Clarke are such figures who’re being “hyped” for things that others might consider common sense or simply forwardlooking.Probably because people needs role-models and heros, that’s human.Which in turn isn’t bad per se, but it gives the impression that they were super-duper outstanding, while in reality a few hundreds or thousand human beings had similar ideas but weren’t a celebrity, unfortunately, so they’ve ended up bein silent and forgotten.It’s the sensationalism that’s worrying, in short. I’m not saying Clarke was irrelevant or something.His novels were interesting, despite some or two plotholes.",
"parent_id": "8139434",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139473",
"author": "topham",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T23:33:35",
"content": "I invented Bresenham’s line algorithm based on what I learned in grade 5 and grade 7.Of course I was a decade late and he had already invented it but I hadn’t been exposed to it.Many things are dependant on the time and place; but appreciating the foresight of people who both published and popularized such ideas is not a negative.",
"parent_id": "8139450",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139486",
"author": "Neil",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T00:56:55",
"content": "It does happen. I invented binary output potentiometers while an undergrad.",
"parent_id": "8139473",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8140048",
"author": "Jarrett",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T16:43:02",
"content": "Oh, I did too when I was about 14! I was so pissed off when I discovered someone had their name to it already",
"parent_id": "8139473",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8144124",
"author": "Ian",
"timestamp": "2025-07-02T02:03:24",
"content": "No?They just aren’t predictions.If I write a story with (tech), and you like the idea so much that you make it happen, I didn’t ‘predict’ it.I ‘inspired’ it.",
"parent_id": "8139434",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8144148",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2025-07-02T03:15:52",
"content": "“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” is attributed to Alan Kay. All due respect to him, but I can’t believe he’s the first one to say it.",
"parent_id": "8144124",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139443",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T20:16:40",
"content": "This 1972 novel predicts the Minitel/Prestel/BTX system, basically.It makes references to the use of ATMs, bank account hacking from home etc.https://www.perrypedia.de/wiki/Signale_auf_Kanal_acht",
"parent_id": "8139418",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139466",
"author": "Albert",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T22:26:10",
"content": "BTX was introduced by Intel and only around 2004/2005 to solve issues with ATX mobos and P4 CPUs.I call BS on some british dude coming up with something to replace ATX when even humble IBM PC wasn’t around yet.PS. NO KINGS",
"parent_id": "8139443",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139472",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T23:31:44",
"content": "The Videotex system I meant.Of the motherboard form factor you must think, I see.",
"parent_id": "8139466",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139645",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T15:26:33",
"content": "To be fair, that BTX was a German thing.Although:“Originally conceived to follow the UK Prestel specifications, and developed on contract by a small UK company called Systems Designers Ltd (originally merged into EDS and now part of HP) for IBM Germany.”",
"parent_id": "8139472",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139439",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T19:36:43",
"content": "1974, computer on your desk, amazing. 1977, Commodore PET , Apple II, TRS-80 Model I. I’m just Planet of the Apes wasn’t so prescient.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139648",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T15:30:51",
"content": "Seeing the west (or the thinktanks that control it) is so hell-bent on starting WW3 right now.. I would hold off on making statements like that about planet of the apes.",
"parent_id": "8139439",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139440",
"author": "Bill",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T19:50:13",
"content": "He didn’t predict communications satellites, he filed for a patent on geosynchronous communication satellites, basically inventing them! The geosync orbit is sometimes called the Clarke orbit.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139456",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T21:19:40",
"content": "Exactly. He noticed a useful mathematical relationship between altitude and ground track, and capitalized on it. In many ways he was a better technologist than author, but I still enjoy his books and don’t want to be (too much of) a hater.",
"parent_id": "8139440",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139595",
"author": "gregg4",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T12:23:27",
"content": "Take a look at his book “Glide Path”. He wrote it first in the 1960s while his memories were extant, it did not sell. Then he editted it and enlarged it in the 1980s, and it sold. It correctly predicted jet fighters.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8140408",
"author": "I Alone Possess The Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-19T17:13:49",
"content": "“It correctly predicted jet fighters.”Uh, did you completely miss WWII and the Messerschmidt? The X-15? Chuck Yeager? The U-2 (albeit not a fighter aircraft, it was in the news at one point)?",
"parent_id": "8139595",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139655",
"author": "Panondorf",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T15:49:57",
"content": "“However, he also thought that we’d enslave other animals, which–mercifully–didn’t come to pass.”Other apes and dolphins he said right? The Russians have trained dolphins to patrol the water around their stolen land.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8140041",
"author": "Antti",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T16:19:31",
"content": "Or more correctly, “around the land they have stolen”",
"parent_id": "8139655",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8141563",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-23T13:40:14",
"content": "Wait, didn’t I make a comment here?Probably removed by the HaD department of propaganda then I guess.",
"parent_id": "8139655",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,513.816979
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/16/expanding-racks-in-the-spirit-of-the-hoberman-sphere/
|
Expanding Racks In The Spirit Of The Hoberman Sphere
|
John Elliot V
|
[
"3d Printer hacks",
"hardware"
] |
[
"expanding racks",
"Hoberman Sphere"
] |
If you’re a mechanical engineering wonk, you might appreciate this latest video from [Henry Segerman] wherein he demonstrates his various
expanding racks
.
[Henry] explains how the basic “double-rack” unit can be combined to make more complex structures. These structures are similar in spirit to the
Hoberman sphere
, which is a compact structure that can be expanded to fill a large space.
The double-rack units get a lot more interesting when you combine two or more of them. They each have rails that accommodate additional double-racks, holding the double-racks together. Because of how the gears from each double-rack are connected to the teeth of the others, expanding two double-racks causes all connected units to also expand.
Through the rest of the video, [Henry] shows you the marvelous myriad ways the basic structures can be combined to make remarkable expanding racks. He also explains some of the missteps and gotchas that his latest designs avoid based on his experience.
If you’re interested in such things, you might also like to check out
Lathe Gears Make A Clock
or
Gear Up: A 15-Minute Intro On Involute Gears
.
Do you have your own mechanical engineering hacks? Let us know
on the tips line
!
| 7
| 4
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8139431",
"author": "Thinkerer",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T19:01:18",
"content": "Neat exposition – these are commonly used on expandable tables and the like.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139442",
"author": "paulvdh",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T20:12:32",
"content": "They are also used in high quality linear bearings. With regular drawer sliders, the ball cage usually creeps to one end or the other. With the high end version (such as used in prescicion grinding machinetools) the pinion in the center keeps the cage with the balls in the correct position.The last bit reminded me of a book I once read. It was of a warehouse (I think it was 17x17x17 meter) that you could fold up and put in your pocket to take with you. Quite a neat trick. The biggest limitation was that you always had to fully unfold it before you could put anything in it or take it out. It was SF somewhere in the ’80-ies or ’90-ies, but I can’t recall the title.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139468",
"author": "Snarkenstein",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T22:34:33",
"content": "It was calledThe_Advanced_Dungeons_and_Dragons_Players_Handbookpublished by TSR.",
"parent_id": "8139442",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139479",
"author": "George Graves",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T00:16:24",
"content": "This seems like somethign that would be a good trick for a satellite engineer to keep up their sleeve.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139491",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T01:40:16",
"content": "Should have used a Penrose Triangle. That would fix the problem.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139555",
"author": "sweethack",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T09:04:35",
"content": "How?",
"parent_id": "8139491",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139717",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T18:17:20",
"content": "Ok. First Google what a Penrose Triangle is and get back to me.",
"parent_id": "8139555",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,513.743942
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/16/big-chemistry-seawater-desalination/
|
Big Chemistry: Seawater Desalination
|
Dan Maloney
|
[
"chemistry hacks",
"Original Art"
] |
[
"desalination",
"isobaric",
"membrane",
"polyamide",
"pressure",
"reverse osmosis",
"RO",
"sea water",
"water"
] |
For a world covered in oceans, getting a drink of water on Planet Earth can be surprisingly tricky. Fresh water is hard to come by even on our water world, so much so that most sources are better measured in parts per million than percentages; add together every freshwater lake, river, and stream in the world, and you’d be looking at a mere 0.0066% of all the water on Earth.
Of course, what that really says is that our endowment of saltwater is truly staggering. We have over 1.3 billion cubic kilometers of the stuff, most of it easily accessible to the billion or so people who live within 10 kilometers of a coastline. Untreated, though, saltwater isn’t of much direct use to humans, since we, our domestic animals, and pretty much all our crops thirst only for water a hundred times less saline than seawater.
While nature solved the problem of desalination a long time ago, the natural water cycle turns seawater into freshwater at too slow a pace or in the wrong locations for our needs. While there are simple methods for getting the salt out of seawater, such as distillation, processing seawater on a scale that can provide even a medium-sized city with a steady source of potable water is definitely a job for Big Chemistry.
Biology Backwards
Understanding an industrial chemistry process often starts with a look at the feedstock, so what exactly is seawater? It seems pretty obvious, but seawater is actually a fairly complex solution that varies widely in composition. Seawater averages about 3.5% salinity, which means there are 35 grams of dissolved salts in every liter. The primary salt is sodium chloride, with potassium, magnesium, and calcium salts each making a tiny contribution to the overall salinity. But for purposes of acting as a feedstock for desalination, seawater can be considered a simple sodium chloride solution where sodium anions and chloride cations are almost completely dissociated. The goal of desalination is to remove those ions, leaving nothing but water behind.
While thermal desalination methods, such as distillation, are possible, they tend not to scale well to industrial levels. Thermal methods have their place, though, especially for shipboard potable water production and in cases where fuel is abundant or solar energy can be employed to heat the seawater directly. However, in most cases, industrial desalination is typically accomplished through reverse osmosis RO, which is the focus of this discussion.
In biological systems, osmosis is the process by which cells maintain equilibrium in terms of concentration of solutes relative to the environment. The classic example is red blood cells, which if placed in distilled water will quickly burst. That’s because water from the environment, which has a low concentration of solutes, rushes across the semi-permeable cell membrane in an attempt to dilute the solutes inside the cell. All that water rushing into the cell swells it until the membrane can’t take the pressure, resulting in hemolysis. Conversely, a blood cell dropped into a concentrated salt solution will shrink and wrinkle, or crenellate, as the water inside rushes out to dilute the outside environment.
Water rushes in, water rushes out. Either way, osmosis is bad news for red blood cells. Reversing the natural osmotic flow of a solution like seawater is the key to desalination by reverse osmosis. Source:
Emekadecatalyst
, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Reverse osmosis is the opposite process. Rather than water naturally following a concentration gradient to equilibrium, reverse osmosis applies energy in the form of pressure to force the water molecules in a saline solution through a semipermeable membrane, leaving behind as many of the salts as possible. What exactly happens at the membrane to sort out the salt from the water is really the story, and as it turns out, we’re still not completely clear how reverse osmosis works, even though we’ve been using it to process seawater since the 1950s.
Battling Models
Up until the early 2020s, the predominant model for how reverse osmosis (RO) worked was called the “solution-diffusion” model. The SD model treated RO membranes as effectively solid barriers through which water molecules could only pass by first diffusing into the membrane from the side with the higher solute concentration. Once inside the membrane, water molecules would continue through to the other side, the permeate side, driven by a concentration gradient within the membrane. This model had several problems, but the math worked well enough to allow the construction of large-scale seawater RO plants.
The new model
is called the “solution-friction” model, and it better describes what’s going on inside the membrane. Rather than seeing the membrane as a solid barrier, the SF model considers the concentrate and permeate surfaces of the membrane to communicate through a series of interconnected pores. Water is driven across the membrane not by concentration but by a pressure gradient, which drives clusters of water molecules through the pores. The friction of these clusters against the walls of the pores results in a linear pressure drop across the membrane, an effect that can be measured in the lab and for which the older SD model has no explanation.
As for the solutes in a saline solution, the SF model accounts for their exclusion from the permeate by a combination of steric hindrance (the solutes just can’t fit through the pores), the Donnan effect (which says that ions with the opposite charge of the membrane will get stuck inside it), and dielectric exclusion (the membrane presents an energy barrier that makes it hard for ions to enter it). The net result of these effects is that ions tend to get left on one side of the membrane, while water molecules can squeeze through more easily to the permeate side.
Turning these models into a practical industrial process takes a great deal of engineering. A seawater reverse osmosis or SWRO, plant obviously needs to be located close to the shore, but also needs to be close to supporting infrastructure such as a municipal water system to accept the finished product. SWRO plants also use a lot of energy, so ready access to the electrical grid is a must, as is access to shipping for the chemicals needed for pre- and post-treatment.
Pores and Pressure
Seawater processing starts with water intake. Some SWRO plants use open intakes located some distance out from the shoreline, well below the lowest possible tides and far from any potential source of contamination or damage, such a ship anchorages. Open intakes generally have grates over them to exclude large marine life and debris from entering the system. Other SWRO plants use beach well intakes, with shafts dug into the beach that extend below the water table. Seawater filters through the sand and fills the well; from there, the water is pumped into the plant. Beach wells have the advantage of using the beach sand as a natural filter for particulates and smaller sea critters, but do tend to have a lower capacity than open intakes.
Aside from the salts, seawater has plenty of other unwanted bits, all of which need to come out prior to reverse osmosis. Trash racks remove any shells, sea life, or litter that manage to get through the intakes, and sand bed filters are often used to remove smaller particulates. Ultrafiltration can be used to further clarify the seawater, and chemicals such as mild acids or bases are often used to dissolve inorganic scale and biofilms. Surfactants are often added to the feedstock, too, to break up heavy organic materials.
By the time pretreatment is complete, the seawater is remarkably free from suspended particulates and silt. Pretreatment aims to reduce the turbidity of the feedstock to less than 0.5 NTUs, or nephelometric turbidity units. For context, the US Environmental Protection Agency standard for drinking water is 0.3 NTUs for 95% of the samples taken in a month. So the pretreated seawater is almost as clear as drinking water before it goes to reverse osmosis.
SWRO cartridges have membranes wound into spirals and housed in pressure vessels. Seawater under high pressure enters the membrane spiral; water molecules migrate across the membrane to a center permeate tube, leaving a reject brine that’s about twice as saline as the feedstock. Source:
DuPont Water Solutions
.
The heart of reverse osmosis is the membrane, and a lot of engineering goes into it. Modern RO membranes are triple-layer thin-film composites that start with a non-woven polyester support, a felt-like material that provides the mechanical strength to withstand the extreme pressures of reverse osmosis. Next comes a porous support layer, a 50 μm-thick layer of polysulfone cast directly onto the backing layer. This layer adds to the physical strength of the backing and provides a strong yet porous foundation for the active layer, a cross-linked polyamide layer about 100 to 200 nm thick. This layer is formed by interfacial polymerization, where a thin layer of liquid monomer and initiators is poured onto the polysulfone to polymerize in place.
An RO rack in a modern SWRO desalination plant. Each of the white tubes is a pressure vessel containing seven or eight RO membrane cartridges. The vessels are plumbed in parallel to increase flow through the system. Credit: Elvis Santana, via Adobe Stock.
Modern membranes can flow about 35 liters per square meter every hour, which means an SWRO plant needs to cram a lot of surface area into a little space. This is accomplished by rolling the membrane up into a spiral and inserting it into a fiberglass pressure vessel, which holds seven or eight cartridges. Seawater pumped into the vessel soaks into the backing layer to the active layer, where only the water molecules pass through and into a collection pipe at the center of the roll. The desalinated water, or permeate, exits the cartridge through the center pipe while rejected brine exits at the other end of the pressure vessel.
The pressure needed for SWRO is enormous. The natural osmotic pressure of seawater is about 27 bar (27,000 kPa), which is the pressure needed to halt the natural flow of water across a semipermeable membrane. SWRO systems must pressurize the water to at least that much plus a net driving pressure (NPD) to overcome mechanical resistance to flow through the membrane, which amounts to an additional 30 to 40 bar.
Energy Recovery
To achieve these tremendous pressures, SWRO plants use multistage centrifugal pumps driven by large, powerful electric motors, often 300 horsepower or more for large systems. The electricity needed to run those motors accounts for 60 to 80 percent of the energy costs of the typical SWRO plant, so a lot of effort is put into recovering that energy, most of which is still locked up in the high-pressure rejected brine as hydraulic energy. This energy used to be extracted by Pelton-style turbines connected to the shaft of the main pressure pump; the high-pressure brine would spin the pump shaft and reduce the mechanical load on the pump, which would reduce the electrical load. Later, the brine’s energy would be recovered by a separate turbo pump, which would boost the pressure of the feed water before it entered the main pump.
While both of these methods were capable of recovering a large percentage of the input energy, they were mechanically complex. Modern SWRO plants have mostly moved to isobaric energy recovery devices, which are mechanically simpler and require much less maintenance. Isobaric ERDs have a single moving part, a cylindrical ceramic rotor. The rotor has a series of axial holes, a little like the cylinder of an old six-shooter revolver. The rotor is inside a cylindrical housing with endcaps on each end, each with an inlet and an outlet fitting. High-pressure reject brine enters the ERD on one side while low-pressure seawater enters on the other side. The slugs of water fill the same bore in the rotor and equalize at the same pressure without much mixing thanks to the different densities of the fluids. The rotor rotates thanks to the momentum carried by the incoming water streams and inlet fittings that are slightly angled relative to the axis of the bore. When the rotor lines up with the outlet fittings in each end cap, the feed water and the brine both exit the rotor, with the feed water at a higher pressure thanks to the energy of the reject brine.
For something with only one moving part, isobaric ERDs are remarkably effective. They can extract about 98% of the energy in the reject brine, pressuring the feed water about 60% of the total needed. An SWRO plant with ERDs typically uses 5 to 6 kWh to produce a cubic meter of desalinated water; ERDs can slash that to just 2 to 3 kWh.
Isobaric energy recovery devices can recover half of the electricity used by the typical SWRO plant by using the pressure of the reject brine to pressurize the feed water. Source:
Flowserve
.
Finishing Up
Once the rejected brine’s energy has been recovered, it needs to be disposed of properly. This is generally done by pumping it back out into the ocean through a pipe buried in the seafloor. The outlet is located a considerable distance from the inlet and away from any ecologically sensitive areas. The brine outlet is also generally fitted with a venturi induction head, which entrains seawater from around the outlet to partially dilute the brine.
As for the permeate that comes off the RO racks, while it is almost completely desalinated and very clean, it’s still not suitable for distribution into the drinking water system. Water this clean is highly corrosive to plumbing fixtures and has an unpleasantly flat taste. To correct this, RO water is post-processed by passing it over beds of limestone chips. The RO water tends to be slightly acidic thanks to dissolved CO
2
, so it partially dissolves the calcium carbonate in the limestone. This raises the pH closer to neutral and adds calcium ions to the water, which increases its hardness a bit. The water also gets a final disinfection with chlorine before being released to the distribution network.
| 40
| 16
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8139339",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T14:32:01",
"content": "I imagine renewables changes the power equation.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139394",
"author": "Tom",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T17:00:34",
"content": "To some degree. But, like most industrial processes, it works best and most reliably when it’s always running, not when it starts and stops with an intermittent power source.There is a new kid on the block for water desalination, Ion Concentration Separation. This also uses a membrane but requires an electric field rather than a high-pressure pump. It is less energy efficient than RO, but is better suited to powering from renewables. It doesn’t require any sort of pressurisation beyond gravity to make the water drop through the device, so intermittent operation doesn’t have the same pressure-cycling effect that you get when you power RO plant from intermittent sources.",
"parent_id": "8139339",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139613",
"author": "Noneya",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T14:23:11",
"content": "People are ignorant and foolish, one does not simply pull the salt from the ocean with no consequence. You imbeciles cry about bs global warming yet want to accelerate the exact problem glacial melt water would cause.",
"parent_id": "8139339",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139762",
"author": "GeneralFault",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T21:17:16",
"content": "Have you actually done or even seen any of the math on this? For example, how does a desal plant compare to the salinity costs associated with pulling fresh water from a stream or river and preventing that water from getting to the ocean? I haven’t. But I suspect the amount, even if used to replace all of humanities freshwater needs (rather than the few percent proposed) would result in immeasurable changes to seawater salinity – particularly a hundred meters or more away from the outlet. And if that’s right, then the environmental benefit from desal water, and reduction to the need for massive and growing freshwater infrastructure, could be significantly more than any harm.",
"parent_id": "8139613",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139790",
"author": "Gardoni",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T23:14:42",
"content": "With high enough pressure of compression (achievable in regions of oceanic hyperdepth) anything can become Diesel if you want it – for example bodies of OceanGate Titan crew were literally turned into CO2 and ash because air combined with fat in their lungs acted like fuel injected into truck engine.In the future I think most energy could be generated by Diesel plants located under the ocean, the only problem will be shipping fuel deep down enough to reach without cracking.",
"parent_id": "8139762",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139966",
"author": "c",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T12:18:31",
"content": "False. Desalination costs energy. Energy costs money. “renewable energy” is more expensive. You could use intermittent production as a way to adapt to the intermittent nature of “renewable energy”, however that would average production and therefore increase ROI time. There is no free lunch.Nuclear energy however solves many problems if it is counted as renewable. The excess heat can be used to produce distilled water.",
"parent_id": "8139339",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139341",
"author": "ramzi",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T14:34:23",
"content": "???Water desalination problem was solved in early 60s by using salt water to directly cool nuclear reactor. It’s turned into steam and then filtered to normal drinking water.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139356",
"author": "Jace",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T15:09:15",
"content": "Someone should inform California then, because they are constantly having issue with access to potable water…..",
"parent_id": "8139341",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139379",
"author": "Bob the Builder",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T16:13:44",
"content": "Well that’s a different problem, The problems with water in California is on purpose. Rerouting water so it runs into the ocean instead of LA, a lack of maintenance in the last few decades resulting in water systems running dry, creating all sorts of problems with reservoirs. It’s a huge mess. That’s why, well over a year ago, before the fires, all insurance companies in the state upped the rates on homes and lowered the payouts as all the problems are compounding resulting in the state being quite a fire hazard.There is so much fresh water in California. Almost the entire state has access to smaller rivers, creeks, ponds, lakes, all with fresh water.I’m not American but I started reading on the history of California’s water issues and it’s quite interesting how this was caused knowing exactly what would happen. And then a perfect storm happened, that they were warned about.If you have a car and you refuse to do oil changes, don’t be surprised when your engine fails after a while. Same goes for everything, water supplies, power grids, etc. And California is known for not doing maintenance. So many fires have started due to grid failures and it’s only getting worse. The days before the fires I saw a bunch of video’s out of California with fires starting over power grid problems. It’s a huge mess.",
"parent_id": "8139356",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139416",
"author": "MW",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T18:21:26",
"content": "65 year-old, native Californian here. Bob’s right. This happens not only with water that should be flowing to LA but the SF bay area too. I’ve seen what he’s describing happen. Voters gave the state $7B to spend for water retention projects probably a decade or so ago. Nearly all of that went into systems to ease the flow of water into the ocean. This causes the droughts which Sacramento blames on “climate change” (can’t be their fault, you see).",
"parent_id": "8139379",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139435",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T19:23:21",
"content": "N Cal here.Nobody will let LA establish water rights because of what they did to the Owens Valley.LA has nobody to blame but themselves.You can’t act friendly until you get a foot in the door, then just outvote the locals, take all the water and expect anybody to ever let you get a foot in the door again.Tool is right about LA!https://youtu.be/rHcmnowjfrQ?si=UWQ5CvVefAVFuWRpThose living in known repeated burn areas (e.g. coastal LA) should have insurance bills that reflect that risk. Not subsidized by the rest of the state, as it is now.The latest LA fires are not a ‘perfect storm’ or ‘climate change related’.They were historically predictable and fairly routine.Happened lots of times before, just less populated then.The firefighting effort was one arm behind back…(e.g. leaving fire trucks with last years engines parked because they weren’t clean enough.)But it wouldn’t have mattered, those winds have always been a bitch and fuel buildup is just inevitable, given rainy season.Fun fact: The LA river runs more than enough water into the ocean each year to supply LA area. There is just no place to put it during rainy season.Good news!There are no dry season water rights available in N Cal anymore.I mean they, can be claimed, but you’d get water 1 year in 50.Last in line.LA needs to learn to live without lawns or dam up a dry valley or two and pump.They choose to live there, deal.All the good dam sights in the state are already done.Most of the mediocre ones are also done.You do want to leave some fish spawn rivers anyhow.Like everything, it’s a balance.",
"parent_id": "8139379",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139369",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T15:42:38",
"content": "Not as the primary coolant loop right? That would make the water radioactive.",
"parent_id": "8139341",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139396",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T17:04:38",
"content": "For a loose definition of “solved”. Scaling and fouling, material compatibility, etc.The BN-350 reactor in Shevchenko (now Aktau, Kazakhstan), which began operation in 1973, is a notable exception, providing both electricity and desalinated water for decades. However, even this project faced its own set of technical and operational challenges.https://inis.iaea.org/records/j3tty-ej229",
"parent_id": "8139341",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139345",
"author": "PPJ",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T14:44:48",
"content": "HAD columns never disappoint!“we’re still not completely clear how reverse osmosis works, even though we’ve been using it to process seawater since the 1950s.”In case you would like to make RO a subject of big chemistry please do!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139347",
"author": "Beowulf Shaeffer",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T14:49:33",
"content": "Interesting. Thank you.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139368",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T15:41:31",
"content": "I like how the new model is basically just filtration",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139387",
"author": "shinsukke",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T16:38:29",
"content": "First for hermit lifestyle on deserted island with solar powered desalinator, small permaculture vegetable and animal farm.Society has nothing more to offer me",
"parent_id": "8139368",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139419",
"author": "A",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T18:26:07",
"content": "Where are you going to get new tools when they break?",
"parent_id": "8139387",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139521",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T06:01:04",
"content": "I feel like that is part of the dream behind Reprap and any other ‘fully printed’ design.I think there is a dream for us to have a little box like a replicator that can spit out all the parts we need for something including itself. Then we can fix anything and even more ideally recycle the broken parts to base materials to use later.",
"parent_id": "8139419",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139383",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T16:30:56",
"content": "If you really want to see tremendous pressures, search the web for ethylene hypercompressors.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139393",
"author": "Spencer",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T16:57:12",
"content": "Interestingly, this same isobaric recovery device principle is used in one type of automotive supercharger known as the pressure wave supercharger that I found out about recently. Super interesting if you want to look into it. I thought I had seen it all. Only documentation I have seen of it is the 88 Mazda 626 Capella. Definitely worth reading about.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139398",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T17:18:51",
"content": "Trade name Comprex.Used in Valmet Tractors (411CX engine in the 80’s).Ferrari experiment with their F1 26C (https://www.forza-mag.com/issues/217/articles/under-pressure)Peugeot, Opel, and Mercedes-Benz: (https://www.osti.gov/etdeweb/biblio/6812900)Rinspeed Topaz Comprex: show car in 82.Greenpeace SmILE concept car.NASA and Antrova AG developing Comprex 2.0. (https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20050176387)",
"parent_id": "8139393",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139397",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T17:09:59",
"content": "“about 27 bar (27,000 kPa),”Check your conversion. 27 bar is 2700 kPa.So, not actually “enormous” pressure after all. Easily achieved by a rather small pump, like you will find in nearly every kitchen under-sink RO system.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139436",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T19:28:56",
"content": "Easy to get to useful units.1 bar ~= 1 atm ~= 15 psi.If you own a grease gun, you own a 10-20 kpsi hand pump.",
"parent_id": "8139397",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139444",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T20:17:51",
"content": "For some definition of “useful”. Though imperial units for pressure are particularly annoying and user-abusive to do calculations with.But I suppose if a few percent of the human populace prefers it we should consider allowing it to exist. We need have diversity and inclusion, after all.",
"parent_id": "8139436",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139526",
"author": "sbrk",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T06:13:45",
"content": "Indeed. The CP3 injection pump on my diesel truck achieves ~345 bar at idle and north of 1700 bar at max rail pressure.",
"parent_id": "8139397",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139413",
"author": "Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T17:58:42",
"content": "What is the increase in salt content of the “waste” water. Because my brain instantly thinks free high purity feedstock for additional chemical processes.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139519",
"author": "Krzysztof",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T05:59:17",
"content": "Not high purity. And probably unusable as feedstock for any serious process. There are mountains of salt lying out there (Monte Kalihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Kali) and people don’t know what to do with it. According to wiki, there are 900 tonnes being added every hour.",
"parent_id": "8139413",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139451",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T20:49:12",
"content": "*Water this clean is highly corrosive to plumbing fixtures *Not true. Not at all. Stop perpetuating this myth.RO, distilled, DI, ultrapure water erode metallic pipes even less quickly than “ordinary” tap water.The myth comes from the insistence by purveyors of ultrapure water to use non-metallic plumbing because the tiny amount of metal ions the waterdoesget degrades thewaterquality, not the pipe quality.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139452",
"author": "paulvdh",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T21:03:29",
"content": "Where is water still routinely chlorinated? Best I know this is not done often because customers don’t like the taste, and the chlorine is kept in storage to be used in “emergencies” only.A few years ago I read some research paper of another way to desalinate water. The idea is to use a DC current to get the ions out, but do this inside a pipe, and then split off the center of the stream. (Most of) the ions don’t even reach the electrodes. They are washed away in the stream. I think they were able to get around 75% of the salt out of the water this way and the research was ongoing.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139492",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T01:42:48",
"content": "You’ll have a hard time finding a large metropolitan area in any developed country that doesnotroutinely use chlorine, or chlorine dioxide, to keep their water distribution system safe.My municipal supply provides water to almost 1M people. I routinely check chlorine levels as part of my filter maintenance. I find the municipal supply varies from barely detectable at 0.1 ppm to 1 ppm. I have not found any correlation to season or temperature or rainfall. Yes, 1 ppm is easily detectable by taste. Hence my filter.‘our’ water treatment plan processes about a million tons of water per day, implying they use a ton of chlorine per day. Bonkers.",
"parent_id": "8139452",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139522",
"author": "Krzysztof",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T06:02:27",
"content": "My city uses oxygenation, but it’s a small “spa city” in Poland. Most of other cities use chlorination too.",
"parent_id": "8139492",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139546",
"author": "prfesser",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T07:42:59",
"content": "An advantage of chlorination over ozone or other oxygen treatment is that the chlorine remains in the water much longer, providing residual treatment. Ozone quickly decomposes.My small town uses chlorination, though the level is high enough that I can barely tolerate it. Thank the Flying Spaghetti Monster for fridge-filtered water!",
"parent_id": "8139452",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139487",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T00:59:54",
"content": "There’s so many people on earth that we need gorillions of dollars worth of high tech just for them to have something to drink, yet people will still call you Hitler if you suggest “maybe 8 billion is a bit much”. Wild stuff.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139490",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T01:30:40",
"content": "Maybe you would prefer to be called Malthus instead?",
"parent_id": "8139487",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139529",
"author": "trapicki",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T06:24:59",
"content": "It’s actually all physics, virtually no chemistry invovled.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139579",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T11:14:22",
"content": "… which is just applied physics :-)obxkcd:https://xkcd.com/435/",
"parent_id": "8139529",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139556",
"author": "Walter White",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T09:05:37",
"content": "“sodium anions and chloride cations”This is backwards in the article. Cations refer to positively charges ions (like Na+) and anions refer to negatively charged ions (like Cl-).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139920",
"author": "jalnl",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T09:13:30",
"content": "“0.0066% of all the water on Earth” is fresh? All the source I can find say it’s around 3%. Several orders of magnitudes larger. Still relatively small, but notthatsmall.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8141408",
"author": "필스토리",
"timestamp": "2025-06-23T06:56:31",
"content": "And that, right there, is the great paradox of Earth—the “Blue Planet” shimmering with water that, for the most part, we can’t actually drink.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,514.107251
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/16/this-thermochromic-clock-is-a-ray-of-sunshine/
|
This Thermochromic Clock Is A Ray Of Sunshine
|
Tyler August
|
[
"clock hacks"
] |
[
"analog clock",
"clock",
"thermochromic"
] |
It’s never a bad time to look at a clock, and one could certainly do worse than this delightful
Paper Sunshine Clock
by [anneosaur]. The sun-ray display is an interesting take on the analog clock, and its method of operation is not one we see every day, either.
Reading the clock is straightforward: there are twelve rays divided into two segments. Once you figure out that this artful object is a clock, it’s easy enough to guess that the rays give the hours, and half-rays are half-hours. In the photo above, it’s sometime between nine o’clock and nine thirty. Our Swiss readers might not be terribly impressed, but a “fuzzy” clock like this is quite good enough much of the time for many people.
Even the flex PCB holding the resistors looks like a work of art.
The title gives away its method of operation: it’s thermochromic paint! The paint is printed onto a piece of Japanese awagami paper, which is pressed against a flexible PCB holding an array of resistors. Large copper pads act as heat spreaders for the resistors. For timekeeping and control, an Atmega328PB is paired with a DS3231MZ RTC, with a coin cell for backup power when the unit is unplugged. (When plugged in, the unit uses
USB-C, as all things should
.) That’s probably overkill for a +/-30 minute display, but we’re not complaining.
The Atmega328PB does not have quite enough outputs to drive all those resistors, so a multiplexing circuit is used to let the 10 available GIPO control current to 24 rays. Everything is fused for safety, and [anneosaur] even includes a temperature sensor on the control board. The resistors are driven by a temperature-compensated PWM signal to keep them from overheating or warming up too slowly, regardless of room temperature. The attention to detail here is as impressive as the aesthetics.
[annenosaur] has even thought of those poor people for whom such a fuzzy clock would never do (be they Swiss or otherwise) — the Paper Sunshine Clock has a lovely “sparkle mode” that turns the rays on and off at random, turning the clock into an art piece. A demo video of that is below. If you find this clock to be a ray of sunshine, everything you need to reproduce it is on GitHub under an MIT or CC4.0 license.
This is not the first thermochromic clock we’ve featured, though
the last one was numeric
. If you must have minute accuracy in a thermochromic analog clock,
we’ve got you covered there, too
.
Special thanks to [anneosaur] for submitting the hack. If you’ve seen (or made) a neat clock,
let us know
! You won’t catch us at a bad time; it’s always clock time at Hackaday.
| 5
| 5
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8139289",
"author": "alialiali",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T11:17:21",
"content": "I wonder if you could shape the heat spreaders a bit like they did on the old Duracell energy check strips.With the goal that the light up effect spread evenly from bottom to top?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139294",
"author": "BT",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T11:35:34",
"content": "a “fuzzy” clock like this is quite good enough much of the time for many people.I have a rustic 17C long case clock that only has an hour hand (by design!) and it is indeed surprisingly often good enough these days too as long as you don’t need to catch a train etc",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139317",
"author": "ChrOh, No!",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T13:15:39",
"content": "Wait, wouldn’t it be 11:30PM or do you not read it left to right (CCW)?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139332",
"author": "Elliot Williams",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T13:52:09",
"content": "I love the effect of yellow/black thermo paint on black paper. Very cool combo.Makes me think of seeing if you could paint it on a black circuitboard.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139675",
"author": "Scanboostar",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T16:44:18",
"content": "I would read between 9:30 and 10:00 am",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,514.152565
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/16/dummy-plug-gets-smarter-with-raspberry-pi/
|
Dummy Plug Gets Smarter With Raspberry Pi
|
Al Williams
|
[
"Video Hacks"
] |
[
"dummy plug",
"edid",
"hdmi"
] |
[Doug Brown] had a problem. He uses a dummy HDMI plug to fool a computer into thinking it has a monitor for when you want to run the computer headless. The dummy plug is a cheap device that fools the computer into thinking it has a monitor and, as such, has to send the Extended Display ID (EDID) to the computer. However, that means the plug pretends to be some kind of monitor. But what if you want it
to pretend to be a different monitor
?
The EDID is sent via I2C and, as you might expect, you can use the bus to reprogram the EEPROM on the dummy plug. [Doug] points out that you can easily get into trouble if you do this with, for example, a real monitor or if you pick the wrong I2C bus. So be careful.
In [Doug’s] case, he wanted to drop a 4K dummy plug to 1080p, but you could probably just as easily go the other way. After all, the plug itself couldn’t care less what kind of video you send it. It drops it all anyway.
Want to know
more about HDMI
? We can help out with that.
| 21
| 8
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8139245",
"author": "Andrzej",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T08:12:19",
"content": "Note that this is not specific to the RPi. Various Linux GPU drivers expose the HDMI I2C interface as /dev/i2c-X. A comment on the linked blog post also mentions similar functionality on Windows.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139430",
"author": "limroh",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T18:50:18",
"content": "similar functionality on Windows.This may in the last 10 years or it was a specific case but the 24inch screen I’m watching me currently type on was basically broken when it was rescued from an e-waste trash container.TLDR: … and “repaired” over the DDC bus connected to a computer.Turns out Samsung had programmed in a literal death count-down or something.After a specific runtime the screen would just turn of as soon as it received a signal.It would gladly display a “no cable” warning when disconnected but any display signal from a computer and the backlight switched off (or something similar).Samsung was aware of the problem and had released a fix: A tool that re-programmed/flashed the display over the display cable (VGA or DVI I think) via DDC/i2c.But apparently that only worked reliably with Intel GPUs. I tried it with an AMD one & I don’t remember what the person who rescued the screen used but I only found out this caveat thanks to a comment below a YT video about this display (SynMaster SA450).",
"parent_id": "8139245",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139267",
"author": "l",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T09:01:39",
"content": "So they can’t be used to control a giant robot when the pilot is unavailable or uncooperative?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139340",
"author": "Bill Gates",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T14:33:27",
"content": "You know how those teenagers can be, moody, uncooperative, having mental breakdowns…Asuka and Shinji being perfect examples….so I’m not the only one who thought of Evangelion.",
"parent_id": "8139267",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139457",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T21:21:06",
"content": "Now with 100% less messy orange amino acid goop",
"parent_id": "8139267",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139318",
"author": "Pablo J R",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T13:19:04",
"content": "Am I missing something? If I need to run a RPi headless, I just do it; no need for extra hardware. Even more, gpu_mem setting can be set to a minimum ( i.e. 16) so to Freeman RAM for applications",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139321",
"author": "Mark Topham",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T13:33:55",
"content": "Yeah, not sure why one would want a dummy plug at high resolution vs low.I’m not going to argue over the idea of the dummy plug, there’s enough corner cases that I see some potential value there.But, I know you can get video out of the pi over Ethernet without a monitor attached anyway, so why not set up a virtual monitor instead?",
"parent_id": "8139318",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139325",
"author": "J",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T13:37:57",
"content": "Reading comprehension. It’s important.",
"parent_id": "8139321",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139326",
"author": "lowtolerance",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T13:38:33",
"content": "He’s using the RPi to flash the EEPROM on the dummy plug, but he’s using the dummy plug with a different computer.",
"parent_id": "8139318",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139458",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T21:22:41",
"content": "Ah, this was the missing piece that I was too impatient to spot. I was also confused; I have run a million pis headless, and never needed a fake HDMI adapter. Thanks",
"parent_id": "8139326",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139462",
"author": "El Gru",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T21:41:21",
"content": "There is one use case:If you run the Pi headless but need to connect a monitorwithoutrestarting. At least the old ones would check HDMI once at startup and then never again.",
"parent_id": "8139458",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139475",
"author": "boondaburrah",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T23:38:44",
"content": "We use them at work for headless windows PCs running as a fleet of test boxes because apparently directx won’t let you use the GPU for graphics acceleration normally unless it thinks it can output to somewhere. (I believe directx can render headless, but the software expects an outputDevice, and rewriting it to not use one would defeat the purpose of testing how it will run on actual users’ PCs)",
"parent_id": "8139458",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139449",
"author": "rclark",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T20:33:27",
"content": "I think I am missing something too. A friend gave me a plug a couple of years ago now, but I never figured out what in the world I’d ever use it for. I never needed it to RDP/VNC into the RPI, nor do I need it to SSH (headless) into the box. Computer boots fine with or without a display attached.",
"parent_id": "8139318",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139489",
"author": "Michael O",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T01:25:19",
"content": "Some devices get made without a monitor or tv hooked up. In my case when I use to use one, it was because certain parts of my GPU driver didn’t load if there was no monitor hooked up so GPU encoding didn’t work for my plex server. That’s long been fixed,but it’s an example I dealt with.",
"parent_id": "8139449",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8141594",
"author": "Robin",
"timestamp": "2025-06-23T15:16:26",
"content": "Under Windows I had 2 monitors – one which dropped signal when turned off and a smaller one which kept the signal. So the whole desktop moved to the second smaller monitor when the first monitor was turned off. EDID passthrough / emulator on a HDMI splitter / switch device fixed the problem, but they can be expensive to find supporting 4k resolution at a framerate higher than 120Hz",
"parent_id": "8139449",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139453",
"author": "David Kuder",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T21:12:27",
"content": "Some Windows / Mac software apparently doesn’t want to let you run truly headless. So a dummy plug + VNC works for running the software where RDP (even with RemoteFX) would fail. As for why you would want it to identify as supporting a specific resolution, that too can be explained as 1: a mode the software will work with “Your screen is 1280×720? but we designed for 1024×768 as the minimum resolution and we don’t let you size the window.” or the opposite “Your screen resolution is too high, you need to buy the $499 professional license!” etc. I’ve had to do EDID reprogramming on an HDMI to SDI converter because Apple is dumb, won’t let you choose 59.94Hz manually if the “display” says it can do 60Hz, and their OS stopped letting you edit the EDID overrides because “those are protected system files!”.",
"parent_id": "8139318",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139385",
"author": "Carl Breen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T16:31:32",
"content": "goughlui[dot]com/2019/06/02/review-teardown-generic-hdmi-cheater-dummy-plug-4k-uhd/I find this far more comprehensible, due to the entire circuit and an editing suite being discussed.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139437",
"author": "QBFreak",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T19:28:57",
"content": "I had never considered that these might be that easy to change. I have a couple of different flavors, purchased in a quest to get a specific machine to play nice at boot with a specific monitor via a an adapter and a KVM. It never worked, but I suspect that’s just as much because none of them were of an appropriate resolution (hard to find one in 4:3).I’ll file this idea away for a day when I have the energy to drag the rack out and spend a while poking around behind it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139445",
"author": "leonllrmc",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T20:19:17",
"content": "I thought we were talking about Evangelion dummy plugs lolgreat project !",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139455",
"author": "Flame Soulis",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T21:18:11",
"content": "I’ve done this already when using a Steam Deck and it kept defaulting to the highest resolution, which was not available for my capture card, nor would let the system run well. So I cloned my own TV and flashed a few of the dummy plugs I received after backing up the dummy settings.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139667",
"author": "Billy",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T16:35:20",
"content": "I have a couple of these pass through edid plugs. I want to modify them to advertise a 2560×1080 display. My raspberry pi collection have no problem with using that resolution on a 3440×1440 ultrawide monitor, but I can write the required resolution into /boot/config.txt on them. I have a collection of various thinclients which don’t have that option, and are not keen on 3440×1440 either. A dummy edid plug seemed to be the answer, but I can’t write an acceptable edid that claims 2560×1080 as the default resolution, and I need to mess with xrandr to sometimes get what I want. Any suggestion for modifying the monitors edid by deleting the 3440×1440 default and replacing it with 2560×1080 as default so I can write that into the dummy plug?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,514.490388
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/15/making-corrugated-cardboard-stronger-and-waterproof/
|
Making Corrugated Cardboard Stronger And Waterproof
|
Maya Posch
|
[
"green hacks"
] |
[
"biodegradable",
"cardboard"
] |
As useful as corrugated cardboard is, we generally don’t consider it to be a very sturdy material. The moment it’s exposed to moisture, it begins to fall apart, and it’s easily damaged even when kept dry. That said, there are ways to make corrugated cardboard a
lot more durable, as demonstrated by the [NightHawkInLight]
. Gluing multiple panels together so that the corrugation alternates by 90 degrees every other panel makes them more sturdy, with wheat paste (1:5 mixture of flour and water) recommended as adhesive.
Other tricks are folding over edges help to protect against damage, and integrating wood supports. Normal woodworking tools like saws can cut these glued-together panels. Adding the wheat paste to external surfaces can also protect against damage. By applying kindergarten papier-mâché skills, a custom outside layer can be made that can be sanded and painted for making furniture, etc.
Beyond these and other tips, there remains the issue of protection against water intrusion. The (biodegradable) solution here is shellac. Unfortunately, pure (canned) shellac isn’t good enough for long-term exposure to moisture, so the recipe recommended here is: 0.5 L of (~91%) IPA, 125 g of shellac flakes, and 15 g of beeswax. After heating and stirring, a paste wax is created that can be brushed on the cardboard to provide water resistance, without turning said cardboard into chemical waste.
As an alternative waterproof coating (but not biodegradable) there’s another recipe: 100 g hot glue sticks, 25 g paraffine wax or beeswax, and 20 mL of mineral oil (which lowers the melting temperature).
Although these methods, including the also discussed UV protection coatings – require some time and materials investment. Since cardboard is effectively free, there’s something to be said for this approach, if only as a fun chemistry or physics project. For [NightHawkInLight] it’s being used as the roof on his DIY camper, for which it seems like a nice lightweight, waterproof option.
Thanks to [James Newton] for the tip.
| 45
| 16
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8139225",
"author": "Jerry Whiting",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T05:25:30",
"content": "Mod Podge OutdoorAs always, YMMV",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139227",
"author": "C M",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T05:37:20",
"content": "I thought about this years ago with the idea of using soy protien’s that had been subjected to acidifcation or basification as the external covering layer for waterproofing.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139232",
"author": "WestfW",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T06:37:53",
"content": "Oh! I’ve been experimenting with this as well!When making your ply-cardboard, I don’t know if you should limit yourself to right angles – some 45degree pieces seem like they’d help too! (that may limit your dimensions…)For cheap waterproofing, take a trip to the “wrong color custom exterior paint section” of your local Home Depot or equivalent. There are almost always some “almost white” or “not too ugly brown” tints available, at something like $5/gal.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139249",
"author": "Ian",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T08:31:33",
"content": "I have had luck getting the paint tech to add enough dye to make those “wrong color” paint cans “black”.You can still usually see a hint of the previous color, especially when used right next to a different batch of “Black-ish” paint, but it can make projects a bit more ‘reaspectable’.One time I knew I needed 6+ gallons of a consistent color for a project, so I just poured all the cans into a 10 gallon bucket and stirred them.That said, I actually like the quirky look you get when you use whatever random color you get from the returned paints. Sometimes they are fun bold colors too.",
"parent_id": "8139232",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139236",
"author": "Jouni",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T07:18:08",
"content": "Many of IKEA furniture are actually cardboard inside. Tables and shelves for eample.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139264",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T08:52:33",
"content": "Wow! And I thought pressboard was very worst in terms of quality, following plywood.",
"parent_id": "8139236",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139460",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T21:38:25",
"content": "It kind of is. I think some cardboard composites are far superior to pressboard or chipboard or MDF. Still cheap and tacky, but in materials science terms they are often better.Perhaps not acoustically. That’s the main one I’m unsure of, because I don’t often venture into speaker enclosures, and when I do, they don’t end up being very good.",
"parent_id": "8139264",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139328",
"author": "Dan",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T13:42:19",
"content": "Yes, but it’s a honeycomb not simple corrugated, and it’s aligned differently for stiffness.Cheap interior doors are made the same way.It’s done to make the object thicker, not for strength. It keeps costs and weight down and is more eco friendly than alternatives like MDF, solid wood (which is less eco friendly as you use far more of it, hence also more transport emissions), foam, etc.",
"parent_id": "8139236",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139349",
"author": "Snarkenstein",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T14:55:06",
"content": "It’s called a torsion box, and it’s stronger than you might think.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torsion_boxhttps://www.popularwoodworking.com/?s=torsion+box",
"parent_id": "8139328",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139461",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T21:39:44",
"content": "Nice, I appreciate posting the technical term for further learning",
"parent_id": "8139349",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8140444",
"author": "Elliot Williams",
"timestamp": "2025-06-19T19:49:39",
"content": "Watch and Ikea LACK table teardown. It’s the same cardboard honeycomb that they use as a packing material.Some woodworkers put this up as a negative, of course. But you gotta admit that it’s damn clever engineering.Non-compressible interior, non-stretchy exterior… standard aerospace engineering trick.",
"parent_id": "8139349",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8141567",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-23T13:45:55",
"content": "Very easy to get holes in those wonderful ‘torsion box’ doors though, and then it’s rather annoying to fix it.In case of renovation they just toss them instead of trying to fix I noticed.",
"parent_id": "8139349",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139248",
"author": "CRJEEA",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T08:28:55",
"content": "Cardboard row boat?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139280",
"author": "Eric",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T09:53:14",
"content": "the rowing boats are already cardboard honeycomb sandwiched between carbon fibre weave.https://rowingbanter.tumblr.com/post/49710780761/bad-rigger-bad",
"parent_id": "8139248",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139257",
"author": "paulvdh",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T08:40:48",
"content": "I gave up after a minute and a half after he started repeating his intro for the 4th or 5th time. It’s so annoying that those “professional” youtubers are wasting as much of your time as possible.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139305",
"author": "Eric Cherry",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T12:34:34",
"content": "Yes! Signal vs Noise.",
"parent_id": "8139257",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139306",
"author": "ThoriumBR",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T12:37:37",
"content": "It’s not wasting your time, it’s a cheap way to lengthen the video above a threshold. Your time is collateral damage.",
"parent_id": "8139257",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139270",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T09:10:16",
"content": "I would not advise the use of flour while on a planet that has insects and fungi.Maybe for Mars though..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139288",
"author": "RunnerPack",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T11:04:34",
"content": "I would advise watching the video before commenting. He specifically wanted the end product to be biodegradable, while also being weatherproof for a useful amount of time.",
"parent_id": "8139270",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139649",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T15:37:31",
"content": "I’m not interested in this video though, and what more is there to say than what is in the article, about gluing together some cardboard in an attempt to get some views that is.",
"parent_id": "8139288",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139362",
"author": "Barefoot",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T15:33:11",
"content": "Insects and fungi like cardboard also, so…",
"parent_id": "8139270",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139274",
"author": "El Gru",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T09:33:10",
"content": "Consider to use wood directly before slashing it into pulp with tons of water and then trying to get it back to something less than wood quality.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139286",
"author": "RunnerPack",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T11:02:21",
"content": "Cardboard is made from wood scraps that can’t be used directly and wood grown and harvested quickly for the purpose, which saves land and other resources.Also, this method has benefits over solid wood, such as light weight and compostability when no longer needed.",
"parent_id": "8139274",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139300",
"author": "El Gru",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T11:58:38",
"content": "Unless you are a homeless person, cardboard is not a natural resource.It uses huge amounts of energy and water — no matter if the source is recycled paper or wood trash specifically grown. And as soon as you start adding additives (and there are lots) compostability is not really great unless done in industrial ways by adding stuff (again).TL;DR: If you want rugged material do not use a degraded form but use the source material directly.",
"parent_id": "8139286",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139331",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T13:51:20",
"content": "Aka wooden crates. As if cardboard isn’t hard enough to deal with, now I have to bust up wooden crates so someone can live the dream of a false economy.",
"parent_id": "8139300",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139364",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T15:35:10",
"content": "Water is INXS in many places.I doubt there are many cardboard manufacturing plants in the desert.If your suggesting using crap wood in place of cardboard, that is already done (for cultural reasons) in Japan. Wood signals quality there. It’s a GD wasteful nightmare.",
"parent_id": "8139300",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139365",
"author": "Barefoot",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T15:35:24",
"content": "In this age of online ordering and shipping I’d say cardboard is a plentiful, if not “natural,” resource.",
"parent_id": "8139300",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139422",
"author": "threeve",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T18:31:55",
"content": "It’s not a natural resource, it’s an un-natural resource; trash, in this case. And I’m a big fan of using trash as a resource.",
"parent_id": "8139300",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139495",
"author": "WestfW",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T01:46:35",
"content": "A trip to costco or other big box store will yield enough cardboard to build whatever you want, some already bonded together in double or trip-thickness versions (some with interesting engineering, such as different “grain” widths.) Sheets up to a meter square are common.All of it is, at best, destined for recycling.",
"parent_id": "8139300",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139657",
"author": "Foldi-One",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T16:05:50",
"content": "Time and a place for both – cardboard is usually a waste material, that might well have been part of the shipping for ‘real’ wood products your purchased even, and its strength or stiffness to weight ratio compared to wooden construction tends to massively in its favour.If you are deliberately deforesting what could be prime lumber just to make it all into cardboard I’d be disappointed. But there is so much waste around that prime lumber that will make perfectly good cardboard, and what else do you do with it? MDF is another option, but I think I’d rather use cardboard in most cases…",
"parent_id": "8139274",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139281",
"author": "metalman",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T10:02:13",
"content": "paint could be used as the glue for making the plyand the judicious use of of foam and fibreglass+ epoxy for bents could result in a very light frame for larger projects,with wood as main sills anddoor framing, and attach points for built in accesories, shelves, etc and then wrapping the whole thing in “floor protector” heavy paper as a finish, with a final.water proofing should yield a reasonably weather proof structure thatcould still be moved with muscle power",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139304",
"author": "Mayhem",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T12:28:33",
"content": "There are many carboard boat reggatas that are held every year. The boats float long enough to make it across a lake. I used to watch them in the summer at Glen Ellyn lake in Glen Ellyn Illinois USA.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139420",
"author": "Justin",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T18:26:55",
"content": "Well, of course you can make furniture out of cardboard. If you can build a bicycle, then furniture should be no problem 😸:https://www.dezeen.com/2012/11/12/cardboard-bicycle-by-izhar-gafni/Unfortunately, I don’t know what they used to make the cardboard bikes waterproof.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139426",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T18:44:39",
"content": "‘(~91%) IPA’…That’s some hardy yeast!I assume the remaining 9% is pure malt and hops juice.Yes I read TFA.But, in my defense, not until 3 hours after posting.Don’t permaban me.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8140446",
"author": "Elliot Williams",
"timestamp": "2025-06-19T19:52:14",
"content": "IsoPropyl Alcohol.Banned for life!",
"parent_id": "8139426",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139448",
"author": "KC",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T20:27:36",
"content": "Dad was a hippie back in the day and had a small library of homesteading books and manuals for these kinds of projectsAn article that stuck with me was building geodesic domes out of layered cardboard, priming them with something that dried rough and water proof (I don’t remember what), and spraying them down with “shot-crete” or watery cement. After a few layers you had a geodesic cement shelter.I can’t decided if mom should have let him build a concrete and cardboard yurt of not. It’d have been interesting either way.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139463",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T21:43:36",
"content": "Knowing some of the better varieties of hippies in my day (i.e. the outdoorsy and independent kind, not the vain & greasy urbanite kind) I have seen some similar endeavors. Often they go bad after a few years, but that’s just because new building techniques have not had the long-term glitches worked out yet. That takes generations.There is so much knowledge and technique that goes into creating conventional houses and buildings which only becomes evident in its cleverness after twenty or thirty years. Or sometimes a couple centuries.",
"parent_id": "8139448",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139740",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T19:42:28",
"content": "Hippies are assholes that LARP being good people.Head bangers are good people that LARP being assholes.FYI name escapes me, but one of the hippies that advocated for geodesic dome houses realized how bad an idea it was, after 25 years or so. He was the one that wrote the book all the other hippies quote…Rectilinear rooms make much better use of space.They also make wiring and plumbing much much easier.You can make interesting room shapes, but you’ll basically just waste the space out to the smallest rectangle(s) that could contain it.One of my hippie friends did the straw bale construction thing for an addition.They took it down to sell the house, 10 years later.Guess the work kept them out of trouble.",
"parent_id": "8139463",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139752",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T20:23:41",
"content": "I assume KC’s dad was from the years of Hoffman’s definition of ‘hippie’.Those hippies were better than current…Eric Cartman’s definition.",
"parent_id": "8139740",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8141733",
"author": "KC",
"timestamp": "2025-06-23T23:36:02",
"content": "By hippie I meant off grid, homesteading, self sufficient, no poison farming, and set bear traps for anyone that ignored the no trespassing signs.Not the pacifist peace love and smoke variety.And geodesic domes are fine if you don’t have, or want a lot of stuff. They just take a shift in thinking away from right angles.",
"parent_id": "8139752",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139917",
"author": "Foldi-One",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T08:51:45",
"content": "but you’ll basically just waste the space out to the smallest rectangle(s) that could contain it.I’d have to disagree a fair bit – you always need storage and almost any weird space beyond that rectangle will be good for that. Also potentially useful to hold your water tank, plumbing and electrics, act as the conduits for your network cables, you central heating/AC in a way that is accessible enough for maintenance but not using up the real living space.What you definitely get when you have really weird shaped boxes to live in is the need to build almost everything custom – in effect you have elected to make your home into a yacht where almost all the space has to be carefully planned to make use of it – no trip to Ikea to pick up furnishings that will just fit well enough or are simple to trim down in whichever axis required till it does.",
"parent_id": "8139740",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139464",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T21:45:18",
"content": "I was expecting some horrors of coating the stuff in plastics and stinky resins, but this is a lot better than what I expected… A lot of woodworking knowledge and technique transferred to some more easily-available materials. You could really elevate the old tradition of building a box fort with the kids.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8140448",
"author": "Elliot Williams",
"timestamp": "2025-06-19T19:54:36",
"content": "https://hackaday.com/2018/09/24/box-forts-for-adults-best-practices-and-design-strategies/",
"parent_id": "8139464",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139465",
"author": "Question Mark",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T22:22:30",
"content": "In my music festival days I met and played with several makers of cardboard guitars and ukuleles. Very light and strong instruments but generally lacking low-end resonance while still being highly playable and pleasant to listen to.I recently replaced seats to folding chairs using cardboard as the bases to which foam was applied and fabric stapled to. 3 or 4 layers 90 degrees flipped and glued together with Elmer’s wood glue with the outer sides covered in a few coats of polyurethane which I also dripping into exposed corrugation holes. Worked great and a good use for those empty kitty litter boxes.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139470",
"author": "N",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T23:18:12",
"content": "Gesso",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,514.436753
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/15/bento-vr-xr-from-a-keyboard/
|
Bento – VR/XR From A Keyboard
|
Ian Bos
|
[
"Peripherals Hacks"
] |
[
"3d printed keyboard",
"Apple keyboard",
"minimalism",
"steam deck",
"XR"
] |
XR may not have crashed into our lives as much as some tech billionaires have wished, but that doesn’t stop the appeal of a full display that takes up no physical space. At that point, why not get rid of the computer that takes up living space as well? That is what [Michael] tries to do with
Bento
, the form factor of an Apple Magic keyboard and the power of a Steam Deck.
Steam Deck modding
is a great project to get started on but we don’t see too many VR or XR uses of the mobile pc. While the VR gaming potential is limited by lackluster power, general productivity is a perfect use case. All that productivity power can be found in a 3D printed case with a battery, allowing for some mobile use. A magic keyboard sits on top of the case, so the entire package takes up less space than the average mechanical keyboard. However, we could always support the addition of a mechanical key version. There’s plenty of spare room in this current design, just look at the storage area!
[Michael] believes that this use of XR fulfills a more true course for “spatial computing” than Apple’s Vision Pro. Of course, this design is not restricted to only XR use; the Steam Deck is capable of running on any normal monitor you would like. Regardless, we need to see the model files to verify for ourselves! [Michael] claims these resources will be available soon, and trust us that we will be waiting!
Minimalist builds are far from unheard of here on Hackaday. After all, less room taken up by random cables or clutter means more room for projects. This is a lesson clearly followed by similar projects such as this completely
wireless-powered desktop
!
| 6
| 4
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8139214",
"author": "KDawg",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T03:34:59",
"content": "Also this“While the VR gaming potential is limited by lackluster power,”what are you talking about the 5 year old PS5 has a “disk drive” that is almost as fast as DDR3 ram 10 years ago",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139279",
"author": "shinsukke",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T09:51:44",
"content": "VR gaming (a lot of gaming in general) is limited by unimaginative corporate artistic “vision” and resource inefficient game engines.",
"parent_id": "8139214",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139217",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T04:36:55",
"content": "Hard technical problems trying to be made cheaply.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139346",
"author": "mattd",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T14:48:19",
"content": "And no killer feature to drive demand.",
"parent_id": "8139217",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139235",
"author": "Valerio",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T07:15:20",
"content": "An update: following the interest, the author is publishing CAD files and other materials.https://github.com/bento-computer/bento",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139415",
"author": "HegTek",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T18:12:27",
"content": "XR is (and likely will continue to be) a niche, this is true, but I’d be cautious of offhandedly disregarding it, especially from a sour grapes perspective. After all, contact lenses do, to my knowledge, exist.My own (very personal and limited) experience, with XR, specifically VR, has been overwhelmingly positive, and I do look forward to more options like these for productivity, personal entertainment, and even training.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,514.539022
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/15/hackaday-links-june-15-2025/
|
Hackaday Links: June 15, 2025
|
Dan Maloney
|
[
"Hackaday Columns",
"Hackaday links"
] |
[
"anthropomorphization",
"autonomous",
"commercialization",
"death-cleaning",
"dexterity",
"figure",
"hackaday links",
"helix",
"hoarding",
"insurance",
"logistics",
"market",
"robotaxi",
"self-driving",
"tesla",
"Waymo"
] |
Are robotaxis poised to be the Next Big Thing™ in North America? It seems so, at least according to Goldman Sachs, which
issued a report this week
stating that robotaxis have officially entered the commercialization phase of the hype cycle. That assessment appears to be based on an analysis of the total ride-sharing market, which encompasses services that are currently almost 100% reliant on meat-based drivers, such as Lyft and Uber, and is valued at $58 billion. Autonomous ride-hailing services like Waymo, which has a fleet of 1,500 robotaxis operating in several cities across the US, are included in that market but account for less than 1% of the total right now. But, Goldman projects that the market will burgeon to over $336 billion in the next five years, driven in large part by “hyperscaling” of autonomous vehicles.
We suspect
the upcoming launch of Tesla’s robotaxis
in Austin, Texas, accounts for some of this enthusiasm for the near-term, but we have our doubts that a market based on such new and complex technologies can scale that quickly. A little back-of-the-envelope math suggests that the robotaxi fleet will need to grow to about 9,000 cars in the next five years, assuming the same proportion of autonomous cars in the total ride-sharing fleet as exists today.
A look inside the Waymo robotaxi plant
outside of Phoenix reveals that it can currently only convert “several” Jaguar electric SUVs per day, meaning they’ve got a lot of work to do to meet the needed numbers. Other manufacturers will no doubt pitch in, especially Tesla, and factory automation always seems to pull off miracles under difficult circumstances, but it still seems like a stretch to think there’ll be that many robotaxis on the road in only five years. Also,
it currently costs more to hail a robotaxi
than an Uber or Lyft, and we just don’t see why anyone would prefer to call a robotaxi, unless it’s for the novelty of the experience.
On the other hand, if the autonomous ride-sharing market does experience explosive growth, there could be knock-on benefits even for Luddite naysayers such as we.
A report
, again from Goldman Sachs — hey, they probably have a lot of skin in the game — predicts that auto insurance rates could fall by 50% as more autonomous cars hit the streets. This is based on markedly lower liability for self-driving cars, which have 92% fewer bodily injury claims and 88% lower property damage claims than human-driven cars. Granted, those numbers have to be based on a very limited population, and we guarantee that self-drivers will find new and interesting ways to screw up on the road. But if our insurance rates fall even a little because of self-driving cars, we’ll take it as a win.
Speaking of robotics, if you want to see just how far we’ve come in terms of robot dexterity, look no further than
the package-sorting abilities of Figure’s Helix robot
. The video in the article is an hour long, but you don’t need to watch more than a few minutes to be thoroughly impressed. The robot is standing at a sorting table with an infeed conveyor loaded with just about the worst parcels possible, a mix of soft, floppy, poly-bagged packages, flat envelopes, and traditional boxes. The robot was tasked with placing the parcels on an outfeed conveyor, barcode-side down, and with proper separation between packages. It also treats the soft poly-bag parcels to a bit of extra attention, pressing them down a bit to flatten them before flicking them onto the belt. Actually, it’s that flicking action that seems the most human, since it’s accompanied by a head-swivel to the infeed belt to select its next package. Assuming this is legit autonomous and not covertly teleoperated, which we have no reason to believe, the manual dexterity on display here is next-level; we’re especially charmed by the carefree little package flip about a minute in. The way it handles mistakenly grabbing two packages at once is pretty amazing, too.
And finally, our friend Leo Fernekes dropped
a new video
that’ll hit close to home for a lot of you out there. Leo is a bit of a techno-hoarder, you see, and with the need to make some room at home and maintain his domestic tranquility, he had to tackle the difficult process of getting rid of old projects, some of which date back 40 or more years. Aside from the fun look through his back-catalog of projects, the video is also an examination of the emotional attachments we hackers tend to develop to our projects. We touched on that a bit in
our article on tech anthropomorphization
, but we see how going through these projects is not only a snapshot of the state of the technology available at the time, but also a slice of life. Each of the projects is not just a collection of parts, they’re collections of memories of where Leo was in life at the time. Sometimes it’s hard to let go of things that are so strongly symbolic of a time that’s never coming back, and we applaud Leo for having the strength to pitch that stuff. Although seeing a clock filled with 80s TTL chips and a vintage 8085 microprocessor go into the bin was a little tough to watch.
| 5
| 4
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8139209",
"author": "pelrun",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T03:12:00",
"content": "I’ve said for years that insurers are going to be the true arbiter of the effectiveness of self-driving technology. But I’m also extremely skeptical about it lowering insurance rates – more likely that they’ll keep the rates high and put the savings into their profits… :(",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139334",
"author": "stephen shaffer",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T14:13:27",
"content": "That’s where Tesla shines! They go vertical! Guess who the second largest insurer of Teslas is? Tesla!",
"parent_id": "8139209",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139292",
"author": "CampGareth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T11:30:17",
"content": "“we just don’t see why anyone would prefer to call a robotaxi”The best taxi rides I’ve ever had were ones where the driver didn’t speak and drove safely. If I can get that reliably I would pay extra.I don’t take taxis often but when I do the human driver is doing something weird like attempting to merge into another car and hoping they’ll chicken out first, doing 20mph above the speed limit, or on one trip trying to convince me that a terrorist organisation was in the right for beheading people… Not a conversation I want to have while locked in a metal box.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139350",
"author": "Snarkenstein",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T15:00:21",
"content": "Conflating a tiny segment of a market with the whole market seems like a real newbie kind of mistake.Or intentional fraud (Hey, wanna buy some robotaxi stock?)Or an LLM product from a lazy analyst.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139359",
"author": "Chaz",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T15:21:49",
"content": "As a Horder of projects myself I have to be very careful of starting new projects without either finishing old ones or just fully quitting one. I do think that having a youtube channel and at least doing a lessons learned video is a great way to scratch the itch of sharing the idea the may never fully be finished. Half the reason I started my own.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,514.671623
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/15/electromechanical-atari-is-a-steampunk-meccano-masterpiece/
|
Electromechanical Atari Is A Steampunk Meccano Masterpiece
|
Tyler August
|
[
"Toy Hacks"
] |
[
"electromechanical",
"erector",
"lunar lander",
"meccano"
] |
If William Gibson and Bruce Sterling had written an arcade scene into “The Difference Engine”, it probably would have looked a lot like [Pete Wood]’s
Meccano Martian Mission
, as illustrated in the video below by the [London Meccano Club]. Meccano Martian Mission is an homage to Atari’s 1978 Lunar Lander video game, but entirely electromechanical and made of– you guessed it– Meccano.
You might think Meccano is “too modern” to count as steampunk, but it squeaks just into the Victorian era. The first sets hit stores in 1901, the last year of Queen Victoria’s long reign. Since then, Meccano has developed a large following that has produced some
truly impressive constructions
, and this arcade game can stand
amongst the best of them
.
The game has all the features of the original: a swiveling spaceship, two-axis speed control, and even a little yellow flame that pops out when you are applying thrust. There’s a timer and a fuel gauge, and just like the original, there are easier and harder landing pads that offer score multipliers. While the score must be totted up manually, the game
will
detect a crash and flag it with a pop-down banner. It really has to be seen to be believed. It’s all done with cams and differentials hitting potentiometers and microswitches — not an Arduino in sight; [Pete] does a good job explaining it in the second half of the embedded video, starting about 10 minutes in.
The brains of the operation: cams and gears, and ingenuity.
Sure, might not be new or groundbreaking — these are old, old techniques — but not many people know them well enough to use them anymore, especially not with this degree of sophistication. To see these electromechanical techniques applied anachronistically to replicate one of the great pioneers of the arcade world tickles our fancy. It’s no wonder that perfecting this mechanical marvel has taken [Pete Wood] a decade.
The project reminds us of the
Meccano Pinball Machine
featured here years ago, but that somehow felt like a more natural fit for the apparently undead building kits. We
lamented Meccano’s demise in 2023,
but the brand is apparently being revived this year. Hopefully, that means there can be more young members for the [London Meccano Club] and groups like them, to keep the perforated-steel flame alive through another six reigns.
This hack is the bee’s knees, and we’re very thankful to [Tim Surtell] for the tip. Remember, the
tip line is always open
!.
| 21
| 10
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8139119",
"author": "Jan",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T20:11:49",
"content": "Cool, really really cool!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139417",
"author": "Niklas",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T18:24:32",
"content": "And beautiful!",
"parent_id": "8139119",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139127",
"author": "Vik Olliver",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T20:22:03",
"content": "Ancient Meccano fan here. I used it to make the first ever RepRap prototype. Things went full circle and I’ve made a printable Open Source metric Meccano-like libraryhttps://www.printables.com/model/1177182which can be incorporated into CAD models to make them modular. Additions welcome.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139303",
"author": "Scootz",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T12:25:54",
"content": "Whoa, excellent post, TY!Honestly I didn’t believe there was any activity at RepRep anymore. I just remembered there was a person who was the face of the org, and he left for a commercial venture, and there didn’t seem to be any announced handoff or transition.Today if you go to reprap.org homepage, you get: “Bad gateway Error code 502” from CloudFlare.",
"parent_id": "8139127",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139500",
"author": "Vik Olliver",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T02:40:59",
"content": "Yep, still going. Working on micron-scale fabrication – covered by Hackaday!https://hackaday.com/2025/04/21/jolly-wrencher-down-to-the-micron/(now at 3 layers but still tinkering).Dr Bowyer basically retired, but still advises behind the scenes. Mostly the 3D printer revolution revolves on, and the groundwork had all been done, so people went quiet. As there haven’t been any major shifts in hobbyist printers for some time, some of the old disruptive ideas got revived again :)The Bad Gateway doesn’t happen at this end, even with HTTP/HTTPS redirections (unlikehttp://blog.reprap.orgwhich stubbornly refuses to go HTTPS for hysterical^Whistorical reasons and confuses the heck out of everyone). CloudFlare is like that some days.",
"parent_id": "8139303",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139152",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T20:51:40",
"content": "An electromechanical imitation of an Atari video game? Reminds me of this,https://www.museumofplay.org/blog/but-mom-i-wanted-pong/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139163",
"author": "paulvdh",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T22:00:08",
"content": "What an incredible waste of time to make a contraption like this.And still… I like it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139192",
"author": "a_do_z",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T00:46:21",
"content": "At some point in the future, I hope to have time to waste on such contraptions.",
"parent_id": "8139163",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139494",
"author": "Simon Rose",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T01:44:42",
"content": "I know you’re joking but…Think about how many children would be inspired by this, wether into programming or mechanical engineering for example, even one child finding their future what ever it is, makes this entire endeavour worth it.",
"parent_id": "8139163",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139193",
"author": "Kelly",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T00:51:49",
"content": "This is awesome! I want flaming LED’s on the ship’s rockets and a bit of a roar sound. Maybe some smoke too lol.Reminds me of the old… Jaycopter. There are also Midway Whirly Bird or Sega helicopter coin-ops.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139221",
"author": "NFM",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T05:01:42",
"content": "Needs one of those oil-burning smoke generators you would find in the old train sets.",
"parent_id": "8139193",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139205",
"author": "lthemick",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T02:31:02",
"content": "That’s bloody marvelous!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139210",
"author": "Ac",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T03:16:21",
"content": "Where can one (USA) purchase non-kit Mecanno parts, either branded or clone?I find lots of “kits” on Amazon, but I don’t want a car or a robot kit. I just want to be able to order the structural parts that could be found in a kit.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139298",
"author": "max",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T11:52:06",
"content": "and lo the plastic industry looked upon meccano and said“nay,’tis not plastic they shall have none of it”instead of one kit of parts that built 250 separate projects with scope for imagination and joy, the evil ones said“they shall one plastic toy per kit and no more, fi to their imagination”and it came to pass that meccano, the breeding ground of engineers and hackers died, to be replaced with the abomination that is lego",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139312",
"author": "robomonkey",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T13:04:57",
"content": "hey now, when I was a wee bairn LEGO wasn’t sold with kits. I got a bucket, and I built stuff. Robots mostly.Then I got erector sets (US Meccano variant). Followed by a Girder and Panel kit.I actually built a working film projector with my erector set, took quite some time to get the gate to work, but I finally did. Wish I had kept that.",
"parent_id": "8139298",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139400",
"author": "Helena",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T17:21:53",
"content": "Uh, if someone gets a Lego set and can only build the picture on the box, I don’t think the problem is with the toy.",
"parent_id": "8139298",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139423",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T18:36:10",
"content": "The dumbest of the dumb build the kit and leave it on the shelf, assembled.Next to the plastic dolls from same franchise.I’ve heard that some even glue the kits together, never observed that first hand.I’d think the glue would ‘ruin the collectability’.Truism: ‘Anything made to be collectable, will never be collectable.’Remember the ‘Upper Deck’ full sheet of super rare/valuable rookie cards fiasco.Sports card bubble popping was brutal, almost as bad as comic books, those stupid ceramic figures and Beenie babies.Still better than Franklin Mint or Timeshares, that crap is never worth anything.You can get used, steam cleaned, mixed LEGO by the bucket on Amazon for a decent price, roughly the same as new crappy clone bricks. I found an average 1 non-lego brick/10 lb bucket, which is f’n amazing.Thrift stores get many incomplete kits, they end up there.",
"parent_id": "8139400",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139467",
"author": "Philip McCoy",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T22:29:00",
"content": "Have you looked at a Lego set from the last decade or two?",
"parent_id": "8139400",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139367",
"author": "Garth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T15:40:45",
"content": "Great build ! A live action version of a video game is really a good flip of the script. There have been many mechanical arcade games from the 30s to the 70s by names like Seeburg (jukeboxes) and Sega. I saw one on display in a vintage arcade (funny to say that about video arcade games) that was a mechanical shooting game…Shoot The Mother-in-law. It was on display only and looked worn out.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139520",
"author": "Marc D",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T05:59:49",
"content": "With another 10 years he should be able to fit his game in a cabinet.",
"parent_id": "8139367",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139980",
"author": "Z",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T12:53:31",
"content": "Mechano magicians have my respect.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,514.946549
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/15/upgrade-your-filament-dryer-with-a-swiveling-filament-port/
|
Upgrade Your Filament Dryer With A Swiveling Filament Port
|
Maya Posch
|
[
"3d Printer hacks"
] |
[
"3d printer",
"3d printing filament",
"filament dryer"
] |
Many FDM filament dryers have a port through which you can guide the filament. This handy feature allows you to print from the spool without removing it from the dryer, saving time and limiting exposure to (moist) air. Unfortunately, these exit ports aren’t always thought out very well, mostly in terms of the angle with the spool as it unrolls. The resulting highly oblique orientation means a lot of friction of the filament on the side of the port. This issue is addressed in a
recent [Teaching Tech] video
, with a simple, low-cost solution.
The basic idea is to have a swiveling port, inspired by a spherical bearing. The design shown in the video uses a PC4-M6 pneumatic connector to pass the PTFE tube. Connector choice is critical here, as many PC4-M6 pneumatic connectors won’t accommodate the PTFE. As a fallback, you can drill out a connector to enable this.
Once the connector is sorted, you need a 13 mm (~0.5″) step drill bit to widen the opening in the filament dryer. This ready-to-print version has 10 degrees of freedom in any direction, but you can adapt it to fit your needs. With this mod installed, the angle with which the filament enters the port should remain as close to zero as possible, preventing both friction and damage to the port and filament.
| 3
| 3
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8139069",
"author": "Miles",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T17:44:05",
"content": "The angle remains unchanged by the port. I was thoroughly confused by “the angle it enters the port is 0° “. I guess I was imagining this as relative to the original port angle.Problem seems to be that the holders are round, where you need at least one corner if the ‘ray’ is to be cast off the circle at the diameter 90° to a radius line.Confirmed, is a hack. Nice.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139373",
"author": "Brandano",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T15:47:11",
"content": "I use a much simpler solution on my sealed filament holder. The PTFE guide runs right through the box side and ends at the same height as the spool holder axle, acting both as strain relief and light brake.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8140620",
"author": "beekah",
"timestamp": "2025-06-20T13:44:55",
"content": "You should just subscribe to Michael’s channel, he is always doing something cool.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,514.802384
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/15/smart-lamp-keeps-students-on-track-with-image-recognition/
|
Smart Lamp Keeps Students On Track With Image Recognition
|
Tyler August
|
[
"Artificial Intelligence"
] |
[
"object recognition",
"Seeed Grove AI Vision",
"ws2182b"
] |
It’s a common enough problem: you’re hitting the books, your phone dings with a notification, and suddenly it’s three hours later. While you’ve done lots of scrolling, you didn’t do any studying. If only there were a quick, easy project that would keep an eye on you and provide a subtle nudge to get you off the phone. [Makestreme] has that project, an
AI study lamp
that shifts from warm white to an angry red to remind students to get back to work. See it in action in the demo video below.
The project is pretty simple: the components are an ESP-32c3, a WS2812b addressable RGB LED strip, and a Grove Vision AI module. The Grove Vision AI module is, well, an AI vision module. It’s an easy way to get image recognition into your projects, especially considering the wealth of pre-trained models available from Seeed’s
Sensecraft AI
. As it turns out, Senscraft had a pre-trained model to identify cell phones that worked with the Grove Vision module, so putting things together probably didn’t take [Makestreme] away from studying for too long. If you want to replicate the project, it will take you even less time, since they were helpful enough to share their code on Hackaday.io.
The camera is placed above [Makestreme]’s desk to watch for phone use, and the lamp itself was made of things they had lying around. You could, of course,
3D Print one
, or
make it out of plywood
if you were looking for a different aesthetic. If you don’t need help studying, you could use the Grove Vision module to
make a creepy clock
.
| 5
| 5
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8139016",
"author": "Dumptruck",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T14:30:26",
"content": "What if your lamp was the police.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139059",
"author": "Jouni",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T16:48:09",
"content": "You can turn on the room lights so the red light doesn’t bother you.Or just move a bit back so the “AI” (computer vision) doesn’t see the phone.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139092",
"author": "ono",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T19:15:53",
"content": "Na, thanks we don´t need students anymore. Any AI lamp is brighter.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139277",
"author": "shinsukke",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T09:48:16",
"content": "If you don’t wanna study, why should you? Take an actual break, get some tea and relax, then study again when you feel like you’re rested.Nothing good comes out of those 10 hour study sessions where you feel like dying every few minutes. Break it into chunks",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139769",
"author": "echodelta",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T21:46:04",
"content": "Bad lighting just like watching screens in the dark. That is what the camerae should be nagging about.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,514.721426
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/15/an-rc-car-driven-with-old-3d-printer-motors/
|
An RC Car Driven With Old 3D Printer Motors
|
Ian Bos
|
[
"3d Printer hacks"
] |
[
"3d printer",
"radio controlled car",
"upcycling"
] |
With the newer generation of quick and reliable 3D printers, we find ourselves with the old collecting dust and cobwebs. You might pull it out for an emergency print, that is if it still works… In the scenario of an eternally resting printer (or ones not worth reviving), trying to give new life to the functional parts is a great idea. This is exactly what [MarkMakies] did with a simple
RC rover design
from an old Makerbot Replicator clone.
Using a stepper motor to directly drive each wheel, this rover proves its ability to handle a variety of terrain types. Stepper motors are far from the most common way to drive an RC vehicle, but they can certainly give enough power. Controlling these motors is done from a custom protoboard, allowing the use of RC control. Securing all these parts together only requires a couple of 3D printed parts and the rods used to print them. Throw in a drill battery for power, and you can take it nearly anywhere!
With the vehicle together [MarkMakies] tested to a rocketing 0.6 m/s fully loaded 4WD. Of course, less weight proves more exciting. While [Mark] recognizes some inherent issues with a stepper-driven all-terrain vehicle, we could see some clever uses for the drive system.
Broken down 3D printers are a dime a dozen, so you should try making something similar by checking out
[Mark]’s design files
! 3D printers are machines of fine-controlled movement so it’s no surprise to find reuse in these projects is fairly common. Just like this nifty
DIY camera slider
!
| 5
| 3
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138989",
"author": "B7ur",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T12:58:35",
"content": "How to change old 3d printer to laser cute",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139234",
"author": "Andrea Campanella",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T07:04:31",
"content": "just put a nice dress on it.",
"parent_id": "8138989",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139061",
"author": "lhasagreen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T16:52:50",
"content": "This is semi fake. The torque of those steppers without a gearbox makes them not really usable for this purpose. In the video you can observe it rolling downhill..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139202",
"author": "Mark Makies",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T02:16:58",
"content": "That’s not accurate. That video does include downhill movement, but Roverling is fully self-propelled using the stepper motors shown — no external push or slope is required. The platform uses high-torque steppers (1.8°/200-step motors) with custom firmware and runs at 20 V with a conservative current limit. While not as efficient as geared motors, they deliver enough torque for slow-speed terrain use.Here is additional footage of it operating on level ground if you’re curious:https://youtube.com/shorts/GWybyCDhXEMOr if you are still not convinced, build your own and test:https://www.instructables.com/Roverling/",
"parent_id": "8139061",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8140392",
"author": "Alan Weber",
"timestamp": "2025-06-19T16:08:09",
"content": "Pointless",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,514.764745
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/15/adaptive-keyboards-writing-technologies-for-one-handed-users/
|
Adaptive Keyboards & Writing Technologies For One-Handed Users
|
Maya Posch
|
[
"computer hacks",
"Peripherals Hacks"
] |
[
"accessibility",
"keyboard layouts",
"physical disability"
] |
After having been involved in an accident, [Kurt Kohlstedt] suffered peripheral neuropathy due to severe damage to his right brachial plexus — the network of nerves that ultimately control the shoulder, arm, and hand. This resulted in numbness and paralysis in his right shoulder and arm, with the prognosis being a partial recovery at best. As a writer, this meant facing the most visceral fear possible of writing long-form content no longer being possible. While searching for solutions, [Kurt] looked at various options, including speech-to-text (STT), before focusing on
single-handed keyboard options
.
The reason why STT didn’t really work was simple: beyond simple emails and short messages, the voice-driven process just becomes too involved and tedious with editing, rearranging, and deleting of text fragments. [Kurt] couldn’t see himself doing a single-pass narration of an article text or dealing with hours of dictating cursor movements.
One of the first single-hand typing methods he tried is as simple as it’s brilliant: by moving the functional hand a few keys over (e.g. left hand’s index finger on J instead of F), you can access all keys with a single hand. This causes a lot more stress on the good hand, though. Thus, for a long-term solution, something else would be needed.
Thanks to his state loan program (MNStar), [Kurt] was able to try out Maltron’s ‘Key Bowl’, the TIPY ‘Big Fan’, and the Matias Half-QWERTY keyboard, which describes pretty much what they look like. Of these, the Maltron was functional but very clunky, the TIPY required learning a whole new keyboard layout, something which [Kurt] struggled with. Despite its mere 22 keys, the Matias half-QWERTY offered the most straightforward transition from using a full keyboard.
It was the Matias keyboard that worked the best for [Kurt], as it allowed him to use both his left hand normally, along with adapting the muscle memory of his right hand to the left one. Although [Kurt] didn’t select the Matias in the end, it did inspire him to choose the fourth option: using a custom keymap on his full-sized QWERTY keyboard. In the remaining two parts in this series, Kurt] takes us through the design of this keymap along with how others can
set it up
and use it.
Our own
[Bil Herd] found himself on a similar quest
after losing a finger to a ladder accident.
Thanks to [J. Peterson] for the tip.
| 12
| 6
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138973",
"author": "El Gru",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T11:30:26",
"content": "As someone who has worked a lot with single-handed keyboard applications (photo editing) and has adjusted many hotkey maps to make them work I can very much relate to this project. Apps like Photoshop or darktable have really awful defaults when it comes to usability. And if you spend 8 hours a day with those you either suffer or take action. I will surely take a deep dive into his setup, it sounds awesome and might be an awesome solution for typing keywords and captions.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139363",
"author": "BrightBlueJim",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T15:34:28",
"content": "It’s a mystery to me, how someone could develop a photo editing application and NOT put all of the shortcuts on the left-hand keys. I’ve done this myself with an animation application, and it makes for very fast drawing.",
"parent_id": "8138973",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138975",
"author": "shinsukke",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T11:39:47",
"content": "Just dropping in to say, these older ThinkPad keyboards are bulletproof and extremely comfortable to type on. I love these!Also wondering how much global productivity would we gain if only a single layout and style and size of keyboard was legal to manufacture. 1984 tier thought, but still :D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139342",
"author": "WeirdoCommaOne",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T14:38:47",
"content": "What we’d gain, we’d also lose. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all soluion. You’d first have to outlaw the existence of people who cannot use the one solution, and also the few people who can use some other solution to massively outperform the average person and the chosen solution.",
"parent_id": "8138975",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138983",
"author": "Ewald",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T12:21:31",
"content": "Speech to text in it’s default form are indeed suboptimal. By talking to an AI/LLM and having that producte the text, the experience can be greatly improved, there a various sites/products that are optimized for converting spoken text to a clear peace of text.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139366",
"author": "BrightBlueJim",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T15:38:34",
"content": "“clear peace of text” is a perfect example of the problem with using AI to do speech-to-text.",
"parent_id": "8138983",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139680",
"author": "Ewald",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T16:53:32",
"content": "AI would have caught that, clearly it’s the humans that are suboptimal",
"parent_id": "8139366",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139078",
"author": "dlcarrier",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T18:07:17",
"content": "I type one-handed all the time, usually with my left hand, and never thought of the punctuation as being difficult. What gets me is that a lot of modern mechanical keyboards replace one of the super/windows/option keys with a function key, and I have a lot of key bindings that use the super key, so I end up needing to reach all the way across the keyboard to press a key combination. Fortunately I have enough reach to do so, but otherwise it would be really annoying, because it’s the only key on both sides of the keyboard that isn’t usually mapped to anything within any applications.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139372",
"author": "BrightBlueJim",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T15:45:19",
"content": "I think that modifiers like shift, control, and alt should be programmed to work like the shift key on my smartphone, where if you click it once, it applies to the next keypress only, and if you double-click it, it locks until clicked once more. I think this would facilitate one-handed typing on an otherwise standard keyboard. How often do you need to press two or more Alt-combos in a row?",
"parent_id": "8139078",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139485",
"author": "Deadmist",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T00:45:32",
"content": "Windows has “sticky keys” that do exactly that",
"parent_id": "8139372",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139118",
"author": "Vik Olliver",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T20:07:02",
"content": "I created the 3D printable Quirkey for just this purpose in 2016https://www.printables.com/model/704535based on the Microwriter typing system from the 80’s. Doesn’t need any arm or shoulder movement, and the fingers don’t move from over their assigned keys. Standard USB kbd device, full user manual and technical package, GPL/GFDL, CAD and firmware on GitHub.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139374",
"author": "BrightBlueJim",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T15:51:27",
"content": "Don’t multitask? What about applications where you are constantly using your mouse? These are greatly enhanced by moving all of the shortcuts (where possible) to left-hand keys, or at least keys that can be realistically reached with the left hand, allowing you to keep the right hand on the mouse. Or are you just flexing, implying that you need two hands to wank?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,514.993503
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/14/the-pcb-router-you-wish-you-had-made/
|
The PCB Router You Wish You Had Made
|
Jenny List
|
[
"cnc hacks"
] |
[
"cnc",
"pcb router"
] |
The advent of cheap and accessible one-off PCB production has been one of the pivotal moments for electronic experimenters during the last couple of decades. Perhaps a few still etch their own boards, but many hobbiest were happy to put away their ferric chloride. There’s another way to make PCBs, though, which is to mill them. [Tom Nixon]
has made a small CNC mill for that purpose
, and it’s rather beautiful.
In operation it’s a conventional XYZ mechanism, with a belt drive for the X and Y and a lead screw for the Z axis. The frame is made from aluminium extrusion, and the incidental parts such as the belt tensioners are 3D printed. The write-up is very comprehensive, and takes the reader through all the stages of construction. The brains of the outfit is a Creality 3D printer controller, but he acknowledges that it’s not the best for the job.
It’s certainly not the first PCB router we’ve seen, but it may be one of the nicer ones. If you make a PCB this way, you might like to
give it professional-looking solder mask with a laser
.
| 41
| 9
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138922",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T06:16:07",
"content": "Why even bother. You can get PCB’s nowadays for less than the electricity it will take to mil your own.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138923",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T06:17:38",
"content": "I think you are on the wrong website.",
"parent_id": "8138922",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138927",
"author": "IIVQ",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T06:45:11",
"content": "I highly doubt it’ll take 20kWh to mill a $5 PCBway board.",
"parent_id": "8138922",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138945",
"author": "Leo",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T08:20:38",
"content": "If it was only for the money then yes. For anything else: DIY.",
"parent_id": "8138922",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138969",
"author": "CJay",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T10:45:05",
"content": "Because you can’t get PCBs in an hour, you can’t fast iterate without at least a week delay, because you might genuinely only want one quick n dirty PCB as a stepping stone to a larger project, because why not have a CNC PCB mill at home and also because it’s fun to build stuff, some people like learning and making tools.If it’s not your thing that’s fine, we all get our happy in different ways.",
"parent_id": "8138922",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139120",
"author": "Joe Cunninghamjoe",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T20:15:47",
"content": "While I heartily agree on timing, another serious issue is trusting the manufacturer with the design. If I etch the board, I’m the only one who ever sees my proof of concept. But if I’m not careful picking a fab, there’ll be knockoffs hitting the market before you can say “provisional patent.” Or worse, they’ll patent it first. And sue.",
"parent_id": "8138969",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139204",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T02:27:11",
"content": "Don’t worry Joe. Nobody is interested in your designs.",
"parent_id": "8139120",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139207",
"author": "KDawg",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T02:49:59",
"content": "I was going to say that but it really depends, ask the people behind the saleae logic analyzer, who’s original design was so simple it should be in a children’s book, or the people behind something like the Sega Dreamcast GDMU.Almost all the companies I have designed PCB’s for have a “only though these suppliers” policy cause they don’t want their work being posted from JLPCBWAY JIMBOB’s house of who knows who actually makes it (none of them are PCB suppliers they just are brokers)PCBWay says“By visiting our site, purchasing something and/ orcustom parts from us, you engage in our “Service” and agree to be bound by the following terms and conditions (“Terms of Service”, “Terms”), including those additional terms, conditions and policies referenced herein and/or available by hyperlink. ”orcustom (heh professional level contract there bub), plus additional terms provided by hyperlink with no hyperlinkand in section 11“, You grant PCBWay an irrevocable, non-exclusive, perpetual, royalty-free, fully paid up, worldwide, transferable and sub-licensable right and license to use, copy, modify, reproduce, distribute and display the data” blah blah blah and “By creating an account on the Site, You authorize PCBWay to use Your trademarks, logos, names or signs for marketing purposes.”pretty boilerplate but still I would not upload any material you consider delicate or sensitive. Blinking LED badge hobby project?Who gives a FK otherwise, ya you can upload something to one of these Chinese broker sites, and if its something of interest, hell you gave them permission to do what they want with it (and in some cases with a full bom and files to program the durn thing!)be mindful",
"parent_id": "8139204",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139336",
"author": "Charles Springer",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T14:26:36",
"content": "As KDawg wrote “You authorize PCBWay to use Your trademarks, logos, names or signs for marketing purposes.” The obvious thing is don’t use trademarks, logos, names or signs unless it is on OHOS project. You don’t have to give them a schematic, or part names (unless you are using their assembly service).If you use JLBPCB and their full manufacturing and sales listings you can try for a lockout agreement, but such things are worthless anywhere in China. It comes down to finding a company with people you can trust",
"parent_id": "8139204",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139620",
"author": "Panondorf",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T14:37:11",
"content": "That’s a valid concern.But it’s a commercial concern.A lot, dare I guess the majority of us aren’t doing this commercially.",
"parent_id": "8139120",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138924",
"author": "Felix",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T06:19:56",
"content": "Not excatly. If you need a special PCB (like thicker copper etc) this may be the only way.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138930",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T06:56:27",
"content": "This is a worse solution than a $250 3 axis router.Belt drive x and y bad.Most of the z-axis is there, but useless unless you’re skeletonizing the bed.Linear rails then moved from one end?The main reason this is a bad idea…single use tool.Better to build a board holding fixture for cheap router.At least x and y screws.But just order board, populated.It’s not that you can’t do it.It’s that you don’t want to do it.Again, only finer pitch and you older.Get slower, worse result.Redo twice.I know ‘hack’ for easy quality circuit boards.Order them.Nobody is going from ore + fire to tools to boards.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138940",
"author": "jrbloom",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T07:50:24",
"content": "I can think of at least 2 reasons to do it:It’s quicker than ordering from China, so iteration is much fasterBecause building a machine like this is satisfying and funYou know the old mantra – If it ain’t broke, fix it anyway. Because you can.",
"parent_id": "8138930",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139083",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T18:23:25",
"content": "Is it quicker?Vs. ordering boards populated with pick and place machines.All comes down to % good boards produced.Your going to spend hours soldering before you can test.That’s after you get to a good design, of course.When working with questionable design also having questionable boards is just great fun (eye twitches).I’d just order 3, populated as much as economical and KISS.This is a rabbit hole you don’t want to go down if you’re actually interested in making working boards. The more challenging the board the truer that is.",
"parent_id": "8138940",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139164",
"author": "paulvdh",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T22:09:34",
"content": "And yet you completely miss the point. Simple version: this is a DIY built of someone who put quite a lot of time and effort to build something useable, so if you really can’t shut up, then go whining somewhere else.Second. There are commercial vendors for PCB milling machines. LPKF is one such manufacutrer. These machines have applications where rapid design of iterations of prototypes is important. With such a machine you can make many (10 or more) prototypes on a single workday. There is no out doors PCB service that can do this. And even if it’s just for layout of a PCB antenna, or something like the RF wizardry that is done with PCB tracks in HF applications such as spectrum analyzers or radar systems. The effort may be well worth it.And even for DIY. Creating a design, and then start soldering your milled PCB half an hour later is quite attractive.Sure, for series prodution it would be madness to do it this way, but please open your narrow minded mind a bit and try to see over your own limited horizon. You might learn something.",
"parent_id": "8139083",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139377",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T15:59:01",
"content": "Way to miss the point.Your not making PCBs, your makingpopulatedPCBs. There is nothing attractive about soldering for hours (tiny components) then finding your board has a broken trace or a short somewhere.A 10% bad board rate makes it insane to fabricate boards at home.You are adding another unknown, which you already have plenty of.This a better idea for through hole, but fine pitch surface mount?Just batshit insane.If you want to make your own mill, make a better one, that’s generally useful.Reinventing the wheel, but hackaday. Kids thinking it’s easy to improve designs that are highly optimized, by generations of engineers, is just normal around here.If you’re actually interested in making boards, stay far away from this.Using a tool like this imputes a value of your time in the single dollars/hour.",
"parent_id": "8139164",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139627",
"author": "Panondorf",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T14:53:23",
"content": "Hours soldering? What are you making? Most projects I see here are a microcontroller plus a few support components.Apply stencil, swipe paste, tweezer a few components and bake. Where did your hours go?My own projects…My last PCB was for combining solar panels. Basically it’s a fuse box with shottkys. Testing a board is 20 seconds with the continuity tester of my multimeter and can be easily be done before soldering anything. If I had a mill I could have eliminated a few weeks of wait time.No, wait.. months of wait time. I was using terminal strips I had on hand with strange spacing I measured myself and it took a few tries to get it right. At least after the first set of unusable boards I figured out that I should make a board with just my custom parts on it and multiple versions of those rather than re-order the whole board. Figure out which dimensions fit perfect then make the whole board. So.. yah.. months.Even just milling holes in an old PCB to figure out the perfect spacing for those terminal strips then sending the design to a fab would have been a way better experience than fab alone! But I would need a mill. I’m not going to get sufficient accuracy eyeballing it with my drill press!My previous PCB project before that was a little board to mount on a 3d printer. It goes from various connectors on one side (for motors, sensors, power sources, etc…) to a ribbon cable on the other. That would have required a bit finer pitch routing but still probably wouldn’t have been much of a challenge.Again, weeks lost waiting for the order.I’m not saying I would want to produce a product this way. But the iterations of prototypes leading to one? Or personal projects? Definitely!A mill is on my to-build list for sure.",
"parent_id": "8139083",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138970",
"author": "CJay",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T10:54:50",
"content": "Logical extension to that attitude is why bother getting boards, just buy that logic analyser, buy that radio etc etc.Some people enjoy doing stuff this way and value the learning process.",
"parent_id": "8138930",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139029",
"author": "Dan",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T15:38:01",
"content": "Agree a ~£150 CNC could do this, but if you do a lot of boards, having a single-purpose machine optimised for PCBs could be worthwhile. Also smaller, which is an important constraint for many of us.And maybe you’ve got a nice big (but lower accuracy) CNC, so you don’t need a small CNC, you just need something to do PCBs.",
"parent_id": "8138930",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139079",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T18:07:23",
"content": "Big CNCs generally have great accuracy and expensive nicely concentric spindles.They have ball screws on x and y. This thing has belts apparently repurposed from a zero contact laser cutter. Spindle could be 3d printed housing around skateboard bearings, hard to say.The only explanation is:‘He wanted to make something from parts he had laying about. Didn’t care about actually making PCBs.’Fair enough.Good reason.Bet he now knows why most such machines are bed slingers.Bet he also wants more Z, to get a second use from it.Has seen how cheap screws are, said ‘doh’.His next version will look a lot like a $250 dollar chinesium CNC router (Not the $150 version, he apparently likes Al).If that spindle is tuneable, then good design.Throw a dial indicator on chucked up cutter and show us the wiggle.I’ve seen the outside of outrunner used as pully trick before, in the RC world.Pick the right motor and RPM is not the issue, offset drive bad idea unless making spindle adjustable.At that scale, grind the output shaft of the motor true and work from that w precision ground collars.You do have access a decent surface grinder? (Careful with that machine…Eugene)",
"parent_id": "8139029",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8140767",
"author": "Ray B Morris",
"timestamp": "2025-06-21T01:46:50",
"content": "I know ‘hack’ for easy quality circuit boards.Order them.That is true. Yet, why would you need custom circuit boards anyway? Tomakesomething. This site is for people who like to make things themselves, rather than just buying whatever.Some like to make their own boards.“It’s easier to just buy it” could be said about most any hackaday article. Perhaps for a moment you forgot what site you’re on?There are alsosomepeople who really do have good practical reasons for milling their own. Such as when they may need several revisions and don’t want to wait six months to go through a few revisions.But mainly – this is a hackaday. This site is all about DIY electronics and things. If making things doesn’t interest you, perhaps a different website would suit your interests better.",
"parent_id": "8138930",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8140768",
"author": "Ray B Morris",
"timestamp": "2025-06-21T01:49:53",
"content": "Ps – for those who don’t want to wait for boards shipped from China and they live in the US or Canada:Osh Park makes them in the US.",
"parent_id": "8140767",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138976",
"author": "paulvdh",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T11:45:08",
"content": "One of those projects where the comments are much more negative then what the build deserves. I quite like this design. It’s more solidly build then a lot of DIY routers, and it has some innovative features that you rarely see, such as the “inside out” timing belt that is used as a flat belt, and just runs on the outside of the outrunner. That’s quite a nice way to get a high RPM on your spindle. I also like the simplicity of the whole build.I also do not see this as a “Single use tool” as HaHa suggest. Sure, I would never build this machine exactly as it’s presented, but the build is certainly good enough to extend to a 3D printer and a PnP machine.I would love to see some video’s of this thing running. As others have written here, I also have some doubts about the belt drive, but as PCB milling is usually done with very fine mills, (0.3mm or so for isolation routing, up to around 2mm for the PCB outline) cutting forces are also low. For the rest this machine has enough rigidity so that the axis will move quite linearly without mush sag. He also wrote he choose 400steps/rev stepper motors to increase stiffness (i.e not for the resolution!). This really makes me curious how this machine holds up in use.The XY stage of this is nearly perfect for a 3D printer or PnP. This asks for having the base plate removable so a higher Z-axis can be added without sacrificing milling rigidity. It also looks like the work envelope is relatively small for the size of the machine. With a few small changes the work envelope can be extended to nearly the size of the working table. But complexity also goes up rapidly with such changes…Stiffness can also be improved by using a bit bigger timing belts. You can buy Pulley systems with a 1:3 ratio that use quite wide HTD3M (or similar) belts for the “Linear part” and a thinner belt for the gearing loop. These are sold as standard parts and used in (bigger) laser cutters. Both the extra gearing and the thicker and wider belts improve stiffness.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138979",
"author": "Antron Argaiv",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T12:11:54",
"content": "I’ve said it before but it’s important.Youreallywant to get rid of that PCB dust and not breathe it in. Silicosis is bad.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139020",
"author": "Greg A",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T14:56:24",
"content": "haha yeah that’s what i thought too…i’m drawn to it because the idea of keeping around some caustic copper-eating fluid rubs me the wrong way….but making a cloud of atomized copper / fiberglass / epoxy might even be worse.otoh, every tradesman i know has made vast clouds of every kind of dust without wearing a respirator and many of us make it past 50 :)",
"parent_id": "8138979",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139028",
"author": "tomn",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T15:37:47",
"content": "Agree 100%. So far I’ve only milled FR4 in a pool of water, so there’s no visible dust, and no smell.",
"parent_id": "8138979",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139316",
"author": "Elliot Williams",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T13:15:18",
"content": "This is the way. Also for carbon fiber plate.Making a small overflowing water-dish thing is a great intro project for the mill too.",
"parent_id": "8139028",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139032",
"author": "tomn",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T15:44:15",
"content": "The article addresses all these points. It’s not “better” than any of these solutions in general, but is ideal for my usage. Cheap off-the-shelf routers are much bigger and often don’t work well enough (mostly very poor quality spindles and questionable motion systems).I still order boards, but being able to make some things myself can save weeks of waiting in the prototyping phase.",
"parent_id": "8138979",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139041",
"author": "tomn",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T15:57:48",
"content": "Thanks for the thoughtful comment.You’re right that the build area is small relative to the machine, but there really are not many areas where it could be improved without making it bigger, except for cutting a notch into the carriage plate to get about 20mm of X travel.I’m also interested in improving the stiffness, but I’m not sure about wider belts. I don’t think that’s the limiting factor (10mm GT2 belts are used on much larger machines like the MPCNC), but that’s something that can be measured when I get around to it.Since writing the article I’ve used it to mill a few aluminium parts, and it works well enough, so it’s not a high priority.",
"parent_id": "8138979",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139050",
"author": "Ccecil",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T16:34:59",
"content": "Was going to say similar…except I was going to recommend something like the PCB cutting fluid that PreciseBits sells (very nice people BTW).https://www.precisebits.com/products/chemicals/MELube.aspThey also sell the cutters for PCBs and other things.I was on the phone with him asking “What pack of cutters would you recommend to have on hand for PCBs?”. His response (like others here) was “Well…with as cheap as PCBs are…you won’t likely need/use them.” To which I responded (as I do to others here) “If it was an end-of-the-world situation…what cutters would I need?”Having the mill on hand doesn’t mean you need to use it 100% of the time for cutting PCBs. It can also be used for other things.",
"parent_id": "8138979",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139167",
"author": "paulvdh",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T22:24:04",
"content": "First alarm bell was the price of the stuff.Then I had a Duh! moment when they stated you should not eat the stuff after use (@02:00 into their promotion video). So if it triples the life of the cutter, the use of the fluid still doubles the total cost or something…Right after that they say you cant reuse the stuff, and that was the final alarm bell and I stopped the video.A 10 second search suggests that regular vegetable oil works reasonably well as a cutting fluid for copper. It’s cheap enough for one time use, but you can also put it in a bottle for a month and let the crud sink to the bottom.Also: At first I had a frown or two at Antron Argaiv remark about silicosis. Then I read some more background info and silicosis due to glass (dust) is a real issue. Apparently its also relatively common for glass blowers. I guess they get exposed to the dust while glass cutting, and not the blowing itself.",
"parent_id": "8139050",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139222",
"author": "Ccecil",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T05:11:13",
"content": "“Then I had a Duh! moment when they stated you should not eat the stuff after use”Pretty standard stuff, they just say don’t ingest it…I wouldn’t read the warnings on a Skil-Saw if you are triggered by dumb warnings. This is the world we live in. There are reasons these statements are on everything.“Right after that they say you cant reuse the stuff, and that was the final alarm bell and I stopped the video.”So…you missed the entire demonstration?At any rate…I bought some. Thought it was a decent solution to a real world problem.There are probably several lubricants which “might” work the same. It isn’t a flood or mist coolant though…more like a lotion.",
"parent_id": "8139167",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139265",
"author": "paulvdh",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T08:53:21",
"content": "No, I did not miss it, but I did not see it either.Also this stuff costs: 9.95/.118 = 84.32 per liter. I’m sure it will do the task. Are you willing to accept a simple challenge. Next time use any kind of oil. Even simple sunflower oil is just fine. I predict it will give you 80% of the performance for 3% of the cost.",
"parent_id": "8139222",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139007",
"author": "mili",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T14:03:34",
"content": "I have trouble with ‘slicer’ or cnc stl 2 gcode converter. I need open source softweare but every use online / closed source or fusion autodesk.;(Who help me using strong program?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139168",
"author": "paulvdh",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T22:28:29",
"content": "There is flatcam, but it’s user interface is quite horrible and not finished.pcb2gcode apparently works reasonably well, but it’s “only” a command line program.For the future… KiCad + FreeCAD + KiCad Stepup + “path” workbench (now renamed) may be the way forward. Here a video demonstration:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCE1POF4v6c",
"parent_id": "8139007",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139036",
"author": "fiddlingjunky",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T15:52:31",
"content": "Ilovecunning the timing belt inside-out as a plain belt and using the outside of an out runner BLDC as the large pulley for the spindle. That’s prime “get-it-done” lankiness, a perfect hack.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139268",
"author": "paulvdh",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T09:03:38",
"content": "Yes indeed, I also already mentioned that. Flat belts are out of fashion but still a nice solution for high speed / low force applications.The modern equivalent would be a Multi-V belt. And this is actually a quite nice innovation. These belts combine the extra clamping force of a V-belt for the small pulley, while on the big pulley they can run on a flat surface. I.e., if a (symmetric) belt slips, it always does so on the small pulley (because the included angle is smaller). So the Multi-V reduces slippage where it counts, and combines that with the cost saving of a flat surface for the big pulley. These belts are very common in washing machines, and are also used for dynamo’s in cars.",
"parent_id": "8139036",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139330",
"author": "Le Roux Bodenstein",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T13:46:09",
"content": "It is very cool, but I wish more hobbyists would spend scarce hacking time to try and solve vias and played through holes at home.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139376",
"author": "tomn",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T15:58:15",
"content": "I did spent a while thinking about this, but didn’t come up with any interesting avenues to explore. I know others have too.It feels like one of those problems which just doesn’t have a clever solution. Brass rivets do seem to work well enough (the ESP32 board shown has a handful of them), and this is even the method recommended by commercial implementations of this process, who have the motivation and resources to invent something better.It seems like it would be tedious, but the speed of the whole process really limits the overall complexity of boards you would make with it, so a typical design will only have tens of vias, which is quite manageable.",
"parent_id": "8139330",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139593",
"author": "Le Roux Bodenstein",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T12:06:52",
"content": "I don’t think rivets and special design compromises will work for much more than one offs. If someone could solve vias then it could really open up boutique manufacturing of small batch electronics at home. Fiber laser for making boards including solder mask straight to a pick and place machine then solder oven then stick it into an enclosure that you could also plausibly drill with a cnc and etch front panel markings on with a laser. I suppose one sided boards would already open up something like guitar pedals, but most things beyond that require vias to be a solved problem.I think this matters because being able to do something like homegrown and distributed drone production rather than getting the required boards shipped internationally could become a national security issue given what’s happening in the world now.",
"parent_id": "8139376",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8140542",
"author": "Conan",
"timestamp": "2025-06-20T06:31:02",
"content": "Why criticize what hat not been built, instead of appreciating what has been build? Many commenters should just not comment…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,514.882481
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/14/meowsic-keyboard-midi-adapter-aims-for-purrfection/
|
Meowsic Keyboard MIDI Adapter Aims For Purrfection
|
Aaron Beckendorf
|
[
"Arduino Hacks",
"digital audio hacks"
] |
[
"electronic music",
"midi",
"Midi adapter",
"musical synthesizer"
] |
Both small children and cats have a certain tendency to make loud noises at inopportune times, but what if there were a way to combine these auditory effects? This seems to have been the reasoning behind the creation of the Meowsic keyboard, a children’s keyboard that renders notes as cats’ meows. [Steve Gilissen], an appreciator of unusual electronic instruments, discovered that while there had been projects that turned the Meowsic keyboard into a MIDI output device, no one had yet added MIDI input to it, which of course spurred the creation of his
Meowsic MIDI adapter
.
The switches in the keys of the original keyboard form a matrix of rows and columns, so that creating a connection between a particular row and column plays a certain note. [Steve]’s plan was to have a microcontroller read MIDI input, then connect the appropriate row and column to play the desired note. The first step was to use a small length of wire to connect rows and columns, thus manually mapping connections to notes. After this tedious step, he designed a PCB that hosts an Arduino Nano to accept input, two MCP23017 GPIO expanders to give it enough outputs, and CD4066BE CMOS switches to trigger the connections.
[Steve] was farsighted enough to expect some mistakes in the PCB, so he checked the connections before powering the board. This revealed a few problems, which some bodge wires corrected. It still didn’t play during testing, and after a long debugging session, he realized that two pins on an optoisolator were reversed. After fixing this, it finally worked, and he was able to create the following video.
Most of the MIDI hacks we’ve seen involved creating
MIDI outputs
, including one based
on a Sega Genesis
. We have seen MIDI input added
to a Game Boy
, though.
| 3
| 2
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138926",
"author": "macsimki",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T06:40:01",
"content": "it seems he forgot the power and gnd on some chips. typical as on kicat (pun intended) you can place the separate gates on the schematic and the last option is the power rail connections. a dcr check should have revealed that of course, but its easy to forget that step in the rush of the moment.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138993",
"author": "Steve Gilissen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T13:13:16",
"content": "Unfortunately, I accidentally reversed the power rail connections. I’m blaming the fact that I was designing the board late at night :D",
"parent_id": "8138926",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139018",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T14:33:55",
"content": "Sound it it justhasto be used to remix the old old meowmix ads:https://youtu.be/L7EVK1dd1_Y",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,515.034267
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/14/laptop-brick-is-brought-back-from-the-brink/
|
Laptop Brick Is Brought Back From The Brink
|
Al Williams
|
[
"Repair Hacks",
"Teardown"
] |
[
"mosfet",
"power supply",
"switching power supply"
] |
We’ve all been there. [Kasyan TV] had a universal adapter for a used laptop, and though it worked for a long time, it finally failed. Can it be fixed?
Of course, it can
, but it is up to you if it is worth it or not. You can find [Kasyan’s] teardown and repair in the video below.
Inside the unit, there were a surprising number of components crammed into a small area. The brick also had power factor correction. The first step, of course, was to map out the actual circuit topology.
The unit contains quite a bit of heat sinking. [Kasyan] noted that the capacitors in place were possibly operated very near their operating limit. Since the power supply burned, there was an obvious place to start looking for problems.
One of the two synchronous rectifier FETs was a dead short. Everything else seemed to be good. The original FETs were not available, but better ones were put in their place. A snubber diode, though, appeared to be the root cause of the failure. Testing with a programmable load showed the repair to be a success.
Of course, you aren’t likely to have this exact failure, but the detailed analysis of what the circuit is doing might help you troubleshoot your own power supply one day.
We were surprised none of the traces burned out, but
that can be fixed, too
. Oddly, this cheap supply looked to be better than some of the
inexpensive bench supplies we’ve seen
. Go figure.
| 9
| 5
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138901",
"author": "limroh",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T01:29:59",
"content": "at least 20 years ago I repaired an original laptop PSU.Just measuring its output voltage everything looked fine but charging the laptop just wouldn’t work – not to mention running it only from the PSU.But measuring the output voltage with an analog(!) meter while it was connected to the laptop immediately showed something “wrong”: The voltage was dipping a lot below the specced 19V in a constant repeating equitimed(?) “pattern”.(AFAIKR)Turns out a massive choke(?) (copper wire wound ferrite donut core) had mechanically “broken loose” and ripped out one of the copper wires/connectors from the PCB.Re-soldered the choke/impedance/inductance, glued it down and the PSU worked fine again.Repaired and old projector the “same” way – the light bulb driver PCB (ballast?) had a loose, disconnected choke.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139023",
"author": "Denis",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T15:23:16",
"content": "Loose chokes are the most common failure I see in hand held tools in my workshop, torches and so on. Seems the weight of the choke + abuse doesn’t go to well together. Thankfully as you found hot glue and solder make an easy fix.",
"parent_id": "8138901",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138943",
"author": "shinsukke",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T08:05:37",
"content": "PFC? Synchronous rectifier? On a laptop power brick of all things?What is the world coming to? Back in my day they had a UC3843 and a flyback transformer that was wound by a child somewhere.Synchronous rectifier? Nope, just undersized rectifier diodes with white goop on them (should take care of the thermals right?).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138964",
"author": "imqqmi",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T10:10:19",
"content": "The problem usually is opening them so that they can be safely closed again. You have to either saw the edges or break it open by unreasonable force. A squeeze with a vise can sometimes work. But you have to glue it together if it still fits back together or find a new enclosure for it that’s impact resistant (the rigours of portable computing).I did repair quite a few monitor and LED strip PSUs though. Not worth it time/cost wise but if it’s fun for you, it can be quite rewarding pastime.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139121",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T20:16:14",
"content": "Try this next time:A 1” wide wood chisel put into the seam.A light and fast whack to the back of the chisel handle with another tool.You may need to work your way around the seam in a few places.Cracks the seam super easily, then just glue back together with CA glue.",
"parent_id": "8138964",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138980",
"author": "Antron Argaiv",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T12:15:18",
"content": "Nice fix. But I agree, probably worth only the educational value.I once converted (read: completely rebuilt the secondary of) an old PC power supply to provide 13.8V at some large number of amps, to be used as a power supply for an old mobile 50MHz transceiver. It worked, and I learned a lot about how those supplies are designed. Enough to preserve the OVP and OCP circuits.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139019",
"author": "Miles",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T14:54:35",
"content": "If it was the standard 18-20v supply I might agree, but this one usefully seems to cover 16-24v in 2v increments (although the 25v caps on the output would be better as 35 or 50v).I generally keep a large supply of these power adapters on hand, and I have noticed laptops tend to be OK with +/- 20%. Have run the 16v ones off of 14v, and the “18v” ones don’t mind 20v and vice-versa.",
"parent_id": "8138980",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139046",
"author": "steph",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T16:03:27",
"content": "Voice of the video seems generated from text, isn’t it ?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139211",
"author": "CityZen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T03:29:51",
"content": "And it’s very annoying when (pause)it seems to pause for line breaks.",
"parent_id": "8139046",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,515.297572
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/14/led-probe-a-smart-simple-solution-for-testing-leds/
|
LED Probe: A Smart, Simple Solution For Testing LEDs
|
Matt Varian
|
[
"ATtiny Hacks"
] |
[
"ATtiny202",
"attiny85",
"led",
"led tester",
"test eqiupment"
] |
If you’ve worked on a project with small LEDs, you know the frustration of determining their polarity. This ingenious
LED Probe
from [David] packs a lot of useful features into a simple, easy-to-implement circuit.
Most multimeters have a diode test function that can be used to check LEDs; however, this goes a step further. Not only will the probe light up an LED, it will light up no matter which side of the LED the leads are touching. A Red/Green LED on the probe will indicate if the probe tip is on the anode or cathode.
The probe is powered by a single CR2032 battery, and you may notice there’s no on/off switch. That’s because the probe enters a very low-current sleep mode between uses. The testing intelligence is handled by either an ATtiny85 or, in the newest version, an ATtiny202, though the basic concept and design are compatible with several other chips. All the design files for the PCB, the ATtiny code, a parts list, and a detailed explanation of how it works are available on [David]’s site, so be sure to check them out. Once you build one of these probes, you’ll want something to test it on, so explore some of the
LED projects
we’ve featured in the past.
| 13
| 3
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138934",
"author": "ono",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T07:28:33",
"content": "Clever, and I believe it can work for any LED, providing it´s not a COB LED array where several LEDs are put in series. So, not good for LED light “bulbs”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138997",
"author": "Bob",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T13:38:09",
"content": "For under $20 you can get a LED tester (look for TV back light tester) that’ll test anything from IR LEDs @ 1.2v up to 300v. Not sure why so high when TV back lights are usually around 100v. Eh.Current limited from around 1mA to 25mA. There’s a bunch of different versions with slight different limits and functionality. Go buy one, they’re quite handy.In my case I just took these:https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005007524074093.html, removed the leads and jammed a couple of batteries in it to make these:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/toney/ledtwee-tweezers-for-led.Good enough for most LEDs but doesn’t do auto-polarity so don’t forget to colour one side red. Could always adapt this idea and add indicator LEDs for polarity.",
"parent_id": "8138934",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139030",
"author": "Dave",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T15:41:47",
"content": "Great ideas 👍The tweezers are the hardest part.Wouldn’t you want a small resistor, in addition to the battery to avoid the damaging the LEDs?",
"parent_id": "8138997",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139105",
"author": "Bob",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T19:50:37",
"content": "Nah, coin batteries don’t put out enough current. Lots of torches drive LEDs at 6v (2 x lithium coin cells), they last forever.I can’t actually remember what I used, was either something like 3 x LR44 or similar size lithium (eg 927). Made it yeas ago and have never had to change the batteries.",
"parent_id": "8139030",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139086",
"author": "echodelta",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T18:35:29",
"content": "Pure series with shorting on failure is best, I have one big light panel (TV) that is in the mid to high 200 hundred volts. The testers at $20 should be a substitute driver for these big light panels the best light source for work ever.",
"parent_id": "8138997",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139108",
"author": "Bob",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T19:52:59",
"content": "Thinking about it, LED bulbs in 240v countries probably run at about 200v. Maybe more.",
"parent_id": "8139086",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139333",
"author": "SinDex",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T14:03:11",
"content": "It may depend on the bulb type. I have done modifications to LED flame bulbs and the LEDs themselves don’t run more than 3-9vDC despite taking in 120v AC. There is a transformer circuit that you can bypass and run the LED matrix straight off a DC source. IIRC the transformer block was rated for 80-250vAC, but it has been a few years so my memory may be hazy.",
"parent_id": "8139108",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139653",
"author": "Bob",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T15:43:59",
"content": "Most of the LED bulbs I’d played with were about 70v.Out of curiosity I knocked the top off a bulb and tried the tester out. 288v. Huh, well, that explains it.Each LED runs at 36v (so 12 LEDs internally) and they’re in a string of 8. Aldi Starke bulbs, for anyone interested.And of course I can’t see properly, them there things are bright.",
"parent_id": "8139108",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8140000",
"author": "SinDex",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T14:10:18",
"content": "I guess it would depend on the density of the LEDs and what type they are. The Flame Flicker bulbs are 30-40 LEDs or somewhere around there. They don’t need to be high output, which would explain their voltage usage. You are rarely seeing every LED firing at 100% output in that example.",
"parent_id": "8139108",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139024",
"author": "Nixor",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T15:23:45",
"content": "A multimeter with a transistor hfe test socket is handy for led testing. High efficiency leds light when connected between E-B. Led cathode as emitter (NPN). Old and low efficiency leds only light between E-C.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139031",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T15:43:13",
"content": "OK, that’s actually a hack.",
"parent_id": "8139024",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139390",
"author": "Honghong",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T16:50:31",
"content": "A aa battery with pogo pins and a 3d printing parts and a simple 0.9v to 5v boost circuit plus a resistor to limited the current to ma . You can make a simple one from the left over components.https://x.com/lu_honghong/status/1453802030347259908?t=3N9LhzRR_zsIVdw8hnnCwg&s=19",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139651",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T15:42:43",
"content": "Something went wrong, but don’t fret — let’s give it another shot.⚠️ Firefox’s Enhanced Tracking Protection (Strict Mode) is known to cause issues on x.comHaha, sure X, sure, you go ahead and wait to see when I’ll give it another shot.",
"parent_id": "8139390",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,515.251968
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/14/upgrading-an-old-espresso-machine/
|
Upgrading An Old Espresso Machine
|
Maya Posch
|
[
"Repair Hacks"
] |
[
"espresso machine",
"Raspberry Pi Pico"
] |
The Francis! Francis! X1 espresso machine in its assembled state. (Credit: Samuel Leeuwenburg)
Recently, [Samuel Leeuwenburg]
got his paws on a Francis! Francis! X1
(yes, that’s the name) espresso machine. This is the espresso machine that is
mostly famous
for having been in a lot of big TV shows in the 1990s. In the early 2000s, the X1 even became a pretty good espresso machine after the manufacturer did some more tinkering with it, including changing the boiler material, upgrading the pump, etc.
In the case of the second-hand, but rarely used, machine that [Samuel] got, the machine still looked pretty good, but its performance was pretty abysmal. After popping the machine open the boiler turned out to be pretty much full of scale. Rather than just cleaning it, the boiler was upgraded to a brass version for better heat retention and other perks.
The best part of this relatively simple machine is probably that it has been
reverse-engineered
, making modding it very easy. After some thinking, [Samuel] decided to pull the very basic controller PCB and replace it with something capable of tighter temperature control. This turned into a custom PCB featuring the obligatory Raspberry Pi Pico along with a MAX3185 for water temperature measurement. The Pico had to be programmed to handle heater control duty. There’s even an HTTP API on the WiFi-enabled Pico board.
Unfortunately, the all-metal enclosure also makes for a perfect Faraday cage, putting an end to remote automation dreams for now, at least. With the machine buttoned up, [Samuel] remembered that the primary task of an espresso machine is to make espresso, which it is now, fortunately, even more capable of than before the surgery, and which requires you to be present at the machine anyway.
Thanks to [Milo] for the tip.
| 25
| 11
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138774",
"author": "pax",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T17:21:37",
"content": "“There’s even an HTTP API”HTCPCP?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138919",
"author": "pelrun",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T06:03:18",
"content": "418 I’m a teapot",
"parent_id": "8138774",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138775",
"author": "Antron Argaiv",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T17:22:20",
"content": "SMA connector and an external stubby antenna?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139295",
"author": "Shannon",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T11:36:34",
"content": "Is there a pi pico that has an SMA connector?",
"parent_id": "8138775",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138781",
"author": "ramzi",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T17:49:23",
"content": "Some months ago on /r/ukrainerussiareport I’ve seen similar espresso machines used by Ukraine to manufacture plastic elements. They being repurposed from making a slurp drink to create high-precision drones parts. Pure UA Ingenuity, Opportunity and Spirit. It’s a perfect example of how innovation is driven by needy people (especially in war).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138782",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T18:02:05",
"content": "Morning coffee, afternoon drones.",
"parent_id": "8138781",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138789",
"author": "k-ww",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T18:44:22",
"content": "MAX31855 is the correct part # for the temp sensor chip [plus assorted option letters]",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138803",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T19:32:39",
"content": "That’s a beautiful little machine, you can see why people liked putting it on TV.The casing is a faraday cage you say? Put a zig-zag antenna coming up from the back. Or a pair of rabbit ears. It would easily fit the Jetsons aesthetic",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138931",
"author": "Jason",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T07:10:06",
"content": "Or use a board with an ethernet port on it",
"parent_id": "8138803",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138804",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T19:34:02",
"content": "“better heat retention and other perks.”Saw what you did there.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138815",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T20:08:34",
"content": "For much less money, you could upgrade to a French press and get better coffee.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138893",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T00:18:49",
"content": "No. You really couldn’t.",
"parent_id": "8138815",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138904",
"author": "craig",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T01:49:26",
"content": "Espresso != coffee",
"parent_id": "8138815",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138961",
"author": "The Solutor",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T09:52:53",
"content": "Espresso IS coffeeEverything else is dirty water :)",
"parent_id": "8138904",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139238",
"author": "Marvin",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T07:36:55",
"content": "Oh please, no hipster coffee wars here.Listening to people argueing over which coffee brewing method is the “right one” is like listening to “audiophiles” argueing over which 500$ power or ethernet cable gives the sound the most texture or whatever.",
"parent_id": "8138815",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139287",
"author": "The Solutor",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T11:04:27",
"content": "No hipster wars, there is just one place in the world where you can get a good coffe.That place is called Italy.Then no matter if that coffe is made using a Moka, an Espresso machine or a Napolitan machine.If you can’t tell the difference, and you mix a matter of good taste with a pointless tecnobabble about “Audiophile grade network cable” you don’t deserve a good coffe.",
"parent_id": "8139238",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138898",
"author": "Old nerd",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T01:15:53",
"content": "Doesn’t most brass contain lead?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138918",
"author": "pelrun",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T06:02:50",
"content": "Why would replacement coffee machine parts have lead in them?",
"parent_id": "8138898",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138928",
"author": "macsimki",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T06:50:55",
"content": "no.The right metal is left as exercise for the reader.",
"parent_id": "8138898",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138963",
"author": "The Solutor",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T10:00:55",
"content": "Brass alone means nothing. It’s a huge class of allyoysLead is addedd to some kind of brass to have better machinability, for things like screws, bolts, pipe joint, valves and alike.I haven’t seen the video yet but I assume that a boiler has nothing to do with a machined part, they are usually pressed parts soldered together, no need to use lead there.",
"parent_id": "8138898",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139026",
"author": "Rick",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T15:33:53",
"content": "There is lead free brass if you wonder.As a matter of fact the brass heat inserts I am using on my 3d printed parts are lead free.",
"parent_id": "8138898",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138935",
"author": "mrrepel",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T07:33:15",
"content": "Hmm…couldn’t you isolate the cupholder, the round thing on top and use that as the antenna?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139117",
"author": "Eryk",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T20:01:10",
"content": "One drop of water and this make smoke not coffee.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139240",
"author": "Marvin",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T07:48:37",
"content": "Why? because of all the non waterproof wire mess?All coffee machines are built like that. In the coffee machine engineer guild, there seems to be a deeply ingrained belief that everything will stay perfectly sealed forever…",
"parent_id": "8139117",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139242",
"author": "Pelle",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T08:02:47",
"content": "From the looks of it, the PID is now optimized for turning the machine on, but not necessarily for making coffee.I would guess the system behaves rather different with the pump on and cold water being heated.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,515.36961
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/14/make-magical-looking-furniture-with-kerf-bend-wizard/
|
Make Magical-Looking Furniture With Kerf Bend Wizard
|
Tyler August
|
[
"Misc Hacks",
"Tool Hacks"
] |
[
"CNC machined",
"kerf bending",
"python"
] |
The intersection between “woodworkers” and “programmers” is not a densely populated part of the Venn diagram, but [Michael Schiebler] is there with his
Kerf Bend Wizard
to help us make wood twist and bend like magic.
Kerf bending is a fine technique we have
covered before
: by cutting away material on the inside face of a piece of wood, you create an area weak enough to allow for bending. The question becomes: how much wood do I remove? And where? That’s where Kerf Bend Wizard comes to the rescue.
More after the break…
From spline (user input in black, expected output in pink)…
You feed it a spline– either manually or via DXF–and it feeds you a cut pattern that will satisfy that spline: just enough wood removed in just the right places that the edges of the cut should touch when the bend is achieved. This means less cut time and a stronger piece than eyeballing the kerfs. It works with both a table saw blade or a tapered end mill on a CNC or manual router. You can specify the kerf width of your table saw, or angle of your end mill, along with your desired cut depth.
… to cuts …
The output is DXF, convenient for use with a CNC, and a simple table giving distances from the edge of the piece and which side to cut, which is probably easier for use on the table saw. (Kerf Bend Wizard is happy to handle complex bends that require kerfing both sides of the material, as you can see.)
… to curved wood.
This was [Michael]’s thesis project, for which he hopefully got a good grade. The code is “semi-open” according to [Michael]; there’s a
GitHub where you can grab an offline version
for your own use, but no open-source license is on offer. Being a broke student and an artist to boot, [Michael] also can’t promise he will be able to keep the web version available without ads or some kind of monetization, so enjoy it while you can!
If CNCs or table saws aren’t your thing,
kerf bending has long been used with laser cutters, too.
Our thanks (which, as always, is worth its weight in gold) to [Michael] for the tip. If you’re in the intersection of the Venn diagram with [Michael],
we’d love to hear what you’re up to
.
| 26
| 11
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138853",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T22:57:54",
"content": "What’s the point of having such thick wood when you eliminate 90% of the strength by cutting through it? Why not just use real wood (not plywood) and steam-bend it? Or if you must bend plywood, why not just get the thin stuff that’s meant for it? Is this just for sculpture or something?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138917",
"author": "jpa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T05:58:02",
"content": "If you glue a thin plywood on the inside of the kerf-bent piece, you can restore most of the lost strength.",
"parent_id": "8138853",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138952",
"author": "IIVQ",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T08:49:09",
"content": "But then that must have a wedge shape.Imho this is not meant for anything structural without reinforcement.(source: being 3 weeks away from my fibe woodworkig diploma)",
"parent_id": "8138917",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139293",
"author": "Biotronic",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T11:33:19",
"content": "I think you misunderstand (or I do): Adding a layer of plywood to the inside of the curve, not inside each cut. For a bend going both ways you’d need to add plywood to both sides, of course.",
"parent_id": "8138952",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139591",
"author": "IIVQ",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T12:02:08",
"content": "No, in that case I misunderstood, thx for clarifying. But if you have thin layers of wood laying around, why not laminate the entire thing?",
"parent_id": "8139293",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138988",
"author": "Michael",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T12:50:41",
"content": "There’s plenty of real world applications, especially in furniture. Just google it. You’ll find plenty of examples where your two proposed solutions are infeasable. It’s a fairly established tecnique, not always perfect but useful in some cases.",
"parent_id": "8138853",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139188",
"author": "George",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T00:14:27",
"content": "Wood glue can be very strong, remember the commercials about it being stronger than the wood itself? (Or I’m showing my age)",
"parent_id": "8138853",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138854",
"author": "Jamie J Gagne",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T23:03:42",
"content": "Steam bending wood",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138857",
"author": "Jamie J Gagne",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T23:09:00",
"content": "Steam bending is thick wood is not even really possible, glue laminating is probably the best way to achieve the desired shape with all the structural strength… But this is kinda cool, like if your were trying to make a reception desk with a multi radius curved facade, where structural strength is not a concern… Alternatively if you glue 2 thinner kerf panels together with all the kerfs in the glue joint you can get it pretty sturdy… But yeah limited scope of application IRL",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139055",
"author": "IIVQ",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T16:45:56",
"content": "Depending on your definition of “thick” but it is possible, but two inch thick is the max: you need about an hour per inch of thickness and after two hours the lignon really starts to decompose.",
"parent_id": "8138857",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139189",
"author": "George",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T00:16:44",
"content": "Most people will not even have the facilities to steam bend wood. I work with wood (against my will and better judgement) and do not have anything other than bending a few very smal bits.",
"parent_id": "8138857",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138905",
"author": "Tom Renish",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T02:26:35",
"content": "“Just” is such a nasty 4-letter word in that it trivializes an action or process that is otherwise quite difficult, complicated, time-consuming, or burdened by a need for robust equipment / jigs.As for losing strength, glue can be placed in the Kerns as the material is bent into its final shapes, achieving good rigidity. I would imagine a tie strap is used for simpler shapes, but I’m curious to know how a talented craftsman would do it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138936",
"author": "Michael",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T07:33:44",
"content": "For complex stuff like that helicoid I place PVA glue in the middle of the kerfs and a drop of CA glue on the ends. Then when you press it closed the CA sets instantly and keeps the part together long enough for the PVA to set.",
"parent_id": "8138905",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139058",
"author": "IIVQ",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T16:48:03",
"content": "PVA glue isn’t void-filling, it has no holding power when not pressed. You could do this with e.g. expanding PU (polyurethane) glue.",
"parent_id": "8138936",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139536",
"author": "JB63",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T07:13:45",
"content": "Une résine peut probablement remplacer la colle et remplir les rainures usinées.",
"parent_id": "8139058",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138906",
"author": "Tom Renish",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T02:27:47",
"content": "Kerns = kerfs. Stupid autocorrect",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138915",
"author": "Then",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T05:35:09",
"content": "Super cool and smart! I am affraid their uni owns the IP tho",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138929",
"author": "macsimki",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T06:54:49",
"content": "maybe on the software, but this method is quite old. I have seen it used in old radios from the 1930’s to get the right shape for the case.",
"parent_id": "8138915",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138944",
"author": "metalman",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T08:05:44",
"content": "I would bet there is no “IP”, as there are multitudes of pattern development software offering, that have been open source since the dawn times, or “just” use paper ,which works great for all kinds of curves and conical shapesthat said, it is still a very good student project, but the IP thing is crinjy, and reeks of someone looking for a fight but not finding it",
"parent_id": "8138915",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138920",
"author": "pelrun",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T06:05:50",
"content": "The intersection between “woodworkers” and “programmers” is not a densely populated part of the Venn diagramI thought it was just Mattias Wandel in there…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138949",
"author": "Tom Harris",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T08:42:15",
"content": "The photos of a helix and other figures executed in wood do not appear in Michael Schiebler’s webpages. Could the article’s author divulge the source?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138985",
"author": "Michael",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T12:27:14",
"content": "They are photos I took but haven’t added to the site yet. Sooner or later I’ll post them as well as a writeup on how the algorithm works.",
"parent_id": "8138949",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139190",
"author": "George",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T00:20:24",
"content": "I would love to try this, but with a slightly ground blade in more of a “V” shape. Wood working hates me, and I it, but I do love trying new things. (Everything wants to poke, slice dismember or kill you, amazing I’m still alive and have all my fingers, though the chainsaw got one of my toes…)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139285",
"author": "Metro",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T10:20:31",
"content": "I think I saw someone doing something similar with a V shaped router bit, possibly on a CNC.(I suspect Laura Kampf was it.)",
"parent_id": "8139190",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139291",
"author": "Carl",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T11:28:06",
"content": "I learned a simple method: take a sample board , leave a space for a clamp and cut a kerf. Clamp the end bend the board. Measure your radius from the kerf and the lift distance is the kerf spacing. Used this on my toy train tables. Carl.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139299",
"author": "Winston",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T11:55:00",
"content": "Looks comfortable…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,516.20877
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/14/the-switch-2-pro-controller-prepare-for-glue-and-fragile-parts/
|
The Switch 2 Pro Controller: Prepare For Glue And Fragile Parts
|
Maya Posch
|
[
"Nintendo Hacks",
"Teardown"
] |
[
"Nintendo Switch",
"teardown"
] |
The Switch 2 Pro controller’s battery is technically removable, if you can get to it. (Credit: VK’s Channel, YouTube)
For those of us who have worked on SNES and GameCube controllers, we know that these are pretty simple to get into and maintain. However, in the trend of making modern game controllers more complex and less maintainable, Nintendo’s new Switch 2 Pro controller is giving modern Xbox and PlayStation controllers a run for their money in terms of repair complexity. As shown in a teardown by
[VK] on YouTube
(starting at nine minutes in), the first step is a disappointing removal of the glued-on front plate. After that you are dealing with thin plastic, the typical flimsy ribbon cables and a lot of screws.
The main controller IC on the primary PCB is an ARM-based MediaTek MT3689BCA Bluetooth SoC, which is
also used
in the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons. The 3.87 V, 1070 mAh Li-ion battery is connected to the PCB with a connector, but getting to it during a battery replacement might be a bit of a chore.
The analog sticks are Alps-branded and do not seem to match any other sticks currently on the market. These are disappointingly also still resistive potentiometer sticks, meaning they might have to be replaced before long due to stick drift. Reassembly has a few tricky parts, especially with the two sticks being not identical, yet easy to swap by accident. Which would require a second disassembly round.
There’s also a soft-touch coating on these controllers, which have been known to get… gunky after a few years, so time will tell what the lifespan is here. As is typical, these controllers also only work with the Switch and not with a PC or other consoles. Overall, it seems like a nice, silent controller, but the repairability seems low at best.
| 33
| 10
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138726",
"author": "codeasm",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T11:15:45",
"content": "Reading about the coating is sad. Why arent manufacturers learning we hate that type of coating? Now you can remove it with baking soda and a bit of water (making what appears to be a paste), but why?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138734",
"author": "pelrun",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T12:03:17",
"content": "Ofcoursemanufacturers learned that the old coatings sucked, that’s why you’ve not seen it used on anything for years.The real question is do modern rubberised coatingsactuallydegrade, or has the technology improved sufficiently over the 20 years or so since it was last in common usage? Whatever Nintendo is using here is guaranteed to not be the same stuff.",
"parent_id": "8138726",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138763",
"author": "Yinglet",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T16:13:14",
"content": "The rubber coatings on old thinkpads have held up pretty well. That said that’s the only rubber coating I can think of that hasn’t turned into a sticky mess. Only time well tell if Nintendo got it right.",
"parent_id": "8138734",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138767",
"author": "fuzzyfuzzyfungus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T16:32:06",
"content": "I have no idea what Nintendo is using; but my impression is that the entire class of silicone ‘rubber’ materials that(so far) seem to be pretty well behaved in terms of both things like temperature range, limited alarming results from the toxicologists, and few “leave it in the sun and the plasticisers leach out/oops, it dissolves certain wood finishes on contact” things is a relatively new one at least for consumer products.It looks like the history of silicone elastomers goes back a fair way(initial developments late 19th century; some applications shipping during WWII); but I really don’t remember them being all over consumer stuff, ice cube trays, cutting boards, ‘rubber’ encapsulated electronics in activity monitoring bands and such; until much more recently.",
"parent_id": "8138763",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138779",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T17:34:44",
"content": "They know exactly what the material they are over-molding with will do.It is a science.Everything mass produced is ‘made to a price’, that price is often unrelated to retail price.If you don’t like the plastic, wait till you see the sintered brass, perma-greased ‘bearings’.",
"parent_id": "8138767",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138977",
"author": "Joab",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T11:48:25",
"content": "Better than a lot of old rubber but still not great.. I have a bunch of thin pads from early 2000s and while the rubber hasn’t like melted, they’re all a bit tacky",
"parent_id": "8138763",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138749",
"author": "Ken C",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T14:11:18",
"content": "I find it shocking how nowdays you need an entire ARM SoC with computing power comparable to Pentium 4 PC just to read some buttons and send them over bluetooth. A competent programmer could easily do this with ATmega8 and some BASCOM.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138752",
"author": "Grawp",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T14:53:20",
"content": "Your ATmega8 is more power hungry, less available, and most importantly more expensive and has been for more than a decade!!",
"parent_id": "8138749",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138765",
"author": "Ken C",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T16:18:01",
"content": "U wot m8?Even right now I can order 1000 ATMEGA8L-8PU MCUs for $2.55 a piece and have them delivered by Friday. They are perfectly available if you can use internet. It’s not my fault that you live like it’s still 2001 and parts are available mail order only.",
"parent_id": "8138752",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138770",
"author": "fuzzyfuzzyfungus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T16:47:53",
"content": "Digikey doesn’t seem to carry much Mediatek stuff, so I don’t have a direct comparison with the part Nintendo is using; but $2.55 puts the ATmega8 in more or less exactly the range of various outfits’ “BT+MCU” products, mostly with bigger MCUs.I don’t hate the classics or anything; and for my quantity-1 stuff I’m only going to go novel if it’s the novelty I’m interested in(or the novel involves a capability I can’t get any other way); but if I’m trying to justify a part choice for a consumer wireless device the numbers are just screaming at you to not try to DIY.",
"parent_id": "8138765",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138838",
"author": "Grawp",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T22:07:04",
"content": "Sorry but $2.55 is truly expensive for what it can do. I could get infinitely more capable Cortex M0 (I’m not even talking about raw power but stuff like NVIC) with goodies like CAN under 1eur for volumes just over 100 in 2015 for god’s sake + that PU variant is uterly huge and even worse: nonSMD. Populating THT crap was expensive back then and is still today maybe even more so.",
"parent_id": "8138765",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139034",
"author": "fiddlingjunky",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T15:46:18",
"content": "Yeah, that’s right around the price for an nrf52840, famously power sipping and capable with a great set of peripherals and few required supporting components.",
"parent_id": "8138838",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138956",
"author": "Hans",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T09:21:04",
"content": "ESP32-C3FH4 is $1.30 at 1qty. That chip has FLASH integrated, WiFi, Bluetooth and runs circles fast.EFR32BG22C112F352GM32 -> $1.36. With support for BL(E), Zigbee, or proprietary 2.4GHz protocols.Add a few passives and you got your whole wireless transceiver complete.If you want real bottom of the barrel, even Mouser carries some Inplay or Telink chips that go for 56-95 cents.ATMEGA8 is baked on an ancient process which means they are relatively expensive. Many manufacturers also bet on part lock-in long term and raise prices over time. ST does this, NXP too.. That makes this kind of an unfair comparison, but also no wonder why many are choosing for modern (32-bit) MCUs over older parts.",
"parent_id": "8138765",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139155",
"author": "Ken C",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T20:56:00",
"content": "ATMEGA8 is baked on an ancient process which means they are relatively expensive.But it’s also very resilient againt radiation. If there was accident like Chernobyl today I think 99% electronic devices would simply stop working because air around the globe became radioactive (remember how coal miner in Sweden tripped x-ray detector which finally made Soviets admit what happened?) and it makes modern electronics glitch out.Your Cortex-M0 projects will be scrap. My ATmega8 projects will happily work. That’s the difference between “maker” types chasing the latest, flashiest chips and hardcore engineer working with proven tech.",
"parent_id": "8138956",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139302",
"author": "Foldi-One",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T12:25:48",
"content": "If there was accident like Chernobyl today I think 99% electronic devices would simply stop working because air around the globe became radioactiveI’d have to say not really – some would no doubt glitch a little bit more, and in the really hot zones you’d probably be right. But most things globally would likely keep working just fine as all the RF shielding and interference tolerating required for a modern electronic product along with a reasonable quantity of error detection and correcting in the RAM, and the datapackets etc – the actual system should be pretty tough to that sort of problem really.To some extent you can look at the computers that have been working on the ISS for a reasonable comparable situation to being around the hot zone of a radiological incident – for the most part they are using regular off the shelf hardware in regular off the shelf ways without issue, and all in an environment that is rather irradiated compared to the ground.Also the bit that makes most of the older micro’s that have been tested against radiation perform well seems to be rather more because of the silicon production process and feature size than the design. So a modern production of that chip is likely not any more radiation hard than a modern production Arm chip (though I guess being a little simpler and smaller in die area terms does lower the odds of an energetic enough interaction). But it is those giant and much more energy intensive to operate old silicon gates having the side benefit that it takes much more significant added energy to trigger them in error more than anything.",
"parent_id": "8138956",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138758",
"author": "Hans",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T15:52:01",
"content": "Coexistence with other wireless devices demand this. The BLE only supports several modes which aim to provide fast communications (e.g. 1Mbps), with addressable devices, etc. A basic BLE network stack therefore will requires dozens of KB of FLASH and some CPU horsepower to run.Sure everyone can connect an OOK/FSK RF synthesizer together with to a timer output of the ATMEGA8 and blast out some differential Manchester encoding at a few 10s of kbps, but if we want resilience and coexistence unfortunately this doesn’t scale.",
"parent_id": "8138749",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138766",
"author": "fuzzyfuzzyfungus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T16:26:21",
"content": "In this specific case we’ve also got audio in play(controller has an analog headset jack; receives system audio from console; sends mic input to console); which is a major point in favor of BT.Your point remains that Real EE Fu could absolutely handle it(presumably either as a quick course in DACs and ADCs as part of the digital data; or with an elegant but antiquated pure analog; mapping audio to RF and back being something that we were doing back when the semiconductor junction was involved a cat’s whisker and some manual futzing, after all); but when ‘Be a headset, along with some lightweight GPIO for status messages and stuff’ is basically what BT was born for you are going to have a hard time beating out someone’s off-the-shelf implementation for doing exactly that. And then you’ve got the actually-not-totally-useless encryption that modern BT is supposed to be good for; which is a relative pittance in reasonably contemporary fixed-function silicon; but would actually take some doing to handle properly on a really resource limited general purpose microcontroller.",
"parent_id": "8138758",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138764",
"author": "fuzzyfuzzyfungus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T16:17:04",
"content": "I doubt that they actually need the whole thing; it’s more a question of whether there’s actually a meaningfully cheaper part(or a custom/semi-custom part where the unit savings would outweigh the upfront cost) that they could target instead.This is especially the case with something like BT, where the ongoing changes to the standard to try to make it suck less mean that you’ll likely want a comparatively recent part for reasons beyond package size and lifecycle status; and where the spec’s requirements for what the CPU doing housekeeping for the RF needs to be capable of are sufficiently large that there’s a lot to be said for just slapping something well-known like a smallish ARM core on to do the job; allowing enough room for a lot of customers to sneak their application-specific work onto the same core or cores and cut an entire microcontroller and any supporting components out of the design; rather than trying to pare it to the bone for absolute minimum part cost while forcing every customer to add another microcontroller or small CPU to host their application.There are still economic pressures in favor of integration; but this pressure seems less acute on the wired side; where a lot of low-bandwidth interfaces are basically solved-ish because the period of standardization where really egregious sins are getting hammered out was 30-40 years ago; so 20 year old parts are the highly mature ones; and because there’s no ongoing “if we use levels of DSP that would have been witchcraft or nation-state customer 20 years ago we can get slightly better performance in the RF hell that is the contemporary ISM band” spec development; unlike the RF interfaces.It’s still entirely possible that The Classic is a $1.50 SOIC part whose datasheet is stamped “NOT FOR NEW DESIGNS”, competing against 50 cent Cortex M0 BGAs and almost impossibly cheap mystery 8051s with Chinese characteristics; but if you want to talk I2C or SMBUS or whatever it’ll be just fine; where a 20 year old BT device is Not good news.",
"parent_id": "8138749",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138828",
"author": "i509vcb",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T21:15:11",
"content": "I am pretty sure the chip is a lot like the nrf52 parts (lower end of the series) but costs less per unit because Nintendo order quantities.",
"parent_id": "8138749",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138759",
"author": "J Gavell",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T16:10:25",
"content": "Yeah this is just not true, my switch 1 pro controller has outlasted every other modern controller I own. in the past 7 years since I bought it, I have gone through at least 4 dualsense ps5 controllers due to trigger or drift issues, 5 xbox one controllers due to button issues , 1 elite 2 controller due to vibration and Bluetooth problems, and 2 sets of joycons with drift. The pro controllers nintendo makes are actually really well built and also so is the wii u for that matter as to this day my launch day wii u has the same gamepad I had on day 1 and only needed one battery replacement.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138761",
"author": "Fox",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T16:12:06",
"content": "I can’t hear you over how much fun I’m having with the new Mario Kart.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138768",
"author": "Rick",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T16:33:43",
"content": "You forgot “/s”",
"parent_id": "8138761",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138784",
"author": "Foldi-One",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T18:10:06",
"content": "These are (disappointingly) also still resistive potentiometer sticks, meaning they might have to be replaced before long due to stick driftI find it a little silly how much folks find anything but hall effect disappointing now – in practical real world terms a decent resistive stick is fine, better than just fine even. Yes hall effect has some nice features and can be a great choice but ultimately for a thumbstick the centring spring is probably more important than the sensing technology by a huge margin – People just are not sensitive or dexterous enough to really notice the difference over that 15mm of throw between the sensitivity and repeatability of hall stick and a decently made resistive sensor. The bit you’ll definitely notice is when it stops re-centring properly, and how big the deadzone it ships with is, and both of those tend to because the pivot or centring spring is bad not the sensor tech in use at all…NB don’t get me wrong some resistive sticks are garbage and I do very much like hall effect and optical etc sensing, and sometimes it might even really really make sense to be upset they didn’t use them. But sensing tech only matters if the centring spring and pivots are good enough to actually make use of them, and in the case of resistive sticks you can usually just clean them should they start drifting for sensing reasons and end up getting just as much if not more life out of them as the hall effect stick will – as the life span limiting part ends up being the same and made much the same way for all sticks in that formfactor…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138818",
"author": "Greg A",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T20:13:34",
"content": "on first principles i’m inclined to agree with you, but my wife did recently take her switch controller apart and apply contact cleaner to it. and she’s happy with the result.making me think that gunk on pots is not a red herring, and the centering spring must be holding up. but i didn’t actually ask her what she did so who knows. the one thing that is for sure is that there’s a lot of end user frustration with the way they built them in the recent past",
"parent_id": "8138784",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138984",
"author": "Foldi-One",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T12:23:34",
"content": "Indeed, dirty contacts are absolutely a potential source of problems, and i did in fact say clean them if needed. The big problem with ’em in recent history seems to be just that the Big N put very cheaply made junk that has no chance to last a reasonable lifespan in their very expensive toys.",
"parent_id": "8138818",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138852",
"author": "Lord Binky",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T22:54:51",
"content": "If the resistive potentiometer was more durable I’d have no issue with them. As the current manufacturing standard with a thin film that gets worn through by the wiper or gunked up. That’s not hypethical, all but like 2 thumbstick of the well over 30 thumbstickreplacements I’ve done are worn through resist material.",
"parent_id": "8138784",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138903",
"author": "Miles",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T01:40:44",
"content": "Most cars use the same technology for the drive by wire throttle body, the only one of heard failing in great quantities was a late 90s early 2000s Volvo with an Italian made throttle body.Get a Swiss made potentiometer and it should be good for 10-20 years easily.I don’t get everyone banging on about hall effect, the mechanicals still need to be tight.",
"parent_id": "8138852",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138981",
"author": "Foldi-One",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T12:17:20",
"content": "As I said some of them are junk – with the joycon being perhaps the worst mass produced thumbsticks ever. Doesn’t mean you can’t have perfectly good versions though that last decades of abuse…The whole point being that it really isn’t the sensing technology that is the problem, it is the quality of the execution – can’t judge a new stick till folks have actually tried wearing them out it might be like the 360 controller sticks that are darn nearly immortal sensing wise (though you’d still end up replacing them for other reasons) or might be Joycons…",
"parent_id": "8138852",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138787",
"author": "Yahhis",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T18:25:45",
"content": "Sorry Concord didn’t do as well as you’d hoped.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138817",
"author": "Greg A",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T20:11:07",
"content": "i wish i understood the difference between gaming and regressive infantilization. and i’m curious to know how it relates to low spec tablets.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138825",
"author": "mini",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T21:03:10",
"content": "Ah they’re not using the original 3DS battery for the pro controller this time.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138899",
"author": "arifyn",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T01:17:13",
"content": "It’s worth mentioning that there are a fair number of well-made third party controllers that work with the Switch 2 and are easier to repair, such as 8bitdo’s Ultimate and Pro controllers (with the latest firmware updates).Now, if you want something that has the new dedicated “chat” button, a headphone jack,andsupport for reading NFC (amiibos) all in one, I don’t know of anything else that supports thatyet. But I suspect it’s only a matter of time.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139348",
"author": "Bob the Builder",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T14:51:32",
"content": "It’s 90 euro’s and you can’t even repair it. I really don’t understand the Switch 2. It’s a console targeting younger children. Sure, some adults buy it too but they aren’t the target audience as they go for the Playstation, Xbox or even better, the Steam Deck. Almost all the games on the Nintendo are games designed specifically for younger children. So why is a console for children so much money, why are the games so expensive. It makes no sense to me. And a controller like this made in the cheapest way is just bad.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,515.517586
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/14/a-concentric-clock-with-multiple-modes/
|
A Concentric Clock With Multiple Modes
|
Aaron Beckendorf
|
[
"clock hacks"
] |
[
"3D printed parts",
"clock",
"minimal user interface",
"minimalism",
"Raspberry Pi Pico W"
] |
Most of us spend our lives within reach of a device that provides a clock, stopwatch, and a timer – you’re almost certainly reading this article on such a device – but there are fewer options if you want a screen-free clock. [Michael Suguitan]’s
TOKIDOKI
rectifies this situation by combining those three functions into a single, physical, analog clock face.
TOKIDOKI displays time by lighting the appropriate segments of two concentric rings of colored LEDs (Adafruit Neopixel rings); the inner ring indicates hours, while the outer ring displays minutes. There is one clock hand, and while it does indicate the passage of time in some situations, its main function is as a dial to control the clock’s different functions. The hand is connected to a Dynamixel XL-330 servo motor, which also serves as a position sensor. Winding the dial clockwise starts a countdown timer, with each successive full rotation switching to a larger unit of time (a fun/unsettling feature is that the largest chronometric unit is the user’s expected lifetime: 84 years). Winding counterclockwise either starts a stopwatch or sets an alarm, depending on how many full rotations you make.
A Raspberry Pi Pico running some MicroPython firmware manages the device and gets the current time from a local network. To soften the light’s quality, the LED rings are pointed backwards to provide back-lighting off of a recessed surface. The entire device is powered by USB-C, and is enclosed in a 3D-printed housing.
This project was designed as an experiment in minimal interfaces, and it certainly achieved that goal, though we imagine that it takes a bit of time to get used to using this clock. We always enjoy seeing
innovative clocks
here, from
digital
to
analogue
, and those that
split the difference
.
| 0
| 0
|
[] | 1,760,371,515.441057
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/13/watkins-tower-londons-failed-eiffel-tower/
|
Watkin’s Tower: London’s Failed Eiffel Tower
|
Maya Posch
|
[
"History"
] |
[
"Eiffel Tower",
"wembley park"
] |
The city of London is no stranger to tall constructions today, but long before the first skyscrapers would loom above its streets, Watkin’s Tower was supposed to be the tallest structure in not only London but also the entirety of the UK. Inspired by France’s recently opened Eiffel tower, railway entrepreneur and Member of Parliament [Sir Edward Watkin] wanted to erect a structure that would rival the Eiffel tower, as part of a new attraction park to be constructed near the Middlesex hamlet of Wembley. In a retrospective,
[Rob’s London] channel takes a look at
what came to be known as
Watkin’s Folly
among other flattering names.
The first stage of Watkin’s Tower at Wembley Park. The only to be ever completed. (Source:
Wikimedia
)
After [Gustave Eiffel], the architect of the Eiffel tower recused himself, a design competition was held for a tower design, with the Illustrated Catalogue of the 68 designs submitted
available for our perusal
. The winner turned out to be #37, an eight-legged, 366 meter tall tower, much taller than the 312.2 meter tall Eiffel tower, along with multiple observation decks and various luxuries to be enjoyed by visitors to Wembley Park.
Naturally, [Watkin] commissioned a redesign to make it cheaper, which halved the number of legs, causing subsidence of the soil and other grievances later on. Before construction could finish, the responsible company went bankrupt and the one constructed section was demolished by 1907. Despite this, Wembley Park was a success and remains so to this day with Wembley Stadium built where Watkin’s Folly once stood.
| 8
| 6
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138715",
"author": "Stephen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T09:53:51",
"content": "I came across this project in Felix Barker’s fascinating book “London As It Might Have Been”, a collection of extraordinary projects that never came to fruition, including a version of St Paul’s Cathedral with a huge pineapple on top, an airport built on the rooftops of Central London, and a splendidly titled “Grand Sewer”. The chapter about this structure is called “The Eiffel Tower At Wembley”.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138718",
"author": "Alan Fleck",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T09:58:57",
"content": "But London still has the Crystal Palace Towerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_Palace_transmitting_station",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138796",
"author": "Shannon",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T19:02:12",
"content": "That doesn’t beat the French into submission as English architecture ought.",
"parent_id": "8138718",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139617",
"author": "Panondorf",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T14:34:14",
"content": "That’s Colin Furze’s job.",
"parent_id": "8138796",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138801",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T19:24:11",
"content": "Shame it didn’t succeed, it would have been an eye full.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138827",
"author": "Jose",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T21:11:37",
"content": "evangelist Rex Humbard was constructing a tower at his “Cathedral of Tomorrow” in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio(Now known as Grace Cathedral). It was to have a rotating restaurant on top, but the project was only half completed. The project was often referred to, by those who worked there, as “Rex’s Erection”You can seethe half completed tower on google maps street view herehttps://www.google.com/maps/@41.1463176,-81.5111139,3a,75y,134.82h,118.7t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1snfQP-xPouF0HMMAbi_69FA!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-28.702499832536347%26panoid%3DnfQP-xPouF0HMMAbi_69FA%26yaw%3D134.82001101301424!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDYxMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138846",
"author": "bob",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T22:36:47",
"content": "japan’s tokyo tower was built to copy the eiffel tower. i didn’t know about it for years until i came across it on twitter. a lot of cosplayers go there for photo shoots.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138974",
"author": "SAYes",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T11:32:24",
"content": "In Prague, the Czech Republic, such a tower has been built. Only about 60 meters height – seehttps://prague.eu/en/objevujte/petrin-tower-petrinska-rozhledna/, if you are interested in history.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,515.613024
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/13/open-a-portal-to-an-nes-emulator/
|
Open A Portal To An NES Emulator
|
Bryan Cockfield
|
[
"Software Hacks"
] |
[
"c++",
"emulator",
"portal",
"portal 2",
"porting",
"scripting",
"smolnes",
"squirrel"
] |
The
Portal
games were revolutionary not only for their puzzle-based, narrative-driven gameplay, but also for their unique physics engine, which let players open portals anywhere and conserve momentum and direction through them. They’re widely regarded as some of the best video games ever made, but even beyond that they have some extra features that aren’t talked about as much. Namely, there are a number of level editors and mods that allow the in-game components to be used to build things like logic gates and computers, and this project goes even further
by building a working NES emulator
, all within
Portal 2
.
The main limitation here is that
Portal 2
can only support a certain number of in-game objects without crashing, far lower than what would be needed to directly emulate NES hardware. The creator of the project, [PortalRunner], instead turned to Squirrel, the
Portal 2
scripting language, and set about porting an existing NES emulator called smolnes to this scripting language. This is easier said than done, as everything in the code needs to be converted eight bits and then all of the pointers in smolnes need to be converted to use arrays, since Squirrel doesn’t support pointers at all. As can be easily imagined, this led to a number of bugs that needed to be sorted out before the game would run at all.
For those interested in code golfing, porting, or cross-compatibility, this project is a master class not only in the intricacies of the
Portal 2
scripting language but in the way the NES behaves as well, not to mention the coding skill needed to recognize unique behaviors of the C language and the Squirrel scripting language. But eventually [PortalRunner] is able to get
Super Mario Bros
. running in
Portal 2
, albeit with low resolution and frame rate. Since we heard you like games within games,
someone else put
DOOM
inside
DOOM
so you can
DOOM
while you
DOOM
.
Thanks to [Mahdi] for the tip!
| 2
| 2
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138678",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T02:40:43",
"content": "Sounds like Data Table based programming.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139942",
"author": "필스토리",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T10:30:57",
"content": "It’s a brilliant example of creative constraint: using a puzzle game’s scripting tools to emulate an entirely different console.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,515.564185
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/13/how-a-diy-chicken-coop-door-opener-went-from-simple-to-complex/
|
How A DIY Chicken Coop Door Opener Went From Simple To Complex
|
Maya Posch
|
[
"home hacks"
] |
[
"chicken coop door",
"esphome",
"home assisstant",
"smart home"
] |
How hard could it be to make a chicken coop door that can be configured to open and close automatically using a straightforward interface? That’s the question that
[Jeff Sandberg] set out with
, after three years of using a more basic off-the-shelf unit that offered no remote access nor a convenient user interface. The use case for [Jeff] was rather straightforward: the door would be open during the day and closed at night to keep the hens safely inside the coop.
The commercial solution offered an RTC-backed programmable interface as well as a light sensor, but the latter wasn’t always reliable in inclement weather and making simple changes to the programming when e.g. the hens had to stay inside a day due to work on the yard, was much more complicated than needed, plus had to be done on the spot. The new system would solve all these ills.
That said, the existing door mechanism was doing a fine job and could be kept. This just left making a new box with electronics to control it, starting with an ESP32C3 with the ESPHome firmware that is hooked into the local Home Assistant system, along with a motor to lift and lower the door and with magnetic contact sensors.
So far so easy. The hard part came with the installation, which involved trenching to the hen house for mains power, repairing the damage from this, and troubleshooting a power issue that turned out to be due to a dodgy power adapter. The payoff is that now the chicken coop is also part of the smart home and their owner never has to trudge through a soggy garden again to adjust the programming on a dim LC display with far too few buttons.
| 18
| 7
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138645",
"author": "M",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T23:11:08",
"content": "LC -> LCD",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138646",
"author": "Dr Bob",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T23:20:42",
"content": "Ackchyually… the D in LCD stands for display, so it is correct to leave it out to avoid repetition.",
"parent_id": "8138645",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138663",
"author": "paulvdh",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T01:34:33",
"content": "LC + Display = LCD. Duh.",
"parent_id": "8138645",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138667",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T02:04:23",
"content": "LCD -> LCD display. Checkmate!",
"parent_id": "8138663",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138672",
"author": "dremu",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T02:25:09",
"content": "You can deposit my reward using your PIN number into the ATM machine at the Department of Redundant Acronyms.",
"parent_id": "8138667",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138755",
"author": "Scott Pickett",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T15:00:01",
"content": "The correct name is the Department of Redundant Acronyms Department.",
"parent_id": "8138672",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139263",
"author": "Mr T",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T08:48:32",
"content": "You mean the DoRA Department (or short, DD), right? Right? RIGHT???",
"parent_id": "8138672",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138660",
"author": "Peter Sguazzato",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T01:25:32",
"content": "That’s smart hey? It would also make it hard for foxes to get to your chooks and if the hen house had snake proof fencing this device could make things safer for the chooks win win!!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138680",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T03:00:14",
"content": "Waiting for the smart chicken coop where the hens can turn on the lights and water/feed.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138684",
"author": "scott_tx",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T04:53:00",
"content": "Mine used threaded rod to open the door so raccoons couldn’t push it open.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139337",
"author": "JayTee",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T14:28:15",
"content": "I used a metal gear track for mine for the same reason.For a manual override, my ESP8266 (NodeMCU) just keeps track of the door state via a boolean (isClosed == true or false) written to internal flash (so it persists between power cycles), and I added a simple button inside the coop that I can press to toggle the state. It opens/closes at sunrise and sunset (the hens have their own enclosed run they have access to whenever the door is open, and we manually open a door to let them free range in the rest of the yard when we’re home), but I can override open and close times via a simple HTTP interface. I even have it email me when the door opens or closes.The whole thing runs off a 7.2v NiCad RC car battery, which lasts for months.",
"parent_id": "8138684",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138697",
"author": "Zu",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T07:24:05",
"content": "Sunpower?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138902",
"author": "1prophead",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T01:38:38",
"content": "And LoRa",
"parent_id": "8138697",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138938",
"author": "Jeff",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T07:42:19",
"content": "I actually looked into solar and a battery system for all of this, and probably would have gone with it, were it not for the need to power a bucket heater in the winter for the birds water. I’ve been using a long extension cord for the past few years, and while it works, its a pain.",
"parent_id": "8138697",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138737",
"author": "kralant",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T12:16:51",
"content": "I have a very similar setup, but two main differences:it uses Tasmota, so the opening logic (like sunset/sunrise + offset) is done directly on the device -> it’s more robust, it doesn’t need a server to operate. HA is used as a remote control + alerting about anomalies (e.g. not opened even it should have been).not sure, how author used the reed switches. I initially wanted them as well to be used as (soft)end stops. But then realized, that a simple circuit with two diodes and two switches will solve the problem in a very robust wayhttps://www.bobek.cz/dc-motors-limit-switches-and-diodes/(aka, don’t use software where it is not adding a value).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138937",
"author": "Jeff",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T07:40:29",
"content": "The sunset/sunrise logic is actually done on the ESP32, provided it gets a time signal from HomeAssistant. If HomeAssistant goes down for an extended period of time, the time would get inaccurate, but it would still continue to function.The reed switches are just used as end stops, nothing too fancy, except the bottom end stop has a slight delay in “closing,” which allows some slack for the bottom of the door to latch into the slides. Were it not for that, a diode system like you described would have been simpler.",
"parent_id": "8138737",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138746",
"author": "Andy",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T13:31:03",
"content": "I used a power window “regulator” from a Toyota on my henhouse, alas I haven’t had chickens in close to 10 years now. This was before Home Assistant really took off, and I agree that the RTC system can be pretty onerous, especially with pesky things like seasons and sunset times.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138791",
"author": "echodelta",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T18:48:40",
"content": "Oh they’re so pesky. I see during spring to summer expensive mast mounted LED’s under a black hood cooking in the late afternoon right now at Lowe’s hardware chain because of a timer manually set weeks late and nobody knows how to set it. Seems like some don’t know what planet they are on. It would take a supercomputer to figure this out and have to wait a whole year to see if it would work.",
"parent_id": "8138746",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,515.732601
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/13/adapting-an-old-rotary-dial-for-digital-applications/
|
Adapting An Old Rotary Dial For Digital Applications
|
John Elliot V
|
[
"classic hacks",
"hardware",
"Medical Hacks",
"PCB Hacks",
"Phone Hacks"
] |
[
"rotary dial",
"telephone dial"
] |
Today in old school nostalgia our tipster [Clint Jay] wrote in to let us know about
this rotary dial
.
If you’re a young whippersnapper you might never have seen a rotary dial. These things were commonly used on telephones back in the day, and they were notoriously slow to use. The way they work is that they generate a number of pulses corresponding to the number you want to dial in. One pulse for 1, two pulses for 2, and so on, up to nine pulses for 9, then ten pulses for 0.
We see circuits like this here at Hackaday from time to time. In fact, commonly we see them implemented as USB keyboards, such as in
Rotary Dial Becomes USB Keyboard
and
Rotary Dialer Becomes Numeric Keypad
.
One thing that makes this particular project different from the ones we’ve seen before is that it doesn’t require a microcontroller. That said, our hacker [Mousa] shows us how to interface this dial with an Arduino, along with sample code, if that’s something you’d like to do. The schematic for the project shows how to connect the rotary dial (salvaged from an old telephone) to both a 7-segment display and a collection of ten LEDs.
The project write-up includes links to the PCB design files. The guts of the project are a
4017
decade counter and a
4026
7-segment display adapter. Good, honest, old school digital logic.
| 27
| 9
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138609",
"author": "a_do_z",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T20:05:53",
"content": "Imagine how younger-generation-theft-resistant your car would be if it used an ignition kill system disabled via rotary dial, and a manual transmission.:-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138613",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T20:17:19",
"content": "Wow, you have a mean streak.",
"parent_id": "8138609",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138683",
"author": "frykasjGunplumber",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T04:45:26",
"content": "And you lived in a valley, with stop signs on both hills, on the only road in and out.",
"parent_id": "8138613",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138624",
"author": "Zygo",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T21:00:45",
"content": "You have to use the rotary dial to input the time displayed on an analog clock. Checkmate.",
"parent_id": "8138609",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138655",
"author": "limroh",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T00:53:45",
"content": "Damn you’re evil! ;-)",
"parent_id": "8138624",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138707",
"author": "Bob",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T09:26:49",
"content": "Add in something about a cheque book (*) and you’ll confuse everyone but the Americans.(* Calling it a cheque book would confuse the Americans though.)",
"parent_id": "8138624",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138735",
"author": "Nath",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T12:12:46",
"content": "Calling it a chequier and you’ll consude everyone but the French",
"parent_id": "8138707",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138628",
"author": "anachronda",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T21:07:46",
"content": "in a few years, the younger-generation-anti-theft device will be a steering wheel.",
"parent_id": "8138609",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138771",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T16:49:48",
"content": "The whole “manual transmission is a theft deterrent” thing is outdated. Current auto thieves come from countries which still drive manual.",
"parent_id": "8138609",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138877",
"author": "Mark",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T00:04:14",
"content": "Easy to guess. 1111",
"parent_id": "8138609",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138879",
"author": "Mark",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T00:05:06",
"content": "Easy to guess. 1111.",
"parent_id": "8138609",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138889",
"author": "Whycantipost",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T00:13:50",
"content": "Easy to guess. 1111",
"parent_id": "8138609",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138614",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T20:18:01",
"content": "Is anyone else seeing a nixie tube, rotary dial calculator or is it just me?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138632",
"author": "Nikolai",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T21:27:45",
"content": "You can still use a rotary phone now on regular phone line and you technically control a very complex digital/microprocessor equipment at the phone station from your home by dialing pulse.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138633",
"author": "eswan",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T21:30:36",
"content": "I hooked up a ’90s stereo to the television earlier this week. Yesterday, my 18 year old daughter went to turn the volume down and turned it up instead. I realised she’s never used a volume knob before.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138664",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T01:51:24",
"content": "A few shower/bathtub knobs are turn to the right to turn off. Might be what she was accustomed to using.",
"parent_id": "8138633",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139616",
"author": "pan",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T14:30:44",
"content": "My “favorite” is gas valves. Like on a gas stove or a grill.Off and Max are adjacent, ‘barely on’ is as far from Off as it can get.I suppose there is a mechanical reason they make them that way but it is weird. And yes, I AM old enough to have started with rotary phones.",
"parent_id": "8138664",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139664",
"author": "Elliot Williams",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T16:31:33",
"content": "You go through “max” as you light it, then keep turning to desired flame?Agreed that it’s totally weird.",
"parent_id": "8139616",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138682",
"author": "Thinkerer",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T03:22:55",
"content": "Bonus points for someone who prints up a 16 – hole dial for inputting hex….",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138748",
"author": "mayhem",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T13:40:28",
"content": "Whomever can tell me what letters are missing from a rotary dial will win a thousand points good for nothing!!!!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138772",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T16:52:14",
"content": "QZ?",
"parent_id": "8138748",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138777",
"author": "mayhem",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T17:26:34",
"content": "Very good!!",
"parent_id": "8138772",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139654",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T15:47:39",
"content": "A thought: “Dial zero to enter a unicode character”Yes, I just made it even more torturous.",
"parent_id": "8138748",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138798",
"author": "John",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T19:13:39",
"content": "Circa 1963, (Yup, I’m old) I made a binary counter (ones and zeros) using 2n404 transistors in Eccles-Jordan flip-flops. The input device was a rotary dial with incandescent bulb indicators. It was for a school science fair.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139269",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T09:06:42",
"content": "Might be good for a nuclear briefcase, gives the user time to think.Apart from that it is indeed only good for various forms of torture.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139482",
"author": "Rop",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T00:29:45",
"content": "This to me was the best usage:https://hackaday.com/2022/09/10/the-open-source-rotary-cell-phone-two-years-later/#more-552238.. No big succes, apparently :-(",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8140406",
"author": "Elliot Williams",
"timestamp": "2025-06-19T17:04:26",
"content": "I think the cell modem was a GSM or 2nd gen. There is room for an update!",
"parent_id": "8139482",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,515.674909
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/13/taking-a-one-handed-keyboard-to-the-next-level/
|
Taking A One Handed Keyboard To The Next Level
|
Jenny List
|
[
"Peripherals Hacks"
] |
[
"chording keyboard",
"keyboard",
"wrist keyboard"
] |
When a wrist mounted keyboard floated past in the Hackaday feed, a mental image surfaced, perhaps something like a Blackberry keyboard mounted on a wrist cuff, maybe with some kind of display. It’s impressive indeed then to open the link and see
[AdamLeBlanc]’s Schist01
. It’s a wrist mounted keyboard, but with its bracket curving in front of the had to support a custom ergonomic chording keyboard, it’s definitely a break from the norm.
The wrist mount has clearly taken a lot of thought, and despite looking something like the arm of a
Star Trek
Borg, appears comfortable. It’s extremely adjustable, and can be demounted into several different parts. Meanwhile the keyboard itself has been formed to his hand by a trial and error process involving keycaps and a clay model. there’s even a thumb-operable touchpad.
We like this peripheral a lot, for the huge attention to detail that has gone into its design, for its boldness, and because we can’t help seeing ourselves using it as the input device for a futuristic head-mounted display. For now though we don’t have any futuristic silver clothing in the wardrobe, so that will have to wait. If you’d like to see more, there’s a video.
Thanks [Shotgun Moose] for the tip.
| 1
| 1
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138724",
"author": "helge",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T10:56:58",
"content": "I really love the effort and the clay modeling, 3D scanning and CAD that had to be applied to make it happen. However, I wish he had explored first how to make transitioning between keyboard use and a “stow” position with very little effort. Maybe make it fold down and back by 150° to rest around the forearm?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,515.787075
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/13/attack-of-the-beepy-clones/
|
Attack Of The Beepy Clones
|
Arya Voronova
|
[
"blackberry hacks",
"handhelds hacks"
] |
[
"Beepy",
"Beepy. BeepBerry",
"blackberry keyboard",
"blepis",
"colorberry",
"hackberry",
"hackberry pi",
"open hardware",
"Sharp Memory LCD",
"SQFMI"
] |
In the
Blackberry-keyboard-based project lineage story last week
, I covered how a series of open-source projects turned into Beepy, a cool Linux PDA with a lively community. To me, it’s yet another demonstration of power that open-source holds, and more importantly, it shows how even a small pet project of yours could cause big moves in the hardware world, provided you publish it – just ask [JoeN], [WoodWorkeR] and [arturo182].
The journey didn’t end there. For all its benefits, Beepy had some flaws to take care of, some board-killing flaws, even. The 5 V boost regulator was never intended for 4.7 V input it gets when charger is connected, and would occasionally cook itself. A charging current resistor was undersized, leading people to either bodge resistors onto their Beepy boards, or have their battery charge for 30 hours until full. A power path diode was undersized, too, and has burned out on more than a few devices. Also, Beepy’s feature package left things to be desired.
Beepy never made it beyond v1. If I had to guess, partially because of BB Q20 keyboard sourcing troubles, but also definitely some sort of loss of interest. Which is a shame, as the plans v1.5 of the hardware were pretty exciting. In the meantime, other players decided to take up the mantle – here’s a tale of three projects.
Improved, Colorful, Closed
I like to talk about all sides of open-source hardware, good and bad. We’ll start with the bad here. Sometimes, you’ll publish a project under an open license that requires other people to share their work if it’s based on your project files. Then, someone takes your files, makes none to minimal changes, closes the sources, maybe even completely removes the attribution, and starts selling them. That’s the story of Colorberry.
Left: OG Beepy, right: Colorberry; spot 10 differences. If one of them is “stripped of all attribution”, you get bonus points.
It was one of the first Beepy derivatives — seemingly fixing two of the three Beepy bugs, and adding support for a color display from JDI. Unfortunately, it also removed some important elements: namely the attribution to the Beepy on product or project pages – and closed-sourced the files.
Beepy’s PCB is licensed under a reciprocal (copyleft) license, which means that derivative product designers are supposed to share any changes they make. Without access to the source, it’s difficult to confirm that Colorberry really fixed the upstream Beepy bugs. It also makes it harder to diagnose and repair the hardware, and limits the chances the Colorberry would live on should its creator step away from the project.
Unfortunately, the problems don’t stop there. The code to drive the color screen is heavily based upon a driver produced by people in the Beepy community. Like the Beepy hardware, the license for the driver (GPL) requires that changes made to the code be made public. But when Alex, the Colorberry developer, was asked about publishing the code for this driver, he responded that it would happen “once the driver is ready.” A year later, the new story is apparently that he will release the sources once his personal stock of color screens runs out.
Because the driver is only published as (non-stripped) binaries on GitHub, it needs to be recompiled and republished by Alex with every Linux kernel update or distro that Colorberry could be used with. It’s also markedly harder to install (to the point people had to concoct multi-step install scripts), and I have it on good authority that the driver contains a bug that will actually reduce the lifetime of the display. But without the source for the driver, the community can’t fix it.
I confirmed this later on, having looked at the binary files myself – indeed, even the typos from someone else’s open-source driver are still present in Colorberry driver code.
From what I’ve seen, the Beepy open-source design has been a crucial factor for its community to flourish and keep thriving even two years later. Colorberry’s puzzling closed-source decisions just don’t add up to the same value, and I gather that’s a big part of why the project didn’t gain more traction.
The Colorberry isn’t the only Beepy clone to keep the hardware source to itself. The PiBerry from CarbonComputers doesn’t fix the bugs from the original handheld, unfortunately, but it does bring a higher resolution color display to the party. It also doesn’t try to erase its lineage, with both the PCB silkscreen and the documentation referencing the fact that it’s based on the Beepy. Even still, the board design files aren’t included in the PiBerry repository.
What’s interesting in this case is that CarbonComputers later made a newer PiBerry version in same form-factor, aimed at assembly from more off-the-shelf components, and
that version does have its KiCad files published
. I’m willing to give the creators the benefit of the doubt here, and say that not including the source files for the previous versions of the hardware might simply be an omission on their part and not intentional.
These two weren’t the only projects coming to life because of Beepy’s success – at times, if you get someone inspired enough with a project of yours, they could end up building an entire lineup of gadgets. Such is the case of Hackberry Pi, a project coming from a hacker named Zitao.
The Hackberry Family
Ever wanted the power of a Pi 5 in a portable package? That’s where you reach for the Hackberry Pi. The CM5 version is way sleeker than this one, I gotta say.
You might’ve seen
the Hackberry Pi
around – it’s a Beepy-like device with a 720×720 DPI screen derived from Adafruit’s Hyperpixel design and a Q20 keyboard. A number of parts in the first Pi Zero-based versions of the Hackberry Pi were visibly derived from the Beepy design. However, at least the later versions have been re-drawn from scratch in EasyEDA, with a number of diverging design paths, and Zitao has been prolific in building newer and generally better versions of the platform.
From a Pi Zero-based version with Nokia batteries, to Pi 5-based device powered by 18650s, the Hackberry has gone through quite a journey. Just a couple days ago from the time of this writing, the Compute Module-based version of the Hackberry Pi has become available, and it’s been selling like hotcakes.
Zitao’s hardware is inspiring in a few ways. For instance, the ways in which these devices avoid driver installation requirements, with keyboard connected over USB instead of I2C, powerbank chips with LED battery level display instead of the Beepy’s RP2040, and it goes even to the point of soldering a small Bluetooth receiver module onto the board to drive the onboard speakers from the Pi running the show. It’s a kludge, but at the same time, it’s hard to argue with things that work well in practice!
Hackberry Pi devices are also closed source, but at least schematics have been made available. This is good enough to spot most bugs, and those schematics have already been useful for people pointing out poor design decisions in the first versions. Of course, it’s still against the spirit of open-source and in particular the project that made Hackberry Pi possible in the first place – but at least it’s a step in the right direction.
Our Radically Open Beepy Clone
As you might have guessed, I don’t like closed-source devices. In particular I dislike devices that benefit from an open-source ecosystem and then burn the goodwill provided, as if to sterilize and salt the land that would otherwise serve other projects in the future.
Two v1 Blepis units: one assembled with a Sharp display, another with a cheaper color SPI one.
Over the last half a year, I’ve had the privilege of working on
the Blepis
, a Beepy successor built by a hacker collective I’m a part of, called HackMods. We’ve designed, planned out, and assembled the first versions of these boards together, with the goal of having a fleet of Linux PDAs.
Made by hackers for hackers, it’s an experiment in just how far you can push the Beepy design, and we’re keeping things as open-source as we found them – arguably even more so! In particular, even our case design is in FreeCAD and open-source, with
.FCstd
files included.
First major improvement we made was in screen support. Sharp Memory screens can be expensive and are often out of stock for months, and JDI screens are even more expensive than that, often the only options are overpriced eBay listings. This is somewhat okay for a one-off, but it is very sub-optimal if you’re building a fleet of a dozen hacker PDAs for you and your friends.
That’s why we’ve added support for the commonly available 3.2″ 320×240 18-pin SPI color screens in addition to Sharp and JDI screens. We even have touchscreen controller support for the 18-pin panels that come with a touch layer, and support backlight on displays which have it. Of course, the known Beepy bugs are fixed as well. Our 5 V boost is operating within spec, and we have a switch-mode battery charger expected to give off barely any heat at all while providing a fair bit of charging current.
The PCB, done mainly by [LinaLinn] and me, with others’ contributing to it in various ways. It would probably be easier to talk about what we didn’t add. Thankfully, for those things, we have an expansion connector!
What else? Just for a start, we added an RTC, a vibromotor driver, and an onboard buzzer, not to mention things like QWIIC connectors for I2C and USB.
The Beepy didn’t have any onboard USB peripherals – you were expected to make use of the Pi Zero’s microUSB port. But we’ve added a whole USB ecosystem onto all the free space on the board – including a microSD reader, a slanted USB-C slot letting you connect a small USB-C 3.5 mm dongle soundcard for music playback (or other devices), and a USB hub chip to tie it all together. Apart from that, we support host mode on the bottom “charging” USB-C port, too – complete with 5 V power output.
Some of these features, like power output on the main USB-C port, are not supported by the firmware yet, But we’ve gotten pretty familiar with Beepy firmware while building v1, so, adding firmware support for those features is not expected to be that complicated.
Our expansion connector is also unparalleled when it comes to interfaces we expose. A single-row 23-pin header has 3.3 V, 5 V and VBAT power rails with over-current and backflow protection, plus I2C, SPI, UART, SDIO, PWM, and I2S, all ESD-protected.
We’ve already had a LoRa expansion module contributed by someone from the Beepy community, and one of our members has designed a DECT board. We plan on doing doing boards aimed at general-purpose hacking & BIOS chip flashing soon. If you ever wanted a PDA with a powerful expansion header for hardware hacking purposes, this is the design for you.
The Gift Of Giving Back
If you’re looking for a Linux PDA board, I hope you can appreciate the Blepis hardware design we bring to you, only possible because of a string of open-source projects before it. Our design files and driver/firmware sources are all on GitHub and GitLab, with
a summary available on [Michael]’s BBKB ecosystem website.
Blepis is meant to work with JLCPCB PCBA, and we have
a GitLab integration for exporting the project files
– all the JLC part numbers are input into the schematics, so just upload the files and get a batch of motherboards delivered to your doorstep. To complete it, get a Pi Zero, a battery, a Blackberry Q20 keyboard, a display out of the list of supported ones, print the shell (v2-compatible shell
coming soon
), and off you go.
Seeing entirely new projects happen, each cooler and more advanced than the previous one, all because people kept publishing their code and PCB files, and then, getting to build a dream device for me and my friends thanks to someone else’s work – these kinds of experiences are what radicalized me in favour of being fervently pro-open-source. I see open-source philosophy live and thrive through dreams of hackers and barrels of viral licenses, through publishing despite imperfections, and building off each other’s dreams to turn the tide of tomorrow. I hope you get to experience it, too.
| 22
| 11
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138568",
"author": "Antron Argaiv",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T17:37:38",
"content": "You know what would be a neat include? A SIP phone (plus speaker and microphone). You could then use it to make SIP calls over wifi…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138570",
"author": "scubabearLA",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T17:43:18",
"content": "This is an impressive achievement, and it would be fun to have one, thank you all for putting in the effort! But, what does “Be Gay Do Crime” on the underside silkscreen refer to…?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138574",
"author": "Arya Voronova",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T17:59:02",
"content": "DDG Assist summary sounds good to me: ‘”Be Gay, Do Crime” is a phrase that celebrates queer identity and rebellion against societal norms, often used in a humorous or ironic context. It has inspired various creative works, including an anthology of stories featuring queer characters engaging in chaotic and rebellious acts.’ For our collective, it’s about things likecollecting device schematics– obviously a right to repair issue, but one where legality is firmly in the grey area. Or, consider reverse-engineering, an activity that is often heavily restricted depending on the country you’re in (sometimes even countries you aren’t in!).There’s even examples in this very article – for instance, would it be legal for me to reverse-engineer [alex]’s driver? That, I’m yet to find out, and the answer could very well be “no” – especially if [alex] were to have more legal weight behind him. Would it be an objectively good thing to do? Of course. It’s ironic because activities like repair and reverse-engineering are in the range between “clear-cut public good” and “way more good than bad”, and yet you’ll often see them defended in the name of corporate profit as a proxy for public good, a link that consistently has become more and more tenuous every year.",
"parent_id": "8138570",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138582",
"author": "scubabearLA",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T18:27:25",
"content": "Thank you for the elucidation! I was unfamiliar with the expression, but it did cause me to flash back to growing up in Texas. Before Lawrence v. Texas was settled in 2003, I would’ve been “doing crime by being gay”…Now of course our disgustingly regressive government here has Lawrence v. Texas in its sites to reverse as it did Roe v. Wade.And I get it… as I read your article’s description of the Colorberry theft (pilfering? expropriation?), it really made me angry. How petty of that guy, to snatch the work of others and rebrand it as his own, especially when it was freely shared by its creators and all they asked was attribution and sharing of the goodwill.",
"parent_id": "8138574",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138622",
"author": "Arya Voronova",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T20:43:12",
"content": "Yeahhhhh critical support to you all over there – they’re aiming to de-legalize and re-criminalize a lot of basic liberties. May the stars align in your favour.I couldn’t avoid mentioning the Colorberry since it’s one of the first Beepy forks and it would be misrepresentation to omit it, but upon closer examination of its situation and talking with [alex], this aspect overshadowed all the other ones. And yeah, I found it to be quite an insult, to the community that made Colorberry possible to begin with, to specific people whose code and PCB work was taken against their wishes, and to Colorberry buyers/owners that were promised source code, only to be fed excuses a year later. I’ve found that in DIY portable device spaces, there isn’t always enough emphasis on open-source or understanding why licenses are important, and there’s been cases of bad actors that used closed-open-source hardware/software as a way to negatively impact the ecosystem. So, I think we ought to talk about it when opportunity arises – if we don’t talk about these cases as hostile acts that they are and point out the warning signs, others might not recognize them as such. (Also, can’t help but hope that we collectively develop a bigger toolkit for dealing with such issues.)",
"parent_id": "8138582",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138653",
"author": "jake",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T00:13:48",
"content": "yaas a bigger toolkit to deal with janky tools like alex",
"parent_id": "8138622",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138606",
"author": "Mac",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T19:58:50",
"content": "Any advice on sourcing the q20 keyboard or compatible ones?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138611",
"author": "Arya Voronova",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T20:12:36",
"content": "Check locally first 😅 a lot of sources have dried up. We have, however, managed to source enough keyboards, for price of approximately 20-30EUR apiece. Hopefully we can solve this soon enough with a custom keyboard, based off arturo182’s design and keyboard materials!",
"parent_id": "8138606",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138661",
"author": "lotsoflots",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T01:26:48",
"content": "I found a ‘lot’ of gently used q20s on ebay. So, ‘pulls’ are often/always an option…Anyone need spare BB Q20 parts? :)",
"parent_id": "8138606",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138630",
"author": "Ronald Osbeck",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T21:17:52",
"content": "Thank you so much! this is one of the best articles I have read in a very long time. I was so excited about the follow up to ‘The Blackberry Keyboard’, I set an alarm each day to check hack a day for the follow up and now that it’s arrived I am so happy. All of you are so amazing#",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138731",
"author": "phuzz",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T11:48:18",
"content": "You could always use Hackaday’s RSS feed to keep up to date.(Now I think about it, I’m sure I could whip up a kludgy script to download the RSS file, extract the article titles, and ping an email if any of them contain ‘blackberry’ AND ‘keyboard’)",
"parent_id": "8138630",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138656",
"author": "0xdeadbeef",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T00:59:30",
"content": "You might’ve seen the Hackberry Pi around – it’s a Beepy-like device with a 720×720 DPI screen derived from Adafruit’s Hyperpixel designIsn’t the Hyperpixel Pimoroni’s? I think you’ve got the wrong side of the pond there! Both Adafruit and Pimoroni have an amazing range of products (and often carry a selection of each others’, too!), but I think Pimoroni deserves the credit here. :P",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139116",
"author": "GotNoTime",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T19:58:46",
"content": "Yep. Hyperpixel is Pimoroni.",
"parent_id": "8138656",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138824",
"author": "Chris Combs",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T20:56:13",
"content": "in case anyone else was curious, the “JDI screen” mentioned is an 8-color (3-bit) memory LCD, JDI p/n LPM027M128C",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138946",
"author": "GrapTops",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T08:38:54",
"content": "As someone that loved keyboard devices but never liked blackberry devices, this is something to look into.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139066",
"author": "Roger",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T17:16:41",
"content": "Great article! Question on the name of the “Blepis” section. The page that is linked to from there talks about “Beepis”, no “L”. Just a typo, or some other variant, or something else?Thanks again!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139615",
"author": "pelrun",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T14:23:43",
"content": "Extremely recent renaming of the project that hasn’t completely shaken out yet.",
"parent_id": "8139066",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139551",
"author": "AG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T08:22:32",
"content": "The Blepi still doesn’t address, arguably one of the biggest failures of these “hats”. Cross compatibility. I understand RPI is the only one to have enough breakout underneath for DSI, and peripheral, but the zero form factor offerings from Radxa, OrangePi, Google coral (dev micro) MangoPi, geniatech to name a few, have much more powerful capabilities. I know it’s a bit much to try to spin off a universally compatible board, but why not some kind of “shim” board? Mimic the pinout for the RPIZ, U style connectors for the hdmi, usb C, and flex “peripheral” connectors on the side. It adds height, but I’d say worth it until more compatible bases are built.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139609",
"author": "RoganDawes",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T14:08:09",
"content": "Mentioned this on the other article, but you can get an almost complete BlackBerry Q5 “shell”, where the only thing missing is the main PCB, on Ali for about $15. That means you get a case, buttons (but not the underlying dome switches), touch sensor, 720×720 DSI display, speaker, microphone, antennas, etc. I haven’t checked, but it would not surprise me to find the camera is also there.“All” you need to add to make this a functioning device is a main PCB with a suitable CPU/microcontroller on it, and a battery. I’m looking at the ESP32-P4, for its DSI hardware, copious GPIO for a keyboard and other buttons, and low power core. If the camera really is present, then the P4’s CSI interface may also apply.Of course, I have no idea what the initialisation sequence for this display looks like, so actually making it display any signs of life may be challenging.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139618",
"author": "RoganDawes",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T14:36:29",
"content": "FWIW, this is the purchase I am referring to:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007125314936.html",
"parent_id": "8139609",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139630",
"author": "RoganDawes",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T15:01:20",
"content": "Further thoughts, the antennas should be 850-900MHz, 1800-1900MHz and 2.4GHz, because it is a quad band GSM and WiFi capable device. That obviously should work well for an ESP32 wifi/Bluetooth companion chip (possibly even zigbee), as well as an SX1262 LoRa via SPI.",
"parent_id": "8139609",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8142697",
"author": "Navarre Bartz",
"timestamp": "2025-06-27T14:51:22",
"content": "Very excited to see where others have taken the project! I wasn’t able to get a Beepberry/Beepy when they came out, so I’m glad to see the vision continued. Maybe this fall I can try to start getting components together for a Blepis build! Thanks for your work on this Arya and the whole community!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,516.079462
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/13/cassette-data-storage-from-the-1970s/
|
Cassette Data Storage From The 1970s
|
Al Williams
|
[
"Retrocomputing"
] |
[
"audio tape",
"kansas city standard",
"kc standard"
] |
When home computers first appeared, disk drives were an expensive rarity. Consumers weren’t likely to be interested in punch cards or paper tape, but most people did have consumer-grade audio cassette recorders. There were a few attempts at storing data on tapes, which, in theory, is simple enough. But, practically, cheap audio recorders are far from perfect, which can complicate the situation.
A conference in Kansas City settled on a standard design, and the “Kansas City standard” tape format appeared. In a recent video,
[Igor Brichkov] attempts to work with the format using 555s and op amps
— the same way computers back in the day might have done it. Check out the video below to learn more.
These days, it would be dead simple to digitize audio and process it to recover data. The 1970s were a different time. The KC standard used frequency shift method with 2.4 kHz tones standing in for ones, and 1.2 kHz tones were zeros. The bit length was equal (at 300 baud), so a one had 8 cycles and a zero had 4 cycles. There were other mundane details like a start bit, a minimum stop bit, and the fact that the least significant bit was first.
The real world makes these things iffy. Stretched tape, varying motor speeds, and tape dropouts can all change things. The format makes it possible to detect the tones and then feed the output to a UART that you might use for a serial port.
There were many schemes. The one in the video uses an op-amp to square up the signal to a digital output. The digital pulses feed to a pair of 555s made to re-trigger during fast input trains but not during slower input trains. If that doesn’t make sense, watch the video!
The KC standard shows up all over the place. We’ve even used it to hide
secret messages in our podcast
.
| 69
| 17
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138529",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T15:40:10",
"content": "“Consumers weren’t likely to be interested in punch cards or paper tape…”Well a stack of punch cards in wrap could keep the coffee table level.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138925",
"author": "Eric",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T06:29:33",
"content": "Ever try to load a large C64 game via punch card? A punch card is around 80 bytes, you’d need something of around 40-50kb for some of the games. A large game that fits single cassette would take about 600-700 punch card to load. Imagine if the power went out after you spent an hour just loading a game from cards.Really large games that span multiple disks (such as Ultima 5) would mean over 17,000 punch card and you’d need to load a batch now and then, and have new punch card created every time you saved the game.Easy to see why the punch card didn’t take off for home computers.",
"parent_id": "8138529",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138530",
"author": "Carl Breen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T15:41:10",
"content": "Thanks for the explanation, Mr Brichkov! The KC standard is still easy to understand for me. I hope there might be some future videos on the C64 datasette standard and the Sony Bitcorder. Cheers!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138537",
"author": "Cap",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T16:20:43",
"content": "Where did the Tarbel Encoding fit into the Scheme of things..Cap",
"parent_id": "8138530",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138556",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T17:08:22",
"content": "KCS (1975). Tarbell(1976). Latter mostly used in CP/M machines.",
"parent_id": "8138537",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138536",
"author": "Tim Andersson",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T16:18:53",
"content": "Why not just write raw binary like we do nowdays with .tar.gz files? Not enough CPU power for decompression on the flight? Or programmers back then were so incompetent?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138548",
"author": "David",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T16:52:01",
"content": "Limitations of the media.Remember that this was targeted at cheap portable cassette decks. Not a high end audiophile sort of thing. So frequency response was limited. Plus of course tape dropouts and such. So a simple scheme of recording tones known to be within the passband.You can of course use raw data in NRZ or perhaps another digital format like biphase. But clock and data recovery becomes much more complicated. Plus, with NRZ there is a limit on runs of zeros or ones that the bit sync can tolerate before losing lock.Which is why biphase is sometimes used since it is self clocking. At the cost of requiring twice the frequency response.",
"parent_id": "8138536",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138559",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T17:20:50",
"content": "+1Datasette was one of the worst media ever.You had wow and flutter, warble, dropout etc.It was barely usable for 8 seconds SSTV (better known as “Robot-8”).And that was merely analog and in grayscale.Yet the good old (especially old!) music cassette did barely cut it.",
"parent_id": "8138548",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138673",
"author": "Garth Wilson",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T02:25:21",
"content": "I took it to mean why record the source code rather than the already-tokenized code which would probably be shorter. The choice would not be affected by frequency response, dropouts, flutter, or anything else; because regardless, the entire cycle would remain the same: the processor sends digital data to a UART, whose output goes to the modem, whose output goes to the tape recorder, whose output goes to the modem, whose output goes to the UART, which is read by the processor.",
"parent_id": "8138548",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138551",
"author": "Julian Skidmore",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T16:56:05",
"content": "We simply didn’t know about Huffman encoding/decoding. You might think we would, but algorithms propagated slowly without the Internet. The kind of compression algorithm one might use on a late 1970s/early 1980s microcoputer might be limited to text. It might assign the 12 most common letters to nybbles and then the remaining 96-12=84 symbols to a 7-bit extension (4-bit primary + 5-bit extension). This would achieve bit less than 2x compression, but it would be easy.",
"parent_id": "8138536",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138561",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T17:26:27",
"content": "Sure we had online services and chatrooms.There used to be X.25 global networks since the 70s.That’s what the original Tron movie makes a reference to.In the states, the largest BBS of the time, CompuServe, had offered a CB Simulator for chatting and international e-mail service.Here in Europe, we had Minitel and similar services.People into technology, the geeks and nerds, did have platforms to discuss such things.Then there was ham radio and international chatting via RTTY.7-Bit ASCII as an alternative to Baudot was available, too, to send/receive computer files via shortwave or ham satellites.The technology was there, but the users lacked the necessary awareness, maybe.",
"parent_id": "8138551",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138552",
"author": "CJay",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T16:56:53",
"content": "Pure binary is (just) ok if you’re writing it to a digital medium but cassette tape is analogue so it needs to be encoded and for reasons outlined in the article, it’s an imperfect medium so you needed to add error correction, framing etc to ensure it was reasonably robust. Plus compute power and resources (RAM) available were limited so compression was hard if even possible",
"parent_id": "8138536",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138566",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T17:33:44",
"content": "The problem was the datasette as a medium.Using a VHS tape would have solved the issue.Either by using the hi-fi stereo head (cheap solution) or by using the video head (elegant solution, gigabytes of storage).Considering that the VHS was synonymous for the 80s,it’s a shame it didn’t make it as a computer medium on a wider scaler.The higher price would have dropped, eventually, too.",
"parent_id": "8138552",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138590",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T18:50:00",
"content": "S-VHS would have really improved it. Although the higher ends cost almost as much as the computer.",
"parent_id": "8138566",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138626",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T21:03:56",
"content": "Hi, black/white (monochrome) resolution of ordinary VHS was good enough, I think.",
"parent_id": "8138590",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138629",
"author": "CJay",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T21:07:46",
"content": "You need to bear in mind Kansas City standard predated VHS by a couple of years and VHS recorders were rare in homes as well as incredibly expensive compared to cassettes, the hardware required to generate a video signal would have also added significant cost but the hardware to demodulate it would have been even more expensive, and, frankly, the capacity was overkill.So, the logical step from cassette tape was floppy disk drives.",
"parent_id": "8138566",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138644",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T23:11:01",
"content": "VHS streamer tape storage did exist, however. For backup purposes.Example (using video head):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUS0Zv2APjUUsing VHS as an audio medium was still more mass market compatible than using 8-track or reel tapes.The production of VHS and recorders cassettes was on the rise in the 80s.It was a medium that was common in western society, in short, next to audio cassette.But without the issues of unstable tape transport.Quality of the VHS tape was CD-quality, too.",
"parent_id": "8138629",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138751",
"author": "fhunter",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T14:35:37",
"content": "VHS as backup was 1990s, I think. And in the 1980s, you’d be wasting bandwidth on a VHS tape.But there were definitely backup solutions:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ArVid",
"parent_id": "8138629",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138794",
"author": "Rock Erickson",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T18:57:10",
"content": "Talking things about VHS when back then most children could not afford even a gravel bicycle is pure copium. Fact is programmers were too stupid to come up with proper data encoding so they bodged something that didn’t even work 85% of the time.",
"parent_id": "8138566",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138841",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T22:16:51",
"content": "But children using or owning home computers was most normal thing on other hand, right? 🤨My point was that music cassette (aka mc, compact cassette) was very low-tech and unreliable. Period.And the only other blank medium available in an average small town next to some Agfa or Kodak films, Polaroid packs, music cassettes etc was the VHS cassette.Or Video 2000, Betamax if you will. Or VHS-C. It’s same basic tech.I don’t think a super market had reel tape on sale, which was proper audio medium in terms of reliability.The music cassette was barely even good enough to hold still images of 128×128 pixels monochrome (SSTV).Storing data on music cassette was same as trying to get data over shortwave radio! That’s how bad it was! Chrrrrķ! Tssss! Woooo!",
"parent_id": "8138794",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138844",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T22:27:57",
"content": "Another technology was the Quick Disk (QD).It was a hybrid of a diskette, a record and a music cassette.The Sharp QD drive used one long spiral track to record data.Unfortunately, it didn’t catch on as a generic floppy alternative.VHS was more mass-market compatible, in theory, still, I think.QDs weren’t cheap, I think, even if the drive was.https://oldmachinery.blogspot.com/2014/06/sharp-mz-800-quickdisk-and-monitor.html?m=1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_floppy_disk#Quick",
"parent_id": "8138794",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138565",
"author": "D",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T17:30:15",
"content": "I don’t understand the connection between a physical storage scheme and a “raw binary” “.tar.gz” file.Are you asking why they didn’t just represent a 1 on the tape as a magnetized section, and a 0 as a non-magnetized section? (Instead of 4x 1.2khz and 8x 2.4khz)Because the hardware on the market was designed for storing sound waves.And the naive way of storing binary on magnetic medium has trouble differentiating 100 zeros from 101 zeros. They both look like a non-magnetized chunk; the second is just 1% longer. Consumer tape deck motor speeds might not be consistent enough to tell the difference.Representing a 0 as 4 slow waves gives you a more reliable way to count a long sequence of 0s even if the tape speed is unreliable.",
"parent_id": "8138536",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138584",
"author": "rob lazzara",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T18:32:30",
"content": "I suppose Manchester encoding could have been used in the manner",
"parent_id": "8138565",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138706",
"author": "Rob Ward",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T09:26:27",
"content": "True, the Sym-1 had a one pulse per bit high speed tape data transfer. However it was late on the scene and people had moved onto the next great hope, floppy disks, so it went largely un acknowledged. It had great resistance tk wow and flutter.",
"parent_id": "8138584",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138671",
"author": "Garth Wilson",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T02:18:46",
"content": "The instant of the change in frequency did not have to be synchronized with the change of logic state though; so you couldn’t just count off the number of cycles. Also, the frequency was not crystal-controlled like the associated UART was.",
"parent_id": "8138565",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138599",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T19:34:14",
"content": "Listen to yourself…The incompetent move is writing ‘raw binary’ to physical media in any form.Thank dog the file system and drives are saving you from yourself.Live closer to the metal, it will save you embarrassment.Abstraction layers are great, until you forget they’re there.",
"parent_id": "8138536",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139049",
"author": "Clyder",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T16:25:51",
"content": "Lol. That comment is incompetent on so many levels :)",
"parent_id": "8138536",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138538",
"author": "Kelly",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T16:21:43",
"content": "The many hours of my life wasted typing “LOAD” only to see “ERROR” a 1/2 hour later lol.Most of the problem was the playback signal levels and the comparator circuit to square them up.TRS-80, ZX-81, TI-99A some were very finicky. A VU meter helps.I may have copied Altair BASIC, the first Microsoft product. This was the beginning of software piracy. Bill Gates complained about it and hence his drive to monopoly.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138544",
"author": "Miles Archer",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T16:41:40",
"content": "I hear you brother. At least you were getting an error at the end. With my Altair, it would hang if a save didn’t complete. The good news was, with only 4k of memory, it didn’t take long to type in the program again.One of the last things I did before I moved on to a PDP-11 with floppy disks was write my own cassette interface, but I don’t remember at all how I did it.",
"parent_id": "8138538",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138546",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T16:47:33",
"content": "Commercial software had multiple copies to help ensure a good read. BYTE magazine came out with an improved standard. CUTS format (UK).Future improvements like the Exatron Stringy Floppy or Tandberg digital cassette drives.",
"parent_id": "8138538",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138569",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T17:42:36",
"content": "“I may have copied Altair BASIC, the first Microsoft product. This was the beginning of software piracy. Bill Gates complained about it and hence his drive to monopoly.”Small correction here: Software piracy didn’t exist until shortly after, because there had been no market yet when computer hobbyists built their first computers.Previously, students and profs on university were used to exchange information unrestricted, which also included source code and formulas.If you don’t believe me, have a look at the copyright situation in the US of early 70s.There was a change just shortly before B.G. sold his Basic..",
"parent_id": "8138538",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138595",
"author": "Kelly",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T19:09:05",
"content": "“The Computer Software Copyright Act of 1980” protected apps I believe.“In 1976, Gates wrote an open letter to hobbyists in which he stated that less than 10 percent of Altair owners ever paid for their copy of BASIC. Gates complained that his royalties on Altair BASIC made the time they spent developing it worth less than $2 an hour. In this letter, he said that he “…would appreciate letters from anyone who wants to pay up… Nothing would please me more than being able to hire ten programmers and deluge the hobby market with good software.”",
"parent_id": "8138569",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138610",
"author": "I Alone Possess The Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T20:06:29",
"content": "“Small correction here: Software piracy didn’t exist until shortly after”Small correction here: Software piracy began the first time someone pirated software. It’s conceivable that instance described above was actually the first.",
"parent_id": "8138569",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138627",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T21:07:05",
"content": "In the beginning of the DIY computer scene there was no market for computers, though!Software wasn’t available on sale yet, in short! That’s the point!Microsoft basically took advantage of the copyright change and accused ordinary users of piracy who hadn’t noticed the change of law yet.",
"parent_id": "8138610",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138692",
"author": "Kelly",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T06:31:50",
"content": "The software was way overpriced, greater than the H/W! 9/1975:Altair Extended BASIC $750, Altair 8K BASIC $500, Altair 4K BASIC $350A complete assembled Altair 8800 $621 or $439 kit.If a few hundred people bought MS BASIC I think the programmer’s wage paid for? Microsoft only ported over open BASIC from somewhere else, which is a huge irony.But the greedy pricing fueled piracy IMHO, with the first low cost personal computers.https://archive.org/details/radioelectronics46unse_6/mode/2up",
"parent_id": "8138610",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138657",
"author": "JRD",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T01:14:18",
"content": "Some of the problems were due to the company’s naive firmware coding: what worked in the lab with good test equipment failed in the real world with all kinds of consumer tape machines & tapes. For the TRS-80 Model 1’s ROM, the timing loop after the clock pulse was set too low: it checked for thestartof the data pulse. So any noise coming in would be treated as data. After lots of complaints and various hardware “smoothing” circuit fixes, they finally updated the ROM with more reliable code–right at the end of the Model 1’s life.",
"parent_id": "8138538",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138710",
"author": "Rob Ward",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T09:30:10",
"content": "The Sym-1 did it.",
"parent_id": "8138657",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138674",
"author": "Garth Wilson",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T02:29:52",
"content": "That’s why the receive side of the modem should amplify it to clipping, so it becomes a square wave before any timing detections, regardless of level. I made such a tape modem, and the playback level simply didn’t matter.",
"parent_id": "8138538",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138539",
"author": "SparkyGSX",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T16:23:04",
"content": "300 bits per second, with 11 bits per byte, means about 27 bytes per second, and just under 2.5kB for a 90 minute tape. That seems very inefficient, I’d think the bandwidth would be much larger if a better encoding scheme would be used.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138553",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T16:58:20",
"content": "Even though better encoding was technically possible, in 1975:It would have required more CPU cycles, more RAM, and more precision from hardware.A “standard” had to be simple enough that any microcomputer could implement it with minimal parts and code.The KCS was designed for universality, not optimality.And yes there was better, latter.",
"parent_id": "8138539",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138563",
"author": "Jeff",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T17:29:32",
"content": "I’m coming up with a rather different figure using UNITS(1): 300|11 byte/second * 90 minute = 143.8 kibibyte.",
"parent_id": "8138539",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138573",
"author": "Dt",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T17:58:20",
"content": "x 60 = 145800 bytes per 90 min.",
"parent_id": "8138539",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138589",
"author": "RB",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T18:47:48",
"content": "27 bytes per sec at 60 sec per min is 2.6 kiB per minute. 90 minutes would be 145kiB. Most machines loading from tape would barely be able to handle a 16kiB program.",
"parent_id": "8138539",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138675",
"author": "Garth Wilson",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T02:32:19",
"content": "27 bytes per second, times 60 seconds per minute, times 45 minutes per side of a C-90 cassette, equals almost 80KB, not 2.5KB. (That’s unless you really meant a tape that’s 90 seconds on a side.)",
"parent_id": "8138539",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138555",
"author": "Julian Skidmore",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T17:08:03",
"content": "Although an article on tape storage is interesting, it’s actually quite depressing to see yet another KC tape or CUTS standard article when much better and simpler tape interfaces were actually developed in other countries. The UK’s ZX Spectrum, for example supported 1500 baud (and even faster in custom tape loading routines) using a zero-crossing technique: 0 or 1 is determined by the time between a transition rather than counting a number of oscillations at a given frequency.The ZX Spectrum, for example, just needed a 1-bit audio input and a Schmitt trigger as hardware support – everything else was in software.https://shred.zone/cilla/story/440/spectrum-loading.html",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138558",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T17:18:10",
"content": "A form of software-defined data decoding, sans the Schmitt trigger.",
"parent_id": "8138555",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138560",
"author": "Pablo J R",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T17:21:56",
"content": "It reminded me of the thousands attempts to adjust azimuth position of the cassette player I used when loading games in my brand new ZX Spectrum back in the ’80s. Just a small screwdriver and little turns right or left…",
"parent_id": "8138555",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138601",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T19:44:30",
"content": "Apple 2 was also much better…IIRC 1200 baud on tape.C-64 roughly same.TRS-80 was 300 baud though…(No excuse given the date…Everything about Trash80s was kinda lame…Expensive interface w twisted wire mod and buffered ribbon cable!)Not sure about Pet, but that’s also earlier machine.Check your dates.This was the mid 70s, five years long time.",
"parent_id": "8138555",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138750",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T14:35:23",
"content": "Sharp MZ-80K was from 1978 and had used 1200 Baud, too.The datasette drive was similar to VC-20/C64..",
"parent_id": "8138601",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138848",
"author": "8bitwiz",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T22:45:35",
"content": "TRS-80 Model I was 500 bits/sec, and the Model III was 1500 bits/sec. Only Europeans cared about cassettes after 1980 anyhow.And my EI worked perfectly fine without that crazy buffered cable. It certainly worked a lot better than a ZX-80 RAM dongle that was flaky without any cable at all.",
"parent_id": "8138601",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138953",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T09:06:05",
"content": "“Only Europeans cared about cassettes after 1980 anyhow.”European/German here. That’s sad, but true, I think.I myself had a home computer with a datasette still (Sharp MZ).But CP/M users did have floppies, because it was a requirement.The worst example for datasette was the C64 maybe, the über home computer, sort of.It was very popular and the main medium to many users was datasette.By late 80s, I think, the 5,25″ floppy slowly got more popular (except in E-Germany).In a time, when Atari ST, Amiga and Mac had moved on to 3,5″ floppy already. And PC users, too – especially the laptop owners.Other home computer uses such as Amstrad CPC and PCW had used 3″ floppy, at least.This is all so sad, because the datasette had no real random access.C64 software on datasette also was sold as inferior version to floppy version, sometimes.Storage consuming things like intro animation, music or graphics were missing in some datasette versions.Datasette users also missed out on GEOS and GEOS applications, of course.The C64 portable (C64SX) had no datasette routines and interface anymore.But because the European market was so dependent of the datasette, it probably had no chance over here.What’s also negative is the wasted ROM space on datasette routines in C64 kernal and other home computers with 64KB address space.The positive side was that a tape interface could be used as an audio digitizer or as an RTTY interface.Some of the datasette drives operating at 1200/2400 Hz could be used to detect/generate RTTY signal.If an intelligent RTTY software was used, then either MARK or SPACE were sufficient, but noth both.Other solutions used the motor sense signal etc to operate morse code or RTTY.I know, to many here that’s quite strange and odd, but in the 70s and 80s it was a hibby among nerds/geeks to decode RTTY news on shortwave.",
"parent_id": "8138848",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138712",
"author": "Rob Ward",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T09:31:29",
"content": "Manchester encoding or some variant of it.",
"parent_id": "8138555",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138733",
"author": "pelrun",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T11:55:32",
"content": "Speed didn’t matter at the time since the only alternative was literally re-entering everything in from scratch by hand. So of course the first standard prioritised reliability. The “better and simpler” interfaces came several years later, building off the experience gained from using the older implementations.Didn’t hurt that the UK home computer market was much less wealthy and so everything was done to minimise the BOM cost as much as possible. No hardware is cheaper than “implemented in code”, and once your implementation is software defined you can tweak the performance as far as it’ll go.",
"parent_id": "8138555",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138948",
"author": "Julian Skidmore",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T08:41:50",
"content": "Good reply. I might quibble with “Speed didn’t matter..”. I think the real toleration was about 3 or 4 minutes, or 8kB at 300 baud. And many early computers had that amount. I think the minimum configuration for the first IBM PC was a miserable 16kB (and it had cassette support too).When you get to 48kB home computers, we really did need about 1500 baud just to be able to keep loading times to 4 minutes! Loading a SCREEN$ and a full 40kB of code/data for a game would take nearly 4.5 minutes to do that.Totally agree about everything else you’ve written.Bootstrapping a loader for the earliest computers would be quite a challenge. I think I could squeeze a zero-crossing tape loader into 64b of a 2MHz 8080. Assuming you start with an 8080 computer with a toggle panel for entering code (at a minimum, 8 toggles + load address+ write data + go, so 11 toggles in total).And it would be possible to build a diode-ROM of that size (if, as likely, you didn’t have access to being able to program or erase an EPROM). A 64b diode-ROM would need 9 74LS138 chips to decode each address and about 64 x 4 = 256 diodes. At about 1p or 1c per diode, that’s just £2.56, $2.56 + maybe 20p per chip => £4.36. Then some stripboard; you need a tri-state buffer governed by /OE. That’s going to be about the same price as a minimal EPROM of the time.With a 64b loader you can load a save routine and/or a better loader. At that stage you can probably write an EPROM programmer. However, my sequence would be:Toggle in the Save routine. Now you can start by loading the Save routine.Add a hex keypad or 40 key keyboard, so you can enter numerical data (and/or characters later).Replace the toggling with a small monitor program that uses the keypad/keyboard, perhaps 256/512b long. That would be quite a challenge if you have to toggle it in! I think an equivalent monitor with load addr, write data is all you need, because you can use ‘go’ from the toggles).Then you can code much quicker: write a longer monitor program, one that can help with jumps and labels and outputs to a teletype, starburst display, electric typewriter or super-posh: Don Lancaster’s TV typewriter type hardware!Write an EPROM burner program and then use it to burn your monitor program + Load + Save to an EPROM. That can now replace your 64b loader.Now you’re up to the level of an early 1970s home-brewed computer.",
"parent_id": "8138733",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138955",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T09:16:23",
"content": "Listings were a pain in the 80s, even!There were experiments to get away with them.a) transmitting tape signals via FM radio (VHF broadcast)b) shipping records made of thin plastic foil with computer magazinesc) printing of bar codes in magazines and using a DIY barcode reader at homed) use of a blinking dot on CRT TV to get programs over the aire) use of teletext-like signals hidden in the blanking lines of a TV signalHere in Germany/W-Germany, Channel Videodat did this.But a time when PCs started to become more dominant.",
"parent_id": "8138733",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138557",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T17:16:07",
"content": "Not just home computers, but also RTTY terminals.Such as Tono Theta 7000E.https://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/decoders/7000E.html",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138585",
"author": "Bruce",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T18:38:05",
"content": "I once tried to build a 8 track tape data storage for my TRS-80 model 1. Never got it to work with any reliability. Also tried to build a stereo tape data storage, with each channel going to its own decoder/UART and then loading into different segments of memory at the same time. It kind of worked sometime….but then I got a 77 track floppy drive and I was in Big Storage for sure and gave up of the tapes.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138597",
"author": "SETH",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T19:32:05",
"content": "Basically if you didnt encode frequencies as 1 and 0, and you used either a positive volt for 1 and negative for 0. This rectifier/comparator idea doesnt work well since sustained 1s or 0s would be dc offset silence which would get output as a kneejerk that falls back to silence due to the DAC.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138788",
"author": "David",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T18:37:04",
"content": "Lots of ways to deal with this problem and used for missile telemetry for decades. See their standard for more than you could ever want to know. (RCC 106)You could restrict the data. For example, a 10 bit ADC that has its range reduced to 1000. Eliminating the first 12 and last 12 values.Or randomized NRZ. Run the data through a linear feedback shift register to randomize the output. With the obvious tradeoff with bit error rate. A variation on this is encryption.Plus there are other versions of NRZ than NRZ-L. NRZ-S changes level on a space. (zero) NRZ-M changes on a mark. Handy. I used that once with an SDLC bit stream that used stuff bits. It looked odd and totally confused the range telemetry guys but it worked.And of course group encodings. Take a group of bits, three or four, and translate them to a larger group. Translation carefully chosen to limit runs. With a big enough group you get forward error correction.Lots of things you can do if you have the hardware.",
"parent_id": "8138597",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138951",
"author": "Julian Skidmore",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T08:43:11",
"content": "Computers like the ZX Spectrum used transitions to encode 1 and 0 and the time between the transitions defined whether it was a 1 or 0.",
"parent_id": "8138597",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138603",
"author": "AMS",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T19:53:05",
"content": "So much easier than all this mess is VPW modulations like how J1850 does it. It’s very similar to the addressable LEDs everyone loves. Long time between sign changes is 1, short time is 0. Set the zero frequency to something like 100us between transitions (5kHz output) and the 1 to half that (200us between transitions, 2.5kHz for run of ones). Then you get something like 7.5kbps encoding with a hardware interface that looks like a line driver and schmitt trigger with a 1kHz high pass in front of it. You also run with a ton of margin for tape speed (you slice 0 from 1 at 120us) without fancy math from the software side. You also get something like 3.375MB raw per channel per hour of tape (so 13MB raw in a 60 minute tape.) Do some fun with preambles at half frequency or something and chunked loading so (64kB of RAM means you’d never need a whole tape at once) and you probably end up with “wasting” half the tape to get something better than 90s floppies for total storage. … damn this is how you get into retrocomputing isn’t it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138635",
"author": "Jim",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T21:44:00",
"content": "The Acorn Electron & BBC Micro in the UK used a sismilar system but was 1200Baud.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138676",
"author": "Garth Wilson",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T02:35:05",
"content": "This topic is closely related:https://hackaday.com/2021/10/20/audio-tape-interface-revives-microcassettes-as-storage-medium",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138698",
"author": "Pedro Lucas",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T07:46:40",
"content": "The chip I used the most in Uni was the Op-Amp (Ampop here). It could do so much it’s still amazing today.By the way, the ZX Spectrum (1982) cassete tapes tranferred at 1200bps though there were turbo loaders that got to 4800bps. The chance of bit errors were higher, aiming for higher quality tapes of course.It is great to see people talking still about how things work at the core of digital communication, I spent years studying and working at that core, from DOS device drivers for interfaces, then LAPB/D and later in core optical transmition (SONET/SDH).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138727",
"author": "make piece not war",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T11:22:20",
"content": "You mentioned the podcast. It’s Saturday and it is missing. Any updates on the matter? Thanks.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138743",
"author": "Neil",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T13:06:16",
"content": "My dad was our city’s auditor and was ecstatic when they installed a computer at City Hall in the 1970s. He would occasionally bring home used data cassettes. At the time, he said they were better than consumer versions because of their robustness. I would think the tape stock was better, as well as the transport. I still have one, and it seems heavier than a standard cassette from that era. My high school’s 1976 spring concert was recorded on it and survives to this day.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138754",
"author": "EllisGL",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T14:59:57",
"content": "If you limit you frequency range, well within the spec, to 65 Hz – 10 kHz, how many non-harmonic frequencies could you reliably put on a tape (given care to typical wow and flutter)? Could you make a multiple bandpass filter (is that comb filter) that restore N signals ? If you can get 9 you could have a clock and 8 bits all in parallel. 11 would add on start and stop signals. I’m talking mono setups, since that would have been cheep back then, but stereo was obtainable. Also some reel-to-reel could do 4 tracks.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139307",
"author": "TDT",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T12:39:44",
"content": "Yeah, as soon as I learnt about KC I though about that.I was more conservative, at 4 tracks – to transfert nibbles, and use 3 to have a byte plus recovery data (as tape was really that bad).But it seems that it boiled down to the cost. Simply the cost.Designing analog filtering was expensive (more expensive than nothing at least), and you didn’t had the power to do it in software back then.Autocorrelation (some kind of poor’s man FFT at very defined frequencies) appeared latter (in the 80’s I think).So yeah, hope these info help = )",
"parent_id": "8138754",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138950",
"author": "David Collier",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T08:43:08",
"content": "Oh it was way worse than those diagrams show, well if you wanted to use any old recorder you bought in any old shop.First you found that 50 percent of machines inverted your signal and the rest didn’t.Second the DC voltage superimposed on your signal was much bigger than the signal itself, and could be any function you like of the previous 50 cycles.Third if you tried to write unfiltered square waves to an audio recorder you had no idea what it would do with the higher frequency elements.It took me days and days designing both filters and code.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,516.438666
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/13/this-week-in-security-the-localhost-bypass-reflections-and-x/
|
This Week In Security: The Localhost Bypass, Reflections, And X
|
Jonathan Bennett
|
[
"Hackaday Columns",
"News",
"Security Hacks"
] |
[
"LocalMess",
"lunchbox",
"This Week in Security",
"X"
] |
Facebook and Yandex have been caught performing user-hostile tracking. This sort of makes today just another Friday, but this is a bit special. This time, it’s
Local Mess
. OK, it’s an attack with a dorky name, but very clever. The short explanation is that web sites can open connections to localhost. And on Android, apps can be listening to those ports, allowing web pages to talk to apps.
That may not sound too terrible, but there’s a couple things to be aware of. First, Android (and iOS) apps are sandboxed — intentionally making it difficult for one app to talk to another, except in ways approved by the OS maker. The browser is similarly sandboxed away from the apps. This is a security boundary, but it is especially an important security boundary when the user is in incognito mode.
The tracking Pixel is important to explain here. This is a snippet of code, that puts an invisible image on a website, and as a result allows the tracker to run JavaScript in your browser in the context of that site. Facebook is famous for this, but is not the only advertising service that tracks users in this way. If you’ve searched for an item on one site, and then suddenly been bombarded with ads for that item on other sites, you’ve been tracked by the pixel.
This is most useful when a user is logged in, but on a mobile device, the user is much more likely to be logged in on an app and not the browser. The constant pressure for more and better data led to a novel and completely unethical solution. On Android, applications with permission to access the Internet can listen on localhost (127.0.0.1) on unprivileged ports, those above 1024.
Facebook abused this quirk by opening a WebRTC connection to localhost, to one of the ports the Facebook app was listening on. This triggers an SDP connection to localhost, which starts by sending a STUN packet, a UDP tool for NAT traversal. Packed into that STUN packet is the contents of a Facebook Cookie, which the Facebook app happily forwards up to Facebook. The browser also sends that cookie to Facebook when loading the pixel, and boom Facebook knows what website you’re on. Even if you’re not logged in, or incognito mode is turned on.
Yandex has been doing something similar since 2017, though with a different, simpler mechanism. Rather than call localhost directly, Yandex just sets aside
yandexmetrica.com
for this purpose, with the domain pointing to
127.0.0.1
. This was just used to open an HTTP connection to the native Yandex apps, which passed the data up to Yandex over HTTPS. Meta apps were first seen using this trick in September 2024, though it’s very possible it was in use earlier.
Both companies have ceased since this report was released. What’s interesting is that this is a flagrant violation of GDPR and CCPA, and will likely lead to record-setting fines, at least for Facebook.
What’s your Number?
An experiment in which Google sites still worked with JavaScript disabled led to a fun discovery about
how to sidestep rate limiting and find any Google user’s phone number
. Google has deployed defensive solutions to prevent attackers from abusing endpoints like
accounts.google.com/signing/usernamerecovery
. That particular endpoint still works without JS, but also still detects more than a few attempts, and throws the captcha at anyone trying to brute-force it.
This is intended to work by JS in your browser performing a minor proof-of-work calculation, and then sends in a
bgRequest
token. On the no-JavaScript version of the site, that field instead was set to
js_disabled
. What happens if you simply take the valid token, and stuff it into your request? Profit! This unintended combination bypassed rate-limiting, and means a phone number was trivially discoverable from just a user’s first and last names. It was mitigated in just over a month, and [brutecat] earned a nice $5000 for the effort.
Catching Reflections
There’s a classic Active Directory attack, the reflection attack, where you can trick a server into sending you an authentication, and then deliver that authentication data directly back to the origin server. Back before 2008, this actually worked on AD servers.
The crew at RedTeam Pentesting brought this attack back in the form of doing it with Kerberos
.
It’s not a trivial attack, and just forcing a remote server to open an SMB connection to a location the attack controls is an impressive vulnerability. The trick is a hostname that includes the target name and a base64 encoded
CREDENTIAL_TARGET_INFORMATIONW
all inside the attacker’s valid hostname. This confuses the remote, triggering it to act as if it’s authenticating to itself. Forcing a Kerberos authentication instead of NTLM completes the attacker magic, though there’s one more mystery at play.
When the attack starts, the attacker has a low-privileged computer account. When it finishes, the access is at SYSTEM level on the target. It’s unclear exactly why, though the researchers theorize that a mitigation intended to prevent almost exactly this privilege escalation is the cause.
X And the Juicebox
X has rolled out a new end to end encrypted chat solution, XChat. It’s intended to be a significant upgrade from the previous iteration,
but not everyone is impressed
. Truly end to end encryption is extremely hard to roll out at scale, among other reasons, because users are terrible at managing cryptography keys. The solution generally is for the service provider to store the keys instead. But what is the point of end-to-end encryption when the company holds the keys? While there isn’t a complete solution for this problem, There is a very clever mitigation:
Juicebox
.
Juicebox lets users set a short PIN, uses that in the generation of the actual encryption key, breaks the key into parts to be held at different servers, and then promise to erase the key if the PIN is guessed incorrectly too many times. This is the solution X is using. Sounds great, right? There are two gotchas in that description. The first is the different servers: That’s only useful if those servers aren’t all run by the same company. And second, the promise to delete the key. That’s not cryptographically guaranteed.
There is some indication that X is running a pair of Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) as part of their Juicebox system, which significantly helps with both of those issues, but there just isn’t enough transparency into the system yet. For the time being, the consensus is that Signal is still the safest platform to use.
Bits and Bytes
We’re a bit light on Bits this week, so you’ll have to get by with
the report that Secure Boot attacks are publicly available
. It’s a firmware update tool from DT Research, and is signed by Microsoft’s UEFI keys. This tool contains a vulnerability that allows breaking out of it’s intended use, and running arbitrary code. This one has been patched, but there’s a second, similar problem in a Microsoft-signed IGEL kernel image, that allows running an arbitrary rootfs. This isn’t particularly a problem for us regular users, but the constant stream of compromised, signed UEFI boot images doesn’t bode well for the long term success of Secure Boot as a security measure.
| 26
| 11
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138515",
"author": "Gravis",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T14:56:19",
"content": "The entire concept of WebSockets strikes me as a bad idea. I know it’s useful for some design patterns (especially evil ones) but that doesn’t make it a good idea. Being able to connect to localhost (or any loopback address) only makes it that much worse.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138518",
"author": "Shannon",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T15:04:26",
"content": "So:Facebook can’t be trusted but tidies up when it’s caught actively betraying its users’ privacyGoogle can’t be trusted but seems to be trying to keep its users’ data privateMicrosoft can’t be trusted but seems to be trying to keep its users’ data privateTwitter can’t be trusted but promises it can be trustedAnd last but not least, Microsoft can’t be trusted to be a source of trust",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138531",
"author": "smellsofbikes",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T15:48:00",
"content": "Corporations will sink to the lowest level of criminality that the law allows.Strong and enforced regulation is what keeps us alive.",
"parent_id": "8138518",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138549",
"author": "D",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T16:53:22",
"content": "It’s almost a given that an entity under heavy pressure to grow or to compete will use any allowed tools. Even antisocial ones. And the decision makers are generally shielded from the legal consequences of their decisions. It’s definitely a recipe for a race to the bottom.",
"parent_id": "8138531",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138598",
"author": "Nathan",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T19:32:28",
"content": "What makes us think the government is any different? The problem is people with no moral standards, and both corporations and government are made from the same people.The solution is people who actually have ethical standards.",
"parent_id": "8138531",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138744",
"author": "nospam",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T13:22:07",
"content": "LOLUse AI to fix the problem of ethics…no ethics, no problem!",
"parent_id": "8138598",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139244",
"author": "Ian",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T08:05:43",
"content": "I don’t get a say about who runs Microsoft.I do get some, I minor, say about who is in my government.A corporation has exactly one goal, profit.A government has completely different goals.That is why a government CAN be trustworthy and CAN act in your interest. (Which is not the same as saying any particular one is or does.)Corporations can also be trusted, just like a fire can, but will never act in your interest unless it furthers their own.Fire is actually a VERY good analogy for how a corporation acts, and how we must treat them.Fire must be controlled, or it will consume everything, end to it’s own detriment.",
"parent_id": "8138598",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139911",
"author": "Davicious",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T08:22:04",
"content": "The government acts in ITS interest only. You can benefit for it if you belong to the party in power, or if your vote can be bought (with your own taxes, or the taxes of other people, of course) for voting that same party.As we are clearly are seeing here in Spain right now.",
"parent_id": "8139244",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138547",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T16:51:03",
"content": "“Truly end to end encryption is extremely hard to roll out at scale, among other reasons, because users are terrible at managing cryptography keys.”Ah QKI can’t get here soon enough.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138567",
"author": "rclark",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T17:37:13",
"content": "Still need keys. Still need passwords.So, just write on a sticky note :) . Can’t trust storing in cloud or your computer.",
"parent_id": "8138547",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138591",
"author": "A",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T18:55:32",
"content": "Not sure it will help. The only reason end to end encryption is being rolled out at scale by companies like X and facebook is they’ve already backdoored it by sticking a helpful AI agent at both ends to report back to them. The encryption is only there so they get to hoard the data, your privacy has nothing to do with it.",
"parent_id": "8138547",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139493",
"author": "x0rpunk",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T01:44:17",
"content": "x86 TPM, StrongBox SE and TEE Android, SEP IOS and MacOS. Use post-quantum ciphers and write everything but UI in Rust, and use isolation for attestation sp when they get phished, warez malware, or a zero-click dropper the lifted pass or cookie can’t be used..Yeah the challenge is protecting people without attention spans on computers and the internet.. Even DARPA scientists get primitive malware after being phished..",
"parent_id": "8138547",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138607",
"author": "Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T19:59:37",
"content": "The tracking PixelI am going to have to disagree with you. The very first tracking pixel I heard about was … let me give you a fictious example.A HP CEO sends out an email to all the senior management and HP fellows. And the email invokes how the spirits of Bill Hewlett and David Packard if they were alive today would fully endorse the cheaper quality products and the reinvestment of profits into increasing the share price. Included in this html email is a link to an external website which hosts nothing but a single white pixel with a unique filename.That webservers log file can then track if that email was forwarded and then read by a reporter at the New York times or the guardian newspaper or any non Hewlett Packard recipients.My point is that a tracking pixel does not need Java enabled to work.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139282",
"author": "Johnu",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T10:04:56",
"content": "^ this, a raw tracking pixel alone is just an unobtrusive way to send an HTTP request to a server and in itself contains no javascript or anything else, at most it will pass along any cookies held for that request and can include a query string or code in the URL.I’d hope HaD journos would understand basic internet stuff.",
"parent_id": "8138607",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138648",
"author": "I Alone Possess The Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T23:36:41",
"content": "“invisible image” If it’s invisible that should make it easy to find, just eliminate all the visible stuff. Perhaps “one-pixel sized image of one pixel”?The “link to a webpage” thing strikes me as being an extra step. Perhaps I misunderstand.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138659",
"author": "limroh",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T01:23:04",
"content": "X And the JuiceboxMay I suggest a more appropriate for TwiXXer? TwiXXer!It’s X and Twitter and no more mistaking it for X the windows manager system…I hope fans of Raider won’t feel discriminated against…(I’m actually surprised I still cant find this word “properly used” online )",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138708",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T09:27:18",
"content": "It’s Xitter (pronounced “shitter”). A person who posts has Xitted.",
"parent_id": "8138659",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138908",
"author": "limroh",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T03:08:41",
"content": "Hmm…Xitter is less “pronounceable” in many other languages I think.Someone is twiXXingHe/She/They just twiXXed",
"parent_id": "8138708",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138800",
"author": "Miles",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T19:22:43",
"content": "If there was one person in the world whose business is named after an Ex (aka his string of paramours and business partners). Lol.",
"parent_id": "8138659",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138799",
"author": "Miles",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T19:21:23",
"content": "Jokes on Meta, I actively un-install Facebook app. It sucks anyway on my Fold2 with 500-600DPI screen settings.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138829",
"author": "Miles",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T21:17:10",
"content": "I haven’t left SecureBoot on if I could turn it off in about 8 years. Otherwise I hope MOK manager is available and use the Ventoy Shim",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138896",
"author": "Greg A",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T00:32:42",
"content": "man… in chrome, i accept that there’s no privacy because noscript adblock etc are just too much work for me. but when i get html email, i read it in lynx. so my one bank sends me an email every couple of months telling me i forgot to load their tracking pixels. they force me to go through some confirmation process to re-add my email address. the other bank switched me to paper statements!so periodically i click on the tracking pixels in lynx just to head this off. there’s at least two in each email. of all the organizations, i really would have hoped banks would be most appreciative of me not using a full browser to read email.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138900",
"author": "I Alone Possess The Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T01:20:27",
"content": "But they’re invisiboo! How do you click on them?!",
"parent_id": "8138896",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139186",
"author": "Greg A",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T23:53:58",
"content": "if you press ‘*’ in lynx, it includes links for each of the img tags. i just download the file and then don’t save it.",
"parent_id": "8138900",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139539",
"author": "limroh",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T07:28:04",
"content": "Local MessRecently used Discord again (reluctantly) in a browser and noticed that µMatrix showed some stuff trying to access @ 127.0.0.1Didn’t dug deeper but looks like Discord might try this too (accessing the Desktop / SPhone app).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8140060",
"author": "Googledotcom(real)",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T17:13:08",
"content": "Webrtc is cool and opens the way to applications that aren’t really possible otherwise. This will lead to further restrictions for developers, when the real solution is to designate facebook as a criminal organization and blacklist them from any app store",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,516.275286
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/13/a-remote-controlled-usb-rubber-ducky-clone/
|
A Remote-Controlled USB Rubber Ducky Clone
|
Aaron Beckendorf
|
[
"Science",
"Security Hacks"
] |
[
"atmega16u2",
"hak5",
"keystroke injection",
"penetration testing",
"rubber ducky"
] |
Despite the repeated warnings of system administrators, IT personnel, and anyone moderately aware of operational security, there are still quite a few people who will gladly plug a mysterious flash drive into their computers to see what’s on it. Devices which take advantage of this well-known behavioral vulnerability have a long history, the most famous of which is Hak5’s USB Rubber Ducky. That emulates a USB input device to rapidly execute attacker-defined commands on the target computer.
The main disadvantage of these keystroke injection attacks, from the attacker’s point of view, is that they’re not particularly subtle. It’s usually fairly obvious when something starts typing thousands of words per minute on your computer, and the victim’s next move is probably a call to IT. This is where [Krzysztof Witek]’s open-source
Rubber Ducky clone
has an advantage: it uses a signal detected by a SYN480R1 RF receiver to trigger the deployment of its payload. This does require the penetration tester who uses this to be on the site of the attack, but unlike with an always-on or timer-delayed Rubber Ducky, the attacker can trigger the payload when the victim is distracted or away from the computer.
This project is based around the
ATmega16U2
, and runs a firmware based on microdevt, a C framework for embedded development which [Krzysztof] also wrote. The project includes a custom compiler for a reduced form of Hak5’s payload programming language, so at least some of the available DuckyScript programs should be compatible with this. All of the project’s files are available
on GitHub
.
Perhaps due to the simplicity of the underlying concept, we’ve seen a few
open source implementations
of
malicious input devices
. One was even built into
a USB cable
.
| 17
| 6
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138474",
"author": "hjf",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T11:22:25",
"content": "I wonder if it works reliably for the author. in my experience these syn480 modules are just terrible. for some reason even the crappy LC tuned ones with a comparator will outperform them (and yes, I tuned both the receiver and transmitter with a vna). maybe all of the ones I tested were clones so that’s why they worked so terribly. the syn115 transmitter was not better.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138747",
"author": "Ladislav zenk",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T13:33:42",
"content": "Honestly i had also issues with it ,with the clones especially",
"parent_id": "8138474",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138483",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T12:10:30",
"content": "“Despite the repeated warnings of system administrators, IT personnel, and anyone moderately aware of operational security, there are still quite a few people who will gladly plug a mysterious flash drive into their computers to see what’s on it.”Trick is to find an enemy and try it on their computers, preferably the one’s that control centrifuges.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138493",
"author": "Garth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T13:11:40",
"content": "About 15 years ago at the corporate office of a large insurance company in Illinois an employee brought in a flash drive that had a fun game on it. The employee played the game during breaks and lunch time. Other employees saw it and borrowed the flash drive to try the game and copy it. Soon IT was getting calls of crashing computers that started escalating. A pattern emerged and IT found they were a few steps behind as the calls spread across a department and worked its way to other sections of the building and seemed to spread through the network. iT shut down the entire network overnight, removed suspicious files from network servers, reloaded a multitude of desktops and back tracked the spread to one office. The next day top office meetings were held halting all work to instruct on new security procedures. It was found that the “fun” game has come from a local high school which weeks before had gone through a similar event. So whenever I buy a new external drive I always format it and virus scan it on an old junk laptop just to be sure. This all brings to mind that age old warning from mom…”don’t put that in your mouth…you don’t know where it’s been”. Same goes for USB devices.",
"parent_id": "8138483",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139582",
"author": "Alex S",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T11:24:15",
"content": "Similar thing happened to me. Years ago someone called the IT desk and said a printer was printing lots of blank pages. I went to the que and stopped it. Then I went to the printer and indeed there were hundreds of pages not completely blank, but they had random characters on the page, not many, maybe 2 or 3. I chucked the paper and printing resumed.Exactly 24 hours later the same thing started happening! I again stopped the que and went to the user and asked her what she was trying to print. She said nothing, I’m at lunch. Exactly 24 hours later again the same thing happened. This time I went to the user and asked her why she was printing. She said I’m at lunch, I’m not printing. I said you must be doing something, she said: all I did was to bring this floppy from home because it has a game and it does not work at home, so I tried it here. The “game” was a virus that worked only in networks and it would do precisely that, it would start printing junk on the network printers! Yikes! Our boss was not happy and flipped were forbidden after that(USB was either too early, or too expensive back then)",
"parent_id": "8138493",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139715",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T18:13:01",
"content": "Back then, it was the big cheeses with kids thatalwayshad infected machines.Eventually, we convinced them to upgrade their machines and let the kids have the old ones.Imaged the drives and taught them how to restore.The kids weren’t happy, every restore wiped out their pirated games.We told them to come get pirated games from us, but useless talk.",
"parent_id": "8139582",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138497",
"author": "ono",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T13:29:05",
"content": "Well, if it doesnothingwhen plugged, it´s unlikely it would be left hooked on the computer, no?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138510",
"author": "quiet_fox",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T14:28:51",
"content": "You’re very optimistic of the general userbase",
"parent_id": "8138497",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138521",
"author": "Tilo",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T15:14:16",
"content": "Just but IT in a nice enclosure wirh a Screen that shows “Hi Dave” when plugged in.",
"parent_id": "8138497",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138588",
"author": "Ewald",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T18:43:54",
"content": "Probably the hacker would plug it in him(/her)self while the user was AFK and the system was locked. After that it’s just waiting for or creating the right moment.",
"parent_id": "8138497",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138625",
"author": "Jabberwock",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T21:02:20",
"content": "My thoughts exactly – in the scenario where the unwitting user just puts the drive in to check what is on it, he will as likely take it out if there is nothing interesting there.",
"parent_id": "8138497",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138773",
"author": "Rand",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T16:56:55",
"content": "Conceal it in a hub.",
"parent_id": "8138497",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138596",
"author": "Jim J Jewett",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T19:30:35",
"content": "It seems a very narrow increase to the threat model if you have to be close enough to tell when they’re away/distracted but can’t just stick it in yourself.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138615",
"author": "Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T20:20:22",
"content": "Do you though, there are radar that can detect the presence of large bags of water moving past. It has even reached the stage where you could add a low resolution camera check remotely",
"parent_id": "8138596",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138623",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T20:50:17",
"content": "The attack isn’t visible unless the rubber ducky was incompetently configured.It’s all a non-problem (for the rubber ducky user anyhow).Perhaps a flicker, similar to some window installers that take a fraction of a second to hide their command windows.If the malicious code immediately does something to raise attention, it wasn’t that bad.",
"parent_id": "8138596",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138753",
"author": "nategoose",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T14:53:54",
"content": "A very easy way to get it to stay plugged in longer is to making it present as a storage device with very slow access times, but with file names that are intriguing. If the physical device’s exterior looks like it’s had a rough life most people would assume that could be why it’s so slow. At some point after being plugged in an pretending to be just barely fast enough that the OS doesn’t consider it an IO error, simulate unplug+replug, but this time as a human interface device and start doing bad things with your mad keyboard skills.Device could also include some sensors to attempt to detect if human has left the computer.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138921",
"author": "Ryan",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T06:06:02",
"content": "This is a cool concept in theory but has zero practicality. Ignoring the fact that it’s bulky, nobody is going to leave the USB plugged in once they see nothing is on it. Even so, having to be within BT range whilst the computer still being logged in and the person not paying attention or at their station (which requires visual LOS,) just doesn’t seem like a solid plan.Somebody above said plug it in, and then you can remotely run it at the right opportunity. I feel like it’s hobbyists in these comments, because anybody with sense would absolutely just execute the powershell then and there and remove the device.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,516.138364
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/13/the-gba-console-you-never-knew-you-wanted/
|
The GBA Console You Never Knew You Wanted
|
Tyler August
|
[
"Nintendo DS Hacks",
"Nintendo Game Boy Hacks"
] |
[
"CRT TV",
"game console",
"GBA hack",
"nintendo DS lite"
] |
Do you like Nintendo games? How about handhelds? Do you prefer the now-venerable Game Boy Advance (GBA) to more modern platforms, but wish your aging eyes could enjoy its content on a large CRT instead of a dinky LCD? If you answered yes to all those questions, you are exactly the type of person
[GouldFish on Games] made this custom console for
, and you should probably be friends.
The external appearance of this hack is slick: a 3D printed console with the contours of the GBA in that iconic purple, but with a cartridge bay door like an NES and a SNES controller port. It’s the GBA console Nintendo never made, sitting next to a period-appropriate CRT. Playing GBA game on a CRT with an SNES controller is already hacky; what makes it really hacky is the guts are yet another Nintendo system — the DS Lite.
Why a DS Lite? Two reasons: one, it is cheaper to get a busted DS Lite than an old GBA mainboard. Two,
as we covered before,
the DS Lite can do composite-out with a relatively cheap add-on board. [GouldFish] really is hacking on the shoulders of giants, and they acknowledge it in the video. Aside from the composite-out board, he also makes use of community knowledge on how to make the
DS Lite boot without screens or batteries.
Should you be interested in putting your own version of this console together,
[GouldFish] was kind enough to share
the STLs for the 3D printed enclosure, as well as the Gerber files for the custom PCB that interfaces with the SNES controller port.
We featured a
CRT mod for an original Game Boy before
, but this seems a lot more practical, if a lot less portable. [GouldFish] has no shortage of old titles and newer homebrew to chose from for this console, but they could always use more. We once featured a primer on
how to get into the GBA homebrew scene, if you want to make a game.
Thanks to [Kris] for the tip.
| 9
| 3
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138448",
"author": "NFM",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T08:10:50",
"content": "What could be cool for a future revision would be to use pogo pins to make the interconnects between the boards, so they line up and make contact as the case is closed.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138506",
"author": "lambert4congress",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T14:02:38",
"content": "This is what I call poetry.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138512",
"author": "Gravis",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T14:45:45",
"content": "Very coolBUTtheGBA Consolizeris old hat. There are hacks to make every non-portable console portable and ever portable console non-portable so at this point I want to see console rebuilds that use the original ICs but have newly engineered PCBs that have superior options like HDMI output.Yes, I know that I’m spoiled and it is sad.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138550",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T16:54:35",
"content": "I’m not sure if HDMI is being recommended, even.The GBA was a portable SNES and most games had used pixel art.I mean, sure, that pixel art was meant for an LCD screen unlike real SNES pixel art (which used dithering etc).But anyhow, such low-res graphics look better on a blurry screen.Having ass-big pixels on a 48″ 4K HDMI monitor isn’t pretty, at all.The GBA had a tiny screen, by comparison, which made everything look more detailed despite the low resolution.A 14″ CRT TV with composite input is the better option, I think.If you can’t get it, you’re better off with an emulator that offers filters.",
"parent_id": "8138512",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138602",
"author": "a_do_z",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T19:52:44",
"content": "Hmm, well, maybe the solution is a retro gaming blurrifier overlay for the big LCD. Maybe there’s a suitable diffusion layer available to be stripped out of some dead LCD TV’s, or some sort of lighting diffuser from photography/cinematography.:-)",
"parent_id": "8138550",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138631",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T21:26:37",
"content": "In principle, the idea isn’t wrong as a solution.But in practice, it needs a bit more than this.Simulating a CRT screen mask (shadow mask, aperture grille) would be good.It makes the picture more organic, more natural looking.In the future, CRT simulator boxes might be hopefully available.Converters/scalers which simulate a CRT, the beam and the glow of an old TV set.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_maskhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aperture_grille",
"parent_id": "8138602",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138776",
"author": "Miles",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T17:25:05",
"content": "Except I had a 13″ Sony Trinitron and then an Apple II monitor for a TV. Yes I was spoiled, yes most other TVs looked like hot garbage in comparison.",
"parent_id": "8138631",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138786",
"author": "Gardoni",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T18:23:30",
"content": "You wanted to be pr0 but actually appeared like total n00b. In 2009 I had Dell P1130 21″ Trinitron which is one of the best monitors ever made, period. I guess your parents were too poor to afford one XD",
"parent_id": "8138631",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138690",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T06:14:16",
"content": "I had some designs for one that I was working on but never got to prototype.My main issues were figuring out a good way to have USB-C with video (USB is complicated, video is complicated and the FPGA I wanted to use to keep price down would not be able to handle displayport output) and just being broke so buying prototypes fell off.Furthest I got was video capture to VGA with actual hardware but the designs for more were sketched up.",
"parent_id": "8138512",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,516.328538
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/12/build-a-400-mhz-logic-analyzer-for-35/
|
Build A 400 MHz Logic Analyzer For $35
|
John Elliot V
|
[
"Raspberry Pi",
"Toy Hacks"
] |
[
"logic analyzer",
"raspberry pi pico 2",
"TXU0104"
] |
What do you do when you’re a starving student and you need a 400 MHz logic analyzer for your digital circuit investigations?
As [nanofix] shows in a recent video
, you find one that’s available as an open hardware project and build it yourself.
The project, aptly named
LogicAnalyzer
was developed by [Dr. Gusman] a few years back, and has
actually graced these pages in the past
. In the video below, [nanofix] concentrates on the mechanics of actually putting the board together with a focus on soldering. The back of the build is the
Raspberry Pi Pico 2
and the
TXU0104
level shifters.
If you’d like to follow along at home, all the build instructions and design files are available on GitHub. For your convenience the Gerber files have
been shared at PCBWay
Of course we have heaps of material here at Hackaday covering logic analyzers. If you’re interested in budget options check out
$13 Scope And Logic Analyzer Hits 18 Msps
or how to
build one using a ZX Spectrum
! If you’re just getting started with logic analyzers (or if you’re not sure why you should) check out
Logic Analyzers: Tapping Into Raspberry Pi Secrets
.
| 15
| 3
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138438",
"author": "shinsukke",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T06:36:02",
"content": "Thank you! Love the project.I guess now we can finally lay the good old Chinese Cypress CY7 based 24MHz (12MHz on a good day) logic analyser a good bye. It sure served me well",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138449",
"author": "Edgar Vice",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T08:41:57",
"content": "No, because the only usable UI is Saleae Logic. Nobody wants to use devices with bad UI.",
"parent_id": "8138438",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138453",
"author": "thestoneburner",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T08:51:54",
"content": "How much is an 24 channel logic analyser from saleae again?Is it much more than 45$?",
"parent_id": "8138449",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138454",
"author": "shinsukke",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T09:06:14",
"content": "You can also use pulseview (libsigrok based). It supports a lot of logic analysers from many different manufacturers. Also includes protocol decoders, and you can write your own.It should be easy to adapt this project to work with it",
"parent_id": "8138449",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138460",
"author": "Edgar Vice",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T09:54:12",
"content": "“It should be easy to adapt this project to work with it” – Well, the original words of the author:“Witgh Sigrok I could not implement all the special trigger capabilities that the device has, also getting any change to Sigrok in order to get the driver into it can take literally years (I know because of the project pico-analyzer).”and“Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you but this software will never be a replacement for Sigrok”Nowadays any logic anaylzer with limited sample buffer that requires complex triggering and without direct streaming is mostly useless. Furthermore Pulseview is not anywhere near the UX of Saleae.",
"parent_id": "8138454",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138468",
"author": "jpa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T11:07:54",
"content": "I agree on the PulseView limitations.A partial workaround would be to capture to a binary file, which can then be used reasonably easily in PulseView by pressing the reload button after a new capture.",
"parent_id": "8138460",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138634",
"author": "Erik Johnson",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T21:32:33",
"content": "Pulseview absolutely never worked for me.",
"parent_id": "8138454",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138492",
"author": "had37b8e5c7066e",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T13:09:12",
"content": "well, the CY7 can do that speed all day because it has highspeed USB, pico is only fullspeed so you’l be limited by memory",
"parent_id": "8138438",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138587",
"author": "fanoush",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T18:43:16",
"content": "Pico2 can stream data over hdmi->usb3 at 175MB/shttps://github.com/steve-m/hsdaoh-rp2350",
"parent_id": "8138492",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138642",
"author": "rasz_pl",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T23:03:44",
"content": "Seems a perfect project would combine Macro Silicon MS2130 with couple rp2350 chips on same PCB. Streaming and 24-120 channels all in one.",
"parent_id": "8138587",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138447",
"author": "RetepV",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T08:08:45",
"content": "I made 5 of these. I had PCBWay create the PCBs and populate them with everything except the PI Pico 2. I wanted to source the PI Pico 2 from a reputable source (TMEU.eu). In total, it cost me 90 euro for 5 boards, which is €18 a piece. €18 euro is $21, by far not $35.I kept 2 and resold 3. The trigger of the boards can be daisy chained, so I essentially have a 48 channel logic analyzer for €36.I use the 200MHz firmware. The 400MHz firmware has some aliasing problems, and I don’t need 400MHz for now. But a firmware update is a matter of seconds, so it doesn’t really matter. ;)Don’t use a PI Pico 2 W, it doesn’t work. Just use the normal PI PICO 2.The software is coming nicely together as well. Mind you, you can’t compare it to a professional multi-thousand dollar logic analyzer, although the sampling performance is great. I haven’t been going all out on the software, but I didn’t find anything about glitch detection. I’m not sure if it’s even feasible to do glitch detection in software, but the board does not have hardware glitch detection.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138465",
"author": "RetepV",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T10:29:09",
"content": "Also of course there is no streaming capability.And in my price, I forgot to include shipping costs for the PICO 2’s, which was another €9. That brings the cost per analyzer to a little under €20.But until now I was using an old Nicolet NPC-700 logic analyzer from 1982, which is a ‘luggable’ Z80-based logic analyser with 20MHz sample frequency. It weighs 15kg and makes a deafening noise. But it has 48 channels. And a keyboard and CP/M 2.2 too! ;) Kudos to the guys who made it, because it’s still working fine after 43 years, not even one exploding cap. Although I think the CRT might love a recap.Basically, Dr. Gusman’s logic analyzer is a big improvement. If I ever need a real professional logic analyzer, I’m sure I will be able to justify the cost. But right now it’s a lot easier to justify €40 than €4000…",
"parent_id": "8138447",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139583",
"author": "B.",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T11:26:02",
"content": "“Don’t use a PI Pico 2 W, it doesn’t work. Just use the normal PI PICO 2.”Are you sure? There’s an experimental version of both the software and the firmware (6.5.0 and 6.5.1, respectively) from March 2025 in the github discussion section of the project (https://github.com/gusmanb/logicanalyzer/discussions/176) which has support for the Pico 2 W…",
"parent_id": "8138447",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138459",
"author": "Olaf",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T09:53:50",
"content": "I don’t think you can measuring any trustable in the >100Mhz range with this funny cable-probes. You should check the cable from R&S/Hameg with integrated termination. There is a reason for that…Olaf",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8140557",
"author": "Daniel",
"timestamp": "2025-06-20T08:20:26",
"content": "I was wondering about that, too. With my good old DSLogic Pro without shielded probes I have annoying artefacts way below that frequency… Also there’s a reason Scope probes for >100MHz have low capacitance, are shielded and have grounding close to the tip. Flying leads for 200MHz? Yeah, I don’t think so…",
"parent_id": "8138459",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,516.487792
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/12/simple-open-source-photobioreactor/
|
Simple Open Source Photobioreactor
|
Al Williams
|
[
"Science"
] |
[
"algae",
"bioreactor",
"photobioreactor"
] |
[Bhuvanmakes] says that he has the
simplest open source photobioreactor
. Is it? Since it is the only photobioreactor we are aware of, we’ll assume that it is. According to the post, other designs are either difficult to recreate since they require PC boards, sensors, and significant coding.
This project uses no microcontroller, so it has no coding. It also has no sensors. The device is essentially an acrylic tube with an air pump and some LEDs.
The base is 3D printed and contains very limited electronics. In addition to the normal construction, apparently, the cylinder has to be very clean before you introduce the bioreactant.
Of course, you also need something to bioreact, if that’s even a real word. The biomass of choice in this case was Scenedesmus algae. While photobioreactors are used in commercial settings where you need to grow something that requires light, like algae, this one appears to mostly be for decorative purposes. Sort of an aquarium for algae. Then again, maybe someone has some use for this. If that’s you, let us know what your plans are in the comments.
We’ve seen
a lantern repurposed into a bioreactor
. It doesn’t really have the photo part, but we’ve seen a
homebrew bioreactor for making penicillin
.
| 11
| 4
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138390",
"author": "Thomas Rogers",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T02:15:56",
"content": "That’s really interesting but alas the poopification of the internet has made finding the mineral and vitamin requirements for algae kind of difficult to find. Like I search for “nutritional needs of spiralina.” And I get a bunch of garbage about how spirulina is good for you. Super helpful…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138441",
"author": "ono",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T06:48:54",
"content": "The problem is with your search, not the internet. Use “spirulina sp. culture medium”. First link. Nutritional != nutrient instead of blaming enshittification of anything, learn about your topic.",
"parent_id": "8138390",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138485",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T12:25:20",
"content": "Try the search term : nutritional growth requirements of spiralina(Or spirulina)",
"parent_id": "8138390",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138522",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T15:20:33",
"content": "Today I got one of those search results that had a little link under it that said “Doesn’t include x. Show only results for x?”I only typed x. It was a single-word query. From whence did this result even come from? Is it just one of a quadrillion web pages on file, pulled at random? What relation did it have to the search?",
"parent_id": "8138390",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138527",
"author": "freedomunit",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T15:29:14",
"content": "Search has been garbage for years. The ‘AI’ chatbots have been much better for me lately, but obviously you have to double check their answers. Also, they will only be useful for a little while longer, as I suspect they soon will all be pushing ads just like search",
"parent_id": "8138390",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138571",
"author": "Zee",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T17:53:44",
"content": "Use perplexity for search. It was built to solve that",
"parent_id": "8138390",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138604",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T19:55:44",
"content": "Fish shit.This aquarium project is missing the point.Doubt the light is bright enough to keep coral alive.",
"parent_id": "8138390",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138687",
"author": "Shrimpy",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T05:15:40",
"content": "Brother in law is a marine biologist. He grew algae to feed to copepods, and fed the copepods to seahorses. Only thing I ever saw him feed the algae cultures was tiny slivers of ordinary supermarket multivitamins.",
"parent_id": "8138390",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138396",
"author": "Shrimpy",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T02:29:04",
"content": "Add Brine Shrimp for endless entertainment.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138503",
"author": "todd",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T13:55:28",
"content": "A air diffuser for the fish hobbyist would drastically improve yield with the millions more tiny spheres of light providing the maximum lighting area for the biomass and extremely decreased absorption of light by the water instead.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138541",
"author": "Martin",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T16:38:58",
"content": "Cody over at Cody’s lab did a bit on this a few years ago too, fun stuff.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64cEmjtwRgwhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEd5fXERMBc(For those above looking at nutritional requirements)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,516.589025
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/12/cots-components-combine-to-diy-solar-power-station/
|
COTS Components Combine To DIY Solar Power Station
|
Tyler August
|
[
"Battery Hacks",
"Solar Hacks"
] |
[
"solar battery",
"solar inverter"
] |
They’re marketed as “Solar Generators” or “Solar Power Stations” but what they are is a nice box with a battery, charge controller, and inverter inside. [DoItYourselfDad] on Youtube decided that since all of those parts are available separately,
he could put one together himself.
The project is a nice simple job for a weekend afternoon. (He claims 2 hours.) Because it’s all COTS components, it just a matter of wiring everything together, and sticking into a box. [DoItYourselfDad] walks his viewers through this process very clearly, including installing a shunt to monitor the battery. (This is the kind of video you could send to your brother-in-law in good conscience.)
Strictly speaking, he didn’t need the shunt, since his fancy LiFePo pack from TimeUSB has one built in with Bluetooth connectivity. Having a dedicated screen is nice, though, as is the ability to charge from wall power or solar, via the two different charge controllers [DoItYourselfDad] includes. If it were our power station, we’d be sure to put in a DC-DC
converter for USB-PD functionality,
but his use case must be different as he has a 120 V inverter as the only output. That’s the nice thing about doing it yourself, though: you can include all the features you want, and none that you don’t.
We’re not totally sure about his claim that the clear cargo box was chosen because he was inspired by
late-90s Macintosh computers,
but it’s a perfectly usable case, and the build quality is probably as good as the cheapest options on TEMU.
This project is simple, but it does the job. Have you made a more sophisticated battery box, or other more-impressive project? Don’t cast shade on [DoItYourselfDad]: cast light on your work by
letting us know about it
!.
| 19
| 6
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138367",
"author": "TSW",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T23:23:46",
"content": "COTS components.Commercial – Off – The – Shelf",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138368",
"author": "brucedesertrat",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T23:28:08",
"content": "Thank you. I kinda figured it was something like that, but I’ve never seen that one before.",
"parent_id": "8138367",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138377",
"author": "a_do_z",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T00:27:22",
"content": "I always heard it as Common Off The Shelf.",
"parent_id": "8138367",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138443",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T07:43:43",
"content": "That is correct.",
"parent_id": "8138377",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138709",
"author": "Bob",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T09:29:52",
"content": "Nope, it’s always been “commercial off-the-shelf”, as in you can simply wander down to your local store an buy it.",
"parent_id": "8138443",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138895",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T00:27:18",
"content": "Interesting. I stand corrected.",
"parent_id": "8138709",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138394",
"author": "Nuno",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T02:24:55",
"content": "No fuses and/or circuit-breakers ?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138410",
"author": "none ra",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T03:21:53",
"content": "Thank you or writing out the COTS thing. I looked it up before I saw the comment but still useful to see.On the project .. Its a good idea. A downside is with the case however. Those things are great in a closet for light duty. They’re not so great after exposure to the elements and even pretty limited sun exposure. They get brittle and start breaking. Would definitely look for something in a black plastic (ime black is easy tofind and tends to have the most sun resistence) or at least opaque plastic for the job.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138425",
"author": "KDawg",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T04:08:44",
"content": "black plastic absorbs almost all the spectrum, so its just sitting there sucking up UV all day long, if its not pure crap it might be reinforced with a fiberglass, but its actually the worst thing to put outsidebut its sleek looking and its the cheapest option, which is the only reason its popular",
"parent_id": "8138410",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138477",
"author": "GEO",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T11:33:53",
"content": "Black is typically used for UV resistant plastics. They add carbon black to the polymer and the UV is mostly absorbed by the carbon black instead of penetrating into the plastic and destroying the polymer chains.",
"parent_id": "8138425",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138713",
"author": "Bob",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T09:31:58",
"content": "UV breaks down the plastic directly. Black gets hot and breaks down anyway.As an aside, because of the added carbon black acrylic is just a little bit harder to laser cut than other colours. White cuts beautifully for some reason.",
"parent_id": "8138477",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138525",
"author": "wm",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T15:25:49",
"content": "I have the same thoughts about platic deteriorating in the sun, doubt this will last long.I think there are UV resistant spray paints (could go with clear) which may help. I’d still expect the case to have a limited lifespan",
"parent_id": "8138410",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138429",
"author": "ewlie",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T04:41:29",
"content": "I see that several items are wired on permanently like the gauge. There is also no circuitry to disale output if the battery gets too low, or is that in the battery itself?It needs a big off switch I think.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138445",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T07:45:27",
"content": "That would be a function of the Charge Controller.",
"parent_id": "8138429",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138488",
"author": "Gideon",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T12:37:15",
"content": "“fantastic machine… the M5… no off switch !” /Dr. Leonard McCoy",
"parent_id": "8138429",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138500",
"author": "Luca",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T13:38:45",
"content": "Yes, the BMS (Battery Management System) inside the battery has many protections (over and under charge, both per cell and global, over and under current, over and under temperature) but it’s a good idea to use fuses.Fun fact: most of these BMSs with bluetooth connectivity have no protection (the password in the app is just smoke and mirrors) so anybody in the vicinity can change the parameters and possibly destroy the battery.Luckily you can find repositories on github to use an esp32 to monitor the battery, integrate it in home assistant and keep the channel busy (so nobody else can connect).",
"parent_id": "8138429",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138617",
"author": "Joel Leon Spangler",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T20:36:36",
"content": "That battery almost certainly has a BMS which would shut off power before letting the voltage get low enough to damage the cells. If he were using a more modern inverter, it would probably have a screen and logic for a cutoff voltage.",
"parent_id": "8138429",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138502",
"author": "todd",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T13:46:18",
"content": "The lighting is so shitty it looks like its ai-generated. Also, isn’t this how every ‘solar battery charger’ setup is made, minus the overpriced pelican cases?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138722",
"author": "metalman",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T10:27:40",
"content": "I just finnished a wheeled hand cart version of this, 85 watt panel, with two large 12 volt gell cells, a charge controller, and jumper cables built from 1 ga wire and useing welding quick connect couplings. It’s very heavy so there is no chance of it blowing over, and is keeping up with charging duties in a busy barn yard, as a portable12 volt power supply for testing rv/off grid equipment, and boosting tractors etc.It works well enough that I am thinking of building a much lighter version for towing behind a bike, or pushed by hand.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,516.54336
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/12/the-billionth-repository-on-github-is-really-shitty/
|
The Billionth Repository On GitHub Is Really Shitty
|
Jenny List
|
[
"Software Hacks"
] |
[
"funny",
"github",
"poop emoji"
] |
What’s the GitHub repository you have created that you think is of most note? Which one do you think of as your magnum opus, the one that you will be remembered by? Was it the CAD files and schematics of a device for ending world hunger, or perhaps it was software designed to end poverty? Spare a thought for [AasishPokhrel] then, for his latest repository is one that he’ll be remembered by for all the wrong reasons. The poor guy created a repository with a scatalogical name, no doubt to store random things, but had the misfortune
to inadvertently create the billionth repository on GitHub
.
At the time of writing,
the 💩 repository
sadly contains no commits. But he seems to have won an unexpectedly valuable piece of Internet real estate judging by the attention it’s received, and if we were him we’d be scrambling to fill it with whatever wisdom we wanted the world to see. A peek at his other repos suggests he’s busy learning JavaScript, and we wish him luck in that endeavor.
We think everyone will at some time or another have let loose some code into the wild perhaps with a comment they later regret, or a silly name that later comes back to haunt them. We know we have. So enjoy a giggle at his expense, but don’t give him a hard time. After all, this much entertainment should be rewarded.
| 40
| 13
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138286",
"author": "Carl Breen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T20:16:10",
"content": "I feel the energy, like a code comment that was never meant for production.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138293",
"author": "Dave",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T20:41:12",
"content": "Prime for auctioning.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138300",
"author": "Oliver",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T20:59:14",
"content": "Why is the repo image blured? It just says shit, nothing bad or anything? I get that we dont want 5 year olds to say the word shit, because we dobt want them swearing, but to blur it here?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138302",
"author": "Hussien",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T21:04:44",
"content": "In many cultures words related to fecal matter are considered blasphemous and it’s a sin to even think about them.",
"parent_id": "8138300",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138335",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T21:44:46",
"content": "All I said to my wife was, “That piece of halibut was good enough for Jehovah.”",
"parent_id": "8138302",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138369",
"author": "scubaBearLA",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T23:32:48",
"content": "“He’s not the messiah, just a very naughty boy!”",
"parent_id": "8138335",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138415",
"author": "Brian (yes actually Brian)",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T03:48:16",
"content": "Always look on the bright side of life!",
"parent_id": "8138369",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138380",
"author": "LordNothing",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T00:37:32",
"content": "codpieces were once endorsed by the church because they would hide your junk.",
"parent_id": "8138335",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138361",
"author": "A",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T22:51:26",
"content": "That’s why I never poop",
"parent_id": "8138302",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138387",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T01:55:31",
"content": "Ah, a My Little Pony!",
"parent_id": "8138361",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138461",
"author": "PPJ",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T09:55:03",
"content": "How those cultures study medicine? What do they think about nurses? Do they clean after their dogs? What do they do once they commit blasphemy in toilet? Should we remove above article to not insult them? And what about the one about new toilet for nasa?It’s so hard today to not insult someone just by being a human being.",
"parent_id": "8138302",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138409",
"author": "pelrun",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T03:21:00",
"content": "Because it’s funny.",
"parent_id": "8138300",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138450",
"author": "VeyoExxon",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T08:42:49",
"content": "The irony is that the shrinking of the image into the thumbnail is an effective way to remove the blur and make the content again readable on the HAD main page.",
"parent_id": "8138300",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138303",
"author": "rclark",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T21:05:45",
"content": "Wow, never knew that many people put their code/data in the cloud! I use git, but only locally.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138382",
"author": "LordNothing",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T00:40:40",
"content": "only thing i ever posted was a 16-bit joystick library for arduino, and only because an acquaintance wanted my hid descriptor. i generally dont share my code.",
"parent_id": "8138303",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138540",
"author": "rclark",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T16:29:09",
"content": "I just email to acquaintances that may be interested.",
"parent_id": "8138382",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138304",
"author": "BT",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T21:15:23",
"content": "Is that a UK billion or US billion? Really should stick to scientific notation.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138320",
"author": "rclark",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T21:27:11",
"content": "Hey, get with the program! The 10^9 billion has been in use in the UK since the 50s. Officially in ’74. So no different for a ‘long’ time.",
"parent_id": "8138304",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138416",
"author": "Brian",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T03:50:02",
"content": "You learn something new every day… I thought the original comment was a joke about the metric system.Wacky Brits…",
"parent_id": "8138320",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138442",
"author": "jrbloom",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T06:57:49",
"content": "Hmmn. The British are wacky, because in the 15th century they, along with the rest of Europe, used a different definition to that adopted by the USA several centuries later?",
"parent_id": "8138416",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138523",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T15:24:16",
"content": "Yes they should have considered what we (the people who matter) would have thought in advance. Get with it already, c’mon!",
"parent_id": "8138442",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138317",
"author": "Azzy",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T21:23:28",
"content": "Can we say something about how bad it is that so many things are on GitHub for average users of a product, but it is not formatted for people who aren’t programmers?Pretty much if a product or a project leads there, I stop looking at it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138328",
"author": "Nathan",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T21:33:23",
"content": "… github pretty specifically is a code devolopment tool. What’s a good example of a project that’s using github for general customer-facing non-technical information?I feel like the problem here is using github for non-technical info, it’s not it’s purpose. As a coder, I really don’t want to have to format all my git repos for the lay person to understand what’s going on. If it’s a popular project, use a website?For that matter use can use github to host a standard looking website (github pages).I go to github when I want to bypass all the consumer facing fluffy stuff and find the technical info. That’s what it’s for.",
"parent_id": "8138317",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138388",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T01:58:14",
"content": "It can be handy as a data repository till Microsoft develops a free database everyone can dump legacy facts into.",
"parent_id": "8138328",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138343",
"author": "oziboy",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T21:55:50",
"content": "I have no idea what you’re trying to say.",
"parent_id": "8138317",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138437",
"author": "jpa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T06:24:17",
"content": "A lot of open source projects are not products for average consumer, but something that advanced users and programmers can make use of. If you aren’t one, go to app store instead.",
"parent_id": "8138317",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138472",
"author": "IIVQ",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T11:19:13",
"content": "Quite the opposite.I am a HaD reader, Linux user and can program a bit, so not a layperson. But oftentimes I get pointed to solutions on github where I have no idea on how to install and/or use them, and have to refer to other, obscure, fora for that information.",
"parent_id": "8138317",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138505",
"author": "Greg A",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T13:58:20",
"content": "i think a lot of people just do a bad job of the final touches on a project that are necessary before publication. it’s not really unique to github.there’s a lot of examples, but one that recently hit meagainis alsa (the modern kernel sound interface on linux). i remember when it was brand new in the late 90s and they were trying to get people to switch from OSS. by the time i picked it up, all of the API documentation was for a pre-release version, and there was no documentation for the released version. now it has been more than 25 years!! and thankfully the pre-release documentation has mostly disappeared, and the interface has been stable all this time,but the main interface is still undocumented!the only reason i’m able to use it at all is that, of course, there’s source code both to the library and to the example programs that come with it. but golly it’s frustrating that it’sstillundocumented.as an aside, it’s not really a very good API. there’s multiple ways to accomplish most of the core functionality, and the reason to chose one way over the other is exactly what needs documenting. and all of the ways are absurdly over-verbose and there’s a lot of unnecessary setup steps. otoh, it’svery usable even so and once you overcome the difficulty of initial setup, it’s funcitonality is solid.so my point is just, poor publishing is everywhere. i could say the same about systemd. the flame war is even still active there! even though “it’s not documented very well, but it’s so complicated that you need both introductory and in depth documentation of every corner” is one of the most motivating criticisms, and true believers spend all day saying “your criticisms aren’t true”,no one has sat down and documented it! poor publishing skills is an epidemic.in that context, the fact that github shows README.md so prominently that a lot of people actually bother to write something in it actually sets it ahead of the crowd :)",
"parent_id": "8138317",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138524",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T15:24:59",
"content": "Pfft okay wow you’re a “real” programmer",
"parent_id": "8138317",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138612",
"author": "I Alone Possess The Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T20:13:18",
"content": "And you’re a real…",
"parent_id": "8138524",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138331",
"author": "David",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T21:38:29",
"content": "I think he’s gonna put a clone of the whole internet in there.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138391",
"author": "I Alone Possess The Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T02:18:19",
"content": "The important thing is now we all know his name! Stellar job, HaD writer! Is that the time? I’m already behind on mocking him. Bother!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138400",
"author": "256byteram",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T02:51:49",
"content": "To paraphrase former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, “it’s the suppository of all wisdom.”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138411",
"author": "pelrun",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T03:22:59",
"content": "Also, “shit happens”.And “…”.",
"parent_id": "8138400",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138402",
"author": "m1ke",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T02:52:16",
"content": "Devour feculence.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138526",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T15:27:17",
"content": "Ah, the botched “get,” in which an impressively big round number is dedicated to a very disappointing post. Nearly as old as the internet itself.Legend says that post no. 11 on 4chan was simply “dubs check ’em”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138528",
"author": "I Alone Possess The Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T15:35:42",
"content": "It’s kind of a pussy move to blur the image but use the wordin the title.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139272",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T09:21:11",
"content": "They probably didn’t make the screengrab themselves but took.. uhm, never mind ;)",
"parent_id": "8138528",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8141511",
"author": "erffrfez",
"timestamp": "2025-06-23T12:14:16",
"content": "post the writing of this article, this repository does have content, although one / some of the commits take “lots of space”, and others have actual text, but have been edited out",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8142108",
"author": "erffrfez",
"timestamp": "2025-06-25T12:48:04",
"content": "now contains an email address, and a sentence IN ALL CAPITALS.",
"parent_id": "8141511",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,516.662763
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/12/2025-pet-hacks-contest-cat-at-the-door/
|
2025 Pet Hacks Contest: Cat At The Door
|
Matt Varian
|
[
"contests",
"home hacks"
] |
[
"2025 Pet Hacks Contest",
"ble",
"LoRa",
"mmwave"
] |
This Pet Hacks Contest entry from [Andrea] opens the door to a great collaboration of sensors to solve a problem. The
Cat At The Door
project’s name is a bit of a giveaway to its purpose, but this project has something for everyone, from radar to e-ink, LoRa to 3D printing. He wanted a sensor to watch the door his cats frequent and when one of his cats were detected have an alert sent to where he is in the house
There are several ways you can detect a cat, in this project [Andrea] went with mmWave radar, and this is ideal for sensing a cat as it allows the sensor to sit protected inside, it works day or night, and it doesn’t stop working should the cat stand still. In his project log he has a chapter going into what he did to dial in the settings on the LD2410C radar board.
How do you know if you’re detecting your cat, some other cat, a large squirrel, or a small child? It helps if you first give your cats a MAC address, in the form of a BLE tag. Once the radar detects presence of a suspected cat, the ESP32-S3 starts looking over Bluetooth, and if a known tag is found it will identify which cat or cats are outside waiting.
Once the known cat has been identified, it’s time to notify [Andrea] that his cat is waiting for his door opening abilities. To do this he selected an ESP32 board that includes a SX1262 LoRa module for communicating with the portable notification device. This battery powered device has a low power e-paper display showing you which cat, as well as an audio buzzer to help alert you.
To read more details about this project head over to the
GitHub page
to check out all the details. Including a very impressive 80 page step-by-step guide showing you step by step how to make your own. Also, be sure to check out the other entries into the
2025 Pet Hacks Contest
.
| 14
| 7
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138256",
"author": "CityZen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T18:57:41",
"content": "That’s one well-trained cat butler! :-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138257",
"author": "Miles Archer",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T18:59:14",
"content": "Is it safe for the cats to be subjected to radar? I’ve heard to too many cat scans can cause cancer!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138259",
"author": "aaronfish",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T19:02:18",
"content": "It’s far safer to scan the cats than try to use the cats to scan people. Even the chillest kitty will get cranky by the time they’ve been rubbed across even a small human.",
"parent_id": "8138257",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138583",
"author": "Andrea Favero",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T18:31:34",
"content": "The radar module chosen was developed for human detection. The radar power is about 13 dB, which means that at a distance of 10 cm the power density is about 0.16 mW/cm² (already below the public exposure limit) and at a distance of 50 cm about 0.006 mW/cm² (negligible). A 5G mobile phone is 5 to 10 times more powerful and works at a much closer distance. All sources consulted indicate no evidence of health problems.",
"parent_id": "8138257",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138279",
"author": "scott_tx",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T19:51:49",
"content": "my cat beats on the door like a bill collector.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138289",
"author": "Zoot",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T20:24:10",
"content": "Yeah! Mine sits at the door and beats his head against it until I open up. I feel your pain.",
"parent_id": "8138279",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138291",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T20:37:05",
"content": "Still doesn’t beat just not letting your cats outside.",
"parent_id": "8138289",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138305",
"author": "MW",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T21:16:21",
"content": "My last two little guys were abandoned as kittens and, consequently, they were petrified of the outdoors. However, most cats love being outside. I see no problem with that.",
"parent_id": "8138291",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138347",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T22:07:36",
"content": "There are two issues that I can think of immediately:puts them at risk of getting hit by vehicles or otherwise hurtIIRC there are reports that the combination of them having shelter and free food but still hunting for fun has led them to be devastating for many species",
"parent_id": "8138305",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138608",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T20:05:32",
"content": "Anon:When you get to hell, your jailed cats will be there.They will be the size of Tigers and you will not be able to escape by dying.Your tasty tasty liver will regrow, quite painfully.They sit in the window dreaming of freedom all day.But they know if they are denied, their dark lord will help them get you.Better be right in the ‘guess the correct religion’ game.",
"parent_id": "8138305",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138315",
"author": "U.Schmidt",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T21:22:05",
"content": "I bought a battery run wireless doorbell for 5 € and fitted the button between two small cutting boards, separated by a rubber foam band. The contraption is of the size of a sitting cat. The foam is just as dense as necessary to give way with the weight of our cat and have the button sqeezed. Ding-dong, the cat is here!Some of our friends use it now, too.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138353",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T22:29:50",
"content": "In my view it’s a funny thing but not necessarily for me, our cat 🐈 notifies us itself if it wants to go inside “MEOW”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138397",
"author": "Tony M",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T02:31:39",
"content": "Wow ! what a well trained and educated little cat! Mine are more like wild cats barkling (yeah I know, go figure!) and desperate scratching my door or jumping to get the window like no tomorrow, just to show me off they got a prey. It can be a chicken, a bird, a lizzard, usually they run away as hell when I tell them I want the half of it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138432",
"author": "Bob",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T05:24:30",
"content": "I built something similar for my mother. I was limited to battery power so I used PIR instead of radar. PIR turns on the microcontroller, which then scans for BLE tags. If it gets a match it triggers the “doorbell”, which is a light up house-shaped bit of acrylic. Lights up a little cat shape so you know which door the cats are at.Battery status is sent so it’ll blink red if low on power. Also blinks red if it hasn’t heard from the sensor for a while. Battery is LiPo and USB charged.Works well. I added phones so it works as a human detector as well.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,516.714446
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/12/end-of-an-era-noaas-polar-sats-wind-down-operations/
|
End Of An Era: NOAA’s Polar Sats Wind Down Operations
|
Tom Nardi
|
[
"Current Events",
"Featured",
"Space"
] |
[
"noaa",
"RTL-SDR",
"weather satellite"
] |
Since October 1978, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has operated its fleet of Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) — the data from which has been used for a wide array of environmental monitoring applications, from weather forecasting to the detection of forest fires and volcanic eruptions. But technology marches on, and considering that even the youngest member of the fleet has been in orbit for 16 years,
NOAA has decided to retire the remaining operational POES satellites on June 16th
.
NOAA Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite (POES)
Under normal circumstances, the retirement of weather satellites wouldn’t have a great impact on our community. But in this case, the satellites in question utilize the Automatic Picture Transmission (APT), Low-Rate Picture Transmission (LRPT), and High Resolution Picture Transmission (HRPT) protocols, all of which can be received by affordable software defined radios (SDRs) such as the RTL-SDR and easily decoded using free and open source software.
As such, many a radio hobbyist has pointed their DIY antennas at these particular satellites and
pulled down stunning pictures of the Earth
. It’s the kind of thing that’s impressive enough to get new folks interested in experimenting with radio, and losing it would be a big blow to the hobby.
Luckily, it’s not
all
bad news. While one of the NOAA satellites slated for retirement is already down for good, at least two remaining birds should be broadcasting publicly accessible imagery for the foreseeable future.
Not For Operational Use
The story starts in January, when NOAA announced that it would soon stop actively maintaining the three remaining operational POES satellites: NOAA-15, NOAA-18, and NOAA-19. At the time, the agency said there were currently no plans to decommission the spacecraft, and that anything they transmitted back down to Earth should be considered “data of opportunity” rather than a reliable source of information.
However, things appeared to have changed by April when
NOAA sent out an update
with what seemed like conflicting information. The update said that delivery of all data from the satellites would be terminated on June 16th, and that any users should switch over to other sources. Taken at face value, this certainly sounded like the end of amateurs being able to receive images from these particular satellites.
This was enough of a concern for radio hobbyists that Carl Reinemann, who operates the SDR-focused website
USRadioguy.com
, reached out to NOAA’s Office of Satellite and Product Operations for clarification. It was explained that the intent of the notice was to inform the public that NOAA would no longer be using or disseminating any of the data collected by the POES satellites, not that they would stop transmitting data entirely.
Further, the APT, LRPT, and HRPT services were to remain active and operate as before. The only difference now would be that the agency couldn’t guarantee how long the data would be available. Should there be any errors or failures on the spacecraft, NOAA won’t address them. In official government parlance, from June 16th, the feeds from the satellites would be considered unsuitable for “operational use.”
In other words, NOAA-15, NOAA-18, and NOAA-19 are free to beam Earth images down to anyone who cares to listen, but when they stop working, they will very likely stop working for good.
NOAA-18’s Early Retirement
As it turns out, it wouldn’t take long before this new arrangement was put to the test. At the end of May, NOAA-15’s S-band radio suffered some sort of failure, causing its output power to drop from its normal 7 watts down to approximately 0.8 watts. This significantly degraded both the downlinked images and the telemetry coming from the spacecraft. This didn’t just make reception by hobbyists more difficult. Even NOAA’s ground stations were having trouble sifting through the noise to get any useful data. To make matters even worse, the failing radio was also the only one left onboard the spacecraft that could actually receive commands from the ground.
While the transmission power issue seemed intermittent, there was clearly something very wrong with the radio, and there was no backup unit to switch over to. Concerned that they might lose control of the satellite entirely, ground controllers quickly made the decision to decommission NOAA-18 on June 6th.
Due to their limited propulsion systems, the POES satellites are unable to de-orbit themselves. So the decommissioning process instead tries to render the spacecraft as inert as possible. This includes turning off all transmitters, venting any remaining propellant into space, and finally, disconnecting all of the batteries from their chargers so they will eventually go flat.
At first glance, this might seem like a rash decision. After all, it was just a glitchy transmitter. What does it matter if NOAA wasn’t planning on using any more data from the satellite in a week or two anyway? But the decision makes more sense when you consider the fate of earlier NOAA POES satellites.
Curse of the Big Four
When one satellite breaks up in orbit, it’s an anomaly. When a second one goes to pieces, it’s time to start looking for commonality between the events. But when four similar spacecraft all explode in the same way…it’s clear you’ve got a serious problem.
That’s precisely what happened with NOAA-16, NOAA-17, and two of their counterparts from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), DMSP F11, and DMSP F13, between 2015 and 2021. While it’s nearly impossible to come to a definitive conclusion about what happened to the vehicles, collectively referred to as the “Big Four” in the
NOAA-17 Break-up Engineering Investigation’s 2023 report
, the most likely cause is a violent rupture of the craft’s Ni-Cd battery pack due to extreme overcharging.
What’s interesting is that NOAA-16 and 17, as well as DMSP F11, had gone through the decommissioning process before their respective breakups. As mentioned earlier, the final phase of the deactivation process is the disconnection of all batteries from the charging system. The NOAA-17 investigation was unable to fully explain how the batteries on these spacecraft could have become overcharged in this state, but speculated it may be possible that some fault in the electrical system inadvertently allowed the batteries to be charged through what normally would have been a discharge path.
As such, there’s no guarantee that the now decommissioned NOAA-18 is actually safe from a design flaw that destroyed its two immediate predecessors. But considering the risk of
not
disconnecting the charge circuits on a spacecraft design that’s known to be prone to overcharging its batteries, it’s not hard to see why NOAA went ahead with the shutdown process while they still had the chance.
The Future of Satellite Sniffing
GOES-16 Image, Credit:
USRadioguy.com
While there are no immediate plans to decommission NOAA-15 and 19, it’s clear that the writing is on the wall. Especially considering the
issues NOAA-15 has had in the past
. These birds aren’t getting any younger, and eventually they’ll go dark, especially now that they’re no longer being actively managed.
So does that mean the end of DIY satellite imagery? Thankfully, no. While it’s true that NOAA-15 and 19 are the only two satellites still transmitting the analog APT protocol, the digital LRPT and HRPT protocols are currently in use by the
latest Russian weather satellites
. Meteor-M 2-3 was launched in June 2023, and Meteor-M 2-4 went up in February 2024, so both should be around for quite some time. In addition, at least four more satellites in the Meteor-M family are slated for launch by 2042.
So, between Russia’s Meteor fleet and the NOAA GOES satellites in geosynchronous orbit, hobbyists should still have plenty to point their antennas at in the coming years.
| 16
| 9
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138249",
"author": "asheets",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T17:56:36",
"content": "That’s kinda a shame. What “other sources” should we be considering other than Meteor and GOES?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138254",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T18:56:43",
"content": "JPSS series, MetOp series, FY-3 series, Suomi NPP.",
"parent_id": "8138249",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138258",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T19:01:07",
"content": "There used to be Meteosats, but I don’t know if they still operate.https://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Meteosat_WEFAX",
"parent_id": "8138249",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138262",
"author": "asheets",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T19:12:52",
"content": "Metoesats are under the horizon for CONUS operations, so those of us in the western hemisphere would have to use Internet feeds to work with that imagery.",
"parent_id": "8138258",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138250",
"author": "asheets",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T18:18:01",
"content": "Well, I take that back a bit… maybe not such a loss. POES has 1.1km resolution, and GOES has improved since my operational weather days to be roughly equivalent.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138341",
"author": "oziboy",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T21:53:12",
"content": "Yeah, a DOGE rep climbed up there and broke the radio on Donald Trump’s orders. You cracked the case, gumshoe.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138355",
"author": "AZdave",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T22:35:18",
"content": "I stopped capturing images for NOAA-15/18/19 some time ago anyway. The Meteor satellites give better pictures.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138393",
"author": "asheets",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T02:23:23",
"content": "True enough… but I have never really mastered LRPT captures. APT was so forgiving.",
"parent_id": "8138355",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138364",
"author": "DainBramage",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T22:58:44",
"content": "I never understood the logic of shutting down a satellite that’s still perfectly functional. Why not simply leave it alone and let people enjoy it? (yes, I know this isn’t always possible)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138413",
"author": "mre",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T03:37:31",
"content": "yeah same until I read the article. When the alternative is to let people enjoy playing with the unmanaged sat UNTIL it one day kersplodes, this sadly is just not an option.",
"parent_id": "8138364",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138496",
"author": "Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T13:25:41",
"content": "The problem is if it fails screaming, then that band of the RF spectrum can not be used until it is finally dead dead. Where as telling it to kill itself just before that is no longer possible, means that that band of the RF spectrum can be allocated to other satellite(s) without having to wait for a useless satellite to slowly fall back to earth and eventually burn up.NOAA-18 is at an altitude of 854 km and a mass of between 2232 kg (full fuel tanks) and 1479 kg (empty fuel tanks) with an area of approximately 16.76 m² (solar array), so if waiting on an object with area to mass at that altitude to naturally de-orbit you could be talking 50 to 75 years. That is a lot of time to potentially not be able to use a block of RF spectrum.",
"parent_id": "8138364",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138376",
"author": "Carl G Reinemann",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T00:26:58",
"content": "Thanks for the shout out to my site, usradioguy.com. Hope the information helps folks out,Carl",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138412",
"author": "mre",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T03:35:30",
"content": "NOAA has already had to cut many other programs due to DODGE cuts that likely cost considerably more than maintaining the operations of POES. So it is likely that there was a budget consideration during the meetings concerning canceling POES operations (or was even the prompt that started the discussion). There is no doubt that if they had an abundance of funding, the talk wouldn’t even be happening, other than on a case by case, true hardware retirement concern basis. Unfortunately for us, POES is the lowest of the low hanging fruit at NOAA, and It’s data hasn’t been of significant scientific / weather forecasting value for a long time (at least compared to every other project at NOAA).Much more concerning is the cancelation of a lot of programs related to hurricane and tornado research, leaving it up to “only” GEOS data. This work literally saves lives and millions/billions of dollars due to destruction every year. Its “boots on the ground” and planes in the air. Expensive but vital work.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138514",
"author": "Hubble Bubble",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T14:55:07",
"content": "This article is very misleading. The POES satellites are old as hell and most are no longer operational. The last remaining ones are being decommissioned this year. The Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) is NOAA’s more advanced next-generation constellation of polar orbiting satellites which are working fine. There was talk that NOAA-18 was also affected by a geomagnetic storm caused by solar activity, which contributed to its partial radio transmitter failure and thus, early shut down. I also doubt that USRadioGuy produced that GOES-16 image.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139982",
"author": "Richard Ake",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T12:58:46",
"content": "That GOES-16 image is very easy to produce with an SDR, computer, and a small dish. Notice it is GOES, (geostationary orbit) not POES (polar orbit).",
"parent_id": "8138514",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138916",
"author": "Salo",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T05:48:13",
"content": "An alternative would be the MetOp data from EUMETSAT.Without Internet you can have imagery via EUMETCAST which is transmitted via satellite directly (you need to be somewhat lucky to be in coverage when located in America).Otherwise the data is offered via DataStore which has an online API and a python client called eumdac which is available in PyPi.And then there is also EUMETView which visualizes the data in your browser (also has an API)Some links:–https://view.eumetsat.int–https://user.eumetsat.int/data-access/eumetcast-europe–https://data.eumetsat.int–https://pypi.org/project/eumdac/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,516.86269
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/12/learning-the-basics-of-astrophotography-editing/
|
Learning The Basics Of Astrophotography Editing
|
Bryan Cockfield
|
[
"digital cameras hacks",
"Space"
] |
[
"astrophotography",
"editing",
"photoshop",
"siril"
] |
Astrophotography isn’t easy. Even with good equipment, simply snapping a picture of the night sky won’t produce anything particularly impressive. You’ll likely just get a black void with a few pinpricks of light for your troubles. It takes some editing magic to create stunning images of the cosmos, and luckily
[Karl Perera] has a guide to help get you started
.
The guide demonstrates a number of editing techniques specifically geared to bring the extremely dim lights of the stars into view, using Photoshop and additionally a free software tool called Siril specifically designed for astrophotograpy needs. The first step on an image is to “stretch” it, essentially expanding the histogram by increasing the image’s contrast. A second technique called curve adjustment performs a similar procedure for smaller parts of the image. A number of other processes are performed as well, which reduce noise, sharpen details, and make sure the image is polished.
While the guide does show some features of non-free software like Photoshop, it’s not too hard to extrapolate these tasks into free software like Gimp. It’s an excellent primer for bringing out the best of your astrophotography skills once the pictures have been captured, though. And although astrophotography itself might have a reputation as being incredibly expensive just to capture those pictures in the first place, it can be much more accessible by using
this Pi-based setup as a starting point
.
| 13
| 3
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138227",
"author": "Ken C",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T15:43:38",
"content": "What about using wavelet transform to extract obscure features from captured images?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138265",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T19:27:44",
"content": "I’m not sure that’s a current feature in Adobe Photoshop, perhaps in the next version ;)Looks like Gimp has something like that, and there’s a reddit thread full of terrible 404 links including somebody’s dropbox that supposedly had links to methods to do it in Photoshop, but it’s all now lost to forum rot:https://www.reddit.com/r/postprocessing/comments/1q05ou/wavelet_decompose_equivalent_for_photoshop/",
"parent_id": "8138227",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138479",
"author": "Geni",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T11:58:08",
"content": "There’s plenty of astrophotography freeware programs that can be be used for wavelet transforms. Deepskystacker being a good example.",
"parent_id": "8138227",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138229",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T16:06:07",
"content": "Despite the obnoxious and contrived “Most don’t know #6” garbage, the author knows what he’s doing.But it’s just the adding-lipstick final editing part. He doesn’t cover how to get a good image to begin with. No bias frame, dark frame, flat frame collection and correction. No hotpixel or black pixel correction. He mentions image stacking, but the video doesn’t cover it.This video and web page just covers the end of the process, to turn a technically good image into a visually-pleasing (and not technically-correct) one, using the “spaghetti” approach (throw it, see what sticks):If you’re interested in the results from this video, youmustgo through the basics and get good image data first. His website has links and hints to the process, a couple of link levels deep from the linked page.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138231",
"author": "Joseph Eoff",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T16:15:51",
"content": "It is an advertisement for Photoshop, with the site owner getting a cut of the Photoshop sales from Amazon:Buy on AmazonAs an Amazon associate I earn a small commission from your purchase. Thanks for your support!",
"parent_id": "8138229",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138233",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T16:37:18",
"content": "Hmmph. I didn’t even notice. I just assumed it was another of these “this is the hammer I know” dudes.",
"parent_id": "8138231",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138261",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T19:12:15",
"content": "Free software can do a lot of it.",
"parent_id": "8138233",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138352",
"author": "George",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T22:29:05",
"content": "To those who are interested, but unexperienced, I’d recommend a channel on Youtube called “Nebula Photos” that explains a lot from getting images, to stacking, to final editing, both with free software such as GIMP and proprietary Photoshop, and of course specialized software like Siril/DSS.When I was just beginning with astrophotography, everything was clear and understandable until I had stacking result, and his GIMP postprocessing guides helped a lot.",
"parent_id": "8138229",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138482",
"author": "Geni",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T12:02:46",
"content": "The article does specifically say editing not capturing. They are two quite different skills that make sense to document separately in my mind.However I agree, that it’s more of a photoshop ad than anything. There are freeware options that can do everything required.",
"parent_id": "8138229",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138356",
"author": "MmmDee",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T22:37:52",
"content": "How interesting, not only are my cell phone and television listening to me, apparently Hackaday has hidden cameras within my home. I got hooked on the Astrophotography bug a couple of months ago and have been gathering imaging data on different targets since then. In the northern hemisphere, at the upper latitudes, it’s not the best time of the year for the most spectacular deep space objects; however, there are a few to snatch now. It’s a somewhat steep learning curve: Gathering the images is one thing but processing them afterwards is a whole other endeavor. There’s tons of YouTube videos to give the beginner a start. My entry level equipment ran about $8500 USD. There are certainly much cheaper routes to go.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138473",
"author": "Big brother 1984",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T11:19:48",
"content": "This may sound creepy, but we’ve been observing you and we would kindly like to ask you to move the image of grandma 6 inches to the left as it obscures our view. Regarding the listening to your conversation, fear not, we are not actively listening any more since you decided to change your internet radio to another station. Regarding your entry level equipment, we consider to no longer mention the value of it online as this might pose a security risk (although the place you store it now seems like a safe location at this moment).PS: we had a poll here and came to the conclusion that 80% of our staff likes your new curtains simply because they now match with the wallpaper as well as improve the overall lighting of the images.",
"parent_id": "8138356",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138486",
"author": "Geni",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T12:30:53",
"content": "Just for anyone interested but put off by that cost – $8500 may be entry level for a professional setup, but a mobile phone with a manual camera app can get surprisingly impressive results for larger objects like andromeda. You can also make a planetary camera on par with the lower end commercial ones for less than $50 and get an adequate 2nd hand planetary scope for less than $200.Obviously, you won’t be capturing saleable quality images at that price, but it’s still immensely satisfying for an amateur. Even for people who can afford to go all in, it’s a great way to learn post processing that will eek out the best possible images from the data you have captured before spending big to capture that extra bit of data.",
"parent_id": "8138356",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138520",
"author": "hammarbytp",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T15:11:10",
"content": "The new generation of computerised scopes like the S50 will get you great results and are largely automated. You really don’t need to spend 8K on a scope which lets face it you will be lucky to use more than 50 times in a year.Also you really don’t need Photoshop. Affinity we do you as well and will cost you a months subscription",
"parent_id": "8138486",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,516.807203
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/12/crowdsourcing-sigint-ham-radio-at-war/
|
Crowdsourcing SIGINT: Ham Radio At War
|
Al Williams
|
[
"Featured",
"History",
"Radio Hacks",
"Slider"
] |
[
"cryptography",
"ham radio",
"world war II",
"wwii"
] |
I often ask people: What’s the most important thing you need to have a successful fishing trip? I get a lot of different answers about bait, equipment, and boats. Some people tell me beer. But the best answer, in my opinion, is fish. Without fish, you are sure to come home empty-handed.
On a recent visit to Bletchley Park, I thought about this and how it relates to World War II codebreaking. All the computers and smart people in the world won’t help you decode messages if you don’t already have the messages. So while Alan Turing and the codebreakers at Bletchley are well-known, at least in our circles, fewer people know about Arkley View.
The problem was apparent to the British. The Axis powers were sending lots of radio traffic. It would take a literal army of radio operators to record it all. Colonel Adrian Simpson sent a report to the director of MI5 in 1938 explaining that the three listening stations were not enough. The proposal was to build a network of volunteers to handle radio traffic interception.
That was the start of the Radio Security Service (RSS), which started operating out of some unused cells at a prison in London. The volunteers? Experienced ham radio operators who used their own equipment, at first, with the particular goal of intercepting transmissions from enemy agents on home soil.
At the start of the war, ham operators had their transmitters impounded. However, they still had their receivers and, of course, could all read Morse code. Further, they were probably accustomed to pulling out Morse code messages under challenging radio conditions.
Over time, this volunteer army of hams would swell to about 1,500 members. The RSS also supplied some radio gear to help in the task. MI5 checked each potential member, and the local police would visit to ensure the applicant was trustworthy. Keep in mind that radio intercepts were also done by servicemen and women (especially women) although many of them were engaged in reporting on voice communication or military communications.
Early Days
The VIs (voluntary interceptors) were asked to record any station they couldn’t identify and submit a log that included the messages to the RSS.
Arkey View ([Aka2112]
CC-BY-SA-3.0
)
The hams of the RSS noticed that there were German signals that used standard ham radio codes (like Q signals and the prosign 73). However, these transmissions also used five-letter code groups, a practice forbidden to hams.
Thanks to a double agent, the RSS was able to decode the messages that were between agents in Europe and their Abwehr handlers back in Germany (the Abwehr was the German Secret Service) as well as Abwehr offices in foreign cities. Later messages contained Enigma-coded groups, as well.
Between the RSS team’s growth and the fear of bombing, the prison was traded for Arkley View, a large house near Barnet, north of London. Encoded messages went to Bletchley and, from there, to others up to Churchill. Soon, the RSS had orders to concentrate on the Abwehr and their SS rivals, the Sicherheitsdienst.
Change in Management
In 1941, MI6 decided that since the RSS was dealing with foreign radio traffic, they should be in charge, and thus RSS became SCU3 (Special Communications Unit 3).
There was fear that some operators might be taken away for normal military service, so some operators were inducted into the Army — sort of. They were put in uniform as part of the Royal Corps of Signals, but not required to do very much you’d expect from an Army recruit.
Those who worked at Arkley View would process logs from VIs and other radio operators to classify them and correlate them in cases where there were multiple logs. One operator might miss a few characters that could be found in a different log, for example.
Going 24/7
National HRO Receiver ([LuckyLouie]
CC-BY-SA-3.0
)
It soon became clear that the RSS needed full-time monitoring, so they built a number of Y stations with two National HRO receivers from America at each listening position. There were also direction-finding stations built in various locations to attempt to identify where a remote transmitter was.
Many of the direction finding operators came from VIs. The stations typically had four antennas in a directional array. When one of the central stations (the Y stations) picked up a signal, they would call direction finding stations using dedicated phone lines and send them the signal.
Map of the Y-stations (interactive map at the
Bletchley Park website
)
The operator would hear the phone signal in one ear and the radio signal in the other. Then, they would change the antenna pattern electrically until the signal went quiet, indicating the antenna was electrically pointing away from the signals.
The DF operator would hear this signal in one earpiece. They would then tune their radio receiver to the right frequency and match the signal from the main station in one ear to the signal from their receiver in the other ear. This made sure they were measuring the correct signal among the various other noise and interference. The DF operator would then take a bearing by rotating the dial on their radiogoniometer until the signal faded out. That indicated the antenna was pointing the wrong way which means you could deduce which way it should be pointing.
The central station could plot lines from three direction finding stations and tell the source of a transmission. Sort of. It wasn’t incredibly accurate, but it did help differentiate signals from different transmitters. Later, other types of direction-finding gear saw service, but the idea was still the same.
Interesting VIs
Most of the VIs, like most hams at the time, were men. But there were a few women, including Helena Crawley. She was encouraged to marry her husband Leslie, another VI, so they could be relocated to Orkney to copy radio traffic from Norway.
In 1941, a single VI was able to record an important message of 4,429 characters. He was bedridden from a landmine injury during the Great War. He operated from bed using mirrors and special control extensions. For his work, he receive the British Empire Medal and a personal letter of gratitude from Churchill.
Results
Because of the intercepts of the German spy agency’s communications, many potential German agents were known before they arrived in the UK. Of about 120 agents arriving, almost 30 were turned into double agents. Others were arrested and, possibly, executed.
By the end of the war, the RSS had decoded around a quarter of a million intercepts. It was very smart of MI5 to realize that it could leverage a large number of trained radio operators both to cover the country with receivers and to free up military stations for other uses.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic,
the FCC had a similar plan
.
The BBC did a documentary about the work the hams did during the war. You can watch it below.
| 18
| 11
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138205",
"author": "Ali",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T14:20:15",
"content": "But the best answer, in my opinion, is fish. Without fish, you are sure to come home empty-handed.You can always stop at local supermarket and buy a fish, then you come at home satisfied.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138210",
"author": "argoneum",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T14:37:42",
"content": "Ron Swanson has an opinion on buying things :)",
"parent_id": "8138205",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139504",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T03:55:52",
"content": "Ron Swanson sucks",
"parent_id": "8138210",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8140909",
"author": "S O",
"timestamp": "2025-06-21T18:12:44",
"content": "He’s supposed to. He is an archetype of both the best and absolute worst aspects of this sort of person and that’s why people like him as a character. A good reference to him is a bombastic criticism with a degree of separation like the one above.",
"parent_id": "8139504",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139784",
"author": "84Bravo20",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T22:59:06",
"content": "It has been said that a bad day fishing is better than a good a day at the office.",
"parent_id": "8138205",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8140910",
"author": "S O",
"timestamp": "2025-06-21T18:14:01",
"content": "And it can be true because you wanted to go fishing.",
"parent_id": "8139784",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138236",
"author": "CJay",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T17:00:36",
"content": "I’ve never regarded fish as being the best outcome of a fishing trip, I’ve often “gone fishing” with a cool bag of food, a flask of coffee and no bait because, for me, the aim is relaxation and just watching the sea, occasionally casting a few ounces of weight into the sea is pretty much exactly what switches my mind off.Interesting article though, there’s an awful lot of equipment out there which could be put to good use, and the UK licence at least still includes clauses which mean you and your station could be requested to cooperate with duly authorised people.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138572",
"author": "sfsfwerffsd",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T17:57:57",
"content": "We go fishing, well, we call dragging our lines and drinking all day, ‘fishing’, and the aim is not to come home with fish, but just get good people together for extended periods, which in my opinion allows their real personalities to come to the surface.",
"parent_id": "8138236",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138238",
"author": "Senile Data Systems",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T17:08:25",
"content": "Heh – I was visiting Bletchley Park just a week ago! Awesome place. You really need two days – one for BP itself, the other for the Computer History Museum. They have a working Witch, a working Colossus (it reads the punch strips optically!), a working EDSAC, some working ICL Big Iron and of course lots of home computers, some of which are very rare.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138243",
"author": "James",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T17:34:19",
"content": "I can recommend “Listening to the Enemy” by Michael Griffiths which details the work of VIs (later full RSS operators) at the St.Erth RSS site, many of whom also served at Arkley & SCU3.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138375",
"author": "MJ",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T00:14:12",
"content": "My great grandfather was trained by British signals corpsmen before being sent into North Africa, and later Italy and on into Germany. He was a Boy Scout before the war and had two very prized possessions at the time, he could speak fluent German with a Hannover accent and knew Morse Code and how to operate a HAM radio.He trained in Signals Intellegence in Texas before going to England. During deployment he was often sent behind enemy lines to intercept or tap into enemy communications lines (he was also trained as a lineman in Texas). He worked with the OSS (precursor to the CIA) as well as the British.After the war ended in Europe, his younger brother stayed on as a translator for IBM to help with their new “real time translation” service being provided at the Hague. He is in the background of some of the archival footage of it online in YouTube.His official duty station was Supply Sargeant, which allowed him to access needed materials for completing missions without having to always go through intermediaries.We have an archive of old photos of him, 6’4″ green eyed blonde dude in fatigues that looked like he only needed to take two steps up to reach the top of a telephone pole (weighed well under 150lbs throughout the war and after) that could pass as a poster boy for Nazi propaganda posters.He enjoyed his time in service in no small part because he hated how his cousins back in Germany had made things so bad, that he was forced to go fight them. He never went back to Germany or spoke a word of Deutch after his time was over. He did go on to tech future gens about radio communication though, myself included which helped foster in me a definite passion for computers and electronics.A passion that I passed on which has lead to my youngest niece talking to both Santa Claus and the ISS from a tiny little shack just west of Seattle.Funny old world. 😎",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138638",
"author": "Mr Name Required",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T22:28:17",
"content": "Great post.",
"parent_id": "8138375",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138427",
"author": "El Gru",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T04:13:30",
"content": "Gone fishin.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138795",
"author": "IanS",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T19:01:57",
"content": "“they built a number of Y stations with two National HRO receivers from America at each listening position. ”The reason why two sets were supplied.My Dad was in the Royal Signals during the war, following the 8th Army through North Africa, into Sicily and up Italy.From what I remember of what he told me, he had a pair of HROs or sometimes Hallicrafters and split headphones. One set was tuned to a network frequency, while the other was used to tune around as a search receiver while he waited for any net traffic to intercept. If he found an interesting signal on the search receiver, the officer in charge would tune a Bendix frequency meter to heterodyne the signal, in order to record the frequency.He told me that some nets were extremely terse, and you might get a single ‘dit’ meaning ‘do you have traffic’, followed by a responding ‘dit’ meaning ‘no’, and that might be the only traffic for the day on that frequency.All communications he handled were in five figure coded Morse groups. He once told me that he believed somebody was able to make sense of them somewhere, but he could not be sure.Ironically he and I once spent a night in the accommodation at Bletchley Park, the venue for a First Aid competition, some years before its wartime role was disclosed.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139076",
"author": "I Alone Possess The Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T18:02:03",
"content": "“MI5 checked each potential member”And the Cambridge Five give MI5 a HeeHaw “Saaaalooooot!”As Roger Hollis laughs in his grave.Buncha Brit poofs. I mean poobahs.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139301",
"author": "Gord",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T12:02:55",
"content": "Great article! Thanks very much! My grandfather was a trainer of radio operators in the Canadian army during the war. I have some memories of him sitting at his radio station in the basement when I was child and I still have his code key.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8140890",
"author": "Kelli",
"timestamp": "2025-06-21T17:08:44",
"content": "Great article, and lovely personal historical anecdotes from @IanS, @MJ, and @Gord. Thanks, @James for mention of doc to watch.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8141655",
"author": "excognita",
"timestamp": "2025-06-23T19:58:07",
"content": "The sequential paragraphs starting with “The operator” and “The DF operator” appear to be redundant versions of the same paragraph.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,517.175579
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/12/open-source-cad-in-the-browser/
|
Open Source CAD In The Browser
|
Al Williams
|
[
"cnc hacks",
"Software Hacks"
] |
[
"3d modeling",
"cad",
"webassembly"
] |
Some people love tools in their browsers. Others hate them. We certainly do like to see just how far people can push the browser and version 0.6 of
CHILI3D
, a browser-based CAD program, certainly pushes.
If you click the link, you might want to find the top right corner to change the language (although a few messages stubbornly refuse to use English). From there, click New Document and you’ll see an impressive slate of features in the menus and toolbars.
The export button is one of those stubborn features. If you draw something and select export, you’ll see a dialog in Chinese. Translated it has the title: Select and a checkmark for “Determined” and a red X for “Cancelled.” If you select some things in the drawing and click the green checkmark, it will export a brep file. That file format is common with CAD programs, but you’ll need to convert, probably, if you want to 3D print your design.
The project’s
GitHub
repository shows an impressive slate of features, but also notes that things are changing as this is alpha software. The CAD kernel is a common one brought in via
WebAssembly
, so there shouldn’t be many simple bugs involving geometry.
We’ve seen a number of
browser-based tools
that do some kind of CAD.
CADmium
is a recent entry into the list. Or, stick with
OpenSCAD
. We sometimes go
low-tech for schematics
.
| 43
| 8
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138159",
"author": "ramzi",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T11:17:21",
"content": "I wish we could see more AAA games in browser. No more wasting time downloading, no more wasting HDD space. Just open URL and play. This will be the future of gaming.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138162",
"author": "Krzysztof",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T11:21:43",
"content": "No more wasting time downloadingIt’s only good for simple games. Otherwise you need to download at least title screen, first level, music and all sounds required on first level. Which you can do also for desktop games, but then you have to wait for download of next levels anyway, or download them in background just before finish of first level.",
"parent_id": "8138159",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138325",
"author": "Foldi-One",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T21:31:05",
"content": "That is assuming you are really doing the compute on the local hardware – which isn’t a certainty. If it is a stream system then in truth you will only ever get the the pre-rendered data shipped to you, so plenty of the game even for levels you are in may never be sent to you at all.That said I don’t like the idea much, be it streaming or more download in the background – I just can’t see the point to accepting the limitations that system would create. Modding would probably end up entirely dead, and so many games actively need mods to make them actually good, though in some instances even to make them work at all. The Elderscrolls games for instance would have been long long forgotten for the most part had it not been for the modders.",
"parent_id": "8138162",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138385",
"author": "Cody",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T01:31:35",
"content": "Latency is a major issue with streaming. The server needs to be nearby and you need a fast, low latency internet connection.",
"parent_id": "8138325",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138417",
"author": "KDawg",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T03:54:05",
"content": "I cant hit the pause button on a “simple” 4k stream without 3 second of lag on a fiber optic connectionyou want to enter the world where 30ms button lag is considered “on the edge of bad”",
"parent_id": "8138325",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138533",
"author": "Foldi-One",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T15:52:11",
"content": "As I said I don’t like the idea of browser gaming either way…Though I’ve heard from some folks that have tried game streaming services they can work pretty well if conditions are right. Will always be a little more latency than local, but up to a point it doesn’t matter you have added latency. The important bit is it being a consistent latency, as then it won’t really stop you playing or enjoying it – the latency can actually get pretty bad there and while you might well notice initially adapting while its consistent isn’t a major problem.In the case of multiplayer games it might actually be a more ‘fair’ latency to add and improve overall latency. As you’d think largely if not entirely it would be eliminating the “game client”-server-“game client” type latency that can be pretty wildly varied and force folks with good connections to suffer (as presumably the servers and game clients would all be effectively Local Area connection or maybe even on the same physical system for even higher bandwidth and lower latency so every gamer gets only the added latency of their own connection).But still I’ll never really want to stream or do ‘real’ games in a browser – I personally don’t even like the games you do have downloaded and play locally but required paid online services as a business model. Anything that means you have no control of what you supposedly paid for is just a bad idea as a general rule.Also really hard to justify these days – if we happened to be in an alternate world where the portable devices in most of our pockets and bags just didn’t have real computing grunt for whatever reason maybe doing it all remotely makes sense. But when a really low power SOC type device like the mid-high end phones, the Steamdeck or now it seems the new Switch can realistically play modern titles in an acceptably performant way (even when rendering at higher than native resolutions in many cases, at least on the Steamdeck – very little I’ve thrown at it has ever made it struggle at 1080P, and sometimes it will even handle 4K at a stable and playable frame rate for instance)…",
"parent_id": "8138417",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138165",
"author": "Shannon",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T11:31:11",
"content": "Oh… yeah… me too… actually I’d like to be able to eat and sleep in the browser too, no more flavour or quality of life, just open the supermarket URL and subscribe to “basic meal number 4” and “quality sleeping bag beige one size fits all”. This will be the future of living.",
"parent_id": "8138159",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138180",
"author": "Gravis",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T12:34:46",
"content": "You’re thinking too small! I’m looking forward to replacing my internal organs with a browser.",
"parent_id": "8138165",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138281",
"author": "macsimki",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T19:55:03",
"content": "Ooooh. living on the edge…",
"parent_id": "8138180",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138292",
"author": "tweepy",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T20:38:14",
"content": "Be brave, skip low level, let’s replace the brain",
"parent_id": "8138281",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138440",
"author": "Miguel Ángel Parra",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T06:43:00",
"content": "maybe better in living on the firefox",
"parent_id": "8138281",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138296",
"author": "none ra",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T20:43:59",
"content": "sorry cloudflare has crashed. #error 525 SSL connection to internal organs cancelled.",
"parent_id": "8138180",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138348",
"author": "Steve",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T22:11:17",
"content": "I’d settle for a working pancreas in the browser.",
"parent_id": "8138180",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138462",
"author": "Robert",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T10:08:51",
"content": "Pancreas in the cloud! Miiiine",
"parent_id": "8138348",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138174",
"author": "thestoneburner",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T12:12:27",
"content": "The code, maps, sound models and textures would still be downloaded (into the browser storage) or else your graphics card would not be able to display them.",
"parent_id": "8138159",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138222",
"author": "Gus A Mueller",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T15:16:41",
"content": "I wish I could replace my wife with a browser. This is be the future of being nagged to fix the sink while not getting any.",
"parent_id": "8138159",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138419",
"author": "KDawg",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T03:56:24",
"content": "its the broken toilet fill valve for me, I have the part in the garage but mehwelcome to 2 kids while being in your mid 40’s, what are you doing to find a new job …. everything in my power, my back hurts from cooking fried eggs",
"parent_id": "8138222",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138491",
"author": "michael",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T13:06:05",
"content": "have you tried sadomasochism?",
"parent_id": "8138222",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138359",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T22:41:40",
"content": "No download time?The download size of a AAA game is mostly images used to render. You still need that when rendering in a browser. You still need to store it all locally.The only difference would be the rendering engine. A browser isn’t as good as a purpose built game engine.The assets that are fed into the engine for rendering are the same.",
"parent_id": "8138159",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138435",
"author": "Skalamanga",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T06:07:18",
"content": "You’re describing google stadia.",
"parent_id": "8138159",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138564",
"author": "Sandro",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T17:29:54",
"content": "You would still have to download the game, it would just be in wasm and related assets.",
"parent_id": "8138159",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138636",
"author": "Chooch",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T21:53:03",
"content": "You mean like game pass and GeForce now? “You will own nothing and be happy.”",
"parent_id": "8138159",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138163",
"author": "Axel Lodyga aka Exellent",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T11:29:02",
"content": "If this tool would export STLs damn would it be cool",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138169",
"author": "Jon Smirl",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T12:01:38",
"content": "If you want to see how far you can take this concept, Onshape is a commercial online CAD program. It is free to use for open source projects.https://www.onshape.com/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138171",
"author": "Hussien",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T12:04:31",
"content": "It’s not open source so gl & hf when they suddenly decide that you need to pay $8000 a year to use their software. Onshape is a roach motel for naive CAD users.",
"parent_id": "8138169",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138175",
"author": "Alphatek",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T12:14:37",
"content": "Yeah, after using Tinkercad then fusion360, I decided to give FreeCad another go when it hit v1.0. So far so good.",
"parent_id": "8138171",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138185",
"author": "dahud",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T13:00:05",
"content": "How a parametric CAD program can lack a sketch symmetry constraint, and still claim to be ready for prime time with a straight face, is beyond me.",
"parent_id": "8138175",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138194",
"author": "David",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T13:38:46",
"content": "No all CAD software have all tools, there are some ways todo same thing, no sketch symmetry, do a part symmetry.",
"parent_id": "8138185",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138209",
"author": "fiddlingjunky",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T14:28:43",
"content": "Eh, using symmetry a bunch in sketches is asking for pain even in mainstream CAD programs like SW. While I still sometimes resort to it, it just means intention breaks when you add or remove something. It’s typically better to use symmetry at the feature tree level.",
"parent_id": "8138185",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138389",
"author": "Nate",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T02:05:11",
"content": "Same for me. It was hard learning FreeCad and even harder leaving Fusion. Like an abusive ex i needed a clean break.I found the 1.1 releases much nicer as it allows you to bring in more geometry from external sketches and fixes some (infuriating) problems with assembly. The tradeoff in stability is worth-it for me.",
"parent_id": "8138175",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138406",
"author": "pelrun",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T03:08:47",
"content": "Onshape is in rude health and hasn’t shown any signs of eliminating their free tier in the near-decade I’ve been using it – they tweaked the provided features in the free tier about a year after they launched, and they clearly are happy with it as it stands.It also gives them a massive library of searchable designs and parts that they wouldn’t have any other way, so there’s a strong financial incentive for them to keep it around indefinitely.",
"parent_id": "8138171",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138253",
"author": "Kelly",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T18:43:14",
"content": "Onshape is terrible for their UI and their documentation.I tried to do a slab with a hole in it and it was hilarious complicated to figure out, their metaphors are awful.I would say it’s why it never caught on.",
"parent_id": "8138169",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138408",
"author": "pelrun",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T03:16:28",
"content": "“Is it me that is out of touch? No, it’s the developer who is wrong”.Every time someone comes in here complaining about how “X CAD tool has a crap UI and interface semantics” it invariably turns out it’s really “I learned Y CAD tool and X is different and strange and I refuse to accept that I need to put the effort into learning the new way”.See also, every Kicad article on here, at least until recently.",
"parent_id": "8138253",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138616",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T20:31:35",
"content": "That might be true.Except for Blender.It’s UI truly stinks to heaven.Not only does it do things different from other CAD, it does things different from the OS’s presentation layer.Ass backward different.e.g. the file picker dialog is far far worse than ANY UI layer’s native one (last I used it, it was bugged badly w big directories, unusably laggy, obvious that everything was done in UI thread and was slow AF).MacOS 7 or Win 3 style would be preferable, but the sane choice is ‘whatever is native’.",
"parent_id": "8138408",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138436",
"author": "Skalamanga",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T06:16:43",
"content": "Select a plane, add a sketch, draw a rectangle, draw a circle, dimension and constrain both. Extrude to the height of your slab. Done.Same metaphors that have been in use since the 80’s when parameteric CAD was introduced.",
"parent_id": "8138253",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138181",
"author": "Jouni",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T12:40:54",
"content": "This is so good! Please help me ditch Onshape for good.I would have hoped this uses the “sketch” concept rather than drawing in 3D space.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138197",
"author": "John",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T13:51:31",
"content": "https://bitbybit.devis amazing and based around OpenCascade and Manifold. Similar to openscad, but developed for the browser",
"parent_id": "8138181",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138188",
"author": "Bob",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T13:10:18",
"content": "If you are looking for a Tinkercad like interface, but would prefer a local version, might I suggest CADoodle (https://cadoodlecad.com/). It is early in development (Version 0.17 dropped 5 days ago) but is already rather impressive. It can export in multiple formats (including STL, OBJ, Blender, SVG and FreeCAD) and can use Blender and OpenSCAD plugins. Written in Java and released under the CC0 1.0 Universal license it runs on Linux, Windows, Mac, and Chrome.(Not affiliated with the program, just a satisfied user)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138211",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T14:45:44",
"content": "Democratize tools, and have an offbreak playing some Doom.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138301",
"author": "J. Peterson",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T21:01:00",
"content": "Looks like there’s no documentation (unless you can understand the Chinese videos)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138620",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T20:39:51",
"content": "Still better then FreeCAD.If you search for any FreeCAD problem, the first 10 results will be:‘How to resolve problem, working around 5 years ago’s bugs.’Won’t have any applicable version information or date.Of course it won’t work, good chance the workbench referenced no longer exists.The thread that solves the problem, working around this years bugs, isn’t obvious.No documentation is better than wrong docs.",
"parent_id": "8138301",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138785",
"author": "Eksterminator",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T18:19:50",
"content": "I’m not a fan of online CAD systems as an inventor – the matrix can just download somebody’s else work, steal patent rights etc…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139612",
"author": "Panondorf",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T14:20:34",
"content": "It’s open source.Just stick it on your own server.I too dislike “the cloud” when it means running everything on someone else’s computer. But I do like convergence. I can dock my phone to my NexDock (or just about any smart tv) and use web based tools. As great as Termux is running a vnc server in it just to then run the vnc client on the same device seems too cheesy. Maybe someday phones will be less locked down and we can just run X or Wayland apps right on it. Until then web tools are great.Then again.. if saving and loading of files happens at the server instead of downloading to the device.. (AND it’s something I can run on my own server, not the cloud) that is still better even if I COULD run gui apps directly on my phone. That way I could access all the same stuff from my phone, my home desktop, my work desktop or even a friend’s computer without messing around with syncing files. Add some sort of GIT integration and perfect!",
"parent_id": "8138785",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,517.434537
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/12/diy-calibration-target-for-electron-microscopes/
|
DIY Calibration Target For Electron Microscopes
|
Aaron Beckendorf
|
[
"Repair Hacks",
"Science"
] |
[
"electron microscope",
"gold",
"nanoparticles",
"scanning electron microscope"
] |
It’s a problem that few of us will ever face, but if you ever have to calibrate your scanning electron microscope, you’ll need a resolution target with a high contrast under an electron beam. This requires an extremely small pattern of alternating high and low-density materials, which
[ProjectsInFlight] created in his latest video
by depositing gold nanoparticles on a silicon slide.
[ProjectsInFlight]’s scanning electron microscope came from a lab that discarded it as nonfunctional, and as we’ve
seen before
, he’s since been getting it back into working condition. When it was new, it could magnify 200,000 times and resolve features of 5.5 nm, and a resolution target with a range of feature sizes would indicate how high a magnification the microscope could still reach. [ProjectsInFlight] could also use the target to make before-and-after comparisons for his repairs, and to properly adjust the electron beam.
Since it’s easy to get very flat silicon wafers, [ProjectsInFlight] settled on these as the low-density portion of the target, and deposited a range of sizes of gold nanoparticles onto them as the high-density portion. To make the nanoparticles, he started by dissolving a small sample of gold in aqua regia to make chloroauric acid, then reduced this back to gold nanoparticles using sodium citrate. This gave particles in the 50-100 nanometer range, but [ProjectsInFlight] also needed some larger particles. This proved troublesome for a while, until he learned that he needed to cool the reaction temperature solution to near freezing before making the nanoparticles.
Using these particles, [ProjectsInFlight] was able to tune the astigmatism settings on the microscope’s electron beam so that it could clearly resolve the larger particles, and just barely see the smaller particles – quite an achievement considering that they’re under 100 nanometers across!
Electron microscopes are still a
pretty rare
build, but
not unheard-of
. If you ever find one
that’s broken
, it could be a
worthwhile investment
.
| 3
| 1
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138214",
"author": "Interloper",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T14:57:06",
"content": "Is calibrate the right word here?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138277",
"author": "John",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T19:45:35",
"content": "Yes, the use case doesn’t require traceability.I don’t recall from the video if the commercial provider of gold references provides certs.",
"parent_id": "8138214",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138421",
"author": "KDawg",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T03:58:57",
"content": "worked for my Mitutoyo calipers, reads just fine against my harbor freight feeler gauges (within a tiny percentage)",
"parent_id": "8138214",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,517.305085
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/11/step-into-combat-robotics-with-project-svrn/
|
Step Into Combat Robotics With Project SVRN!
|
Ian Bos
|
[
"Robots Hacks"
] |
[
"3d printer",
"combat robot",
"robot platform"
] |
We all love combat robotics for its creative problem solving; trying to fit drivetrains and weapon systems in a small and light package is never as simple as it appears to be. When you get to the real lightweights… throw everything you know out the window! [Shoverobotics] saw this as a barrier for getting into the 150g weight class, so he created the combat robotics platform named
Project SVRN
.
You want 4-wheel drive? It’s got it! Wedge or a Grabber? Of course! Anything else you can imagine? Feel free to add and modify the platform to your heart’s content! Controlled by a Malenki Nano, a receiver and motor controller combo board, the SVRN platform allows anyone to get into fairyweight fights with almost no experience.
With 4 N10 motors giving quick control, the platform acts as an excellent platform for various bot designs. Though the electronics and structure are rather simple, the most important and impressive part of Project SVRN is the detailed documentation for every part of building the bot. You can find and follow the documentation yourself from [Shoverobotics]’s
Printables page here
!
If you already know every type of coil found in your old Grav-Synthesized Vex-Flux from your Whatsamacallit this might not be needed for you, but many people trying to get into making need a ramp to shoot for the stars. For those needing more technical know-how in combat robotics, check out
Kitten Mittens
, a bot that uses its weapon for locomotion!
| 4
| 2
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138145",
"author": "Andrzej",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T10:11:33",
"content": "FYI, “maleńki” in Polish means tiny.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138422",
"author": "KDawg",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T04:01:33",
"content": "looks like if my old fat cat were to step on it something would break … maybe combat doesn’t mean what I think it means(I mean for FFS my 10 year old ender 3 that’s never been calibrated makes smoother prints while sitting in the garage)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138457",
"author": "Jordan",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T09:21:19",
"content": "They’re quite comfy in full combat competitions, Uk Ant’s or US fairys only weigh 150g so 3d printing is pretty typical for construction up to beetleweight and the TPU side armour while a bit prone to stringing can really take some abuse.If you want something more robust there’s always feathers and heavyweights but they are nowhere near as approachable to newcomers. (P.S Even small robots can be pretty dangerous, especially the spiners so it’s wise to keep your house cat away from them more for the cats sake!)Cheers, Jordan",
"parent_id": "8138422",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138458",
"author": "Jordan",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T09:27:44",
"content": "3d printing is very common for the 150g weight class and the TPU side armour while a little prone to stringing when printed on a bowden tube setup is good to take plenty of abuse from other bots.If you fancy something a bit more robust you really need to look at the featherweights and heavyweights where machined parts are going to be a lot more common than printed ones. These classes aren’t the most approachable for a novice though.(PS don’t lety your cat play with combar robots, they can be dangerous!)",
"parent_id": "8138422",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,517.046043
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/11/bipolar-uranium-extraction-from-seawater-with-ultra-low-cell-voltage/
|
Bipolar Uranium Extraction From Seawater With Ultra-Low Cell Voltage
|
Maya Posch
|
[
"Science"
] |
[
"electrochemistry",
"seawater",
"uranium",
"uranium mining"
] |
As common as uranium is in the ground around us, the world’s oceans contain a thousand times more uranium (~4.5 billion tons) than can be mined today. This makes extracting uranium as well as other resources from seawater a very interesting proposition, albeit it one that requires finding a technological solution to not only filter out these highly diluted substances, but also do so in a way that’s economically viable. Now it seems that Chinese researchers have recently come
tantalizingly close
to achieving this goal.
The anode chemical reaction to extract uranium. (Credit: Wang et al., Nature Sustainability, 2025)
The used electrochemical method is
described in the paper
(
gift link
) by [Yanjing Wang] et al., as published in
Nature Sustainability
. The claimed recovery cost of up to 100% of the uranium in the seawater is approximately $83/kilogram, which would be much cheaper than previous methods and is within striking distance of current uranium
spot prices
at about $70 – 85.
Of course, the challenge is to scale up this lab-sized prototype into something more industrial-sized. What’s interesting about this low-voltage method is that the conversion of uranium oxide ions to solid uranium oxides occurs at both the anode and cathode unlike with previous electrochemical methods. The copper anode becomes part of the electrochemical process, with UO
2
deposited on the cathode and U
3
O
8
on the anode.
Among the reported performance statistics of this prototype are the ability to extract UO
2
2+
ions from an NaCl solution at concentrations ranging from 1 – 50 ppm. At 20 ppm and in the presence of Cl
–
ions (as is typical in seawater), the extraction rate was about 100%, compared to ~9.1% for the adsorption method. All of this required only a cell voltage of 0.6 V with 50 mA current, while being highly uranium-selective. Copper pollution of the water is also prevented, as the dissolved copper from the anode was found on the cathode after testing.
The process was tested on actual seawater (East & South China Sea), with ten hours of operation resulting in a recovery rate of 100% and 85.3% respectively. With potential electrode optimizations suggested by the authors, this extraction method might prove to be a viable way to not only recover uranium from seawater, but also at uranium mining facilities and more.
| 52
| 9
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8137819",
"author": "spiritplumber@gmail.com",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T12:46:38",
"content": "This can be used to recover uranium from cooling water used in NPPs instead of dumping it to rivers.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137838",
"author": "Grumpy Old Coot",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T13:39:46",
"content": "“If time machines existed, this could have been used to recover uranium for cooling water used in 1950s and 1960s Soviet-Era Russian research reactors instead of dumping it into the rivers.” Fixed the typo in your comment for you. No need for an edit button.",
"parent_id": "8137819",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137895",
"author": "Gravis",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T15:40:36",
"content": "Anti-nuclear fanatics are so clueless about modern nuclear technology.",
"parent_id": "8137819",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137935",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T16:47:43",
"content": "You laugh at him now.But when your spirit’s sewer line collapses and you need a trenchless fix…(I had to edit that, ‘rooting a spirit’s sewer line’ is just too aussie gay.)",
"parent_id": "8137895",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137993",
"author": "Gravis",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T19:11:21",
"content": "Is that when I’m supposed to laugh at him or is it when I’m supposed to inform him about modern nuclear technology? ;)",
"parent_id": "8137935",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138022",
"author": "macsimki",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T21:48:22",
"content": "modern technology still breaks down the old fashioned way.its not the technology, its the people, stupid (or should that be stupid people…)",
"parent_id": "8137993",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137915",
"author": "marmakoide",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T16:11:53",
"content": "Cooling water of any currently operating nuclear reactor in the world, is never getting into contact with the nuclear fuel.",
"parent_id": "8137819",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137943",
"author": "Charles Springer",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T17:07:27",
"content": "What? How is a car engine liquid cooled if the water never touches the fuel?",
"parent_id": "8137915",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137968",
"author": "draeath",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T18:05:13",
"content": "The fuel is coated. If uranium is leaching into the primary coolant, it’s an abnormal condition and will not be left in that state for long.",
"parent_id": "8137915",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138172",
"author": "lespaul1963",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T12:06:35",
"content": "Gasoline in car engine is not coated in anything becasue it would clog injectors. It’s a liquid while uranium is solid.",
"parent_id": "8137968",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137969",
"author": "M",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T18:06:45",
"content": "Thermal conduction through the walls of thick metal pipes in a multi-stage heat exchanger. Multi-stagespecificallyto prevent what you’re describing. If you looked at literally any picture or diagram of any reactor core you would know this.",
"parent_id": "8137915",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138048",
"author": "I Alone Possess The Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T00:09:28",
"content": "“Then how is reactor cooled eh?” With the precious fluids of trafficked children in the basement of a Washington pizza place and incantations invoking ManBearPig, half Man, half Bear, half Pig. Are you cereal? You must be really hot else the universe is severely out of whack. Ima call you Mandy Baxter.",
"parent_id": "8137915",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138467",
"author": "marmakoide",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T11:06:18",
"content": "Typically, the nuclear fuel is within a steel container, where a primary, closed-loop cooling circuit will transfer the heat to a secondary open-loop water cooling circuit. The heat transfer between the two loops is done with an heat exchanger. That secondary loop is where the actual steam is made, and transfer the heat to outside. In no cases the water of the loops is mixed or even in contact.",
"parent_id": "8137915",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137987",
"author": "helge",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T18:56:55",
"content": "Someone’s been sleeping through an entire article series. But don’t worry, we got you covered.https://hackaday.com/2023/01/10/the-intricacies-of-creating-fuel-for-nuclear-reactors/https://hackaday.com/2024/12/08/silicon-carbide-may-replace-zirconium-alloys-for-nuclear-fuel-rod-cladding/https://hackaday.com/2025/05/19/3d-printing-uranium-carbide-structures-for-nuclear-applications/",
"parent_id": "8137819",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138025",
"author": "Daniel Matthews",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T22:13:38",
"content": "Seriously? <Insert comment allowed on X that isn’t on HAD>",
"parent_id": "8137819",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138170",
"author": "Jc",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T12:04:31",
"content": "Is this limited to uranium or can it be applied to other radiogenic elements?",
"parent_id": "8137819",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137820",
"author": "Carl Breen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T12:47:06",
"content": "It’s wild to think this is economically viable at these concentrations. Let alone the electricity to pump these unspeakable amounts of cubic metres of water through the apparatus. Or is it just submerged? I didn’t full process the all the details yet, but kudos if it works! Makes you wonder what great achievements lie ahead of us in other fields by thinking a bit out of the box.Most people would immediately dismiss the idea. 20 ppm only? Wild!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137826",
"author": "sweethack",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T13:04:36",
"content": "Extracting uranium is one thing, extracting U235 is another one. The ratio of U235/U238 isotope is what makes an Uranium ore interesting or not. And there’s no mention of the expected isotopic ratio in the sea water. The cost to separate isotope is probably a lot larger than the cost of sourcing Uranium at first.",
"parent_id": "8137820",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137829",
"author": "Carl Breen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T13:15:49",
"content": "I didn’t say I don’t know about UF6 and ultracentrifuges. Why would you explain me common knowledge? Greetings from Abdul Qadeer Khan!",
"parent_id": "8137826",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137846",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T14:03:01",
"content": "About 1 part U-235 to 137 parts U-238. About same as in naturally occurring uranium.",
"parent_id": "8137826",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137914",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T16:10:38",
"content": "Many reactor types can run on natural uranium.",
"parent_id": "8137826",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138034",
"author": "Bobtato",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T22:50:51",
"content": "The ratio of isotopes is the same everywhere on Earth, and has been since the planet formed; the proportion has changed due to U235 decaying faster than U238, but this happens at the same rate everywhere. The processes that concentrate uranium in particular mineral deposits, or in seawater, don’t change the isotopic composition since all uranium is chemically identical (which is why it’s so very hard to enrich).As @Hirudinea says, reactors can be designed to run on natural uranium, as with the original RBMK design, for instance. The overall economics seems to favor slightly enriched fuel designs for power generation, though that might have been different if the weapons industry hadn’t made enrichment available already. Natural uranium reactors might be harder to control at low power levels (I gather that is/was an issue for RBMK), but that sounds like “just” an engineering problem.",
"parent_id": "8137826",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138056",
"author": ".",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T00:44:53",
"content": "No, there are famously depleted deposits.https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/meet-oklo-the-earths-two-billion-year-old-only-known-natural-nuclear-reactor",
"parent_id": "8138034",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138049",
"author": "I Alone Possess The Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T00:15:59",
"content": "“Extracting uranium is one thing, extracting U235 is another one.” In the Speciousest Wrongheadedest category we have a winner. There will probably be wheels involved so great! Now we have to invent that too. It never ends!",
"parent_id": "8137826",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137827",
"author": "Stanson",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T13:10:36",
"content": "It’s wild to think this is economically viable at these concentrations.Unless such process is installed on the already existing flow of water.It”s like using mining rig as a heater. It have exactly same performance as regular electric heater, but additionally bring some tiny profit. It will never cover all electricity consumed, but why not if you have to spent electricity for heating regardless.",
"parent_id": "8137820",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137851",
"author": "Dan",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T14:06:28",
"content": "Rather than pump the water through, attach it to the side of the nuclear power outboards from the previous article, and they can extract their own fuel from the sea as they go… 😂",
"parent_id": "8137820",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137877",
"author": "Maave",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T15:03:46",
"content": "this is a great start to an adventure novel. Also if there’s a spill just send another ship to slurp up the uranium. The scavengers feed on the corpse of the glowing steel whale.",
"parent_id": "8137851",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137893",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T15:37:40",
"content": "Jules Verne could have used something like this.",
"parent_id": "8137877",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137906",
"author": "Gravis",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T15:55:23",
"content": "Weirdly, that is not as insane as it seems but keeping it entirely as an outboard motor would be a non-starter due to reliability issues with extraction and refinement. While it is commercially infeasible it also isn’t impossible. However, an initial amount of nuclear fuel would be needed to start the reaction.",
"parent_id": "8137851",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137852",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T14:07:07",
"content": "Ricin would be much easier to obtain. Ask Aum Shinrikyo.",
"parent_id": "8137820",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137876",
"author": "abjq",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T15:03:27",
"content": "Presumably you could add a device on to every desalination plant. Added benefit for the process, is that the brine coming off is already concentrated. Probably 100M m^3 of seawater passes through them every day.Also, all offshore wind turbines could have one attached. Hardly any pumping, and free electricity for the electrolysis.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137916",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T16:11:57",
"content": "Do this with Gold instead of Uranium and then you’ve got something.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137946",
"author": "Charles Springer",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T17:12:51",
"content": "If the gold were ions. One gram of gold for every 100 million metric tons of ocean water is going to be time consuming.",
"parent_id": "8137916",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137954",
"author": "RetepV",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T17:26:06",
"content": "Do it with plastic, and save the world.",
"parent_id": "8137916",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137959",
"author": "Maria",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T17:36:04",
"content": "Do it with fish and feed every poor child in Africa.",
"parent_id": "8137954",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137981",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T18:44:09",
"content": "That’s called fishing.",
"parent_id": "8137959",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138135",
"author": "Maria",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T09:43:30",
"content": "And you can’t really do it in places like Afghanistan, Bolivia, Nepal or Switzerland. Industrial-scale fish extraction with electric current could be used to feed literaly every human on the planet no matter if he is rich or poor.",
"parent_id": "8137981",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137992",
"author": "Matthias",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T19:06:52",
"content": "Do it with electricity and … oh, wait, nevermind",
"parent_id": "8137959",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137980",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T18:43:48",
"content": "There’s no money in saving the world.",
"parent_id": "8137954",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137962",
"author": "Sach",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T17:40:06",
"content": "Chemist here. The idea is not new, but if it worked, this would be indeed very nice. Back in the day, I worked in a lab that made some decent progress in that direction, using a different approach. Unfortunately, this paper has a series of big red flags.There is no details on how the 100% extraction performance was measured. Actually, we avoid using 100%. We would typically say 99%, if the method is sensitive to 1% (99.9% for a very sensitive method at 0.1%, etc.).Similarly, there is very little info on how this amazing electrode was prepared.The source data is described as “Unprocessed western blots.” (unrelated biochemistry method) and contains some Excel files instead of primary experimental data.And many others.Finally, the claim of extracting from seawater at 20 ppm is also misleading, since (as stated in the introduction) seawater contains only about 3 ppb of Uranium. The 20 ppm were artificially added, and arguably do not represent seawater any more. Nothing wrong with working at 20 ppm, but it is good to be clear about it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138058",
"author": ".",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T00:57:52",
"content": "A lot of work has been done in the “get XXX from seawater” space, and to be fair, it seems to be making slow, steady progress.Seawater is problematic for most of the ideas because of low concentrations, and bio-fouling.However geothermal fluids have much higher mineral concentrations, and in fact are responsible for natural deposition of gold, silver and others.If the proposals for large scale deep drilled geothermal outside of natural geothermal zones materialise, this tech might become quite significant. Geothermal already has to deal with most of it’s issues, leaving this mineral extraction from the fluid as a no extra cost add on. It could have much less environmental impact than existing precious metal mining, as there is no mine, and no tailings pile.",
"parent_id": "8137962",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137970",
"author": "Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T18:06:45",
"content": "Could electrolysis be used to separate 235 from 238. Imagine you has a single atom wide plate of U (Or a plate with a single atom layer of U on top). When you apply an electric field all U atoms will leave the plate but travel at different velocities based on their mass. If the time that the electric field is applied was only long enough for the 235 to make the journey to the plate and then switched off. And then a third (waste) plate was energized to capture the 238.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137982",
"author": "Tyler August",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T18:46:43",
"content": "Not exactly what you’re talking about, but there was considerable work in Japan on an electrochemical method of enrichment:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0149197011000771",
"parent_id": "8137970",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138052",
"author": "I Alone Possess The Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T00:29:23",
"content": "“Imagine you has a single atom wide plate of U”A single atom wide plate is the world’s thinness wire. Even for pie in the sky the phrase you want is “Imagine you has a single atomthickplate”. Unless length is just really thick width, meanings have meaning.",
"parent_id": "8137970",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138153",
"author": "Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T10:57:45",
"content": "My brain was thinking height, length and width. Sorry for any problem caused by me in transferring the idea from inside my head to yours.",
"parent_id": "8138052",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138226",
"author": "I Alone Possess the Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T15:43:20",
"content": "Height, length, width? What is the height of a plate? Now rotate the plate 90 degrees. What is the height of the plate now? With the exception of the sphere whose height is always and everywhere 2r, objectsquaobjects do not have height. I’m sorry you got it wrong.Thinnest.",
"parent_id": "8138153",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138481",
"author": "Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T12:01:59",
"content": "I think I finally see your problem in understanding a (metal) plate is a flat dish, it can be circular or as in this case rectangular.",
"parent_id": "8138226",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138532",
"author": "I Alone Possess The Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T15:49:17",
"content": "What is the height of an either circular or as in this case rectangular plate? Now rotate the plate 90 degrees. What is the height of the either circular or as in this case rectangular plate now?",
"parent_id": "8138226",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138202",
"author": "Charles Springer",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T14:04:29",
"content": "Both this diffusion idea and the mass spectrometer separation have been used since the Manhattan Project.",
"parent_id": "8137970",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137971",
"author": "M",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T18:07:45",
"content": "I suppose the chinese researchers are thinking about nuclear subs that fuel themselves.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138011",
"author": "make piece not war",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T21:10:14",
"content": "85USD a kilo? Where can I buy now 100kg of the stuff and sell it back (including the decay particles and minus the heat) when it becomes sparse? For sure I wont keep it in my lead coated matress. Or would I?How this techology will impact the environement? What efect will taking the uranium from the water have and the waste product/spills being thrown back. What side effects will be produced (other byproducts/transitory compounds being spilled)?While I’m not Greta, I wonder what Jacques-Yves Cousteau would say about it.I would say leave the Ocean alone. It’s the last place that will have life if we mess the ground and air. On a second thought I’ll say “place that might preserve life”.On a happy ending tone I’ll ask: when the flying cars will become available for everyone?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138016",
"author": "frenchone",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T21:25:31",
"content": "Can we chain other extraction operations on other valable substances on the exit ‘water’ ?Could it be that some extractions become economically viable if/when previous stages removed other substances ? Or that a lot of stages with little gains outweight a massively non profitable extraction ?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,517.268642
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/11/threaded-insert-press-is-100-3d-printed/
|
Threaded Insert Press Is 100% 3D Printed
|
Tyler August
|
[
"3d Printer hacks",
"Tool Hacks"
] |
[
"3d print",
"arbor press",
"heat set inserts",
"threaded insert"
] |
Sometimes, when making a 3D printed object, plastic just isn’t enough. Probably the most common addition to our prints is the ubiquitous brass threaded inset, which has proven its worth time and again over the years in providing a secure screw attachment point with less hassle than a captive nut. Of course to insert these bits of machined brass, you need to press them in, and unless you’ve got a very good hand with a soldering iron it’s usually a good idea to use a press of some sort. [TimNummy] shows us that, ironically enough, making such a
press is perfectly doable using only printed parts
. Well, save for the soldering iron, of course.
He calls it the Superserter. Not only is it 100% printed plastic, but the entire design fits on a single 256 mm by 256 mm bed. In his case it was done on the Bambulab X1C, but it’s a common enough print bed size
and
can be printed without any supports. It’s even sized to fit the
popular Gridfinity standard
for a neat and tidy desk and handy bin placement for the inserts.
[TimNummy] clearly spent some time thinking about
design for 3D printed manufacturing
in order to create an assembly that does not need linear rails, sliders, or bearings as other press projects often do. The ironic thing is that if that same amount of effort went into other designs, it might eliminate the need for threaded inserts entirely.
If you haven’t delved into the world of threaded inserts, we put up a
how-to-guide a few years ago
. If you’re wondering if you can get away with just printing threads, the answer is “maybe”– we
highlighted a video comparing printed threads with different inserts a while back
to get you started thinking about the design limitations there.
| 12
| 8
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8137769",
"author": "Mindaugas",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T08:45:00",
"content": "I have pressed thousands of inserts with basic soldering iron by hand – they usually self-center without any deviation. Positioning the part under these presses looks like a nightmare, if the part is not flat.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137989",
"author": "Cody",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T19:02:58",
"content": "If the inserts are not centering well, it’s usually because you got some that are for injection molding.I often see them incorrectly listed as heat set inserts on a lot of sites.",
"parent_id": "8137769",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138478",
"author": "Justin E Wilson",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T11:57:28",
"content": "How do you tell the difference??",
"parent_id": "8137989",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139515",
"author": "Cody",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T05:22:18",
"content": "The heat set inserts are smaller in diameter at one end so they self center when pressed in.",
"parent_id": "8138478",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137801",
"author": "Omegshumter",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T11:18:46",
"content": "Just finished printing of these last night, it will in fact fit on a 220 x 220 bed.Worked well only had to reprint two parts ( belt slip and print warping). But as long as the first layer goes down without issue it looks like the print will be okay.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137843",
"author": "Christian",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T13:59:34",
"content": "Wow. Perfect project presentation.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137887",
"author": "threeve",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T15:32:46",
"content": "I’ve found these heat set inserters to be a good second life for those cheap Hakko 936 clones that have been kicking around the shop for the last 10 years. I was not aware you could just buy heat insert tips for them – the crappy tips they come with are easy enough to chuck in the lathe and turn down for any size insert you need. They are copper instead of brass (but likely of Ea-nāṣir quality).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137979",
"author": "Tyler August",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T18:35:31",
"content": "The finest quality!",
"parent_id": "8137887",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137898",
"author": "David King",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T15:43:12",
"content": "I built this. It works better than I expected.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138009",
"author": "make piece not war",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T20:52:22",
"content": "Hmmm, it looks waaaay to edible.Me starts looking for fondant recipies with nice and vibrant colo(u)rs while whisteling softly.You can hear the bathroom scales whimpering from afar.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138420",
"author": "Felix Domestica",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T03:58:20",
"content": "So far I’ve been able to get away with just letting screws self-tap the holes. But I’m not building anything that requires especially high strength, or that will need to be disassembled and reassembled more than a few times. Threaded inserts are definitely of interest for those cases, just as they are for woodworking.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139924",
"author": "Andy Grey Rider",
"timestamp": "2025-06-18T09:57:50",
"content": "It’s not 100% because you didn’t print the electrical lead or the metal parts either.Stop lying, is it so difficult to be truthful.It’s nothing clickbait otherwise.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,517.355126
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/10/back-to-the-future-lunchbox-cyberdeck/
|
Back To The FutureLunchbox Cyberdeck
|
John Elliot V
|
[
"Art",
"computer hacks",
"hardware",
"Raspberry Pi",
"Retrocomputing"
] |
[
"back to the future"
] |
Our hacker [Valve Child] wrote in to let us know about his
Back to the Future
lunchbox cyberdeck
.
Great Scott! This is so awesome. We’re not sure what we should say, or where we should begin. A lot of you wouldn’t have been there, on July 3rd, 1985, nearly forty years ago. But we were there. Oh yes, we were there. On that day the movie
Back to the Future
was released, along with the hit song from its soundtrack:
Huey Lewis & The News – The Power Of Love
.
For the last forty years
Back to the Future
has been inspiring nerds and hackers everywhere with its themes of time-travel and technology. If you know what to look for you will find references to the movie throughout nerd culture. The OUTATIME number plate behind Dave Jones in the EEVblog videos?
Back to the Future
. The Flux Capacitor
for sale
at the Australian electronics store Jaycar?
Back to the Future
. The EEVblog
121GW Multimeter
?
Back to the Future
. But it’s not just those kooky Australians, it’s all over the place including Rick and Morty, The Big Bang Theory, Ready Player One, Family Guy, The Simpsons, Futurama, Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame, LEGO Dimensions, and more.
As [Valve Child] explains he has built this cyberdeck for use on his work bench from a lunchbox gifted to him by his children last Christmas. His cyberdeck is based on the Raspberry Pi 5 and includes a cool looking and completely unnecessary water cooling system, a flux capacitor which houses the power supply, voltage and current meters, an OLED display for temperature and other telemetry, a bunch of lighting for that futuristic aesthetic, and a Bluetooth boombox for 80’s flair. Click through to
watch the video demonstration
of this delightfully detailed cyberdeck and if you want check out the
extra photos
too.
We ran a search for “
Back to the Future
” in the Hackaday archives and found 73 articles that mentioned the movie! Over the years we’ve riffed on
hoverboards
,
calculator watches
, the
DeLorean
, and the slick
Mr. Fusion
unit; and long may we continue.
| 4
| 4
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8137815",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T12:27:47",
"content": "Clearly from the future. Blue LEDs hadn’t been invented then.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137888",
"author": "echodelta",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T15:33:27",
"content": "When hollywood got in bed with rock and videos became ads for movies, all downhill since then.Thanks MTV.No bluetooth and compression then either.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137990",
"author": "Dick Dastardly",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T19:06:14",
"content": "Maybe you should watch something more intelligent like Rick and Morty",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138019",
"author": "Kungpow",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T21:33:25",
"content": "I rather liked the movie.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,519.019219
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/10/what-marie-curie-left-behind/
|
What Marie Curie Left Behind
|
Al Williams
|
[
"Science"
] |
[
"Curie",
"polonium",
"radium"
] |
It is a good bet that if most scientists and engineers were honest, they would most like to leave something behind that future generations would remember. While Marie Curie met that standard — she was the first woman to win the Nobel prize because of her work with radioactivity, and a unit of radioactivity (yes, we know — not the SI unit) is a Curie. However, Curie also left something else behind inadvertently: radioactive residue. As the BBC explains,
science detectives are retracing her steps and facing some difficult decisions about what to do with contaminated historical artifacts
.
Marie was born in Poland and worked in Paris. Much of the lab she shared with her husband is contaminated with radioactive material transferred by the Curies’ handling of things like radium with their bare hands.
Some of the traces have been known for years, including some on the lab notebooks the two scientists shared. However, they are still finding contamination, including at her family home, presumably brought in from the lab.
There is some debate about whether all the contamination is actually from Marie. Her daughter, Irène, also used the office. The entire story starts when Marie realized that radioactive pitchblende contained uranium and thorium, but was more radioactive than those two elements when they were extracted. The plan was to extract all the uranium and thorium from a sample, leaving this mystery element.
It was a solid plan, but working in a store room and, later, a shed with no ventilation and handling materials bare-handed wasn’t a great idea. They did isolate two elements: polonium (named after Marie’s birth country) and radium. Research eventually proved fatal as Marie succumbed to leukemia, probably due to other work she did with X-rays. She and her husband are now in Paris’ Pantheon, in lead-lined coffins, just in case.
If you want a quick video tour of the museum, [Sem Wonders] has a video you can see, below. If you didn’t know about
the Curie’s scientist daughter
, we can help you with that. Meanwhile, you shouldn’t be
drinking radium
.
| 25
| 11
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8137680",
"author": "Jon H",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T02:07:19",
"content": "She won two Nobels, in different years, for Physics and Chemistry.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137779",
"author": "Stephen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T09:28:57",
"content": "And her daughter also won a Nobel prize. The average number of Nobel prizes in a parent-child pair is vanishingly close to zero, so this makes them probably the cleverest family since records began.",
"parent_id": "8137680",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138534",
"author": "Carl Vehse",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T16:05:23",
"content": "Here’s an interesting trail –In 1903, the Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded jointly to Henri Becquerel, for his discovery of radioactivity, and to Marie and Pierre Curie for their investigations of radioactivity phenomena.In 1911 the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded solely to Marie Curie for the discovery and studies of radium and polonium (Pierre had died in a 1906 accident).In 1935 Marie’s daughter Irène Joliot-Curie and her husband Pierre were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for creating new isotopes of elements by bombarding stable elements with alpha particles. This led to chemists and physicists worldwide bombarding various elements with beams of alpha and other particles, some using a cyclotron, which University of California-Berkeley physicist Ernest Lawrence invented in 1929 and was awarded a Nobel Prize in Physics in 1939.In 1938 one Italian physicist, Enrico Fermi, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for creating new radioactive isotopes of elements from neutron irradiation. Fermi had tried bombarding uranium with neutrons to make a new transuranium element, but German scientists Lise Meitner, Fritz Strassmann, and Otto Hahn determined that the neutron-bombarded uranium had undergone a new nuclear phenomenon – fission (Hahn was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for that discovery in 1944).Fermi’s goal of creating a transuranium element was accomplished with the University of California-Berkeley cyclotron in 1940 by Glenn Seaborg, Edwin McMillian, and Philip Abelson (For the discovery of neptunium Seaborg and McMillian were awarded the 1951 Nobel Prize in Chemistry). In 1941, Seaborg, McMillian, Joseph W. Kennedy and Seaborg’s graduate student, Arthur C. Wahl, produced, separated, and identified another transuranium element they named plutonium, one isotope of which was more readily fissionable than the uranium-235 isotope.Fermi, having fled Mussolini-controlled Italy for the U.S. with his Jewish wife after winning the Nobel Prize, worked with a team at the University of Chicago in 1942 to build the first self-sustained nuclear reactor using natural uranium and graphite moderator under the Stagg football stadium. During WWII the Manhattan Project then build large nuclear reactors at Hanford, Washington, to produce the plutonium needed by scientists, including Fermi, at Los Alamos, New Mexico, to design the plutonium bombs that were exploded at Alamogordo, New Mexico, and over Nagasaki, Japan, in 1945.",
"parent_id": "8137680",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139196",
"author": "Carl Vehse",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T01:04:34",
"content": "The video of the Curie museum shows a picture of Pierre and Marie Curie and their daughter Irène Joliot-Curie and her husband, Frédéric.It’s noted that this family has five Nobel prizes (in chemistry and physics) among them.Not too many families can claim that.",
"parent_id": "8137680",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137684",
"author": "echodelta",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T02:37:28",
"content": "The whole world is like that shed with all the “experiments” that 8 billion are trying at the same time. Sometime in the future they will be shocked with no way to clean it up.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137883",
"author": "Gravis",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T15:28:24",
"content": "No way to clean it up? That’s either an ignorant or disingenuous statement. Anti-nuclear folks need to learn more about nuclear technology.",
"parent_id": "8137684",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138050",
"author": "echodelta",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T00:21:03",
"content": "I am referring to the greater mess overall including plastics, loss of insects, soil biome, and ocean photo synthesis. Unless we get into nuking the world the rest of it is mostly harmless if isolated.",
"parent_id": "8137883",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137685",
"author": "Miles Archer",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T02:38:28",
"content": "When I was studying at UC Berkeley in the 1980s, one of my grad school friends had an office in the room where Plutonium was discovered. They did some kind of survey for a renovation project and found that sometime in the 1940s some radioactive liquid was spilled on the wall behind his desk and there were footprints down the hall.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139096",
"author": "Carl Vehse",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T19:24:46",
"content": "According to “Early History of Heavy Isotope Research at Berkeley 1976” (https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2mm7t70z) by Glenn T. Seaborg, on February 25, 1941, in Room 304, Gilman Hall, UC-Berkeley, Glenn Seaborg’s graduate student Art Wahl did the final separation chemistry in order to determine that the resulting alpha activity was from a new element with atomic number 94.A February, 1966, photo of Art Wahl and Glenn Seaborg in Room 304, Gilman Hall, is shown here: (https://assets-us-01.kc-usercontent.com/9dd25524-761a-000d-d79f-86a5086d4774/ad3be2f3-fc5e-4b44-8ee6-331d5bb3f1ab/Glenn%20Seaborg%20%26%20Arthur%20Wahl.jpg)The cigar box Seaborg is holding belonged to Seaborg’s former laboratory supervisor, UC chemistry professor G. N. Lewis (https://chemistry.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/styles/panopoly_image_original/public/gilbert_n_lewis_1937.jpg?itok=EjDatmBY×tamp=1602543789), and was used to hold a plutonium-239 sample, called “Sample B,” purified by Wahl on May 12, 1941. The sample was used to determine that the thermal fission cross-section of Pu-239 was 1.7 times greater than that of U-235.",
"parent_id": "8137685",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137736",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T05:45:28",
"content": "Those traces are not actually a danger to anyone at this point. Just sensationalism… Which she would not have approved of.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137741",
"author": "dfuffrewwfyff",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T06:44:00",
"content": "Not Marie Curie, but Marie SKŁODOWSKA-Curie!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137746",
"author": "steelman",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T07:08:42",
"content": "Marie Skłodowska-Curie",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137750",
"author": "Peter",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T07:22:32",
"content": "She was adamant on using hyphened name Maria Curie-Skłodowska she gave so much to the world and yet she’s still disrespected.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137859",
"author": "Observer",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T14:26:01",
"content": "“…and yet she’s still disrespected…”What? Who “still disrespects” her? She won two Nobel prizes, for crying out loud.",
"parent_id": "8137750",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137894",
"author": "Joseph Eoff",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T15:37:56",
"content": "Nobody respects her wish to be called by her full name: Maria Curie-Skłodowska",
"parent_id": "8137859",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138475",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T11:22:46",
"content": "She was born in the Russian empire, in a region ceded by France to the Russian empire called Congress Poland.And she was from a Polish noble family (we all know what they used to call ‘noble’ right?). Which possibly might be why she insisted on that name? Bragging rights?",
"parent_id": "8137894",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137890",
"author": "Gravis",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T15:36:36",
"content": "Words cannot offend the dead.",
"parent_id": "8137750",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138290",
"author": "ChiefCrash",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T20:36:47",
"content": "She didn’t use a hyphen, and added her husband’s surname to the end. So it’s actually Maria Skłodowska Curie, as shown by her signature…",
"parent_id": "8137750",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137753",
"author": "RetroGamingXP",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T07:39:56",
"content": "Maria Skłodowska-Curie. She was Polish, don’t erase that part of our country’s history. She wasn’t French.Also, her name was “Maria”, not “Marie”. If you can say “Tchaikovsky” then you can say “Maria Skłodowska-Curie” as well.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137822",
"author": "Albert",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T12:50:41",
"content": "Back then Nobel prize was easily obtainable for accidentaly placing a rock on a photographic paper. Now if a 13 years old would build entire LHC in his bedroom it still would not be “scientific enough” for those fools at Nobel Comintern… I mean Commitee.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137885",
"author": "Gravis",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T15:31:59",
"content": "To date, this is the weirdest hot-take on scientific achievement that I’ve read. A Nobel prize is all about doing somethingnewand impactful, so yes, doing what other people have already done isn’t enough.",
"parent_id": "8137822",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137924",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T16:26:18",
"content": "Yet the fools haven’t given the zero point energy guys their due!They are blind to the hollow flat earth and are in fact lizards themselves.All the great discoveries are obvious in hindsight…That said, there is no Nobel prize in economics.The economists just made that one up.After which the Nobel reptilians passed a cluster of laws to prevent a parade though that loophool.Otherwise we’d have Nobel prizes in astrology, scientology auditing, chiropractic adjusting and sociology by now.",
"parent_id": "8137885",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138084",
"author": "Carl Vehse",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T03:43:43",
"content": "Serendipity has been the cause of a number of important discoveries in physics and chemistry, some in the 20th century leading to a Nobel Prize.However when serendipity occurs, as in the case of Henri Becquerel, it is not accidentally placing a rock on a covered photographic plate, or developing the plate and seeing the image, but by discovering why it occurred.that leads to a Nobel Prize.",
"parent_id": "8137822",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137899",
"author": "Ject",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T15:47:57",
"content": "That video was unbearable. Just some tiktok nonsense of text overlaying b-roll of the museum. I would much prefer a forgotten weapons type video where someone methodically examines her work area and equipment.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138036",
"author": "Carl Vehse",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T23:08:45",
"content": "The Curie unit was named in honor of Marie’s husband, 1903 Nobel Laureate Pierre Curie, not Marie. Pierre was killed in an accident in 1906. But it was Marie who ended up defining the unit.Excerpted from the Oak Ridge Associated Universities Museum of Radiation and Radioactivity article, “How the Curie Came to Be” (https://www.orau.org/health-physics-museum/articles/how-the-curie-came-to-be.html):“On the opening day [September 13, 1910] of the International Congress, Rutherford’s plans were set in motion by a German physicist ‘unconnected’ with the Committee, Eduard Riecke. Translating from the Congress Proceedings: ‘Professor Riecke (Gottingen) proposed that the name ‘curie’ be given to a radiometric unit’ and ‘Madam Curie (Paris) accepted the proposal of Mr. Riecke, for the honor rendered the memory of Pierre Curie.’“The following day, the Radium Standards Committee met for the first time. Despite Marie’s desire that the curie be based on one gram of radium, it was decided that the curie should be the amount of radon in equilibrium with 10^-8 grams of radium (Boltwood in a letter to N. Ernest Dorsey, 20 January 1921). But as Boltwood complained later: ‘Madame Curie was a member of the committee and agreed in this decision [regarding the 10^-8 figure] BUT – at an unearthly hour the next morning, she arrived at the hotel where Rutherford and I were stopping and informed us that after thinking the matter over she felt that the use of the name “curie” for so infinitesimally] small [a] quantity of anything was altogether inappropriate.’“The Committee’s report had to be presented at the very next session of the Congress. There was no choice. Marie Curie got her way.”The Curie is currently defined as 3.7 × 10^10 disintegrations per second = 37 gigabequerels (GBq).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,519.271377
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/10/using-a-videocard-as-a-computer-enclosure/
|
Using A Videocard As A Computer Enclosure
|
Maya Posch
|
[
"computer hacks"
] |
[
"sleeper pc",
"VideoCard"
] |
The CherryTree-modded card next to the original RTX 2070 GPU. (Credit: Gamers Nexus)
In the olden days of the 1990s and early 2000s, PCs were big and videocards were small-ish add-in boards that blended in with other ISA, PCI and AGP cards. These days, however, videocards are big and computers are increasingly smaller. That’s why US-based CherryTree Computers did what everyone has been joking about, and installed a PC inside a GPU, with [Gamers Nexus]
having the honors of poking at
the creatively titled
GeeFarce 5027POS
Micro Computer
.
As CherryTree
describes it
on their website, this one-off build was the result of a joke about how GPUs nowadays are more expensive than the rest of the PC combined. Thus they did what any reasonable person would do and put an Asus NUC 13 with a 13th gen Core i7, 64 GB of and 2 TB of NVMe storage inside an (already dead) Asus Aorus RTX 2070 GPU.
In the [Gamers Nexus] video we can see that it’s definitely a quick-and-dirty build, with plenty of heatshrink and wires running everywhere in addition to the chopped off original heatsink. That said, from a few meter away it still looks like a GPU, can be installed like a GPU (but the PCIe connector does nothing) and is in the end a NUC PC inside a GPU shell that you can put a couple of inside a PC case.
Presumably the next project we’ll see in this vein will see a full-blown x86 system grafted inside a still functioning GPU, which would truly make the ‘install the PC inside the GPU’ meme a reality.
| 9
| 6
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8137659",
"author": "J. Peterson",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T00:17:36",
"content": "The irony is a modern GPU is just nine chips (GPU + VRAM). All the rest of the bulk is power and heat management.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137673",
"author": "CityZen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T01:32:30",
"content": "Jeff Geerling (Mr. Let’s hook up a Raspberry Pi to a GPU), what’s keeping you? :-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138066",
"author": "Jeff Geerling",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T01:37:42",
"content": "Honestly I’ve had this project in my todo list for a while, but wanted to get a 3090… then 4090… now 5090… but so far have not been able to get those cards to work on Pi.Maybe I should bite the bullet and go with an AMD card instead. A PCB and some form of PCIe and PSU integration could make it nice and compact. I want it to be less janky than this setup :)",
"parent_id": "8137673",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137682",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T02:18:28",
"content": "Yo, dawg. We heard you like CPUs.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137695",
"author": "pax",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T03:27:01",
"content": "It is a slot SBC, except that the slot is not doing anything here.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138230",
"author": "teh stig",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T16:06:26",
"content": "Now I’m picturing someone taking one of those mining system boards that have a ton of PCIe slots and populating it with these. Get the SBC powered from the PCI bus and slot ’em in!",
"parent_id": "8137695",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138370",
"author": "Miles",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T23:44:21",
"content": "I think you may want to look into the Nuc Extreme. It had an edge connector, but I think if was for the daughterboard to connect to the GPU. But it would be the correct form factor. See Der8auer video on it from a few years ago, I think he took Kapton tape to the connector so he could plug it into his PC.",
"parent_id": "8138230",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137823",
"author": "Clancydaenlightened",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T12:56:55",
"content": "Or just use a few shaders and some GPGpuAnd basically use it like a cpu",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138251",
"author": "definitely not a miner",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T18:27:05",
"content": "To use a simile to a South Park episode: “AMD already did it!”Let me present to you the BC-250 mining card: a Zen2 processor with RDNA2 GPU on a PCIe card, complete with its own network and USB ports. Originally sold by Asrock as a 12-node server.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,519.162332
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/10/two-bits-four-bits-a-twelve-bit-oscilloscope/
|
Two Bits, Four Bits, A Twelve-bit Oscilloscope
|
Al Williams
|
[
"Tool Hacks"
] |
[
"digital Oscilloscope",
"oscilloscope"
] |
Until recently, hobby-grade digital oscilloscopes were mostly, at most, 8-bit sampling. However, newer devices offer 12-bit conversion. Does it matter? Depends. [Kiss Analog] shows
where a 12-bit scope may outperform an 8-bit one
.
It may seem obvious, of course. When you store data in 8-bit resolution and zoom in on it, you simply have less resolution. However, seeing the difference on real data is enlightening.
To perform the test, he used three scopes to freeze on a fairly benign wave. Then he cranked up the vertical scale and zoomed in horizontally. The 8-bit scopes reveal a jagged line where the digitizer is off randomly by a bit or so. The 12-bit was able to zoom in on a smooth waveform.
Of course, if you set the scope to zoom in in real time, you don’t have that problem as much, because you divide a smaller range by 256 (the number of slices in 8 bits). However, if you have that once-in-a-blue-moon waveform captured, you might appreciate not having to try to capture it again with different settings.
A scope doesn’t have to be
physically large to do a 12-bit sample
. Digital sampling for scopes
has come a long way
.
| 4
| 3
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8137731",
"author": "Charles Springer",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T05:21:03",
"content": "I would expect the place 12 bits will shine, other than just being nicer to look at, is in any scope that does some DSP. It should drastic reduce sampling artifacts and aliases. Among them is the sampling noise front the size of the steps. DSP doesn’t like steps because they are impossible.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137737",
"author": "SparkyGSX",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T05:45:56",
"content": "Some cheaper scopes don’t have the hardware to do all possible attenuation steps, so the hardware attenuator is actually the same for different scales, and the rest is done in software, which further reduces the resolution. I don’t recall which brand we observed this on, it was about 5 years ago, I don’t know if they still do that",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137785",
"author": "Mordae",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T10:16:59",
"content": "From HMCAD1511 datasheet:1X to 50X Digital Gain, no Missing Codes up to 32X1X Gain: 49.8 dB SNR. 10X Gain: 48 dB SNRInternal 1 to 50X digital coarse gain with enoB > 7.5 up to 16X gain, allows digital implementation ofoscilloscope gain settings. Internal digital fine gain can be set separately for each ADC to calibrate for gain errors.(8 good bits is SNR of 48.16 dB for reference.)",
"parent_id": "8137737",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137788",
"author": "mordae",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T10:24:34",
"content": "Hmm, also note that for every 4x oversampling you get an extra bit, if there is some uncorrelated noise. So in the first example there was plenty of oversampling going on and visible noise that would accommodate a low-pass filter to narrow the line down quite a bit. Not sure if the scope has a button for that.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,519.058241
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/10/generating-plasma-with-a-hand-cranked-generator/
|
Generating Plasma With A Hand-Cranked Generator
|
Maya Posch
|
[
"High Voltage"
] |
[
"electrical generator",
"plasma",
"voltage multiplier"
] |
Everyone loves to play with electricity and plasma, and
[Hyperspace Pirate] is no exception
. Inspired by a couple of 40×20 N52 neodymium magnets he had kicking around, he decided to put together a hand-cranked generator and use it to generate plasma with. Because that’s the kind of fun afternoon projects that enrich our lives, and who doesn’t want some Premium Fire™ to enrich their lives?
The generator itself is mostly 3D printed, with the magnets producing current in eight copper coils as they spin past. Courtesy of the 4.5:1 gear on the crank side, it actually spins at over 1,000 RPM with fairly low effort when unloaded, albeit due to the omission of iron cores in the coils. This due to otherwise the very strong magnets likely cogging the generator to the point where starting to turn it by hand would become practically impossible.
Despite this, the generator produces over a kilovolt with the 14,700 turns of 38 AWG copper wire, which is enough for the voltage multiplier and electrodes in the vacuum chamber, which were laid out as follows:
Circuit for the plasma-generating circuit with a vacuum chamber & hand-cranked generator. (Credit: Hyperspace Pirate, YouTube)
Some of our esteemed readers may be reminded of arc lighters which are all the rage these days, and this is basically the hand-cranked, up-scaled version of that. Aside from the benefits of having a portable super-arc lighter that doesn’t require batteries, the generator part could be useful in general for survival situations. Outside of a vacuum chamber the voltage required to ionize the air becomes higher, but since you generally don’t need a multi-centimeter arc to ignite some tinder, this contraption should be more than sufficient to light things on fire, as well as any stray neon signs you may come across.
If you’re looking for an easier way to provide some high-voltage excitement, automotive ignition coils can be
pushed into service with little more than a 555 timer
, and if you can get your hands on a flyback transformer from a CRT,
firing them up is even easier
.
| 12
| 4
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8137537",
"author": "Caden",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T18:44:42",
"content": "A microwave oven transformer can also be plugged directly into the wall, but it’s considerably more dangerous with 2 kV at 1-2 Amps.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138045",
"author": "Shannon",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T23:55:53",
"content": "Yeah… don’t do that. Many people have died by using un-contained microwave oven transformers and the high voltage and current they produce.",
"parent_id": "8137537",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137574",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T20:01:55",
"content": "Goin’ fishing…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137612",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T21:25:17",
"content": "My friend’s dad had one of those. Strictly for curiosity’s sake of course, highly illegal to use them…",
"parent_id": "8137574",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137621",
"author": "a_do_z",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T21:37:57",
"content": "I don’t recall, if I ever knew, what voltage it used but I’ve seen electrofishing in action during a count performed by game wardens. It’sextremelyeffective. And, it doesn’t kill the fish. They claimed that the only dead fish they ever encountered during the process was one that had been regurgitated by a live fish.I guess I always thought a fish’s buoyancy was inherent rather than consciously controlled. I assume now that it’s controlled, probably they swim against a positive buoyancy to stay submerged. Anyway, unconscious fish float to the surface fairly rapidly.",
"parent_id": "8137574",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137660",
"author": "bstriggo",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T00:18:39",
"content": "Used to hang with biologists and was invited on the occasional fishing expedition. It -can- kill the fish, if not done with some subtlety and finesse.I used to work in a Motorola shop and recovered a 12v dc to 300v dc motor-generator unit from a scrapped mobile tube radio. The boss asked what I wanted it for and I told him ‘I dunno, maybe I’ll shock fish’. “Oh, no’ he says, ‘you need AC to shock fish, 180 to 300 volts, 20 to 80Hz’. He knew way too much about the topic for a radio guy.",
"parent_id": "8137621",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137847",
"author": "ono",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T14:04:57",
"content": "Now we only need the distance between the electrodes as well as their surface, if that counts.",
"parent_id": "8137660",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137900",
"author": "echodelta",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T15:48:36",
"content": "Rather timely to read on Earth.com about (fish suffer more than we thought from being out of the water), fish deserve a quicker death than they get laying in the bottom of the boat. Percussive and electrical methods are mentioned, but not specific values.",
"parent_id": "8137574",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138814",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T20:02:39",
"content": "They’re called stringers.Keep the fish alive and in the water until you’re ready to clean and eat them, as good as a live well.Not for some fruity PETA adjacent reason, because stress makes for bad tasting fish.‘Calling up’ a fish using a hand cranked phone generator only stuns them.You pick out the big ones, the rest recover and swim off.It’s how game wardens do fish counts.So I’ve heard…As always, I only post these things so everybody knows what not to do.",
"parent_id": "8137900",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137611",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T21:23:32",
"content": "If only they cranked out one more volt for that photo… we were so close",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138223",
"author": "Bud Arriola",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T15:27:25",
"content": "If he had put iron cups over the magnets to redirect the field he could have made the magnets stronger in that direction without the cogging effects",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138224",
"author": "Ba",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T15:34:18",
"content": "Just realized that would also do wierd things with the poles.",
"parent_id": "8138223",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,519.444763
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/11/hacking-t-cells-to-treat-celiac-disease/
|
Hacking T Cells To Treat Celiac Disease
|
Navarre Bartz
|
[
"Medical Hacks"
] |
[
"autoimmune disease",
"autoimmunity",
"Disease",
"immune system",
"medical hacks"
] |
As there is no cure for celiac disease, people must stick to a gluten free diet to remain symptom-free. While this has become easier in recent years, scientists have found some
promising results in mice
for disabling the disease. [via
ScienceAlert
]
Since celiac is an auto-immune disorder, finding ways to alter the immune response to gluten is one area of investigation to alleviate the symptoms of the disease. Using a so-called “inverse vaccine,” researchers “engineered regulatory T cells (eT
regs
) modified to orthotopically express T cell receptors specific to gluten peptides could quiet gluten-reactive effector T cells.”
The reason these are called “inverse vaccines” is that, unlike a traditional vaccine that turns up the immune response to a given stimuli, this does the opposite. When the scientists tried the technique with transgenic mice, the mice exhibited resistance to the typical effects of the target gluten antigen and a related type on the digestive system. As with much research, there is still a lot of work to do, including testing resistance to other types of gluten and whether there are still long-term deleterious effects on true celiac digestive systems as the transgenic mice only had HLA-DQ2.5 reactivity.
If this sounds vaguely familiar, we covered
“inverse vaccines”
in more detail previously.
| 15
| 3
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138080",
"author": "LookAtDaShinyShiny",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T03:23:53",
"content": "Now they need to start looking at crohns/colitis T-cells, would be good to see some movement on that (pun definitely intended!!)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138179",
"author": "Gravis",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T12:31:37",
"content": "That seems to be a non-starter as perCrohn’s diseasefrom Wikipedia: “Although Crohn’s is an immune-related disease, it does not seem to be an autoimmune disease (the immune system is not triggered by the body itself).”A better approach may be a gene therapy since it seems to have a high correlation to certain gene variants.",
"parent_id": "8138080",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8173252",
"author": "Pinky",
"timestamp": "2025-09-02T06:11:07",
"content": "Where did you read that gene therapy would be better? What type of gene therapy? Is it something like Crispr?",
"parent_id": "8138179",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138091",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T04:00:50",
"content": "I wonder if one could “unvaccinate” a body enough to permanently stop it from rejecting a donor organ. Fun term by the way, definitely not gonna cause a stink",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138124",
"author": "Cad the Mad",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T07:55:32",
"content": "Thank goodness vaccine critics are well known for being rational and skilled with nuance, and are in the habit of reading studies thoroughly and not just going off buzzwords or gross oversimplifications!",
"parent_id": "8138091",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138168",
"author": "Sven Hapsbjorg",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T12:01:40",
"content": "According to UNIDO people who refuse vaccination read on aveage 10-15 books a year while normal vaccinated people often don’t read any book because they watch TikTok.",
"parent_id": "8138124",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138176",
"author": "Gravis",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T12:18:38",
"content": "The mixture of anti-intellectualism, emotional reasoning, the Dunning–Kruger effect, and a plethora of misinformation is generally how you get seemingly intelligent people to reject scientifically sound treatments.",
"parent_id": "8138168",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138266",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T19:29:40",
"content": "It’s more complex than that I’m afraid",
"parent_id": "8138176",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138295",
"author": "ez",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T20:43:09",
"content": "Scientifically sound as “safe and effective” when no long term health effects were known, they vaccinated the control group, and didn’t even bother to study whether it would prevent transmission or not?Even the government now says the recommendations that children should get the vaccine were not based on any data but only based on “it would be better to have one recommendation for everyone” because it would be “less confusing”I’m sure lobotomies were a “scientifically sound” treatment a hundred years ago btw.",
"parent_id": "8138176",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138640",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T22:52:35",
"content": "I’m afraid that people who still talk like the one above you have crashed out like five years ago and refused to face the reality of what they’ve done to their own reputation and credibility, that they have set aflame their political chances for a generation or even longer… If they can’t see it now, they will always refuse to see it, and cover it up with platitudes and cliches they copied from Reddit… It’s kinder to just let them be, no sense in torturing each other if there’s no longer any hope for understanding.",
"parent_id": "8138168",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138127",
"author": "Sam",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T08:20:55",
"content": "Check the work by the group of Jeffrey Hubbell. They are also working on “reverse vaccination”, although not specifically for donor organ, they target autoimmune diseases which is close.https://pme-cms.uat.uchicago.edu/group/hubbell-lab",
"parent_id": "8138091",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138267",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T19:30:21",
"content": "That would definitely be nice, those dang things are incredibly frustrating and persistent",
"parent_id": "8138127",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138173",
"author": "Gravis",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T12:07:24",
"content": "An interesting idea since rare cases have shown that it’s possible to merge two immune systems. However, I suspect that will be a lot more involved than convincing the immune system that gluten proteins aren’t a threat.",
"parent_id": "8138091",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138268",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T19:32:10",
"content": "Yeah, doing one gluten molecular marker is a good first step. Doing all the markers on an entire organ would be step no. 48,823,939,294 (we’re going to need to rent some mainframe time to run some simulations…)",
"parent_id": "8138173",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138184",
"author": "Mark Topham",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T12:46:30",
"content": "Didn’t this kick off a whole game series & movie franchise?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,519.209469
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/11/compound-press-bends-punches-and-cuts-using-3d-printed-plastic/
|
Compound Press Bends, Punches And Cuts Using 3D Printed Plastic
|
Tyler August
|
[
"Tool Hacks"
] |
[
"arbor press",
"compound die",
"manufacturing",
"sheet metal",
"stamping"
] |
It’s not quite “bend, fold or mutilate” but this project comes close– it actually
manufactures a spring clip
for [Super Valid Designs] PETAL light system. In the video (embedded below) you’ll see why this tool was needed: by-hand manufacturing worked for the prototype, but really would not scale.
Two examples of the spring in question, embedded in the 3D printed light socket. There’s another pair you can’t see.
The lights themselves
might be worthy of a post
, being a modular, open source DMX stage lighting rig. Today though we’re looking at how they are manufactured– specifically how one part is manufactured. With these PETAL lights, the lights slot into a base station, which obviously requires a connection of some sort. [Super Valid Designs] opted for a spring connector, which is super valid.
It’s also a pain to work by hand: spring steel needed to be cut to length, hole punched, and bent into the specific shape required. The hand-made springs always needed adjustment after assembly, too, which is no good when people are giving you money for objects. Even when using a tent-pole spring that comes halfway to meeting their requirements, [Super Valid Designs] was not happy with the workflow.
Enter the press: 3D Printed dies rest inside a spring-loaded housing, performing the required bends. Indeed, they were able to improve the shape of the design thanks to the precision afforded by the die. The cutting step happens concurrently, with the head of a pair of tin snips mounted to the jig, and a punch finishes it off. All of this is actuated with a cheap, bog simple , hand-operated arbor press. What had been tedious minutes of work is reduced to but a moment of lever-pushing.
It great story about scaling and manufacturing that may hopefully inspire others in their projects. Perhaps with further optimization and automation, [Super Valid Designs] may find himself in the market for a
modular conveyor belt design.
While this process remains fundamentally manual, we have seen automation in maker-type businesses before, like this
coaster-slinging CNC setup
. Of course automation doesn’t have to be part of a business model; sometimes it’s nice just to skip a tedious bunch of steps,
like when building a star lamp.
| 7
| 5
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138072",
"author": "Hales",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T02:19:50",
"content": "Beautiful and detailed video.I wonder what the tent peg springs are made out of? Would they just be a plated mild steel or something fancier?I’d love to be able to make my own arbitrary spring contacts, the closest I have gotten is by ordering a few meters of phosphor bronze 0.8mm wire (which cost most of $50AUD because few people order it in small quantities). It sometimes works, but having only one size & type is annoying. Some rolls of narrow flat material would be awesome.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138077",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T02:59:47",
"content": "You could try the strips that are sold to link 18650 cells together.There is pure nickel strip. There is also nickel-plated steel strip like this:https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005007938291996.htmlHowever, be careful when adapting material for application A to your own application B.",
"parent_id": "8138072",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138073",
"author": "irox",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T02:32:29",
"content": "Nice! Loved the design process of the clip as well as the press!A few years ago I had a need to make lots of square holes in pieces of metal. These were cabinet brackets rated for 300lbs, so rather thick for sheet metal. I did the first few by drilling a 3/8″ hole and using a metal nibbling tool to square it off. The result look crap, but mostly worked. But snipping the metal away was time consuming and resulted in lots of pinch blisters…I found a 3/8″ Enerpac SPD-549 Square Punch and Die Set for $75 (currently $800+ on amazon.com) and 3D printed a really similar device to hold the punch and die. It worked great in my HF cheapo “20 ton” press. I was able to rattle off 30 remaining square holes quickly and without any more pinch blisters. And more importantly with re-pinch blistering and of the existing pinch blisters…I keep meaning to publish the files for that one. It could easily be adapted to fit other tools (including other Enerpac punch and die sets. Oh, if I remember correctly the recommend tool to use the Enerpac punch and die sets cost ~$3500.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138083",
"author": "KDawg",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T03:39:06",
"content": "I mean I see it working, so no qualms there its just in your application",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138149",
"author": "uc",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T10:24:26",
"content": "The lights themselves might be worthy of a post,They might indeed:https://hackaday.com/2023/12/31/diy-tube-lights-look-amazing-for-just-50-a-piece/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138158",
"author": "Tyler August",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T11:15:12",
"content": "Your Google-Fu has bested my WordPress-search-jitsu. I shall retire in shame to edit the article.",
"parent_id": "8138149",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138404",
"author": "Greg A",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T03:01:56",
"content": "haha i hate the video of course but i like seeing this design that uses metal where it needs to. it really is amazing how strong 3d printed plastic is if it’s not mostly under compression, just defining a shape more than handling the distance of a lever arms. happy to see someone seems to be using what it’s good at",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,519.110224
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/11/randomly-generating-atari-games/
|
Randomly Generating Atari Games
|
Al Williams
|
[
"Games",
"Software Hacks"
] |
[
"atari 2600"
] |
They say that if you let a million monkeys type on a million typewriters, they will eventually write the works of Shakespeare. While not quite the same thing [bbenchoff] (why does that sound familiar?), spent some computing cycles to generate random data and, via heuristics, find
valid Atari 2600 “games” in the data
.
As you might expect, the games aren’t going to be things you want to play all day long. In fact, they are more like demos. However, there are a number of interesting programs, considering they were just randomly generated.
Part of the reason this works is that the Atari has a fairly simple 6502-based CPU, so it is straightforward to evaluate the code, and a complete game fits in 4 K. Still, that means there are, according to [Brian], 10
10159
possible ROMs. Compare that to about 10
80
protons in the visible universe, and you start to see the scale of the problem.
To cut down the problem, you need some heuristics you can infer from actual games. For one thing, at least 75% of the first 1K of a ROM should be valid opcodes. It is also easy to identify code that writes to the TV and other I/O devices. Obviously, a program with no I/O isn’t going to be an interesting one.
Some of the heuristics deal with reducing the search space. For example, a valid ROM will have a reset vector in the last two bytes, so it is possible to generate random data and then apply the small number of legal reset vectors.
Why? Do you really need a reason? If you don’t have a 2600 handy, do like [Brian] and use
an emulator
. We wonder if the setup would ever recreate
Tarzan
?
| 25
| 11
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138013",
"author": "a_do_z",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T21:17:19",
"content": "I wonder how results of this effort would compare on a more traditional “computer”. The 2600 TIA – Television Interface Adapter (video generator chip) is a bit of a unique animal having no buffer memory and generating a line of video just at the exact time it needs to be traced out on the CRT.There have a number of TIA tricks discovered over the many ensuing years since the original release of the 2600. I have wondered whether any new ones could be discovered via random code generation.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138014",
"author": "a_do_z",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T21:18:28",
"content": "(on real hardware…if a trick worked in an emulator it was probably already known)",
"parent_id": "8138013",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138017",
"author": "Eric",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T21:31:15",
"content": "Don’t need a full 4k some of the early games were only 2k. And people have coded 1k or smaller that still ran.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138021",
"author": "Mr Nobody",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T21:36:41",
"content": "Bring Back Benchoff !!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138043",
"author": "David",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T23:41:28",
"content": "You meanthisguy? Because I don’t think you meanthis guy.",
"parent_id": "8138021",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138128",
"author": "Mr Nobody",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T08:24:47",
"content": "Both of them !!",
"parent_id": "8138043",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138132",
"author": "Josephus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T09:23:54",
"content": "To me, Benchoff is classic HaD voice, but tbh the site has been more consistent and less fighty since he left. Alas there can only be one HaD, not two, one which is a steady stream of awesome, and one which is more erratic with lots of controversy",
"parent_id": "8138021",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138232",
"author": "Chris J",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T16:25:49",
"content": "Yeah he was the only regularly contributing writer for a while before the Supply Frame buy out. I don’t think this site would still be here without him. Some of the flame wars he’d get into with readers in the comments were pretty bonkers.",
"parent_id": "8138132",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138138",
"author": "Arduino Enigma",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T09:46:19",
"content": "+1. Brian Benchoff made Hackaday fun. I wonder who was the editor he could not work together with.",
"parent_id": "8138021",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138026",
"author": "fyllyx",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T22:27:16",
"content": "OT: islet a million monkeys type on a million typewriters, they will eventually write the works of Shakespearea reasonable definition of AI ?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138055",
"author": "lambert4congress",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T00:40:34",
"content": "Humanity. It’s a reasonable definition of humanity, which AI is mirrored from.",
"parent_id": "8138026",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138081",
"author": "Isaac Wingfield",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T03:27:21",
"content": "And the Worst Job In The World would be the editor/proofreader for that pile of paper.",
"parent_id": "8138026",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138333",
"author": "Bear Naff",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T21:43:28",
"content": "The monkeys would produce something more horrific than a pile of paper that needed clearing out.",
"parent_id": "8138081",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138117",
"author": "CJay",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T06:55:21",
"content": "Exceptional it’s *many” millions of monkeys for AI.",
"parent_id": "8138026",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138044",
"author": "SETH",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T23:51:35",
"content": "This is my kind of “generative”. Pacman ghost logic = AI. LLM = SEO parlor tricks",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138087",
"author": "Simon",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T03:49:16",
"content": "#Infinite number of Monkeys. A million is a pretty small set in comparison.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138137",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T09:45:13",
"content": "Technically the infinite number of monkeys with an infinite number of typewriters did come up with the complete works of Shakespeare. The time taken would be indeterminate – basically any time between zero years and infinity years – and statistically it’s possible that the first primate with the first typewriter could actually have done it. As it turned out, we only needed 85 million years, and the typewriter wasn’t necessary.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138177",
"author": "odsquad64",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T12:24:29",
"content": "Starting from scratch, it was coming up with a place for the monkeys to live that was really the hardest part, followed by making the monkeys; the works of Shakespeare came relatively quickly after all that was sorted out.",
"parent_id": "8138137",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138182",
"author": "ramzi",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T12:42:09",
"content": "In the scale of the Universe, not long after Shakespeare other monkey came up with Goatse.",
"parent_id": "8138137",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138215",
"author": "Flogger",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T14:57:50",
"content": "“the games aren’t going to be things you want to play all day long. In fact, they are more like demos.”. oh so you mean like actual Atari games then 😂",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138423",
"author": "KDawg",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T04:05:15",
"content": "yea even back in the day when geniuses hand crafted the best they could do … how long are you really going to play atari? an entire games once mastered could last 5 min before looping and just speeding crap up",
"parent_id": "8138215",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138235",
"author": "RunnerPack",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T16:55:39",
"content": "I would rather see an LLM, trained on the blurbs from the back of the boxes and the code in the ROMs, that could generate an Atari game from a text description.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138639",
"author": "David",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T22:45:53",
"content": "I bet Chatgpt or Gemini could do it already.",
"parent_id": "8138235",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138466",
"author": "Brien King",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T10:53:28",
"content": "I’ve given a similar idea a lot of thought (probably too much) over the years. You could basically create every possible application possible for a given memory size via brute force. The code would be easy, the problem is the amount of time it would take to calculate every bit combination of 2,048 bytes (16, 384 bits). That would be counting from 0 to 2^16,384 (1.189731495357231765085759326628e+4932). Let’s just say it won’t happen in my lifetime without something like Quantum computers. You could optimize away a lot of it (all 0, all 1, etc…), but you still have to test the results as well (Ya Emulators!). The majority of the results would be garbage, but you’ll eventually come to the value that IS Pitfall and a value that is a Word Processor on the Atari 2600 (if you can do it in 2K or less).Now maybe an LLM could look for patterns of bits in all the existing games and figure a better way to optimize it.Just a fun thought :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138819",
"author": "Nick Warren",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T20:24:54",
"content": "There’s no generic algorithm, just random nose based on a few rules. It’d be cool to take it to the next level and iteratively evolve new, random games. See what it comes up with.Of course, once you add human playtesting into the loop, you’re basically just turning the testers into unconscious game designers.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,519.393968
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/11/floss-weekly-episode-836-beeps-and-boops-with-meshtastic/
|
FLOSS Weekly Episode 836: Beeps And Boops With Meshtastic
|
Jonathan Bennett
|
[
"Hackaday Columns",
"Podcasts"
] |
[
"FLOSS Weekly",
"Meshtastic"
] |
This week
Jonathan
and
Aaron
chat with
Ben Meadors
and
Garth Vander Houwen
about Meshtastic! What’s changed since we talked to them last, where is the project going, and what’s coming next? Listen to find out!
https://meshtastic.org/
https://flasher.meshtastic.org/
https://meshtastic.com/
Did you know you can watch the live recording of the show right on
our YouTube Channel
? Have someone you’d like us to interview? Let us know, or contact the guest and have them contact us!
Take a look at the schedule here
.
Direct Download
in DRM-free MP3.
If you’d rather read along,
here’s the transcript for this week’s episode
.
Places to follow the FLOSS Weekly Podcast:
Spotify
RSS
Theme music: “Newer Wave” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under
Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
| 2
| 1
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8138199",
"author": "Matthias",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T13:55:32",
"content": "This transcript seem to be broken / empty?https://flossweekly.libsyn.com/site/category/episode-836-transcript",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138499",
"author": "Tom Nardi",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T13:36:07",
"content": "Should be good now.",
"parent_id": "8138199",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,518.965735
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/11/network-infrastructure-and-demon-slaying-virtualization-expands-what-a-desktop-can-do/
|
Network Infrastructure And Demon-Slaying: Virtualization Expands What A Desktop Can Do
|
Bryan Cockfield
|
[
"computer hacks",
"Slider",
"Software Hacks"
] |
[
"containerization",
"proxmox",
"virtual machine",
"virtualization"
] |
The original
DOOM
is famously portable — any computer made within at least the last two decades, including those in printers, heart monitors, passenger vehicles, and routers is almost guaranteed to have a port of the iconic 1993 shooter. The more modern iterations in the series are a little trickier to port, though. Multi-core processors, discrete graphics cards, and gigabytes of memory are generally needed, and it’ll be a long time before something like an off-the-shelf router has all of these components.
But with a specialized distribution of Debian Linux called Proxmox and a healthy amount of configuration it’s possible to flip this idea on its head: getting a desktop computer capable of playing modern video games to take over the network infrastructure for a LAN instead, all with minimal impact to the overall desktop experience. In effect, it’s possible to have a router that can not only play
DOOM
but play 2020’s
DOOM Eternal
, likely with hardware most of us already have on hand.
The key that makes a setup like this work is virtualization. Although
modern software makes it seem otherwise
, not every piece of software needs an eight-core processor and 32 GB of memory. With that in mind, virtualization software splits modern multi-core processors into groups which can act as if they are independent computers. These virtual computers or virtual machines (VMs) can directly utilize not only groups or single processor cores independently, but reserved portions of memory as well as other hardware like peripherals and disk drives.
Proxmox itself is a version of Debian with a number of tools available that streamline this process, and it installs on PCs in essentially the same way as any other Linux distribution would. Once installed, tools like LXC for containerization, KVM for full-fledged virtual machines, and an intuitive web interface are easily accessed by the user to allow containers and VMs to be quickly set up, deployed, backed up, removed, and even sent to other Proxmox installations.
Desktop to Server
The hardware I’m using for Proxmox is one of two desktop computers that I put together
shortly after writing this article
. Originally this one was set up as a gaming rig and general-purpose desktop computer running Debian, but with its hardware slowly aging and my router not getting a software update for the last half decade I thought I would just relegate the over-powered ninth-generation Intel Core i7 with 32 GB of RAM to run the OPNsense router operating system on bare metal, while building a more modern desktop to replace it. This was both expensive not only in actual cost but in computer resources as well, so I began investigating ways that I could more efficiently use this aging desktop’s resources. This is where Proxmox comes in.
By installing Proxmox and then allocating four of my eight cores to an OPNsense virtual machine, in theory the desktop could function as a router while having resources leftover for other uses, like demon-slaying. Luckily my motherboard already has two network interfaces, so the connection to a modem and the second out to a LAN could both be accommodated without needing to purchase and install more hardware. But this is where Proxmox’s virtualization tools start to shine. Not only can processor cores and chunks of memory be passed through to VMs directly, but other hardware can be sectioned off and passed through as well.
So I assigned one network card to pass straight through to OPNsense, which connects to my modem and receives an IP address from my ISP like a normal router would. The other network interface stays with the Proxmox host, where it is assigned to an internal network bridge where other VMs get network access. With this setup, all VMs and containers I create on the Proxmox machine can access the LAN through the bridge, and since the second networking card is assigned to this bridge as well, any other physical machines (including my WiFi access point) can access this LAN too.
Not All VMs are Equal
Another excellent virtualization feature that Proxmox makes easily accessible is the idea of “CPU units”. In my setup, having four cores available for a router might seem like overkill, and indeed it is until my network gets fully upgraded to 10 Gigabit Ethernet. Until then, it might seem like these cores are wasted.
However, using CPU units the Proxmox host can assign unused or underutilized cores to other machines on the fly. This also lets a user “over-assign” cores, while the CPU units value acts as a sort of priority list. My ninth-generation Intel Core i7 has eight cores, so in this simple setup I can assign four cores to OPNsense with a very high value for CPU units and then assign six cores to a Debian 12 VM with a lower CPU unit value. This scheduling trick makes it seem as though my eight-core machine is actually a ten-core machine, where the Debian 12 VM can use all six cores unless the OPNsense VM needs them. However, this won’t get around the physical eight-core reality where doing something like playing a resource-intense video game while there’s a large network load, and this reassignment of cores back to the router’s VM could certainly impact performance in-game.
A list of VMs and containers running on Proxmox making up a large portion of my LAN, as well as storage options for my datacenter.
Of course, if I’m going to install
DOOM Eternal
on my Debian 12 VM, it’s going to need a graphics card and some peripherals as well. Passing through USB devices like a mouse and keyboard is straightforward. Passing through a graphics card isn’t much different, with some caveats.
The motherboard, chipset, and processor must support
IOMMU
to start. From there, hardware that’s passed through to a VM won’t be available to anything else including the host, so with the graphics card assigned to a VM, the display for the host won’t be available anymore. This can be a problem if something goes wrong with the Proxmox machine and the network at the same time (not out of the question since the router is running in Proxmox too), rendering both the display and the web UI unavailable simultaneously.
To mitigate this, I went into the UEFI settings for the motherboard and set the default display to the integrated Intel graphics card on the i7. When Proxmox boots it’ll grab the integrated graphics card, saving the powerful Radeon card for whichever VM needs it.
At this point I’ve solved my initial set of problems, and effectively have a router that can also play many modern PC games. Most importantly, I haven’t actually spent any money at this point either. But with the ability to over-assign processor cores as well as arbitrarily passing through bits of the computer to various VMs, there’s plenty more that I found for this machine to do besides these two tasks.
Containerized Applications
The ninth-gen Intel isn’t the only machine I have from this era. I also have an eighth-generation machine (
with the IME disabled
) that had been performing some server duties for me, including network-attached storage (NAS) and media streaming, as well as monitoring an IP security camera system. With my more powerful desktop ready for more VMs I slowly started migrating these services over to Proxmox, freeing the eighth-gen machine for bare-metal tasks largely related to gaming and media. The first thing to migrate was my NAS. Rather than have Debian manage a RAID array and share it over the network on its own, I used Proxmox to spin up a TrueNAS Scale VM. TrueNAS has the benefit of using ZFS as a filesystem, a much more robust setup than the standard ext4 filesystem I use in most of my other Linux installations. I installed two drives in the Proxmox machine, passed them through to this new VM, and then set up my new NAS with a mirrored configuration, making this NAS even more robust than it previously was under Debian.
The next thing to move over were some of my containerized applications. Proxmox doesn’t only support VMs, it has the ability to spin up LXC containers as well. Containers are similar to VMs in that the software they run is isolated from the rest of the machine, but instead of running their own operating system they share the host’s kernel, taking up much less system resources. Proxmox still allows containers to be assigned processor cores and uses the CPU unit priority system as well, so for high-availability containers like Pihole I can assign the same number of CPU units as my OPNsense VM, but for my LXC container running Jelu (book tracking), Navidrome (streaming music), and Vikunja (task lists), I can assign a lower CPU unit value as well as only one or two cores.
The final containerized application I use is Zoneminder, which keeps an eye on a few security cameras at my house. It needs a bit more system resources than any of these other two, and it also gets its own hard drive assigned for storing recordings. Unlike TrueNAS, though, the hard drive isn’t passed through but rather the container mounts a partition that the Proxmox host retains ultimate control over. This allows other containers to see and use it as well.
A summary of my Proxmox installation’s resource utilization. Even with cores over-assigned, it rarely breaks a sweat unless gaming or transferring large files over the LAN.
At this point my Proxmox setup has gotten quite complex for a layperson such as myself, with a hardware or system failure meaning that not only would I lose my desktop computer but also essentially all of my home’s network infrastructure and potentially all of my data as well. But Proxmox also makes keeping backups easy, a system that has saved me many times.
For example, OPNsense once inexplicably failed to boot, and another time a kernel update in TrueNAS Scale caused it to kernel panic on boot. In both cases I was able to simply revert to a prior backup. I have backups scheduled for all of my VMs and containers once a week, and this has saved me many headaches. Of course, it’s handy to have a second computer or external drive for backups, as you wouldn’t want to store them on your virtualized NAS which might end up being the very thing you need to restore.
I do have one final VM to mention too, which is a Windows 10 installation. I essentially spun this up because I was having an impossibly difficult time getting my original version of
Starcraft
running in Debian and thought that it might be easier on a Windows machine. Proxmox makes it extremely easy to assign a few processor cores and some memory and test something like this out, and it turned to work out incredibly well.
So well, in fact, that I also installed
BOINC
in the Windows VM and now generally leave this running all the time to take advantage of any underutilized cores on this machine for the greater good when they’re not otherwise in use. BOINC is also notoriously difficult to get running in Debian, especially for those using non-Nvidia GPUs, so at least while Windows 10 is still supported I’ll probably keep this setup going for the long term.
Room for Improvement
There are a few downsides to a Proxmox installation, though. As I mentioned previously, it’s probably not the best practice to keep backups on the same hardware, so if it’s your only physical computer then that’ll take some extra thought. I’ve also had considerable difficulty passing an optical drive through to VMs, which is not nearly as straightforward as passing through other hardware types for reasons which escape me. Additionally, some software doesn’t take well to running on virtualized hardware at all. In the past I have experimented with XMR mining software as a way to benchmark hardware capabilities, and although I never let it run nearly long enough to ever actually mine anything it absolutely will not run at all in a virtualized environment. There are certainly other pieces of software that are similar.
I also had a problem that took a while to solve regarding memory use. Memory can be over-assigned like processor cores, but an important note is that if Proxmox is using ZFS for its storage, as mine does, the host OS will use up an incredibly large amount of memory. In my case, file transfers to or from my TrueNAS VM were causing out-of-memory issues on some of my other VMs, leading to their abrupt termination. I still don’t fully understand this problem and as such it took a bit of time to solve, but I eventually both limited the memory the host was able to use for ZFS as well as doubled the physical memory to 64 GB. This had the downstream effect of improving the performance of my other VMs and containers as well, so it was a win-win at a very minimal cost.
The major downside for most, though, will be gaming. While it’s fully possible to run a respectable gaming rig with a setup similar to mine and play essentially any modern game available, this is only going to work out if none of those games use kernel-level anticheat.
Valorant
,
Fortnite
, and
Call of Duty
are all examples that are likely to either not run at all on a virtualized computer or to get an account flagged for cheating.
There are a number of problems with kernel-level anti-cheat including arguments that they are types of rootkits, that they are attempts to stifle Linux gaming, and that they’re lazy solutions to problems that could easily be solved in other ways, but the fact remains that these games will have to be played on bare metal. Personally I’d just as soon not play them at all for any and all of these reasons, even on non-virtualized machines.
Beat On, Against the Current
The only other thing worth noting is that while Proxmox is free and open-source, there are paid enterprise subscription options available, and it is a bit annoying about reminding the user that this option is available. But that’s minor in the grand scheme of things. For me, the benefits far outweigh these downsides. In fact, I’ve found that using Proxmox has reinvigorated my PC hobby in a new way.
While restoring old Apple laptops is one thing
, Proxmox has given me a much deeper understanding of computing hardware in general, as well as made it easy to experiment and fiddle with different pieces of software without worrying that I’ll break my entire system. In a very real way it feels like if I want a new computer, it lets me simply create a virtual one that I am free to experiment with and then throw away if I wish. It also makes fixing mistakes easy. Additionally, most things running on my Proxmox install are more stable, more secure, and make more efficient use of system resources.
It’s saved me a ton of money since I nether had to buy individual machines like routers or a NAS and its drives too, nor have I had to build a brand new gaming computer. In fact, the only money I spent on this was an arguably optional 32 GB memory upgrade, which is pennies compared to having to build a brand new desktop. With all that in mind, I’d recommend experimenting with Proxmox for anyone with a computer or similarly flagging interest in their PC in general, especially if they still occasionally want to rip and tear.
| 21
| 12
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8137952",
"author": "ALX_skater",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T17:21:56",
"content": "What about using it to run Minecraft? Can it deal with 4-5 players at once? Minecraft is a good game for brain development because it stimulates imagination and constructive thinking.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138216",
"author": "Bryan Cockfield",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T14:58:54",
"content": "I’m sure it could do some Minecrafting; part of my original plan for this machine was to set up a VM that could host Steam Remote Play for some of my underpowered laptops. I dropped this idea eventually due to lack of system resources once all of my more important services were migrated to the machine, and also due to a very bad decision I made to only install a 500 GB drive in this computer, making it somewhat difficult to install more than one game at a time since so much drive space is devoted to other VMs. The VM I run DOOM in only has around 120 GB, for example.If you have the hardware, though, you should give a virtualized Minecraft server a shot!",
"parent_id": "8137952",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137976",
"author": "Richard",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T18:26:28",
"content": "Nice intro to proxmox, which I keep wondering about when I frequently see it mentioned in the comments here or on slashdot. Seems like an odd use-case though, dedicating a chunk of a beastly desktop PC to being a router. Just spent $100-150 on a fanless low power mini-pc with multiple ethernet ports and stick Debian on that to be your router (or your preferred gui based router os if you’re feeling lazy).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137984",
"author": "Mac",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T18:52:12",
"content": "I attempted to do this with my (rather aging, somewhat ship-of-theseus’d) gaming PC a while ago, and ran into problems with GPU passthrough that ended up just being that my motherboard didn’t support any GPU passthrough to VMs. Check your compatibility before you go down this rabbit hole.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137994",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T19:13:48",
"content": "Handy for joining the Fediverse.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138000",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T19:44:28",
"content": "Doom and Linux, the two greatest tragedies of the 90s IMHO! In same sentences! You’re killing me! Haha!🤣🤣🤣🥲",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138220",
"author": "Joseph Eoff",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T15:14:07",
"content": "Doom and Linux, far behind the success of Windows as far as tragedies go.",
"parent_id": "8138000",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138260",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T19:05:41",
"content": "I’m not a Windows fanboy by any means, either.If it was me, then Windows 3.1x or WfW could have been the final release.OS/2 2.x and up had Windows 3.x built-in, after all, so a future with OS/2 wouldn’t have been a terrible loss, either.",
"parent_id": "8138220",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138263",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T19:13:35",
"content": "What’s sad about Doom and Linux, though, I think, is that they’ve sort of ended the era of point&click adventure games and DOS software.Or did it more quickly, maybe. Depends on point of view.The cultural, intellectual side of computing in the 90s, so to say.It’s often Linux fans who’re promoting Doom and other shooters, I think.It’s probably also related to mental state, a matter of the level of being infantile and so on.But that’s just my opinion or observation, no offense.",
"parent_id": "8138220",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138288",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T20:18:42",
"content": "And while we’re at it, both Doom and Linux relied on quick&cheap 32-Bit flat-mode.It’s another negative side, I think. Doom made DOS/4GW extender even more popular.In terms of stability, segmented memory or at least use of full x86 ring scheme would have been more responsible.But Linux being portable didn’t utilize it, either.Again, that’s where OS/2 was doing it slightly better, I think. It was made for x86.While it also didn’t utilize segmentation for 32-Bit code anymore,it did at least contain legacy code in sensible spots and had used full ring scheme of the 80386.Users of an 80286 PC could program fine 16-Bit OS/2 1.3 applications that ran even better on OS/2 2.x and Warp.But again, that’s just me. I don’t think that either Doom or Linux were anyhow outstanding.If at all, they were for being a manifest of human stupidity. In my opinion only, of course.",
"parent_id": "8138220",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138069",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T02:05:09",
"content": "My number one blocker from switching to VM based main machine is the issues with GPU passthrough.If only they could make using a GPU in multiple VMs and the host as simple as with the CPU or RAM with over provisioning so I could use 100% of my GPU in a game in a VM then swap to a different VM to run an AI, or run split loads.If I could do all that then I’d swap over immediately so I could isolate things easier. As it stands if I wanted to run a game with Kernal Anti-Cheat with the reasonable desire that it not be able to actually spy on absolutely all my stuff then I’m SOL without some major retooling to swap GPU hosts or swapping drives and rebooting to an entirely different OS for some things.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138192",
"author": "Sam",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T13:26:47",
"content": "Be warry of virtualizing everything. You turn the host into a single point of failure. I have an old server running a few VMs. It has 4 network ports so I considered virtualizing my router but decided against it. Later I had some issues with the server that took a few hours to fix, no big deal, but it would have been a much bigger headache for me and my household if the internet had been down the whole time because our virtual router was unavailable.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138212",
"author": "Bryan Cockfield",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T14:54:01",
"content": "I do still have my old Asus router sitting on my shelf, so in an emergency I can just disconnect the desktop and hook up that router to get the network functioning again. This has actually happened at least once since I started using Proxmox. But in the meantime it and its old firmware can stay unplugged.One thing I didn’t get into much in the article is that Proxmox supports nodes to replicate VMs and containers for high-availability across more than one computer, so if you have multiple physical machines you can duplicate VMs across them. This eliminates the single point of failure so if one machine shuts down the others can pick it up immediately. Of course this has an added cost of another machine, but it is a possibility which solves this problem.",
"parent_id": "8138192",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138213",
"author": "Panondorf",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T14:55:02",
"content": "I certainly wouldn’t play video games on the same hardware that is the router at my workplace or any serious business.But for home use… ok I guess. Years ago my home email/web/file server, router and desktop were all one machine. Actually.. my first router was a Windows 98 computer that also served as a desktop for anyone who wanted to browse or use instant messenger while hanging out in my college apartment livingroom!But I never really got the whole virtualization craze. I mean… I can see it I guess for high-availability commercial environments where you might take one node down at a time for upgrades and maintenance. But at home?The Linux Kernel is great at multitasking. Being a router AND being Doom at the same time shouldn’t be any challenge. Splitting everything up into VMs just means more overhead and more to maintain.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138327",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T21:31:18",
"content": "That concept isn’t so new, actually.Way back in the 1980s users ran BBS software on their Amiga or DOS PC, while playing some games or using it for productivity software.Amiga had great multitasking built-in into the OS, while DOS users ran DESQView or one of the multitasking DOSes.With advent of OS/2 2.x, it even got better on the PC side.Multitasking was so good that multiple copies of the BBS software could be run, each for one modem/user.",
"parent_id": "8138213",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138329",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T21:35:55",
"content": "Also interesting, also from the 80s..“There was also a Merge/286 version that ran on an unmodified PC/AT (without any special I/O trapping hardware);it ran as long as the PC program was reasonably well-behaved,though a malicious or crashing program could take the unprotected UNIX kernel down on those machines.Even so, the notoriously ill-behaved Microsoft Flight Simulator would run on the PC/AT simultaneously with Unix.”https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merge_(software)It’s notable that gaming was possible in a VM running on 16-Bit Unix on 80286 (!), years before Linux had even existed.",
"parent_id": "8138213",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138398",
"author": "Greg A",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T02:50:32",
"content": "this was a real head scratcher for me. i mean, i love virtualization…i use it for genuinely weird platforms (like running a 20 year old version of 32-bit x86 debian), and just for convenience i use it these days to let my browser run with exactly the runtime libraries it expects instead of the ones that are shared with everything else. i use qemu to emulate some non-pc hardware.but routers are nothing. my primary pc has eventually evolved into a headless basement server but for 30 years straight it has been my router in addition to picking up whatever random load, whether it be media player or videogames or whatever. you absolutely do not need virtualization, containerization, or anything like that to get a linux machine to route packets. for any ‘soho’ sort of environment it’s basically impossible to even detect the cpu load of routing a whole house’s network. vpn, nat, firewall, qos, ipsec, whatever.but then i read the words ‘router operating system’ and i realized it’s just that side of containerization. where people take regular functions of regular OSes and decide to make a whole OS image ‘dedicated’ to that task. so far as i can tell, there’s absolutely no reason to do it that way. there’s nothing exotic under the sun anymore and a stock debian installation can do everything.but now that virtualization is so cheap i guess there’s no reason not to do it that way. instead of distributing like a graphical front end to a few scripts that run on stock debian, why not do the exact same thing but declare that it’s a “router operating system” and can’t do anything else. i don’t like it i have to admit it’s fine…every app can be a container.i bought the $150 temu laptop and i love it but i still can’t quite wrap my mind around 8GB of RAM in a $150 laptop. there is absolutely no call for it in my life and yet here it is, so much RAM i might as well run every single program in a container with its own copy of the kernel and everything else. no reason not to.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138681",
"author": "Leo",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T03:05:28",
"content": "Have you considered using incushttps://linuxcontainers.org/incus/?It’s the official container/vm manager from the LXC team. Proxmox also uses LXC container technology.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8141077",
"author": "alanrcam",
"timestamp": "2025-06-22T05:30:51",
"content": "This inspired me to actually look up the Proxmox web page. Which where I learned about the Annual Fee.As such, it joins my “cold day in hell” software list, along with AutoCad and Photoshop.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8141221",
"author": "Augustin",
"timestamp": "2025-06-22T13:42:50",
"content": "Hi, proxmox is free and open source, we use it for free with the non-entreprise repos in our company.Comparing them to autocad and photoshop is very unfair, they are basically incredibly nice people making datacenter grade software available to all for free.I would urge you to read the docs in more details.",
"parent_id": "8141077",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8146869",
"author": "BaSz",
"timestamp": "2025-07-08T16:46:33",
"content": "wrt OOM issues over time, when overprovisioning RAM on VMs that do loads of I/O – my bet would be that NAS is hogging RAM of disk buffers, affectively pinning it to a VM. I’d try limiting dirty pages kernel config on VM and/or consider memory balooning. both should cut it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,519.335458
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/11/this-relay-computer-has-magnetic-tape-storage/
|
This Relay Computer Has Magnetic Tape Storage
|
Jenny List
|
[
"classic hacks",
"computer hacks"
] |
[
"relay computer",
"tape storage"
] |
Magnetic tape storage is something many of us will associate with 8-bit microcomputers or 1960s mainframe computers, but it still has a place in the modern data center for long-term backups. It’s likely not to be the first storage tech that would spring to mind when considering a relay computer, but that’s just what [DiPDoT] has done
by giving his machine tape storage
.
We like this hack, in particular because it’s synchronous. Where the cassette storage of old just had the data stream, this one uses both channels of a stereo cassette deck, one for clock and the other data. It’s encoded as a sequence of tones, which are amplified at playback (by a tube amp, of course) to drive a rectifier which fires the relay.
On the record side the tones are made by an Arduino, something which we fully understand but at the same time can’t help wondering whether something electromechanical could be used instead. Either way, it works well enough to fill a relay shift register with each byte, which can then be transferred to the memory. It’s detailed in a series of videos, the first of which we’ve paced below the break.
If you want more cassette tape goodness, while this may be the slowest,
someone else is making a much faster cassette interface
.
| 9
| 4
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8137889",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T15:35:53",
"content": "“Magnetic tape storage is something many of us will associate with 8-bit microcomputers or 1960s mainframe computers, but it still has a place in the modern data center for long-term backups.”Something like cold storage. Maybe one of these days we’ll get holographic storage.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137932",
"author": "Steven-X",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T16:42:53",
"content": "As for holographic storage, there have been a few attempts…InPhase Technologies: InPhase Technologies was a prominent company that developed and marketed holographic storage solutions. They worked on products like the Tapestry drive, which aimed to store data on a 5 1/4-inch disc. In 2008, InPhase introduced the Tapestry 300R, offering a 300 GB capacity and 20 MB/s read/write transfer rates for professional archiving. The company also had a product roadmap that aimed for significantly higher capacities and transfer rates in subsequent generations. InPhase developed special media like their Tapestry™ photopolymer to meet the demanding requirements for holographic storage.Aprilis: A spin-off from Polaroid, Aprilis was another company actively involved in holographic memory development, working alongside InPhase and Optware in the early 2000s.Optware (Japan): Optware developed a format called Holographic Versatile Disc (HVD), which had a potential capacity of 3.9 TB.All of the above was stolen from a Google AI search",
"parent_id": "8137889",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138047",
"author": "Chris J",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T00:07:13",
"content": "Microsoft is working on using glass as a long term storage solution, that doesn’t degrade ever. Called Project Silica",
"parent_id": "8137889",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137930",
"author": "aki009",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T16:34:52",
"content": "I have a few thousand relays waiting for the day that I turn them into a CPU. This is great inspiration!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137985",
"author": "OH3MVV",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T18:52:25",
"content": "I think you only need about 2000 to make an i4004. But prepare to get a beefy power supply!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138086",
"author": "KDawg",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T03:48:50",
"content": "one can get realys that the current of the coils is quite small, so yea ok beefy compared to TTL but still well within reason to plug it into a wall outlet… its not the 1960’s anymore switch mode power supplies can provide surprising amounts of current off 110 power supplieshow many amps can a generic ATX power supply on its 12v rail? acc to the specs a 145 watt rated unit following the OG rules is good for 10 amps, and a 450 is good for 30(that alone makes them kind of shit for makeshift bench supplies_",
"parent_id": "8137985",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138542",
"author": "aki009",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T16:39:10",
"content": "I have a 200 amp 5V power supply that I scrounged for the purpose some time ago. It won’t be enough, but I think I’ll add some logic to cascade switching. We shall see. There’s a reason it’s a work in progress…",
"parent_id": "8137985",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138217",
"author": "virtuous_sloth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T15:04:43",
"content": "When he first demoed the clock audio signal and it was a tone turning off and on I was confused and assumed I didn’t understand something. Then later when he hooked up the relay and it wasn’t happy, then explained the 60 Hz AC, I realized that I was right to be confused. The glance at the Arduino code for the clock (which I’m not familiar with) didn’t make me think it was generating AC with a clock envelope.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138219",
"author": "virtuous_sloth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T15:11:00",
"content": "I should say that in retrospect it makes sense because it is storage on an audio tape, so I’m not sure what I was expecting.",
"parent_id": "8138217",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,519.51999
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/11/reconductoring-building-tomorrows-grid-today/
|
Reconductoring: Building Tomorrow’s Grid Today
|
Dan Maloney
|
[
"Engineering",
"Featured",
"Original Art",
"Slider"
] |
[
"ACSR",
"aluminum",
"ampacity",
"capacity",
"conductor",
"grid",
"infrastructure",
"trapezoidal"
] |
What happens when you build the largest machine in the world, but it’s still not big enough? That’s the situation the North American transmission system, the grid that connects power plants to substations and the distribution system, and which by some measures is the largest machine ever constructed, finds itself in right now. After more than a century of build-out, the towers and wires that stitch together a continent-sized grid aren’t up to the task they were designed for, and that’s a huge problem for a society with a seemingly insatiable need for more electricity.
There are plenty of reasons for this burgeoning demand, including the rapid growth of data centers to support AI and other cloud services and the move to wind and solar energy as the push to decarbonize the grid proceeds. The former introduces massive new loads to the grid with millions of hungry little GPUs, while the latter increases the supply side, as wind and solar plants are often located out of reach of existing transmission lines. Add in the anticipated expansion of the manufacturing base as industry seeks to re-home factories, and the scale of the potential problem only grows.
The bottom line to all this is that the grid needs to grow to support all this growth, and while there is often no other solution than building new transmission lines, that’s not always feasible. Even when it is, the process can take decades. What’s needed is a quick win, a way to increase the capacity of the existing infrastructure without having to build new lines from the ground up. That’s exactly what reconductoring promises, and the way it gets there presents some interesting engineering challenges and opportunities.
Bare Metal
Copper is probably the first material that comes to mind when thinking about electrical conductors. Copper is the best conductor of electricity after silver, it’s commonly available and relatively easy to extract, and it has all the physical characteristics, such as ductility and tensile strength, that make it easy to form into wire. Copper has become the go-to material for wiring residential and commercial structures, and even in industrial installations, copper wiring is a mainstay.
However, despite its advantages behind the meter, copper is rarely, if ever, used for overhead wiring in transmission and distribution systems. Instead, aluminum is favored for these systems, mainly due to its lower cost compared to the equivalent copper conductor. There’s also the factor of weight; copper is much denser than aluminum, so a transmission system built on copper wires would have to use much sturdier towers and poles to loft the wires. Copper is also much more subject to corrosion than aluminum, an important consideration for wires that will be exposed to the elements for decades.
ACSR (left) has a seven-strand steel core surrounded by 26 aluminum conductors in two layers. ACCC has three layers of trapezoidal wire wrapped around a composite carbon fiber core. Note the vastly denser packing ratio in the ACCC. Source:
Dave Bryant
, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Aluminum has its downsides, of course. Pure aluminum is only about 61% as conductive as copper, meaning that conductors need to have a larger circular area to carry the same amount of current as a copper cable. Aluminum also has only about half the tensile strength of copper, which would seem to be a problem for wires strung between poles or towers under a lot of tension. However, the greater diameter of aluminum conductors tends to make up for that lack of strength, as does the fact that most aluminum conductors in the transmission system are of composite construction.
The vast majority of the wires in the North American transmission system are composites of aluminum and steel known as ACSR, or aluminum conductor steel-reinforced. ACSR is made by wrapping high-purity aluminum wires around a core of galvanized steel wires. The core can be a single steel wire, but more commonly it’s made from seven strands, six wrapped around a single central wire; especially large ACSR might have a 19-wire core. The core wires are classified by their tensile strength and the thickness of their zinc coating, which determines how corrosion-resistant the core will be.
In standard ACSR, both the steel core and the aluminum outer strands are round in cross-section. Each layer of the cable is twisted in the opposite direction from the previous layer. Alternating the twist of each layer ensures that the finished cable doesn’t have a tendency to coil and kink during installation. In North America, all ACSR is constructed so that the outside layer has a right-hand lay.
ACSR is manufactured by machines called spinning or stranding machines, which have large cylindrical bodies that can carry up to 36 spools of aluminum wire. The wires are fed from the spools into circular spinning plates that collate the wires and spin them around the steel core fed through the center of the machine. The output of one spinning frame can be spooled up as finished ACSR or, if more layers are needed, can pass directly into another spinning frame for another layer of aluminum, in the opposite direction, of course.
Fiber to the Core
While ACSR is the backbone of the grid, it’s not the only show in town. There’s an entire beastiary of initialisms based on the materials and methods used to build composite cables. ACSS, or aluminum conductor steel-supported, is similar to ACSR but uses more steel in the core and is completely supported by the steel, as opposed to ACSR where the load is split between the steel and the aluminum. AAAC, or all-aluminum alloy conductor, has no steel in it at all, instead relying on high-strength aluminum alloys for the necessary tensile strength. AAAC has the advantage of being very lightweight as well as being much more resistant to core corrosion than ACSR.
Another approach to reducing core corrosion for aluminum-clad conductors is to switch to composite cores. These are known by various trade names, such as ACCC (aluminum conductor composite core) or ACCR (aluminum conductor composite reinforced). In general, these cables are known as HTLS, which stands for high-temperature, low-sag. They deliver on these twin promises by replacing the traditional steel core with a composite material such as carbon fiber, or in the case of ACCR, a fiber-reinforced metal matrix.
The point of composite cores is to provide the conductor with the necessary tensile strength and lower thermal expansion coefficient, so that heating due to loading and environmental conditions causes the cable to sag less. Controlling sag is critical to cable capacity; the less likely a cable is to sag when heated, the more load it can carry. Additionally, composite cores can have a smaller cross-sectional area than a steel core with the same tensile strength, leaving room for more aluminum in the outer layers while maintaining the same overall conductor diameter. And of course, more aluminum means these advanced conductors can carry more current.
Another way to increase the capacity in advanced conductors is by switching to trapezoidal wires. Traditional ACSR with round wires in the core and conductor layers has a significant amount of dielectric space trapped within the conductor, which contributes nothing to the cable’s current-carrying capacity. Filling those internal voids with aluminum is accomplished by wrapping round composite cores with aluminum wires that have a trapezoidal cross-section to pack tightly against each other. This greatly reduces the dielectric space trapped within a conductor, increasing its ampacity within the same overall diameter.
Unfortunately, trapezoidal aluminum conductors are much harder to manufacture than traditional round wires. While creating the trapezoids isn’t that much harder than drawing round aluminum wire — it really just requires switching to a different die — dealing with non-round wire is more of a challenge. Care must be taken not to twist the wire while it’s being rolled onto its spools, as well as when wrapping the wire onto the core. Also, the different layers of aluminum in the cable require different trapezoidal shapes, lest dielectric voids be introduced. The twist of the different layers of aluminum has to be controlled, too, just as with round wires. Trapezoidal wires can also complicate things for linemen in the field in terms of splicing and terminating cables, although most utilities and cable construction companies have invested in specialized tooling for advanced conductors.
Same Towers, Better Wires
The grid is what it is today in large part because of decisions made a hundred or more years ago, many of which had little to do with engineering. Power plants were located where it made sense to build them relative to the cities and towns they would serve and the availability of the fuel that would power them, while the transmission lines that move bulk power were built where it was possible to obtain rights-of-way. These decisions shaped the physical footprint of the grid, and except in cases where enough forethought was employed to secure rights-of-way generous enough to allow for expansion of the physical plant, that footprint is pretty much what engineers have to work with today.
Increasing the amount of power that can be moved within that limited footprint is what reconductoring is all about. Generally, reconductoring is pretty much what it sounds like: replacing the conductors on existing support structures with advanced conductors. There are certainly cases where reconductoring alone won’t do, such as when new solar or wind plants are built without existing transmission lines to connect them to the system. In those cases, little can be done except to build a new transmission line. And even where reconductoring can be done, it’s not cheap; it can cost 20% more per mile than building new towers on new rights-of-way. But reconductoring is much, much faster than building new lines. A typical reconductoring project can be completed in 18 to 36 months, as compared to the 5 to 15
years
needed to build a new line, thanks to all the regulatory and legal challenges involved in obtaining the property to build the structures on. Reconductoring usually faces fewer of these challenges, since rights-of-way on existing lines were established long ago.
The exact methods of reconductoring depend on the specifics of the transmission line, but in general, reconductoring starts with a thorough engineering evaluation of the support structures. Since most advanced conductors are the same weight per unit length as the ACSR they’ll be replacing, loads on the towers should be about the same. But it’s prudent to make sure, and a field inspection of the towers on the line is needed to make sure they’re up to snuff. A careful analysis of the design capacity of the new line is also performed before the project goes through the permitting process. Reconductoring is generally performed on de-energized lines, which means loads have to be temporarily shifted to other lines, requiring careful coordination between utilities and transmission operators.
Once the preliminaries are in place, work begins. Despite how it may appear, most transmission lines are not one long cable per phase that spans dozens of towers across the countryside. Rather, most lines span just a few towers before dead-ending into insulators that use jumpers to carry current across to the next span of cable. This makes reconductoring largely a tower-by-tower affair, which somewhat simplifies the process, especially in terms of maintaining the tension on the towers while the conductors are swapped. Portable tensioning machines are used for that job, as well as for setting the proper tension in the new cable, which determines the sag for that span.
The tooling and methods used to connect advanced conductors to fixtures like midline splices or dead-end adapters are similar to those used for traditional ACSR construction, with allowances made for the switch to composite cores from steel. Hydraulic crimping tools do most of the work of forming a solid mechanical connection between the fixture and the core, and then to the outer aluminum conductors. A collet is also inserted over the core before it’s crimped, to provide additional mechanical strength against pullout.
Is all this extra work to manufacture and deploy advanced conductors worth it? In most cases, the answer is a resounding “Yes.” Advanced conductors can often carry twice the current as traditional ACSR or ACCC conductors of the same diameter. To take things even further, advanced AECC, or aluminum-encapsulated carbon core conductors, which use pretensioned carbon fiber cores covered by trapezoidal annealed aluminum conductors, can often triple the ampacity of equivalent-diameter ACSR.
Doubling or trebling the capacity of a line without the need to obtain new rights-of-way or build new structures is a huge win, even when the additional expense is factored in. And given that an estimated 98% of the existing transmission lines in North America are candidates for reconductoring, you can expect to see a lot of activity under your local power lines in the years to come.
| 65
| 10
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8137855",
"author": "baltar",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T14:18:03",
"content": "If the current is limiting factor due to heat why not increase voltage to millions of billiards of volts?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137870",
"author": "abjq",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T14:52:07",
"content": "There are probably limiting factors such as the insulators on the towers. Upgrading these may help, until you get to the breakdown between wire and tower itself.What about DC instead? Would that have less losses over distance – even if you factor in the conversion at both ends to a squllion volts DC?",
"parent_id": "8137855",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137908",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T15:59:26",
"content": "Humid days and gap between wires are the ultimate limit.Once an arc starts the plasma is a good conductor.You should never ever release Mylar helium balloons with Mylar ‘strings’ near high tension lines.The arcs produced are not ‘free fireworks’.Don’t do it!Do it wrong and part of the arc is you.BTW this is an ad…the ‘advanced conductor’ manufacturers…they’re selling their companies stock though.Transmission line upgrades have been under continuous evaluation, for decades.Including many cases, cable replacement, tower replacement, to up-volt or covert to DC…The cost side is brutal.Downtime cost kills many projects in the cradle.But if your replacing conductors anyhow…Then the EMF twits show up, wearing emergency blankets and clutching crystals.",
"parent_id": "8137870",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138237",
"author": "jenningsthecat",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T17:07:39",
"content": "Then the EMF twits show up, wearing emergency blankets and clutching crystals.The EMF twits should then be happy about HVDC transmission lines, unless they’re also afraid of fridge magnets…",
"parent_id": "8137908",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137934",
"author": "flipperpi",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T16:46:05",
"content": "Direct Current is better for shorter distances….however it’s inefficient when dealing with power distribution over the grid, to homes. Alternate Current is a big win there.",
"parent_id": "8137870",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138007",
"author": "anonymus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T20:41:47",
"content": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-voltage_direct_current",
"parent_id": "8137934",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138245",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T17:39:36",
"content": "True for low voltages. Emphatically not true for long-haul high voltage transmission.As they say, alittle bitof knowledge is a dangerous thing.",
"parent_id": "8137934",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137897",
"author": "DJ",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T15:42:46",
"content": "Higher voltages require larger insulators, which add weight and cost. At higher voltages, conductors also must be seperated further apart and further from the ground, which means the transmission line towers must be wider, higher, and stronger, adding even more cost. The conductors themselves are a minimal part of the cost of a transmission line.Not mentioned in the article is the ‘skin effect,’ which is the tendency of electrons to ‘prefer’ travelling along the outside of a conductor in an AC system. At 50-60 Hz, electrons penetrate the conductor to a depth of less than a centimeter, and even less at higher frequencies. So it’s unusual to see a AC transmission line conductor thicker than 2 cm. To increase current capacity, multiple conductors are used in parallel. I’ve seen 2, 4, and even 6 conductors used per phase in some installations.Switching to DC transmission eliminates the problems with skin effect, but adds the cost of conversion back to AC, which can be substantial. The losses converting from AC to DC and back are typically far higher than the losses of an AC transformer. DC lines are most often used to connect different transmission networks together to share power while eliminating problems with phasing, i.e. syncronizing the different networks. A phase shift of only a few degrees between networks can waste considerable power and transmission line planners will sometimes route a line to be somewhat longer to match the AC phases at each end as closely as possible. Inter-electrode capacitance between the long transmission lines can also affect transmission line efficiency and sometimes large high-voltage inductors (often called reactors) are used to bring the phases back in sync.",
"parent_id": "8137855",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137909",
"author": "rclark",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T16:01:41",
"content": "Also think about what it would take to open a breaker with high current DC.",
"parent_id": "8137897",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137917",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T16:11:59",
"content": "A Hybrid DC Circuit Breaker (HCB) perhaps. Or the older Mechanical Circuit Breaker (MCB) with Resonant Circuits.",
"parent_id": "8137909",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137927",
"author": "DJ",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T16:32:19",
"content": "Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) gas is typically used in modern high voltage circuit breakers to quench any arcing.",
"parent_id": "8137909",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138239",
"author": "jenningsthecat",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T17:10:16",
"content": "Just as an aside, SF6 is also a VERY potent greenhouse gas.",
"parent_id": "8137927",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138244",
"author": "I Alone Possess The Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T17:39:26",
"content": "Just as an aside, now I want some sooooooo much…",
"parent_id": "8137927",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138065",
"author": "Hiro Protagonist",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T01:34:56",
"content": "DC is also used for undersea cables as AC would induce current in the seawater.",
"parent_id": "8137897",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138148",
"author": "Matthias",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T10:22:39",
"content": "Not really … the cable is a long cylindric capacitor. On AC, you have to charge and discharge it for every cycle, the charge current is added to the load current, and the sum must not exceed the current carrying capability of the cable. Undersea cables tend to be long –> high capacity –> lots of charging current. The only possibility to cut the charging current is lowering the frequency, so you go DC, where you charge the cable once on switch-on and discharge it once on switch-off.",
"parent_id": "8138065",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137925",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T16:28:59",
"content": "Gets too risky. Lowers the effort required to really mess things up to low. Honestly it’s already a bit too low and we are kind of waiting for someone to be brave enough to prove it..",
"parent_id": "8137855",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137997",
"author": "Gravis",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T19:20:13",
"content": "I’m guessing power companies thing it’s “unethical” and “inefficient” to create a giant bug zapper that takes out nearby pedestrians. A bunch of killjoys is what they are.",
"parent_id": "8137855",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137857",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T14:23:27",
"content": "Power being produced closer to need. e.g. data centers having renewables nearby. e.g. Texas.HTLS using aluminum-zirconium alloys, and cores using fiberglass, or invar steel. In combination with DLR (Dynamic Line Rating) and FACTS (Flexible AC Transmission Systems). As well as HVDC in some circumstances.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137907",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T15:56:19",
"content": "Also not mentioned is alternative transmission-line tower designs. e.g. monopole (some using composite materials), compact and artistic designs, multi-circuit/voltage.",
"parent_id": "8137857",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137913",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T16:09:18",
"content": "Transmission towers are a ‘highly evolved’ structure.Nobody is going to make big improvements unless new materials are used.Reasonably cheap new materials.They’re far to expensive to indulge the artsy-fartsy people.Nobody is ever going to actually build the Ti-chi poses transmission line, just render it.It’s wrong to say ‘cookbook engineering’, suck a thing doesn’t exist, not even civil.But well trodden ground.",
"parent_id": "8137907",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137919",
"author": "Matthias",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T16:18:53",
"content": "for the High Temperature Low Sag conductors and the DLR you also have to watch the temperature of the clips holding the cable: while the cable itself stays cool enough, the clips may trap the heat and become hot spots on the mechanically most critical point of the conductor (and the clips itself have to withstand that higher temperature as well, local wind speed variations may play an important role for cooling effects and must be considered).",
"parent_id": "8137857",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8140832",
"author": "Dude",
"timestamp": "2025-06-21T11:19:09",
"content": "Power being produced closer to need. e.g. data centers having renewables nearbyPeople have the wrong idea about local renewable energy production. You’d think that a wind turbine or a wind farm nearby is producing energy for you, but it’s the opposite.That’s because the average wind power site is only producing significant power some 15% of the time, or about 1 day of the average week. Of course you have weeks when it’s turning constantly, but then you have weeks when the turbines are barely generating anything. In reality 85% of the time the power is coming in from elsewhere.Weather fronts are huge, so wind turbine sites correlate in output with one another over huge distances up to 600 miles, which increases the average transmission distance of power and requires building more long-distance transmission capacity. Solar power is even worse because everyone in a 1000 mile radius is getting or not getting power at the same time.The only thing in this system that actually gives you power “closer to need” is the gas turbine or the engine generator that gets switched on when the transmission grid is full, or the prices are too high and you can’t buy more power from elsewhere.",
"parent_id": "8137857",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8141209",
"author": "Matthias",
"timestamp": "2025-06-22T12:50:06",
"content": "15% is way off,https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volllaststunde?useskin=vectorhas a table (the english version doesn’t). If you need a little less than full throttle output all the time it gets even better.",
"parent_id": "8140832",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137863",
"author": "Sammie Gee",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T14:34:53",
"content": "… which brings us the point of municipal-level compact modular nuclear reactors that would reduce the need for the long transmission lines … obviously, PROPERLY MAINTAINED and not just outsourced to the cheapest H1B visa holders straight from high school …The idea of municipal-level power generation has been around since forever, and have we had THAT happening by now, there would be dozens of independent (NOT locked under the umbrella/parent begemoth corporation) competing with each other, and thus, introducing better solutions for lower price, and less transmission lines, more professional good local jobs kind of deal.Presently we have the exact opposite, hence, back to the long transmission lines … longer lines … larger begemoths …. more losses … more government subsidies under the “rural electrification Act” (or whatever it is that Farm Bill is called now) … that’s what this is aiming at, getting more federal-taxes-paid dough … larger power plants … I believe Peter Gabriel has excellent song about that, “Sledgehammer”, “… my house is getting bigger …” and so on : – ]",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137882",
"author": "fiddlingjunky",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T15:28:07",
"content": "“not just outsourced to the cheapest H1B visa holders straight from high school”While I like the idea of distributed power generation where practical, that is one nasty dog whistle.",
"parent_id": "8137863",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137926",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T16:30:38",
"content": "So? Not everyone is like you. In fact very few are, and you gotta face that eventually if you claim to be in support of democracy",
"parent_id": "8137882",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138351",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T22:28:29",
"content": "It’s not a dog whistle. Cheap imports screw things up. You’re allowed to say it out loud.",
"parent_id": "8137882",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137902",
"author": "Suppressed Carrier",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T15:50:42",
"content": "I am old enough to remember when my county of residence had three power plants.One in the North county, one in the south, and one down town in the county seat.",
"parent_id": "8137863",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137903",
"author": "Suppressed Carrier",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T15:51:25",
"content": "That was a different time then, I often wish we could return to.",
"parent_id": "8137902",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137939",
"author": "DJ",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T16:58:57",
"content": "I don’t. I live 2 miles from a now-closed coal plant. Woke up every morning to black sooty dust and small gritty particles all over my car, which stained and pitted the paint. Also, having 3 times as many plants would mean 3x workers, 3x maintenance, 3x the infrastructure to supply fuel, higher total operating costs… how much are you willing to pay for electricity?",
"parent_id": "8137903",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137966",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T17:54:59",
"content": "Michigan coal plant being kept open by you know who and eleven states footing the bill.",
"parent_id": "8137939",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138035",
"author": "Suppressed Carrier",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T23:02:42",
"content": "Sorry your power plant wasn’t fed with Natural Gas.",
"parent_id": "8137939",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138282",
"author": "I Alone Possess The Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T19:58:52",
"content": "It’s a tragedy that the Prime Directive forbids the Federation from sharing Tarp Technology with us.",
"parent_id": "8137939",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137938",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T16:58:00",
"content": "Still have coal though.https://www.mlive.com/environment/2025/06/utility-wants-11-states-to-help-pay-to-keep-michigan-coal-plant-open-under-trump-order.html",
"parent_id": "8137902",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138010",
"author": "Sammie Gee",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T20:58:54",
"content": "Id’ keep my (virtual) mouth shut if I didn’t have anything particular in mind.Seek ye certain Dense Plasma Focus rabbit hole – a nuclear fusion working concept that can be powered by boron (abundant fuel, btw) and hydrogen and spew forth mostly helium and direct energy (as in “electricity” without the need for the intermediaries, steam turbines, etc). Literally, one blast of the cycle charges supercapacitors. (as a side note, I suspect that THIS particular kind was the basis for the Star Trek New Generation reactor – though, obviously, the “cycles” won’t be noticeable by the average human, but the initial ignition would be).Regardless, the top of the wiki article about DPF spells out why it is not favored by the Big Important Governments and Big Important Investors – because it doesn’t nee to be scaled up to the gargantuan proportions to work. Technically speaking, it can be scaled up, of course, but the results would be diminishing returns, which means this could have been a prime candidate for such things, modular municipal reactors.There was excellent talk by one of the acolytes, I think he was the engine behind the Focus Society (sadly, the site seem to be abandoned), and I lost the link … but the gist was thus – average investment needed was under 50 mils per few years, hiring mostly engineers, with few working prototypes demonstrating working concepts ready for production, and mentioned Big Bad Investors wanted Big Bad Governments to generate Big Bad Projects with hundreds of bureaucrats looking over few dozens of engineers, which was, basically, the main reason why they cannot get any financing going. They were asking too little (50 mils for someone like Chase or Microsoft or Intel is peanut change – they pay more than that annually to their CEOs and directors).If I find the link, I’ll share it – it is excellent primer in many topics at once, nuclear physics included, with peek into quantum mechanics (and not only). Worthy watching and listening to, and about explains just WHY we are not to get anything comparable any time soon, sadly.",
"parent_id": "8137863",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138012",
"author": "Sammie Gee",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T21:16:00",
"content": "Found the link – google “Focus Fusion: The Fastest Route to Cheap, Clean Energy”. Excellent lecture.",
"parent_id": "8138010",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138831",
"author": "Peter",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T21:31:26",
"content": "I am 53 now, and I did read my first article about (myon catalyzed, low temperature) fusion reactors when I was 12, in Scientific American. As I am German and this foreign magazine was the expensive hobby of my physics teacher, it most probable was an older back issue from the year(s) before, which he gave to the school library.Did I see fusion since in the last 41 years?no.When is it supposed to appear?“really soon now™”Do I have hope to own a fusion reactor at some point in the statistically 28 years that I have left?Unfortunately no.",
"parent_id": "8138012",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139187",
"author": "Daniel Schultz",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T00:07:05",
"content": "The Scientific American article about Muon Catalyzed Fusion in the1980’s also stated that the short lifetime of muons and the difficulty of producing them in sufficient quantity meant that this would probably never be a practical energy source.",
"parent_id": "8138831",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8140416",
"author": "MaxL",
"timestamp": "2025-06-19T17:46:55",
"content": "I totally agree and wish more people had a full perspective on the maturity of fission power, which has been a thing for 74 years, and fusion power, which is not really close to being a thing despite over 100 years of fairly intensive research.Fission power timeline:1938 – Nuclear fission discovered1942 – First large scale controlled fission reaction1945 – First large scale uncontrolled fission reaction (trinity test)1951 – The first fission produced electricity1956 – First commercial fission power plant started up 69 years agoFusion power timeline1934 – Nuclear fusion experimentally demonstrated1952 – First large scale uncontrolled fusion reactionThe current endurance record for a controlled fusion reaction is 22 minutes compared to the 28 minutes of controlled fission first achieved 83 years ago.Net electricity production by fusion has not been achieved in the 101 years since fusion was first demonstrated in the lab.While fusion power research has some value there is no evidence that it is anywhere near the point of producing any electrical output let alone commercial scale electrical output despite over a century of dedicated research. The past few decades of billion dollar efforts have not come anywhere close to pushing fusion technology to the level of commercial viability fission power achieved almost 70 years ago.If carbon free base load power is really the goal it seems obvious where more effort should be spent.",
"parent_id": "8138831",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138108",
"author": "McFortner",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T05:46:06",
"content": "The problem with locally generated municipal power can be summed up by NIMBY. People want power, septic services, and garbage collection, but they don’t want it nearby. They want it as far away as possible. Any attempt to do otherwise and the lawsuits start up to stop them and the legal process drags it out for so long that it’s costing too much to fight the opponents. This is why we have the system we do now.",
"parent_id": "8137863",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137923",
"author": "KC",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T16:25:38",
"content": "I know I’m going to catch hell for suggesting this, but why haven’t we started burying high tension lines?I get it, the cost per linear unit of measure is way higher with underground infrastructure. I also acknowledge that it’s only truly viable in geologically stable regions, which there are plenty of. I’m not talking about a new subway system or eight lane high way here. Small diameter tunnel boring is a bit more common now with Musk’s Boring Company up and running; not saying we use them but we can learn from their mistakes and successes.I’d rather pay once for a deep, low maintenance tunnel network than continually paying for high tension lines. Tunnels are protected from the majority of natural disasters and potential CIKR terrorist attacks. They’re comparatively low maintenance if built right.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137928",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T16:32:34",
"content": "Cost. If the math comes back saying it’s less cost to put ’em underground, they go underground. And keep in mind that budgets are determined by the lifetime of bureaucracies and administrations, so it isn’t long-term.",
"parent_id": "8137923",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137931",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T16:39:52",
"content": "The cost an insane fortune and another when they do need maintenance.SOP is to install a temporary above ground line when needed for work.That doesn’t work at high voltages, so those really should be redundant.Which ends the study with a thud.Also losses.Underground runs hotter but doesn’t droop and dumps heat better.",
"parent_id": "8137923",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137936",
"author": "Matthias",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T16:51:43",
"content": "underground has no real means of cooling, seehttps://hackaday.com/2024/12/04/the-london-underground-is-too-hot-but-its-not-an-easy-fix/This means, you have to heavily reduce losses to stay within the temperature range of the cable insulation (meaning much more metal and/or much lower power rating)",
"parent_id": "8137931",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137944",
"author": "NerdWorld",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T17:07:27",
"content": "London Underground is hot because it was built in a biome with active lava flows and many caves. For some reason the same issue doesn’t happen with Paris, Berlin or Moscow metro systems.",
"parent_id": "8137936",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138103",
"author": "Nathan",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T05:18:52",
"content": "Uhhh… what? I’m not aware of any hot flowing lava in London.It’s problem is entirely heat soak over long periods of time. Doens to hundreds of feet of dirt make for a great insulator.",
"parent_id": "8137944",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137945",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T17:12:07",
"content": "You’re citing a story about a subway system.Electric insulators are usually also good thermal insulators, but that’s not universal and plastics can stand higher heat then human subway riders.The cables are much much more expensive than hanging ones, similar V and A.Devil is always in the details. Details of the soil matter. Water table etc.",
"parent_id": "8137936",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137951",
"author": "Matthias",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T17:18:39",
"content": "Same problem, different flavor. You have to limit the losses to stay within the allowed temperature range, because soil does not conduct heat very well.",
"parent_id": "8137945",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137967",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T18:02:21",
"content": "Or actively dump heat.With a high enough thermal gradient, soil conducts heat ‘well enough’.Depending on the soil type and water content.Just that whiny brit underground riders can’t stand a ‘high enough thermal gradient’…",
"parent_id": "8137945",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137986",
"author": "Matthias",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T18:55:08",
"content": "theory aside, heat buildup is a known limiting factor for cables, not only in soil, but also in walls, cable ducts, …, and it should at least be considered for cables in deep tunnels as mentioned by KC, as tunnels also suffer from heat buildup, see London Underground",
"parent_id": "8137945",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138032",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T22:50:19",
"content": "In walls, it’s 99% instantaneous heat that’s an issue.Typical slow blow breakers/fuses don’t give you long enough to really build up heat (at the overamp edge).Actively dumping heat is not a ‘theory’, but mostly heat pipes/sinks, convection and fans work well enough.Of course they work the math.But it’s not universally prohibitive.Bigger problem is really where the heat comes from, greater losses for non-superconducting underground. 1% of a gigawatt is a lot.Granted 1% extra loss isn’t a one furlong/league/km (non-moon walker units used to placate fuzzy foreigners) cable run.Anyhow: the obvious solution is diamond as both cable insulator and heat conductor. No voltage is unreachable underground with a enough solid diamond.",
"parent_id": "8137945",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138150",
"author": "Matthias",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T10:38:04",
"content": "seehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miniature_circuit_breaker#Standard_current_ratings(the german version has more details), the thermal trigger in the upper half of the picture is to save the cable in the wall/duct/bundle from excessive heat buildup",
"parent_id": "8137945",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137937",
"author": "Iain McClatchie",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T16:53:31",
"content": "Buried gigawatt lines produce a lot of heat. You end up pumping fluid to pull the heat out, and that pump is another failure point and more expense.I think these are restricted to big cities where the relatively short runs make the cost bearable.It gets pretty exotic. There’s a cryogenic superconducting conductor under the San Francisco Bay, for example.",
"parent_id": "8137923",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138106",
"author": "Nathan",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T05:27:55",
"content": "Ya sure about that?… at least the cryogenic part? I’m guessing you’re referring to the trans bay cable, but it isn’t superconductinghttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans_Bay_CableI haven’t come accross any mention of a superconducting transmission line of any type mself; mu understanding is that current superconducting materials are too brittle (and costly) to make something like this work.",
"parent_id": "8137937",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8140423",
"author": "MaxL",
"timestamp": "2025-06-19T18:08:33",
"content": "The only cryogenic superconductor link I am aware of is in Chicago and uses American Superconductor’s high temp superconducting cable commissioned around 2021.https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/enn/chicago-superconductor-project-will-link-substations-with-high-capacity-wires",
"parent_id": "8137937",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137947",
"author": "Matthias",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T17:13:45",
"content": "Underground is practically a high voltage cable buried in a big trench, meaning high stray capacitance (heavily limiting line length and being problematic for grid stability), no fault clearing by switching off the line for a second like on overhead lines, the need to keep the line clear of trees and everything with deep roots, and maintainance is easier when you can just look up to see where the problem is. Common problem with cables is water creeping into the insulation layer, resulting in arcs which have to be localized and dug up for repair, with the repair itself bringing in a higher risk of failing (again) by line inhomogenity.And voles love the warmth in the ground next to the line, which is the main reason the farmers here[tm] now much prefer overhead lines again…",
"parent_id": "8137923",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138157",
"author": "Bruce",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T11:13:54",
"content": "Burying anything in a place with winter freeze/thaws is a problem. The ground moves. There is a Fair Ground near me that is built in a flood plain – Buried communication cables placed in a straight dug trench from building to building will fail after a few years. When excavated, the cables will be no longer be straight, instead following the flow of the earth in sweeping ‘S’ curves.That and the fact that nothing is going deeper than a few feet without serious blasting and rock cracking in New England.",
"parent_id": "8137923",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8140420",
"author": "MaxL",
"timestamp": "2025-06-19T18:01:48",
"content": "It is hard to dissapate heat underground so underground lines have very low capacity compared to overhead lines. Plus, as you noted, the cost to install and maintain underground structures is high, thousands of times higher than overhead lines. Elon Musk’s Boring Company is no longer “up and running” having only completed a single project, the 1.7 mile loop of tunnel in Las Vegas back in 2021. You need large diameter tunnels for high voltage high power cables to give space for maintenance and cooling. As Elon discovered, those tunnels are very expensive to build.Underground is best for “last mile” distribution in neighborhoods where voltages are lower and power levels are low enough that heat dissapation is less problematic. There you can just dump plastic insulated cables in a 6 foot deep trench and call it done. It is a bit more complicated with 250 KV transmission lines.",
"parent_id": "8137923",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138003",
"author": "anachronda has watched too much tv",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T19:54:28",
"content": "The core can be a single steel wire, but more commonly it’s made from seven strands, six wrapped around a single central wire;i wonder if they’ve considered seven around two, wrapped by one",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8140425",
"author": "MaxL",
"timestamp": "2025-06-19T18:13:37",
"content": "I think Firestone still has the trademark ;-)https://youtu.be/YUhTrtVCAdc?si=5KERt_gzIQG4xSIe",
"parent_id": "8138003",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138039",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T23:11:29",
"content": "I feel sorry for the swamp Germans though.They think it’s the government’s job to run the grid.Truth.I’ve consulted for the main Dutch power company.Note: nonprofit NGO, not government.Swamp German leaders know better.Also:Client facing engineer to applied math PhD. ‘Fix the model or I’m sending you to Amsterdam to explain personally.’Me: ‘What can I break to get sent to Amsterdam? Say the word and it’s as good as broken.’It was some time ago, when Amsterdam was ‘known’ to make Vegas look like Topeka.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138116",
"author": "CityZen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T06:44:27",
"content": "Hmm, the example ACSR shown seems to have the layers winding in the same direction.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138164",
"author": "Sammie Gee",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T11:30:29",
"content": "I see my comments being removed. I am not a troll, but complex/advanced topics cannot be discussed in few paragraphs.Regardless, municipal nuclear reactors would ease up the need for the long transmission lines.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138354",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T22:34:08",
"content": "Are we even capable of re-tooling our infrastructure at this point? Here in the southeast we still haven’t repaired the damage from Helene. If you start looking elsewhere in the world, the trend is to move away from a centralized grid and toward local solar/battery installations, as well as learning to live with intermittent electricity. We have to accept the limitations of modern humans. For whatever reason, we can’t do the stuff we used to.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139682",
"author": "Plugh",
"timestamp": "2025-06-17T16:58:52",
"content": "Good article. I am going to cast doubt on the “largest machine in the world” claim. If I accept the premise that a power grid is a machine, I’d still say the Eastern Interconnect, Western Interconnect, and Texas Interconnect are separate grids and accordingly separate machines. Each of those grids are phase synchronized at nominally 60Hz (which is amazing to think about), which could be considered a single machine, or a single system. But there isn’t synchronization between grids. Each is separate, with a few HVDC links.The European grid is bigger than any individual American grid. Apparently the Northern China grid has more power on it than any of these (Wikipedia), but the Europe grid does cover a larger area and probably has more transmission routes to more locations. Your call about which is a bigger machine.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,519.899141
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/10/supercon-2024-repurposing-esp32-based-commercial-products/
|
Supercon 2024: Repurposing ESP32 Based Commercial Products
|
Lewin Day
|
[
"cons",
"Microcontrollers"
] |
[
"2024 Hackaday Superconference",
"commercial products",
"embedded hardware",
"ESP32",
"firmware"
] |
It’s easy to think of commercial products as black boxes, built with proprietary hardware that’s locked down from the factory. However, that’s not always the case. A great many companies are now turning out commercial products that rely on the very same microcontrollers that hackers and makers use on the regular, making them far more accessible for the end user to peek inside and poke around a bit.
Jim Scarletta has been doing just that with a wide variety of off-the-shelf gear. He came down to the 2024 Hackaday Superconference to tell us all about how
you can repurpose ESP32-based commercial products.
Drop It Like It’s Hot
Jim starts off this talk by explaining just why the ESP32 is so popular. Long story short, it’s a powerful and highly capable microcontroller that can talk WiFi and Bluetooth out of the box and costs just a few bucks even in small quantities. That makes it the perfect platform for all kinds of modern hardware that might want to interact with smartphones, the Internet, or home networks at some point or other. It’s even got hardware accelerated cryptography built-in. It’s essentially a one-stop shop for building something connected.
Jim notes that while some commercial ESP32-based products are easy to disassemble and work with, others can be much harder to get into. He had particular trouble with some variants of a smartbulb that differed inside from what he’d expected.
You might ask why you’d want to repurpose a commercial product that has an ESP32 in it, when even fully-built devboards are relatively cheap. “It’s fun!” explains Jim. Beyond that, he notes there are other reasons, too.
You might like re-configuring a commercial product that doesn’t
quite
do what you want, or you might want to restore functionality to a device that has been deactivated or is no longer supported by its original manufacturer. You can even take a device with known security vulnerabilities and patch them or rebuild them with a firmware that isn’t so horridly dangerous.
It’s also a great way to reuse hardware and stop it becoming e-waste. Commercial hardware often comes with great enclosures, knobs, buttons, and screens that are far nicer than what most of us can whip up in our home labs. Repurposing a commercial product to do something else can be a really neat way to build a polished project.
While we often think of Apple’s ecosystem as a closed shop, Jim explains that you can actually get ESP32 hardware hooked up with HomeKit if you know what you’re doing.
Jim then explains how best to pursue your goal of repurposing a commercial product based on the ESP32. He suggests starting with an ESP32 devboard to learn the platform and how it works. He also recommends researching the product’s specifications so you can figure out what it’s got and how it all works.
Once you’ve got into the thing, you can start experimenting to create your hacked prototype device, but there’s one more thing he reckons you should be thinking about. It’s important to have a security plan from the beginning. If you’re building a connected device, you need to make sure you’re not putting something vulnerable on your home network that could leave you exposed.
You also need to think about physical safety. A lot of ESP32 devices run on mains power—smart bulbs, appliances, and the like. You need to know what you’re doing and observe the proper safety precautions before you go tinkering with anything that plugs into the hot wires coming out of the wall. It’s outside the scope of Jim’s talk to cover this in detail, but you’re well advised to do the reading and learn from those more experienced before you get involved with mains-powered gear.
Jim uses the Shelly as a great example of a commercial ESP32-based product. Credit:
via eBay
The rest of Jim’s talk covers the practical details of working with the ESP32. He notes that it’s important to think about GPIO pin statuses at startup, and to ensure you’re not mixing up 5 V and 3.3 V signals, which is an easy way to release some of that precious Magic Smoke.
He also outlines the value of using tools like QEMU and Wokwi for emulation, in addition to having a simple devboard for development purposes. He explores a wide range of other topics that may be relevant to your hacking journey—using JTAG for debugging, working with Apple HomeKit, and even the basics of working with SSL and cryptography. And, naturally, he shows off some real ESP32-based products that you can go out and buy and start tinkering with right away!
Jim’s talk was one of the longer ones, and absolutely jam packed with information at that. No surprise given the topic is such a rich one. We’re blessed these days that companies are turning out all sorts of hackable devices using the popular ESP32 at their heart. They’re ripe for all kinds of tinkering; you just need to be willing to dive in, poke around, and do what you want with them!
| 4
| 3
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8137579",
"author": "Justin",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T20:13:30",
"content": "Jim’s talk was one of the longer ones, and absolutely jam packed with information at that. Should have been “Jim packed”.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137615",
"author": "RetepV",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T21:27:01",
"content": "Our company was manufacturing a Bluetooth-connected smart scale. But due to component shortages, at some point we had to either redesign all the electronics, or opt to a (Chinese) 3rd party scale that we could rebrand. It came with a whole set of bureaucracy for adding features and fixing issues. As I had to implement support for it, there were days that I was tearing my hair out because of simple things that they just wouldn’t change because it didn’t fit into their API philosophy. For instance user-management. A scale will be used by multiple people, and the scale will have profiles, and try to guess who is on the scale. But they did not want to add the possibility to read the profiles that were already on the scale, or to force the scale to use a specific profile. So all I could do was make best guesses. And if I detected something out of sync, or if the customer had complaints, all we could do was tell the customer to factory reset the scale and re-onboard everyone. But then the scale would assign new unique ids to those users, and I had to match them up with the previous ids. Long list of problems I had to solve, it doesn’t end here. ;)Then, at some point I opened the scale to see what’s inside. And I found out that it was built around an ESP32. And I was SO VERY tempted to just write our own firmware from scratch for it…I didn’t do it, I had much more pressing things to do. But the temptation was SO very strong… :D I still feel it now that I’m writing this story, which is 4 years after this all happened. ;) Maybe I should do it in my spare time, just to get rid of the temptation. ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137817",
"author": "DM",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T12:40:19",
"content": "Go check out “Annex RDS” which is a rapid development system for all things ESP (8266 and esp32).Drop dead easy to flash onto the modules. It makes it very easy to create a webpage that you land on when you connect to the wifi of the ESP module. Very easy to implement buttons, graphs, I/O, displays, etc.The website is…https://cicciocb.com/forum/(you may need to create a login)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137824",
"author": "DM",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T12:57:35",
"content": "Here is the main landing page for Annex…https://www.cicciocb.com/annexwifi/home.htmlHere is the Help file for Annex RDS…https://www.cicciocb.com/annex32help/V2.006/start.htm#_Toc196337393",
"parent_id": "8137817",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,519.602271
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/10/skyroof-a-new-satellite-tracker-for-hams/
|
SkyRoof, A New Satellite Tracker For Hams
|
Bryan Cockfield
|
[
"Radio Hacks",
"Solar Hacks"
] |
[
"amateur radio",
"Doppler",
"ham radio",
"repeater",
"satellite",
"skyroof",
"uhf",
"VHF"
] |
Communicating with space-based ham radio satellites might sound like it’s something that takes a lot of money, but in reality it’s one of the more accessible aspects of the hobby. Generally all that’s needed is a five-watt handheld transceiver and a directional antenna. Like most things in the ham radio world, though, it takes a certain amount of skill which can’t be easily purchased. Most hams using satellites like these will rely on some software to help track them,
which is where this new program from [Alex Shovkoplyas] comes in.
The open source application is called SkyRoof and provides a number of layers of information about satellites aggregated into a single information feed. A waterfall diagram is central to the display, with not only the satellite communications shown on the plot but information about the satellites themselves. From there the user can choose between a number of other layers of information about the satellites including their current paths, future path prediction, and a few different ways of displaying all of this information. The software also interfaces with radios via CAT control, and can even automatically correct for the Doppler shift that is so often found in satellite radio communications.
For any ham actively engaged in satellite tracking or space-based repeater communications, this tool is certainly worth trying out. Unfortunately, it’s only available for Windows currently. For those not looking to operate under Microsoft’s thumb,
projects such as DragonOS do a good job
of collecting up the must-have Linux programs for hams and other radio enthusiasts.
| 13
| 4
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8137509",
"author": "CJay",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T17:35:14",
"content": "Well that looks useful, downloaded and installed on a spare machine.Bit of a surprise when it talked to me though",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137522",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T18:12:38",
"content": "lolI have Predict running, it still makes me jump when out of nowhere“This is Predict, satellite is at xxx and approaching”everysingletime",
"parent_id": "8137509",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137549",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T19:15:37",
"content": "Seems good. I wonder if it can be run on Vista/ 7 x64 with kernel extensions, such asExtended Kernel for Windows VistaorVxKex.To those who want to have a pretty Windows OS in the shack, I mean.Aero Glass on the desktop provided some elegance to an otherwise plain shack consisting of small, blacl gadgets and oversized TFT panels.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137557",
"author": "Cody",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T19:39:07",
"content": "It looks like it would have been useful, but there’s no Linux version.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137562",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T19:48:28",
"content": "That’s not a problem, but a future macOS version would be nice.But knowing ham scene, this was probably made in Visual Studio, maybe using .NET runtime. So it’s hard to make portable.But that’s okay, on such OSes, a Windows VM can be run just easily.– If only Windows 10/11 wouldn’t be so plain looking altogether.Older versions were so customizable and pretty, even Windows 98SE was more eye-friendly, I think.WINE may or may not do, lower level DLLs which talk to rotor (rotator) interface or provide CAT support may no work on WINE.",
"parent_id": "8137557",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137580",
"author": "QBFreak",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T20:13:58",
"content": "If it’s .NET, and written properly, it’s possible it can be run with Mono under Linux. Alas, most of the time .NET stuff tends to rely on a bunch of MS dependencies, preventing this.I remember setting up some Windows based field day logger a friend used that worked like this. Ran just fine on whatever lightweight Linux distro we had on the netbooks (Raspbian maybe?), so long as you launched it via Mono.",
"parent_id": "8137562",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137597",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T20:55:56",
"content": "It’s open source, and the source is linked to right there, easy to check. Have a gander and see what’s needed to compile for Linux, maybe even try porting it. (I saw the .cs extensions and turned around and went home, but maybe you’ll be more motivated)",
"parent_id": "8137557",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137613",
"author": "Mark Topham",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T21:26:13",
"content": "I took a quick look, it didn’t look horrific so porting part or all of it might not be too bad.Was considering shoving it through an AI to get some porting advice for it.Portions of it should be easy, complexities with the SDR integration are inevitable; but the graphical stuff is probably not too bad; he’s using OpenGL, for good or bad. At least it’s not primarily windows graphics oriented.",
"parent_id": "8137597",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137759",
"author": "John Russell",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T08:22:03",
"content": "Try to run it under WINE. I know they got WXtoIMG to run under WINE in Linux and that is a weather satellite decoder with some tracking",
"parent_id": "8137557",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137783",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T10:01:01",
"content": "WXtoIMG is great, I remember there also used to be an G3/G4 Mac version for OS X 10.1 “Puma” and up (WXtoImg 2.4.16).I think I’ve once tried it out on my iMac G3 bondi blue.Versions compatible with PPC G4+G5/Intel/Mac OS X 10.4 “Tiger” and up still exist (such as WXtoImg21011.dmg).In case someone has a classic pre-intel Macintosh in the shack.These are still good enough for running CocoaModem, MacDoppler or MultiMode.WXSat used to be fine, too. It’s a Win16 application with 32-Bit code, I think.I’ve used to use it on Windows for Workgroups, next to UI-View and WinPix Pro..(In general, it’s possible to use many Win16 classics in Windows x64 via OTVDM/WineVDM.)",
"parent_id": "8137759",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137631",
"author": "craig",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T22:06:45",
"content": "While a measuring tape yagi is a fun entry level project and worth doing, I had plenty of success with the old 5W HT and the rubber duckie antenna. At least where I was at the time overhead or near overhead passes happens every day or two. It wasn’t an over the horizon contact or anything but worked crystal clear.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137635",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T22:29:59",
"content": "A helix antenna is nice for moving satellites, too.It takes care of the polarization problem, for example.More info:http://www.astrosurf.com/luxorion/qsl-satellites-reception.htm",
"parent_id": "8137631",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138654",
"author": "Ed",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T00:21:41",
"content": "Tried to download but it comes with a virus.Deleted download. Guess I don’t get to play.",
"parent_id": "8137635",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,519.794573
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/10/is-the-atomic-outboard-an-idea-whose-time-has-come/
|
Is The Atomic Outboard An Idea Whose Time Has Come?
|
Tyler August
|
[
"Engineering",
"Featured",
"Slider",
"Transportation Hacks"
] |
[
"cargo ship",
"general electric",
"nuclear power",
"nuclear propulsion"
] |
Everyone these days wants to talk about Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) when it comes to nuclear power. The industry seems to have pinned its hopes for a ‘nuclear renaissance’ on the exciting new concept. Exciting as it may be, it is not exactly new: small reactors date back to the heyday of the atomic era. There were a few prototypes, and a lot more paper projects that are easy to sneer at today. One in particular caught our eye,
in a write-up from Steve Wientz
, that is described as an atomic outboard motor.
It started as an outgrowth from General Electric’s 1950s work on airborne nuclear reactors. GE’s proposal just screams “1950s” — a refractory, air-cooled reactor serving as the heat source for a large turboprop engine. Yes, complete with open-loop cooling. Those obviously didn’t fly (pun intended, as always) but to try and recoup some of their investment GE proposed a slew of applications for this small, reactor-driven gas turbine. Rather than continue to push the idea of connecting it to a turboprop and
spew potentially-radioactive exhaust directly into the atmosphere
, GE proposed podding up the reactor with a closed-cycle gas turbine into one small, hermetically sealed-module.
Bolt-On Nuclear Power
There were two variants of a sealed reactor/turbine module proposed by GE: the 601A, which would connect the turbine to an electric generator, and 601B, which would connect it to a gearbox and bronze propeller for use as a marine propulsion pod. While virtually no information seems to have survived about 601A, which was likely aimed at the US Army, the marine propulsion pod is fairly well documented in comparison in GE-ANP 910: Application Studies,
which was reviewed by Mark at
Atomic Skies
. There are many applications in this document; 601 is the only one a modern reader might come close to calling sane.
Cutaway diagram of the General Electric 601B
The pod would be slung under a ship or submarine, much like the
steerable electric azimuth thrusters
popular on modern cruise ships and cargo vessels. Unlike them, this pod would not require any electrical plant onboard ship, freeing up an immense amount of internal volume. It would almost certainly have been fixed in orientation, at least if it had been built in 1961. Now that such thrusters are proven technology though, there’s no reason an atomic version couldn’t be put on a swivel.
A modern electric azimuth thruster.
Two sizes were discussed, a larger pod 60″ in diameter and 360″ long (1.5 m by 9.1 m) that would have weighed 45,000 lbs (20 metric tonnes) and output 15,000 shp (shaft horse power, equivalent to 11 MW). The runtime would have been 5000 hours on 450 lbs (204 kg) of enriched uranium. This is actually comparable to the shaft power of a large modern thruster.
There was also a smaller, 45″ diameter version that would produce only 3750 shp (2796 kW) over the same runtime. In both, the working gas of the turbines would have been neon, probably to minimize the redesign required of the original air-breathing turbine.
Steve seems to think that this podded arrangement would create drag that would prove fatally noisy for a warship, but the
Spanish Navy seems to disagree, given that they’re putting azimuth thrusters under their flagship.
A submarine might be another issue, but we’ll leave that to the experts. The bigger problem with using these on a warship is the low power for military applications. The
contemporary Farragut-class destroyers
made 85,000 shp (63 MW) with their steam turbines, so the two-pod ship in the illustration must be both rather small and rather slow.
Concept Art of 601B propulsion pods under a naval vessel, art by General Electric
Of course putting the reactors outside the hull of the ship also makes them very vulnerable to damage. In the 1950s, it might have seemed acceptable that a reactor damaged in battle could simply be dumped onto the seafloor. Nowadays, regulators would likely take a dimmer view of just dropping hundreds of pounds of uranium and tonnes of irradiated metal into the open ocean.
Civilian Applications
Rather than warships, this sort of small, modular reactor sounds perfect for the new
fleet of nuclear cargo ships the UN is pushing for
to combat climate change. The
International Maritime Organization’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050
is just not going to happen without nuclear power or a complete rethink of our shipping infrastructure. Most of the planning right now seems to center on next-generation small modular reactors: everything from pebble-bed to thorium. This Cold War relic of an idea has a few advantages, though.
Need to refuel? Swap pods. Mechanical problems? Swap pods. The ship and its nuclear power plant are wholly separate, which ought to please regulators and insurers. Converting a ship to use azimuth thrusters is a known factor, and not a huge job in dry dock. There are a great many ships afloat today that will need new engines anyway if they aren’t to be scrapped early and the shipping sector is to meet its ambitious emissions targets. Pulling out their original power plants and popping ‘atomic outboards’ underneath might be the easiest possible solution.
The
Sevmorput
is currently the
only operational nuclear merchant ship
in the world. To meet emissions goals, we’ll need more.
Sure, there are disadvantages to dusting off this hack — and we think a good case can be made that turning a turboprop into a ship-sized outboard ought to qualify as a ‘hack’. For one thing, 5000 hours before refueling isn’t very long. Most commercial cargo ships can cruise at least that long in a single season. But if swapping the pods can be done in-harbor and not in dry dock, that doesn’t seem like an insurmountable obstacle. Besides, there’s no reason to stay 100% faithful to a decades-old design; more fuel capacity is possible.
For another, most of the shielding on these things would have been provided by seawater by design, which is going to make handling the pods out of water an interesting experience. You certainly would not want to see a ship equipped with these pods capsize. Not close up, anyway.
Rather than pass judgement, we ask if General Electric’s “atomic outboard” was just way ahead of its time. What do you think?
| 48
| 20
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8137441",
"author": "macsimki",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T14:44:34",
"content": "No. nobody wants to talk about something with the words smart and reactor in it. where the “smart” part is arguably more dangrous that the “reactor” part. Its in the engineering departement of the chemical “things i dont work with”. Brrr.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137443",
"author": "macsimki",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T14:46:09",
"content": "ignore. i misread the word “small”. phew…",
"parent_id": "8137441",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137650",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T23:19:29",
"content": "Message received, your “Precocious and Clever AI-Enabled Micro-Reactor MKII” is completed and in the mail. It should reach you under its own power and navigation in under two business days",
"parent_id": "8137441",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137448",
"author": "commiegir",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T15:01:50",
"content": "Just put SMRs in ships and make them modular. We don’t need the ‘smart’ part, in fact ‘smart’ is not desirable in a nuclear reactor control scenario.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137475",
"author": "bob",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T16:21:05",
"content": "agreed. I wouldn’t expect anyone to risk their life maintaining an unshielded reactor. there’s little weight penalty for shielding in a container ship so put the reactor inboard somewhere and run coaxial power cables to the outboard motor.",
"parent_id": "8137448",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137634",
"author": "D",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T22:29:49",
"content": "If the reactor is inboard, I’m not sure if there’s much remaining appeal to an outboard motor. That seems to combine the installation difficulty of inboard with the water resistance downside of the outboard pod.",
"parent_id": "8137475",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137651",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T23:24:15",
"content": "Devil’s advocate: one of the problems I see is that it would be very tempting to re-use it as something else if it is not designed for a very specific task of turning a propeller at variable speeds.You could imagine one docked in a port of some country being surreptitiously used as a power plant, overloaded and under-maintained until it melts down. Or other possibilities… Of course you could do the same with a propeller pod, hooking it up to a big dynamo and pulling it above-water, but it would be more difficult and obvious.",
"parent_id": "8137475",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137471",
"author": "Mr. Christopher",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T16:12:52",
"content": "Using them in merchant ships seems reasonable-ish as long as everything is working normally, but of course, when something goes wrong is when the real design challenge comes. I thought of the Evergiven stuck in the Suez canal. What if that boat also had an atomic pod underneath? Maybe it sits high enough that the pods wouldn’t bottom out, but the shallow water didn’t have enough volume to keep the reactor cool when stopped.What about End of Life? Lots of boats end up run aground onto some ship-breaking beach in a developing country. You want to make 100% sure the reactor pods are reclaimed before that point.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137477",
"author": "MacAttack",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T16:26:13",
"content": "Would every ship so equipped now become a good target for bad peeps looking to make “dirty bombs” ?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137559",
"author": "Tyler August",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T19:43:30",
"content": "Don’t worry, the unshielded reactor would fry any frogmen trying to take it off the ship.It’s not an OHSA hazard, it’s a security feature!",
"parent_id": "8137477",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137644",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T23:02:31",
"content": "Make it into a drone with its own rudder and explosive bolts so it can separate and be remotely recalled to a friendly port as a submarine in the event of any shenanigans",
"parent_id": "8137477",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137674",
"author": "CityZen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T01:39:32",
"content": "Or in the event of failure to pay for the subscription? :-)",
"parent_id": "8137644",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137733",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T05:30:51",
"content": "Of course! Or if they are shipping anything that would make me errr I mean whoever owns it lose value in the stock market…",
"parent_id": "8137674",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137480",
"author": "Thinkerer",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T16:30:45",
"content": "The 601B power package has an obvious application – nuclear powered torpedoes that could run indefinitely.Sink a ship halfway around the world? No problemo…Given the current interest in submersible “drones”, we may see this kind of thing again (provided they’re not already being developed).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137495",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T17:08:51",
"content": "Weapons that cost more than the ship one’s hitting generally isn’t a good idea.",
"parent_id": "8137480",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137638",
"author": "D",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T22:34:27",
"content": "The ship one is hitting is almost certainly a nuclear aircraft carrier worth over $10B, so the math still checks out.But I presume that use case is already covered pretty well by missiles.",
"parent_id": "8137495",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137642",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T22:57:41",
"content": "Put a nuclear bomb in one, what does an enemy port city cost?",
"parent_id": "8137495",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137645",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T23:03:54",
"content": "Close–weapons that cost more than the potential damage the target could cause if it is not interdicted are a bad idea",
"parent_id": "8137495",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137558",
"author": "Tyler August",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T19:41:57",
"content": "That was in the applications document!It was the 60s, you think they were going to pass up the chance to sell the US government on a new doomsday weapon? There were cruise missiles and atilt-rotor. Just stop and think of that for a second: nuclear V-22. With 60s controls. Isaidthe outboard was the only halfway sane idea in the box, and I meant it!",
"parent_id": "8137480",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137647",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T23:07:46",
"content": "So awesome… Wish we still had that kind of engineering insanity. Still not even remotely close to Project Pluto, the autonomous unshielded nuclear ramjet that you simply put into a holding pattern over your enemies until they sprouted a third eyeball and an arm growing out of their back, until finally it ran out of enough fissile material to push itself around at mach 9 or whatever unholy speed it was designed for, and augered into the ground instantly transforming whatever area that happens to be into another Chernobyl.Also it was coated in gold. Just a tremendous flex. A Vehement Chariot of the Gods.",
"parent_id": "8137558",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137776",
"author": "Stephen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T09:18:35",
"content": "I find Project Pluto very funny, in the same kind of horrifying way that “Doctor Strangelove” is funny. It particularly amuses me that they were never able to flight-test the thing because doing so was almost equivalent to declaring nuclear war on whoever was underneath.",
"parent_id": "8137647",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137560",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T19:44:05",
"content": "The Ruskies made one, a render anyhow.Propaganda for domestic Russian consumption.Useless.",
"parent_id": "8137480",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137525",
"author": "Gravis",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T18:19:25",
"content": "Well, if anything, it should be anuclear microreactorof some sort with an obscene amount of shielding. Like, it should be able to take a direct hit from a tank cannon without leaking.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137648",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T23:10:29",
"content": "Certainly an achievable engineering problem. I think “can fall from orbit without cracking” is a good benchmark to aim for",
"parent_id": "8137525",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137581",
"author": "LordNothing",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T20:14:00",
"content": "seems with more ships using electric thrusters and eliminating the drive shaft, you would be better off just replacing one of the generators for an smr. you still use the ship’s power grid and thrusters and just requires hooking up some cables and coolant loops.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137609",
"author": "James W Williams",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T21:21:26",
"content": "I’m currently working part time on the NS Savannah, the world’s first nuclear merchant ship. It operated in the 1960s though the early 1970s. It was part of President Eisenhower’s Atoms for Peace program. Sadly, it did not inaugurate the era of nuclear merchant ships as hoped but maybe it will happen soon. But in any case, it’s a beautiful piece of mid-century design and fun to tinker around on.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NS_Savannah",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137629",
"author": "echodelta",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T22:02:54",
"content": "As a kid in the early 60’s I watched a half hour show on it. So exciting then. It had cranes for cargo, pre container days. Seems so quaint now.",
"parent_id": "8137609",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137668",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T01:23:37",
"content": "Fun fact: It was proposed, designed, built and launched in less than four years: during the same president’s term.Good luck getting that done these days. At least in the US. China, however, …",
"parent_id": "8137609",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137735",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T05:39:25",
"content": "Monkey’s paw moment at the end there",
"parent_id": "8137668",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137813",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T12:22:58",
"content": "Can’t wish this one away though.",
"parent_id": "8137735",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137940",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T17:00:38",
"content": "You mean the Chinese are going to be able to implement bad ideas without thinking them through and we now don’t?I’m not sure about the second part though.Just we already lost the money on a nuclear powered merchant ship and see that costs have only gone up, while $/tonmile is down.For costs, looking at nuclear navy, which is a best case for merchant shipping.They’re much more likely to just let it rust and ‘collect insurance’ as endgame.",
"parent_id": "8137813",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137610",
"author": "Cynic",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T21:21:28",
"content": "The popularity of anything nuclear is in my experience direct inversely proportional to global stability.Same was/is true for space garbage cleaning.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137618",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T21:34:21",
"content": "I’m trying to remember some science fiction book or show, I thought it was the Foundation series but apparently that’s wrong…Basically there are spacecraft in it which had FTL drives, but the FTL drives belonged to some neutral faction, say space-Switzerland, and they very jealously guarded the drives. They were in a sealed-off module that was attached to the ship and had their own crew inside who were all space-Swiss and had their own loyalties, and going from one section of the ship to the other from the inside was not possible.If the commander of the ship ever did anything the space-Swiss really didn’t like, they would simply activate the drive and jump away, but only transporting the drive module of the ship, leaving the rest of the hulk torn open venting atmosphere into space, stranded.Anyway, this reminds me of that. If you’re a container ship and you’re doing something the people who lease you the drive don’t like, they could send it a command to detach and sail home on its own, leaving you adrift somewhere off the coast of Somalia. Pretty cool, lots of potential.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137623",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T21:41:05",
"content": "I figured it out… I’m thinking of the Claudia Unit from Last Exile. It’s not an FTL drive, it’s the antigravity module, so if the guild doesn’t like what you’re doing they detach the antigrav and pull out, and the rest of the warship falls out of the sky like a stone.",
"parent_id": "8137618",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137646",
"author": "D",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T23:05:07",
"content": "This also resembles ideas in the Ringworld series (particularly book 2) in which the reclusive Puppeteer species is far ahead in starship technology, but is so risk averse that they rely on other species to staff their exploration ships, while one unfortunate Puppeteer captain cowers the whole voyage in an impenetrable safe room. So our human protagonist is constantly stuck between the danger of the job, and the danger of his paranoid Puppeteer captain venting the ship’s atmosphere to prevent a perceived mutiny.",
"parent_id": "8137618",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137649",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T23:11:21",
"content": "Nice, yeah I remember that series too, very inventive",
"parent_id": "8137646",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137725",
"author": "Andy",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T04:50:40",
"content": "Those pods would have such a pretty Cherrnkov glow when steaming at night. Imagine the curious squid in port shortly after shutdown.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137734",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T05:33:29",
"content": "The best part is that water makes such great shielding that it would be safe until you get close enough to be pulled into the propeller, just like pools filled with blue Cherenkov light on land. They make for great swimming, and they’re nice and warm",
"parent_id": "8137725",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137757",
"author": "Johnu",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T08:20:43",
"content": "A few things rather optimistically skirted over here;Need to refuel? Swap pods. Mechanical problems? Swap pods. The ship and its nuclear power plant are wholly separatePresumably not actually true as you would certainly need control & monitoring of the small nuclear reactor you’d strapped to your ship.There are a great many ships afloat today that will need new engines anyway if they aren’t to be scrapped early and the shipping sector is to meet its ambitious emissions targets.I suspect retro-fitting better fuel & emissions control systems to the existing engine is a far more attractive prospect than ripping it out (or leaving it as dead weight) and bolting a nuclear reactor on.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137816",
"author": "Tyler August",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T12:35:55",
"content": "The slow speed diesels have phenomenal thermodynamic efficiency, all things considered, so there is not much room for improvement. The only way to improve them in terms of CO2 emissions would be to start cutting bunker fuel with veggie oil.You’re very right that some things were optimistically skirted over. This is a blog post, not a white paper, so I chose to focus on the positives.",
"parent_id": "8137757",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137777",
"author": "low",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T09:19:12",
"content": "I’ve boarded ships where every member of the crew seemed to speak a different language, and when quizzing the “ship’s engineer” about where basic things like ballast tanks or piping were located, they would have to pull out manuals that looked like they’d never been opened before.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137797",
"author": "hammarbytp",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T11:05:17",
"content": "“Unlike them, this pod would not require any electrical plant onboard ship,”Modern ships are power hungry. Even those that use diesel to power the propellers still need electrical power to run the various sensors and ancillary equipment. I don’t see a lot of benefit therefore in splitting off the propulsion unit. Electrical motors are more controllable and flexible. You have more choice in positioning of the generators as well. Yes a SMR as a replacement for the diesel generators to for pollution reduction could be interesting, but I think the outboard concept solves nothing and was invented at a time before modern power electronics were invented",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137810",
"author": "Winston",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T12:08:53",
"content": "General Electric’s 1950s work on airborne nuclear reactors produced the first molten salt reactor.My absolute favorite was SLAM, a Mach 3 nuclear ramjet powered cruise missile that flew at high altitude until nearer to the targets (it carried 16 nukes) at which point it transitioned to terrain following at 150 meters. They actually developed and tested the nuclear ramjet. There’s an hour long documentary I saw about it on TV many years ago. Incredibly impressive and it really pushed the state of the art. Once launched and its reactor activated it was incredibly radioactive with its unshielded nuclear ramjet.Project Plutohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_PlutoThere is a Sci-Fi movie called “The Lost Missile” that probably had some in that secret program and the also secret spysat program wondering if there had been leaks because the missile in that was very roughly like SLAM and one of the northern US radar installations briefly involved in the film was called “Keyhole” which was the classified designation of the US’ brand new spysat program.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137834",
"author": "Puddle Pirate Extraordinaire",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T13:33:53",
"content": "I’m surprised the ATB (Articulated Tug and Barge) model wasn’t mentioned. They’re a niche workaround to avoid regulatory hurdles but they do have their advantages in that they add flexibility to a fleet. Its essentially a detachable engine room; like an outboard motor big enough to be its own boat. If a barge is down for maintenance and refit, it doesn’t necessarily mean the tug portion is.A similar method might make sense with nuclear maritime power. It would mean smaller cargos but potentially higher speeds and access to shallower draft ports.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137837",
"author": "Tim McNerney",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T13:37:58",
"content": "Let’s begin with merchant vessels. There are all sorts of penny-pinching ship owners out there. Well-documented are poorly-maintained ships that leak long trails of pollution easily visible from space. And given the mixed reputation of companies who decommission such ships, gee, what could possibly go wrong? So these pods might be better off on well-protected, military vessels, which, of course might become engaged in combat. QED. There is a third option: an international agency that employs naval commandos to rescue nuclear pods that fall into the wrong hands. Merchant ships are already tracked by satellites for insurance reasons. Whew, I can finally imagine a viable application. (Such a rescue, soon to be a major motion picture?)But at least let me express an opinion that historically, Three Mile Island (TMI) was a really unfortunate, small-fish accident that yielded a big-ish overreaction. Modular, nuclear reactors finally offer the potential to be safe, reliable, and made in factories. True, we still haven’t solved the long-term waste storage problem, (mostly due to lack of political will: NIMBYs certainly won the day in Nevada), but other than that, nuclear energy truly is “green energy” not subject to the whims of weather. Coal-burning power plants might well have gone away sooner too, if only nuclear power had not gotten a black eye in the 1970s. Heck, anyone remember “Nuclear Magnetic Resonance” (NMR)? It had to be renamed “Magnetic Resonance Imaging” (MRI) because after TMI, the word “nuclear” became, well, um, radioactive.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138476",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T11:30:48",
"content": "The UN really is on a roll being idiotic isn’t it? Man, you’d think they would worry the US might get aggressive over the competition in the field.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8140291",
"author": "none ra",
"timestamp": "2025-06-19T09:02:48",
"content": "The best way to deal with lost volume for a ship; design in more volume. These things don’t add any significant advantage and create several huge flaws as stated in the article. Want to make them modular or easily swappable? designate some onboard area designed to have easy crane access and do it that way.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8141966",
"author": "Gregory Maynard",
"timestamp": "2025-06-24T22:20:07",
"content": "Regarding “..General Electric’s 1950s work on airborne nuclear reactors…” they actually did fly. The Convair NB-36H flew with an operational reactor from 1955 to 1957. Over the 215 hours of flight time the reactor was operated during 89 of those hours. However, it did not provide power to the engines.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,520.354474
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/10/the-ongoing-bcachefs-filesystem-stability-controversy/
|
The Ongoing BcacheFS Filesystem Stability Controversy
|
Maya Posch
|
[
"Linux Hacks",
"Original Art"
] |
[
"bcache",
"BcacheFS",
"filesystem"
] |
In a saga that brings to mind the hype and incidents with ReiserFS, [SavvyNik]
takes us through
the latest data corruption bug report and developer updates regarding the BcacheFS filesystem in the Linux kernel. Based on the
bcache
(block cache) cache mechanism in the Linux kernel, its author [Kent Overstreet] developed it into what is now known as BcacheFS, with it being announced in 2015 and subsequently merged into the Linux kernel (6.7) in early 2024. As a modern copy-on-write (COW) filesystem along the lines of ZFS and btfs, it was supposed to compete directly with these filesystems.
Despite this, it has become clear that BcacheFS is rather unstable, with frequent and extensive patches being submitted to the point where [Linus Torvalds] in August of last year
pushed back
against it, as well as expressing regret for merging BcacheFS into mainline Linux. As covered in the video, [Kent] has pushed users reporting issues to upgrade to the latest Linux kernel to get critical fixes, which really reinforces the notion that BcacheFS is at best an experimental Alpha-level filesystem implementation and should probably not be used with important data or systems.
Although one can speculate on the reasons for BcacheFS spiraling out of control like this, ultimately if you want a reliable COW filesystem in Linux, you are best off using btrfs or ZFS. Of course, regardless of which filesystem you use, always make multiple backups, test them regularly and stay away from shiny new things on production systems.
| 58
| 11
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8137371",
"author": "shinsukke",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T11:30:51",
"content": "ext4 FTW. My PC has suffered several hard turn offs over the years (until I wisened up and bought a UPS). ext4 has been very robust, never corrupting even a single file, and repaired everything after booting back again",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137377",
"author": "Darius",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T11:49:31",
"content": "All decent file systems have such properties. Be it NTFS, xfs, UFS, and so on. This is more a property of your disks to honestly report the data that they said they stored than a property of a production-ready filesystem.One thing that ext4 misses is consistent snapshots: You can’t take a snapshot to back up all the files in a consistent state, with applications modifying files as you run the backup (except with a special block-level snapshot layer, which doesn’t count since that’s outside of the filesystem). Another issue is scalability: Checking inode-based file systems is expensive, as time and space necessary to check the metadata scale linearly with file system size.One inefficienty is the assumption of operating on a spinning HDD. Filesystems for SSDs have a very different architecture.Nobody was ever fired for choosing ext4, I guess.",
"parent_id": "8137371",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137704",
"author": "M",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T03:48:34",
"content": "For when drives lie, that’s where I reach for ZFS (or formerly mdadm). Having redundant copies of data means the correct thing can be reconstructed (though ZFS’s combination of a journal and raid gets rid of the write hole issue).",
"parent_id": "8137377",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137792",
"author": "phuzz",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T10:49:27",
"content": "The “honestly report the data that they said they stored” part is important. Had a very small case of data loss recently when a customer lost power* just as a file was being written. the file system reported that it had been written, but apparently the SSD had written it to a cache, reported success, but lost power before it could permanently write it. If they’d waited a fraction of a second longer it would have been written.EXT4 in this case, but any filesystem is only as good as the drives you’re using.*(they were trying to reboot a router but didn’t know how, so instead just unplugged everything)",
"parent_id": "8137377",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137409",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T13:07:24",
"content": "A comment like this suggests you don’t know enough about ZFS (or others) to understand why they are used instead of ext4.",
"parent_id": "8137371",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137416",
"author": "El Gru",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T13:23:59",
"content": "Or know too much and use the simpler ext4 due to very predictable write behaviour and storage consumption. =)Unless I pay a team to take care of my stuff, I will always run a dumb stable system.",
"parent_id": "8137409",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137421",
"author": "Hugo Oran",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T13:38:31",
"content": "BCA chefs cooked … spaghetti filesystem, bwahaha. (I only saw the title, no interest in it:)",
"parent_id": "8137416",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137705",
"author": "M",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T03:49:43",
"content": "If you aren’t running production database workloads where every iop counts, ZFS’s defaults are pretty much set-and-forget.",
"parent_id": "8137416",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8142753",
"author": "Vini",
"timestamp": "2025-06-27T18:27:15",
"content": "ZFS is slower than ext4, so it’s not about iop",
"parent_id": "8137705",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137425",
"author": "Greg A",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T13:53:33",
"content": "i can’t speak for shinsukke but i definitely do not know anything about why / when zfs/btrfs are desirable.a quick skim shows that the two main features seem to be volume management and snapshotting (what is called copy-on-write).both of those features seem kind of neat to me, but they also each make me nervous.i’ve met overeager volume management schemes (such as hardware raid) that unrecoverably trash an entire volume whenever anything goes wrong, and that experience has made me prefer the mirroring mode built into md. volume management built into a complicated filesystem seems like a worse case for data recovery. but that’s just two of my prejudices talking — i don’t trust complication and i do want everything to do one simple task well.snapshotting / cp –reflink makes me even more uncomfortable because it violates the model in my head of how files work. but it is isolated to just one corner — cp operates differently and then afterwards you can’t tell the difference, right? again, i’d rather have separate tools for that…it really seems more like a git feature than a filesystem feature. but that’s again just my prejudice. but mostly, it would be very hard to get me to trust it. if i had a workload that really required snapshotting, i would want to have a custom implementation.i’m curious why people do chose these filesystems, what is different about their mentalities and requirements.",
"parent_id": "8137409",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137437",
"author": "Ø",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T14:32:46",
"content": "For ZFS at least, it’s because it’s the brainchild of some of Sun Microsystems brightest filesystem engineers, who thought of almost everything when designing and coding it (apart from the non-GPL license, but nothing is ever perfect).Which subsequently makes it immensely flexible and “tunable” if you’re willing to dig into the nitty-gritty details and settings.That and RAIDZ 1, 2 and 3, which is RAID 5, 6 and a hypothetical 7, but in every way better (especially since it doesn’t suffer from the nasty write hole issue bogging down write speeds of conventional RAID 5 and 6).It’s especially in scenarios where one would like a RAID volume like that where you’d tend to find ZFS evangelism, since you can “attach” various types of cache volumes (IE: fast SSD’s) to the main volume consisting of spinny discs or slow SSD’s to boost read and write performance in almost all situations.Essentially if tuned right, the performance of SSD’s with the GiB per ‘monetary currency du jour’ of harddiscs.Also got some fancy filesystem integrity preservation features that I can’t explain well that puts ext4 to shame.Basically if you asked me to point out any negatives about ZFS, I can personally only refer to its software license, and the fact the many options and features it has can definitely seem overwhelming to someone with no interest in the nitty-gritty of filesystems.",
"parent_id": "8137425",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137487",
"author": "Bry",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T16:47:01",
"content": "If I understand correctly, a thing ZFS engineers didn’t really think of initially was how to cleanly expand RaidZ, without having enough resources to create an entirely new larger pool of disks and run both the smaller and larger pools at the same time to copy from one to another. But a bit of Googling shows this has improved somewhat recently? (ZFS 2.3.0, released in 2025.)But I’d imagine that they absolutely thought about the non-GPL licence, specifically so that ZFS would not be a first-class filesystem on Linux and to give Solaris a competitive edge. Possibly while still being able to crowd-source improvements from the BSDs.",
"parent_id": "8137437",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137499",
"author": "S O",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T17:13:53",
"content": "ZFS is great, butreallyneeds some better guidance for sane defaults that fit different scenarios. It was never designed for end users or systems with small numbers of drives, and the features enabled heavily impact it’s requirements. What @Bry refers to was a non-issue for enterprise business users.The licence issue is more complicated. Despite Sun’s engineers being very good, she quite into open source, Sun’s legal was notorious, and while the official line is that CDDL was not supposed to be GPL incompatible, that’s transparently bs, and some employees were more truthful about it back then. It was craftedspecificallyto be incompatible in order to prevent adoption and drive sales of their hardware.",
"parent_id": "8137437",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137639",
"author": "Dan",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T22:35:15",
"content": "Btfs solves the raid expansion problem – as you add drives or swap smaller drives for larger ones, the extra space gets used (as long as you’ve got n larger drives for whatever level of redundancy you’ve picked.",
"parent_id": "8137437",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137712",
"author": "M",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T04:11:55",
"content": "@Bry @SOYes, there is raid expansion now. And WIP is use of mixed-size disks.No, ZFS’ licence wasn’t intended to be incompatible with the GPL. It was never even a concern. When Solaris was released as OpenSolaris Sun took the MPL 1.0 and added patent licencing because they’d been subject to patent lawsuits. The MPL at that time was GPL incompatible, and so the resulting CDDL was too. Sun never lived long enough to release a new version of the CDDL to introduce GPL compatibility as Mozilla eventually did.The rest is just a conspiracy theory spun by GPL zealots who hate anything non-GPL gaining traction, even if it’s (weak) copyleft.",
"parent_id": "8137437",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137709",
"author": "M",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T04:06:04",
"content": "ext4 can be “repaired” but that just means the OS won’t crash when it reads the drive. There iszeroguarantee any of your data is will still be there. There is only one copy of everything and it’s not checksummed, meaning that if that one copy of the data changes it won’t be fixed and you’ll be none the wiser.ZFS on the other hand will repair the data as a matter of routine. If anything changes on the drives without it’s say-so it will be detected, reported, and corrected. If a drive encounters too many errors it will be marked as failed and can be automatically replaced with a hot spare.You might wonder “ok why not just do traditional raid (mdadm) for a corruption-free virtual drive and layer ext4 on top for files and folders?” Well the reason is the raid5 “write hole.” ZFS has both a filesystem journal AND visibility into which disks in the array have received the new data, meaning that corner case in layered setups disappears.",
"parent_id": "8137425",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137748",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T07:17:29",
"content": "Snapshotting is safe and free (obviously minus storage of changes) and comes from the ground floor of how a Copy on Write filesystem works.Basically any change to a file gets written to a new chunk that gets referenced instead. If the old one isn’t snapshotted then it’s marked to be overwritten. If you snapshot the system then when that happens it’s not marked for overwriting and is just marked as part of the snapshot.Also ZFS has tons of checksumming and error checking that means that basically any data on the drives stays accurate though you’d want at least some RAID going on.",
"parent_id": "8137425",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137473",
"author": "Jonathan Day",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T16:17:09",
"content": "Intersystems, and a few other enterprise vendors, do not certify their software for ZFS, arguing it is too slow and too resource hungry. OpenZFS has also dropped clangers, recently, with zeroed blocks and other bugs that spanned several point releases.ZFS is amazing, but isn’t perfect and isn’t always usable.",
"parent_id": "8137409",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137493",
"author": "S O",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T17:03:28",
"content": "ZFS is not slow, I suspect they are talking about use cases which favour distributed block storage systems (which are even less like a “traditional” file system than ZFS), or they are not optimizing the implementation at all, possible because they are using VMs.ZFS is an enterprise filesystem, and it’snotfor everyone, but it is immensely powerful, and has had very few notable bugs in the decades since it was released. It’s overhead is entirely a function of the extended features you use, snapshots cost nothing, compression is lightweight, but online checksums and deduplication are not at all.",
"parent_id": "8137473",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137643",
"author": "Ø",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T23:00:16",
"content": "ZFS can be tuned to not be so heavy on RAM, which is the main thing its been notorious for hogging when resilvering/scrubbing or other I/O heavy operations on the volume.Though that’s where fast SSD caches come in since they can be set to offset RAM consumption.Though I’ve ran a setup with 1.5 TB discs on a low power Intel Atom setup with merely 4GB of ram.People said it’d choke, but it worked fine with some parameters finagling.",
"parent_id": "8137473",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137713",
"author": "M",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T04:13:47",
"content": "Tbh, so long as you don’t turnondedupe (and you shouldn’t) ZFS doesn’t use very much ram at all. It can by default useup to50% for the ARC cache, but modern ZFS releases this immediately if the system comes under memory pressure.",
"parent_id": "8137643",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137793",
"author": "phuzz",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T10:51:28",
"content": "Honestly, the biggest reason I’ve steered clear of ZFS is the hostility of the user base, as the above comment shows.",
"parent_id": "8137409",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137901",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T15:49:00",
"content": "The comment above is not meant to be hostile, it’s meant to be truthful.There are legitmate and important reasons to use ZFS or others over ext4 and if you don’t know enough about ZFS then you don’t know them and so just think ext4 is enough.",
"parent_id": "8137793",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137411",
"author": "pigster",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T13:08:28",
"content": "I am still half ext4 half xfs on servers i manage as i haven’t found any comprehensive data on why one is clearly better than the other – i was all ext2 than ext3 than ext4, but centos 7 was xfs by default so i left it at that and started to use it elsewhere as well.",
"parent_id": "8137371",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137555",
"author": "Dan93",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T19:30:59",
"content": "I can think of one reason to use xfs over ext4 in the enterprise. When you extend a volume, it has to format the new space. This is near instant on xfs, but takes some time (depending on the size, a LOT of time) on ext4.",
"parent_id": "8137411",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138142",
"author": "dan",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T09:59:58",
"content": "Huh? that is not correct or at best misleading. resize2fs is pretty fast even when dealing with larger drives (1-8TB). If the ext4 filesystem is ok and clean. it should take seconds",
"parent_id": "8137555",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137461",
"author": "Greg A",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T15:43:29",
"content": "i also don’t understand why people chose newer filesystemsa quick skim shows that the two main features seem to be volume management and snapshotting (what is called copy-on-write).both of those features seem kind of neat to me, but they also each make me nervous.i’ve met overeager volume management schemes (such as hardware raid) that unrecoverably trash an entire volume whenever anything goes wrong, and that experience has made me prefer the mirroring mode built into md. volume management built into a complicated filesystem seems like a worse case for data recovery. but that’s just two of my prejudices talking — i don’t trust complication and i do want everything to do one simple task well.snapshotting / cp –reflink makes me even more uncomfortable because it violates the model in my head of how files work. but it is isolated to just one corner — cp operates differently and then afterwards you can’t tell the difference, right? again, i’d rather have separate tools for that…it really seems more like a git feature than a filesystem feature. but that’s again just my prejudice. but mostly, it would be very hard to get me to trust it. if i had a workload that really required snapshotting, i would want to have a custom implementation.i’m curious why people do chose these filesystems, what is different about their mentalities and requirements.",
"parent_id": "8137371",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137722",
"author": "M",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T04:39:38",
"content": "ZFS’s filesystem layer having visibility into which disks have received new writes allows it to overcome the raid5 write hole. It’s raid implementation is (alongside mdadm) also significantly better than pretty much any hardware raid. As usual, open source software is better implemented and less buggy than closed-source vendor firmware. There’s raid controller firmware out there that writes it’s config info over the data itself and then relies on the raid’s error correction to reconstruct what the data should have been. It’s terrible.",
"parent_id": "8137461",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137723",
"author": "M",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T04:41:17",
"content": "As for why? ZFS (and raids like mdadm) allow correction of corrupted drives. You can “repair” ext4 but that only stops the computer from crashing when it reads the filesystem. None of your data is coming back, and corrupted files will go unnoticed.",
"parent_id": "8137722",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137808",
"author": "Matt Welland",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T11:52:42",
"content": "Also EXT4, but under moosefs. To which you might ask, Good lord, why? The main answer is low cognitive burden. I can see the health of the system at a glance from the web app monitor. Adding disks is so easy. I can shuffle disks between the chunk servers with very little hassle. I do have a disk that has had a few sectors go bad that ext4 didn’t detect that moosefs fixed. The other reason is that i was able to setup my server across two physically separate buildings so that fire or lightning strike in one can be easily recovered from. This is reference and archive data, I’d hate to lose it but could get the critical stuff back from bup based backups. I wanted to try bcachefs as I think it might solve my biggest gripe about btrfs, the cognitive burden, it requires careful inspection to see what is what in a btrfs system. I’m hopeful that bcachefs will stabilize or that gui tools for btrfs improve but for now moosefs with ext4 has been a godsend.",
"parent_id": "8137371",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8182174",
"author": "Ian",
"timestamp": "2025-09-20T06:17:11",
"content": "The fact that you can confidently make that statement shows you don’t know what you are talking about.Ext4 doesn’t have a built-in way to repair or even detect bitrot.Just because you didn’t NOTICE any file corruption doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.In fact, statistically you HAVE had bits flipped.",
"parent_id": "8137371",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137381",
"author": "Gravis",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T11:56:04",
"content": "Questionable filesystem stability seems like the kind of thing that should be resolved/proven using a formal proof. For some, that may seem extreme measure at first glance but flawed data storage algorithms are unacceptable.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137426",
"author": "Greg A",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T13:56:53",
"content": "ideally the algorithms are proven before they are implemented but then proving a lack of implementation flaws is very difficult. there are tools for that but they run into harder limits",
"parent_id": "8137381",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137470",
"author": "Jonathan Day",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T16:11:30",
"content": "Now that the SEL4 team have demonstrated how to do software formal proofs cheaper and quicker than previously, this is potentially viable. But, yes, this is important. ReiserFS, Reiser4, and BtrFS have had serious stability issues. Not sure if the clangers OpenZFS dropped could have been spotted sooner, but maybe.",
"parent_id": "8137381",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137719",
"author": "M",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T04:30:26",
"content": "By and large ZFS has been pretty solid. So far there’s only been one bug that’s resulted in data loss, and it was in a situation where if a file was written and thenvery rapidly readthe reader read zeros. The data itself always was written on disk perfectly and is always read back perfectly later.This hasn’t been due to formal proofs though, but really aggressive testing. ZFS began with a really comprehensive test suite and went hard on CI long before it became a widespread phenomenon. ZFS’ age certainly helps too, a lot of really terrible performance issues from the early 2000’s have been fixed and I’d trust it a lot more now than then.As for the feasibility of formal proofs on something as large and complex as a filesystem? Not really possible. It would be nice (as would be formal proofs of correctness for CPUs and compilers) but it’s too large and intractable at this point. Even L4’s claims about formal correctness are a lot weaker than they first appear and require digestion of a lot of context to understand what they’reactuallyassuring.",
"parent_id": "8137470",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137501",
"author": "S O",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T17:15:22",
"content": "The problem is that the developer is actively developing in production on the kernel, and that is unacceptable, period.",
"parent_id": "8137381",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137716",
"author": "M",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T04:18:45",
"content": "All things are developed “on the kernel.” In-tree development has been the preferred method of development since the beginning. I think maybe the reliability of bcachefs at this stage has maybe been oversold, but at the end of the day filesystems take a very long time (years or decades) to mature and anyone using one younger than that is implicitly accepting the risk to their data.",
"parent_id": "8137501",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137715",
"author": "M",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T04:16:22",
"content": "Ideally, yes. But like so many other things that really ought to be formally proven (CPU correctness, compiler correctness, etc) nobody has any idea how to do that. The problem is so large and complex that it’s intractable.",
"parent_id": "8137381",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137400",
"author": "KIM TAE",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T12:32:39",
"content": "Sad to see since the project plan has a number of nice features. Overstreet has shown himself to play fast and loose with his codebase with a marked disrespect towards the few users that are willing to test things out with actual workloads.Given how people are still wary of filesystems like BTRFS due to bugs (e.g. RAID5 writehole) that have been solved for years, this is probably not going to help the project.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137438",
"author": "John S",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T14:35:48",
"content": "I’ve been burned by brtfs and snapshots enough (admittedly a while ago in Suse 12 -> 15 upgrades) that I’ve given up on it. For the most part, XFS and ext4 just work. I’ve also been trying bcachefs, and Kent is working hard on stuff. And does have a good testing system in place, but …. filesystems are hard and people keep trying to ask for new features for their pet project in terms of filesystem access.Writing blocks to disk is easy. Writing them reliably can be easy. Writing them as fast as possible can be easy. Snapshotting the filesystem is easy. Having one process write or read is easy. Having multiple processes write correctly at the same time is easy. Combining this all into one glorious whole? Damn tough. Because doing anything fast, but at the same time reliably takes mucho work.And I’m proud to be a member of the “flamed by kent” club. LOL!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137503",
"author": "S O",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T17:17:40",
"content": "Rather than becachefs, try just using bcache volumes in conjunction with ext4.",
"parent_id": "8137438",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137726",
"author": "LeFantome",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T04:52:23",
"content": "I have never been flamed by Kent though he has responded to me. I must say though, I am enjoying his filesystem.",
"parent_id": "8137438",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137457",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T15:27:07",
"content": "This article is utter bullshit. Kent takes data lossveryserious. If you go to his IRC or contact him in some way to talk about your broken FS, there is close to zero chance that the FS will loose your data. He wants it to be the “FS that doesn’t loose your data” and he means it.The current data loss was unfortunate. The people did things they shouldn’t have done. And I do partially blame Kent for that, as the operations they did went outside the “won’t loose your data” guarantee and the tool didn’t properly warn about that.But calling Bcachefs Alpha level quality is absolute bullshit. BTRFS was a lot more unstable in the kernel then (in-kernel) bcachefs ever was. Sure Kent pushes a lot of new code and I’m surprised by how much still changes. And the advertisement and hype doesn’t help as well. But it is still marked experimental for a reason.On the other hand, Kent seems to be a person difficult to work with. Linus reasons to repeatedly speak up to Kent were usually personal reasons. Kent submitted patches late in the dev-cycle, didn’t talk to the maintainers once (IIRC) even pushed code that was rejected earlier. And Kent sometimes insults people and got banned from committing code in one Kernel cycle because of that.Maybe Bcachefs should have stayed out of Kernel for another year or two. I firmly believe, if it was merged today with it’s current state or maybe even end of year, it would be praised for being the best FS for most tasks. (Of course some tasks will always be worse on COW filesystems and there are still some benchmarks that BTRFS is faster with.)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8142760",
"author": "vini",
"timestamp": "2025-06-27T18:45:02",
"content": "Agreed, it’s a kernel, the Linux kernel, there are rules for a reason, bcachefs already broke the build system once, it was in a open window, so it was fine, but those things happens, that why it has a strict rules to not allow new feature in rc releases, imagine if 1% of the drivers started pushing features in rc releases?, how many new bugs and build system issues would arrive,",
"parent_id": "8137457",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137466",
"author": "prosper",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T15:49:17",
"content": "filesystems are one place I want to be far far away from the ‘bleeding edge’ of. This is not windows 95, where a monthly re-install is acceptable. ext is extremely mature and very very stable. It might not have all the latest shinys, but reliability and safety is monumentally more important.But more concerning than all that is the way code is just “YOLO’d” out there. That just underscores the apprehension about safety and stability. If the development process doesn’t have a very structured and rigorous approach, it undermines the confidence it needs to engender in order to gain adoption. Ifeveryfix is anemergencyfix that needs heroic urgency and an exception to the usual release rules, and happens with regularity…. yeah, naw, not gonna trust my data to that.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137483",
"author": "S O",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T16:37:43",
"content": "Of course, which is why people tend to like ZFS, among other reasons. It’s mature and stable. Becachefs isn’t even complete, and many of the issues Linus has with it have to do with the developer’s bad practices and violations of kernel policy, more than whether an alpha filter system is stable.",
"parent_id": "8137466",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137492",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T17:00:20",
"content": "“ext is extremely mature and very very stable. It might not have all the latest shinys, but reliability and safety is monumentally more important.”Which has to be assumed, considering how long ext has been worked on.It’s a minimum requirement, considering how much time ext4 had to come to be.Other filesystems reached maturity within a couple of years, while ext had needed decades, rather. Almost 15 years from from ext to ext4, I think.",
"parent_id": "8137466",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137467",
"author": "Greg A",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T15:55:16",
"content": "i take it back :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137507",
"author": "rclark",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T17:29:04",
"content": "I just use ext4 for my file systems for my home use. Corporations may have different needs, but I feel the extra features aren’t needed for my use-case. KISS is my philosophy. Never has let me down. I feel backups are way more important than what disk format I use. Also, I don’t need to to extend storage over multiple drives. My drives are minimum 2TB so have plenty of space. If there comes a time I need more ‘space’, I’ll just buy a bigger one. Got to 4TB…. So what if I am down for 30 minutes, 1 hour, a day, swapping out a disk and restoring the data to it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138346",
"author": "Steve",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T22:02:43",
"content": "Same here. I just don’t have the patience for “new and sparkly” when it comes to computer technology, anymore. Sure, I remember playing with plenty of filesystems, e.g. btrfs, xfs, reiserfs, etc. years ago. It was fun, and I sure learned a lot, but oh boy did I pay for it with my time.Somewhere along the way, I needed to simplify my workflow, and get things done. That meant using software, tools, and filesystems that were reliable, proven, and worked very well within established norms. I’ll pick one out of the air: Clonezilla. Fantastic tool, and has worked perfectly every time for me, on ext3/4 and NTFS partitions. It probably works fine on many others too, but I KNOW it works for my needs, through experience. Timeshift has also been pretty good, although it’s better for when you realized you messed up your OS horribly, than when the system disk suddenly dies.Point is, I’m using what I know to work.That said, I do run a couple of small ZFS pools locally, one RAIDZ2 on six 2-TB HDDs, the other a RAIDZ1 on a handful of 512-GB SSDs. It’s definitely a budget-build machine, using a transplanted Dell OptiPlex 7010 motherboard and a used LSI HBA, stuffed into a cheap Corsair PC chassis. But it’s been humming along, running my Website, holding local data and backups, etc. on Arch, with no complaints. It’s probably the most boring machine I’ve ever built, because it just works, and I’ve not had to twiddle the configuration much after initial setup.",
"parent_id": "8137507",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137531",
"author": "Panondorf",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T18:31:53",
"content": "“In a saga that brings to mind the hype and incidents with ReiserFS”Are you accusing the author of killing his wife???",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137637",
"author": "irox",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T22:33:57",
"content": "“Accusing”?Even the author admitted killing his wife.",
"parent_id": "8137531",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137720",
"author": "M",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T04:31:57",
"content": "He literally killed his wife. It’s a settled matter of law. He showed the police where he buried her body as part of his plea deal.",
"parent_id": "8137531",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137956",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T17:31:37",
"content": "Old guy crying in the bar.Tells the bartender:’20 years ago, you talked me out of killing my wife. I’d be out today!’",
"parent_id": "8137720",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137677",
"author": "Kitsuna",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T01:59:09",
"content": "I have been using bcachefs on my NAS for like 5 years now? I’ve never once lost data, verified with regular hashdeep checks. I HAVE had errors that prevent me from mounting until kent can push a fix. But he has always been very quick to respond as long as I provide the requested information and debugging information. I have like 3 or 4 branches with my username on them from me breaking the early scalability lol.I do not fear data loss with bcachefs, but i also know I might not get perfect uptime. Tho i haven’t had any of those issues either in quawhilehile. Overall I’ve had a better experience than with btrfs where i would have systems regularly eat themselves into total dataloss and any attempt to ask for help was met with silence. Btrfs documentation says that you should not use the fsck unless directed…. That should tell you all you need to know about it’s integrity, meanwhile Kent says try fsck first, if it doesn’t work thats a bug and as long as you provide debug data he will prioritize fixing it. Thats what I personally want in a fs dev.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137728",
"author": "LeFantome",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T04:57:34",
"content": "5 years! Wow, a true pioneer. I have it as the root filesystem on a few systems. I thought that was bold. I have not had any problems. I am looking forward to a structure so I can go back and forth from current to LTS kernels though.I love how engaged Kent is. That, and the features, are why I have been using bcachefs.",
"parent_id": "8137677",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137869",
"author": "Greg A",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T14:50:07",
"content": "to summarize what i learned about ZFS over the last day, it is assertively for people with larger farms of disks where the configuration overhead is a delightful trove of valuable features instead of a nuissance voyage of discovery. it’s for sun e10k customers. one of the goodies from the brief era of opensolaris.btrfs seems to have the same purpose but a different pedigree and perhaps less maturity.neither one of them is for a guy like me who buys disks three at a time and puts a pair in md raid1 ext4 and the third in a USB enclosure for offline backups (monthly rsync).just pleased that the question ‘who wants this?’ had such a clear answer",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138234",
"author": "Maltz",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T16:49:30",
"content": "Oh man, ZFS is light years better than ext4 for exactly that use case. RAIDZ, on-the-fly built-in compression/encryption, snapshots, and send-receive are all huge improvements over mdadm+ext4.RAIDZ allows the array to self-heal from corrupted data rather than just detect it. When RAID5 detects data on the two drives is different, it has no way to know which is correct. ZFS checksums everything, so it can correct the data and go about its day. (This saved one of my servers with a flaky SATA cable once that silently corrupted a few hundred KB per month until I tracked down the issue and got it replaced.)Built-in, fast compression can save significant space without impact to performance. In fact,, it can oftenimproveperformance, especially on slower, spinning media, where reading the compressed data and decompressing it is significantly faster than reading the uncompressed data.Snapshots allow Time-Machine-like backups on the array, allowing you to browse your entire file system as it existed at a specific point in the past, or rollback to it. Taking a snapshot is atomic and instantaneous.Send/Receive allows easy incremental backups to another array (your USB enclosure). Incremental backups from one snapshot to another is incredibly efficient, without requiring resource-consuming scanning of directory trees or file content, like rsync does. Since snapshots are done at the block level, ZFS already knows which blocks to send to add the newer snapshot to the backup that already has the older one. The amount of data sent is minimal and can be done without re-compressing or re-encrypting blocks during the transfer. If the backup pool is in an untrusted location, like cloud storage, you don’t even have to unlock it to back up encrypted ZFS dataset, since the encrypted blocks can just be sent as-is.Ubuntu even allows the boot drive to be formatted with ZFS, and pfSense takes it one step further, doing it by default. And all Apple’s devices now use a similar copy-on-write filesystem called APFS.ZFS is incredibly useful, and I highly recommend you look into it. If you’re already setting up RAID and rsync backups, you’ve got the skills, and ZFS will make life SO much better.",
"parent_id": "8137869",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,520.206704
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/10/repairing-vintage-sony-luggable-calculators/
|
Repairing Vintage Sony Luggable Calculators
|
Al Williams
|
[
"Repair Hacks",
"Retrocomputing",
"Teardown"
] |
[
"calculator",
"sobax",
"sony"
] |
You might wonder why you’d repair a calculator when you can pick up a new one for a buck.
[Tech Tangents] though has some old Sony calculators that used Nixie tubes
, including one from the 1960s. Two of his recent finds of Sony SOBAX calculators need repair, and we think you’ll agree that restoring these historical calculators is well worth the effort. Does your calculator have a carrying handle? We didn’t think so. Check out the video below to see what that looks like.
The devices don’t even use modern ICs. Inside, there are modules of discrete parts encapsulated in epoxy. There isn’t even RAM inside, but there is a delay line memory, although it is marked “unrepairable.”
There is some interesting history about this line of calculators, and the video covers that. Apparently, the whole line of early calculators grew out of an engineer’s personal project to use transistors that were scrapped because they didn’t meet the specifications for whatever application that used them.
The handle isn’t just cosmetic. You could get an external battery pack if you really wanted a very heavy — about 14 pounds (6.3 kilograms) — and large portable calculator. We are sure the $1,000 retail price tag didn’t include a battery.
These machines are beautiful, and it is fun to see the construction of these old devices. You might think our
favorite calculator is based on Star Trek
. As much as we do like that, we still think the HP-41C might be the best calculator ever made,
even in emulation
.
| 0
| 0
|
[] | 1,760,371,520.062858
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/09/building-an-assembly-line-for-origami-pigeons/
|
Building An Assembly Line For Origami Pigeons
|
John Elliot V
|
[
"Art",
"Robots Hacks"
] |
[
"assembly line",
"origami"
] |
When it comes to hacks, the best ones go to extremes. Either beautiful in their simplicity, or magnificent in their excess. And, well, today’s hack is the latter:
excessive
. [HTX Studio]
built an assembly line for origami pigeons
!
One can imagine the planning process went something like this:
Make origami pigeon assembly line
?
Profit
But whatever the motivation, this is an impressive and obviously very well engineered machine. Even the lighting is well considered. It’s almost as if it were made for show…
Now, any self-respecting nerd should know the difference between throughput and latency. From what we could glean from the video, the latency through this assembly line is in the order of 50 seconds. Conservatively it could probably have say 5 birds in progress at a time. So let’s say every 10 seconds we have one origami pigeon off the assembly line. This is a machine and not a person so it can operate twenty four hours a day, save downtime for repairs and maintenance, call it 20 hours per day. We could probably expect more than 7,000 paper pigeons out of this machine every day. Let’s hope they’ve got a buyer lined up for all these birds.
If you’re interested in assembly lines maybe we could interest you in a
6DOF robotic arm
, or if the origami is what caught your eye, check out the
illuminating
,
tubular
, or
self-folding
kind!
| 12
| 4
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8137249",
"author": "jpa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T05:05:31",
"content": "Based on the video comments, they’re not planning to sell these but to give away to their followers (apparently on some other platform than YouTube).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137254",
"author": "Andy",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T05:20:34",
"content": "This is a beautiful piece of industrial automation. Well done. What’s the hourly output? (Must have missed this in the comments)",
"parent_id": "8137249",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137343",
"author": "ono",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T10:29:34",
"content": "Or just read the article…",
"parent_id": "8137254",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137290",
"author": "shinsukke",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T07:26:29",
"content": "Seems like the asian part of the internet has a lot more people building more elaborate stuff these days.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137679",
"author": "Adrian",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T02:04:14",
"content": "Hackaday should have international correspondents reporting what’s hot in the local hacking, electronics and DIY forums.",
"parent_id": "8137290",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137313",
"author": "Andrzej",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T09:06:01",
"content": "I have so many questions… mostly about time and money.This is a perfectly beautiful and equally useless machine. Also, expensive. How does one have enough time and money to burn on such things? Youtube views can’t really pay THAT much…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137435",
"author": "El Gru",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T14:29:19",
"content": "If you are a studio doing custom assembly lines .. this is both stuff you have and need to get used to. Not 100% sure, but I consider this a portfolio piece.",
"parent_id": "8137313",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137497",
"author": "RetepV",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T17:10:38",
"content": "Well, I’d put in some 5 cents and mention something about that the meaning of the word ‘useless’ heavily depends on culture.Just like that the meaning of ‘my 5 cents’ heavily depends on culture. :)",
"parent_id": "8137313",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137667",
"author": "chenhui",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T01:20:29",
"content": "He doesn’t make money from this in China, he just uses these videos to build his personal fame. In China, as long as you are famous, you can make more money than making machines, and it is easier to make money. For example, advertising, promoting other brands, and selling products for other companies.",
"parent_id": "8137313",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137710",
"author": "MinorHavoc",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T04:06:14",
"content": "Depends on the target audience. The article mentioned a potential use: for show. If HTX Studio is a prop/technical/mechanical design/assembly business, it’s a nice prop for attracting a crowd and potential customers and show off their skills and capabilities at a convention, show, or on-line media outlet.",
"parent_id": "8137313",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137502",
"author": "CityZen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T17:16:24",
"content": "If it could do cranes (the flying variety), I think there’d be a market for that.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137536",
"author": "a_do_z",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T18:44:21",
"content": "That’s what I was thinking. I, for one, sure don’t want more pigeons.Though, I don’t know if the paper cranes wedding tradition I’ve heard vaguely of is about having the cranes, or if it’s really about the people who (are willing/wanting to) fold cranes for you.",
"parent_id": "8137502",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,520.110307
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/09/saving-green-books-from-poison-paranoia/
|
Saving Green Books From Poison Paranoia
|
Tyler August
|
[
"chemistry hacks"
] |
[
"antique books",
"arsenic",
"conservation",
"spectroscopy"
] |
You probably do not need us to tell you that Arsenic is not healthy stuff. This wasn’t always such common knowledge, as for a time in the 19th century a chemical variously known as Paris or Emerald Green, but known to chemists as copper(II) acetoarsenite was a very popular green pigment. While this pigment is obviously not deadly on-contact, given that it’s taken 200 years to raise the alarm about these books (and it used to be used in candy (!)), arsenic is really not something you want in your system. Libraries around the world have been quarantining vintage green books ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶f̶e̶a̶r̶ ̶b̶i̶b̶l̶i̶o̶p̶h̶i̶l̶i̶es ̶m̶i̶g̶h̶t̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶t̶e̶m̶p̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶l̶i̶c̶k̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶m̶ out of an abundance of caution, but researchers at The University of St. Andrews have
found a cheaper method to detect the poison pigment
than XRF or Raman Spectroscopy previously employed.
The hack is simple, and in retrospect, rather obvious: using a a hand-held vis-IR spectrometer normally used by geologists for mineral ID, they analyzed the spectrum of the compound on book covers. (As an aside, Emerald Green is similar in both arsenic content and color to the mineral conichalcite, which you also should not lick.) The striking green colour obviously has a strong response in the green range of the spectrum, but other green pigments can as well. A second band in the near-infrared clinches the identification.
A custom solution was then developed, which sadly does not seem to have been documented as of yet. From the press release it sounds like they are using LEDs and photodetectors
for color detection
in the green and IR at least, but there might be more to it, like a hacked version of
common colour sensors
that put filters on the photodetectors.
While toxic books will still remain under lock and key, the hope is that with quick and easy identification tens of thousands of currently-quarantined texts that use safer green pigments can be returned to circulation.
Tip of the hat to [Jamie] for the tip off,
via the BBC
.
| 35
| 11
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8137216",
"author": "paulvdh",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T02:25:07",
"content": "“Scheele’s Green” was a bit earlier then “Paris green” It was popular in wallpaper, as it kept the bugs out of your house. Apparently it was also used for clothing and kid’s toys.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheele%27s_greenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_greenAnd a bunch of years later, the “DDT is good for mee” adshttps://duckduckgo.com/?q=ddt+is+good+for+mee&t=h_&iar=imagesAnd now it’s PFASJust a few I think of at the moment, there are many more…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137334",
"author": "sbrk",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T10:01:29",
"content": "DDT is “practically non-toxic” to us mammals. The diseases that biting mosquitoes carry have killed 1-2 MILLION people PER YEAR since the ban.Rachel Carson should have been tried for crimes against humanity. Her book’s entire premise was fabricated, leading to the ban and subsequent death toll.",
"parent_id": "8137216",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137490",
"author": "rc",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T16:53:24",
"content": "But affects birds, that eat/control mosquitoes populations. Snakes also kill people, but when people decided to exterminate them in large numbers, guess what happened to mice populations and human crops.",
"parent_id": "8137334",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137594",
"author": "sbrk",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T20:48:10",
"content": "But affects birdsNo, it did not, in all likelihood, cause eggshell thinning.Seehttps://archive.is/UTyoTAlso see #10 inhttps://junkscience.com/1999/07/100-things-you-should-know-about-ddt/The DDT ban was all politics, and has cost massive death and disability.",
"parent_id": "8137490",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137787",
"author": "rc",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T10:22:16",
"content": "“eggshell thinning” so it affects birds reproduction, lowering the number of viable eggs/new birds. The “all politics” argument can play both ways. Probably some country leaders could use resources to create modern sanitation and better urban designs instead of wasting them in stupid ethnic wars and spraying gallons of insecticides in slums hopping for the best.",
"parent_id": "8137594",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137226",
"author": "KDawg",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T03:12:33",
"content": "I like licking books",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137229",
"author": "MinorHavoc",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T03:22:48",
"content": "That’ll be sufficient, Commander. I believe you’ve achieved the desired effect on Q’s imagination.",
"parent_id": "8137226",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137230",
"author": "KDawg",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T03:29:42",
"content": "oh I can’t wait until Q sees what I do after licking antique books, I am sure its worth humanity’s worthiness",
"parent_id": "8137229",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137232",
"author": "I Alone Possess The Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T03:37:52",
"content": "Arsenic is the South American Arrow Frog of bibliophily.Doc Martindid an episode about wallpaper of the sort that the first poster mentioned.Beautiful main graphic!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137247",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T05:03:19",
"content": "Seems book condition would be another worry.https://www.iflscience.com/your-touch-is-poison-beware-the-green-books-that-may-contain-arsenic-67764",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137304",
"author": "Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T08:30:47",
"content": "I have definitely read many book with similar shades of green in my life, I guess that is inevitable when you read books that are 100+ years old.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137312",
"author": "rc",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T08:57:14",
"content": "Try to handle really old books with pages dusted with DDT! (yes, I’ve been there). People used that stuff in old books like powdered sugar in cakes, because it killed the bugs that eat paper/leather. They only stop doing it after the 60s (last century).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137530",
"author": "Panandorf",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T18:29:59",
"content": "Just don’t let the dust get to any birds.",
"parent_id": "8137312",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137569",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T19:56:07",
"content": "Are you a bug?Do you lay eggs?If the answer to both is no, have no fear of DDT.My dad kept an old shake can full of DDT in the back hall of his house.It was an intelligence test.If someone freaked out when they saw it, they were dim, panicky and gullible.Mentally sorted into ‘group W’.",
"parent_id": "8137312",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137624",
"author": "rc",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T21:44:50",
"content": "Because every investigation that proved that DDT is bad for human health is false? Nobody is talking about DDT inside a can, but about objects coated with a environmental toxic substances that must be handled, contained or disposed with safety.",
"parent_id": "8137569",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137654",
"author": "przemek",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T23:38:24",
"content": "DDTs worst effect on mammals is carcinogenicity, and it’s classified as b2, right along aloe vera and other herb extracts, probably including essential oils.",
"parent_id": "8137624",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137346",
"author": "Shannon",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T10:35:04",
"content": "Is there any hope for these quarantined books to be made safe? Perhaps some kind of flexible varnish or lacquer?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137354",
"author": "Josiah David Gould",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T10:52:08",
"content": "You wear gloves, not change the books. And TRY not to lick the covers too much.",
"parent_id": "8137346",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137362",
"author": "Shannon",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T11:10:17",
"content": "Not if they’re quarantined I don’t.Why not make the books safe and put them back into circulation without any special handling requirements.",
"parent_id": "8137354",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137578",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T20:12:21",
"content": "Really two cases.In print…Replacing the book is just cheaper than dealing with public hysteria.Out of print…Belongs on closed shelves anyhow.Also consideration of valuable and rare editions.",
"parent_id": "8137362",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137640",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T22:47:22",
"content": "Digital editions, reprints or rebinding would seem to be the best solutions if you just want to read them.",
"parent_id": "8137346",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137399",
"author": "Chris Pepin",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T12:29:13",
"content": "Why don’t they just put dust jackets on them?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137406",
"author": "G-man",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T12:52:51",
"content": "OK, I give up. Let people lick the covers, just like we let them put their hands in the fire. Why are we protecting idiots? Do the government hate Darwin’s theory that much??",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137428",
"author": "rclark",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T14:03:04",
"content": "I suppose this was another million(s) dollar useless research project on the tax payer dime. Paranoia is right! :)",
"parent_id": "8137406",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138139",
"author": "Nick",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T09:48:45",
"content": "If the results of the research are freely available for others to learn from, it’s not “useless” research.",
"parent_id": "8137428",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137494",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T17:04:07",
"content": "Came here to post this. Plenty of people read these books before they were “quarantined”. Just put them back on the shelf. Who cares.",
"parent_id": "8137406",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137442",
"author": "Titus431",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T14:44:39",
"content": "More dangerous books:(1) Marie Curies’s notebooks are still considered dangerously radioactive and stored in lead lined containers (https://www.csmonitor.com/Technology/Horizons/2011/1107/Marie-Curie-Why-her-papers-are-still-radioactive) and (2) high levels of lead appear anecdotally to be much more common than arsenic (also not good to lick but at least sweeter) (https://museumsvictoria.com.au/article/if-books-could-kill-poison-heavy-metal-and-literature/)Of course, we could also argue that there are several well known religious and political texts that have gotten more people killed than all the arsenic, lead and radioactive books combined (by several orders of magnitude)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137491",
"author": "rc",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T16:56:40",
"content": "“Of course, we could also argue that there are several well known religious and political texts that have gotten more people killed than all the arsenic, lead and radioactive books combined (by several orders of magnitude)” :-D So true",
"parent_id": "8137442",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137463",
"author": "fiddlingjunky",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T15:44:48",
"content": "If it’s NIR, maybe an even cheaper hack could be done with digital cameras with their NIR filter ripped off.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137542",
"author": "I Alone Possess The Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T18:55:56",
"content": "No more than you could photograph the spectrum of visible light reflected off of objects with a filter-intact digital camera. Light ≠ Spectrum.",
"parent_id": "8137463",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137586",
"author": "Shannon",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T20:27:09",
"content": "You don’t need to photograph the spectrum, you need to detect whether the books are reflective in the NIR. It’s possible that a camera may well do this and be cheaper than a calibrated photodetector.",
"parent_id": "8137542",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138004",
"author": "I Alone Possess The Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T20:07:09",
"content": "“You don’t need to photograph the spectrum, you need to detect whether the books are reflective in the NIR.”Is that because only books, and specifically only books with arsenic reflect infrared light? I’d be interested to see an object made of matter that doesn’t. One may exist. Yeah, no to the quoted sentence.Well you Godfrey Daniels damn sure better be able to prove arsenic and not just “visible”. Io voliovendetta. I invoke kanly.“The hack is simple, and in retrospect, rather obvious: using a a hand-held vis-IR spectrometer normally used by geologists for mineral ID, they analyzed the spectrum of the compound on book covers.”That’s the simple way, done cheaply with already existingprovenequipment which doesn’t need building or buying. Even the author is upfront about “not quite sure how that photodetector stuff is supposed to work.”",
"parent_id": "8137586",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138023",
"author": "Ken C",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T22:06:09",
"content": "I asked ChatGPT to design a simple 3D-printed device to detect arsenic in books“`$fn = 100;width = 100;height = 60;depth = 30;wall_thickness = 3;sensor_height = 10;display_height = 15;button_diameter = 5;button_offset = 5;module enclosure() {difference() {cube([width, depth, height]);translate([wall_thickness, wall_thickness, wall_thickness])cube([width - 2 * wall_thickness, depth - 2 * wall_thickness, height - wall_thickness]);translate([wall_thickness, wall_thickness, height - sensor_height])cube([width - 2 * wall_thickness, depth - 2 * wall_thickness, sensor_height]);translate([wall_thickness, wall_thickness, height - sensor_height + display_height])cube([width - 2 * wall_thickness, depth - 2 * wall_thickness, display_height]);for (i = [0 : 2]) {translate([button_offset + i * (button_diameter + 5), depth - wall_thickness, height - button_diameter])cylinder(h = height, d = button_diameter, center = true);}}}exposure();“`",
"parent_id": "8137463",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138140",
"author": "Nick",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T09:50:39",
"content": "I asked ChatGPT to design a simple 3D-printed device to detect arsenic in booksWhat’s your point?",
"parent_id": "8138023",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138484",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T12:19:54",
"content": "Perhaps to show ChatGPT isn’t very good?",
"parent_id": "8138140",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,520.426058
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/09/a-modern-take-on-iconic-industrial-design/
|
A Modern Take On Iconic Industrial Design
|
Aaron Beckendorf
|
[
"digital audio hacks"
] |
[
"Braun",
"industrial design",
"internet radio",
"music player"
] |
The Functionalist design philosophy that Dieter Rams brought to Braun from the 50s to the 90s still inspires the look of a few devices, including Apple’s iPod, Teenage Engineer’s synthesizers and recorders – and [2dom]’s
IR7 streaming radio
.
The streaming radio was inspired by Braun’s portable radios, particularly the SK2, TP1, and the T3 pocket radio. [2dom] started with the T3’s circular pattern of holes and experimented with several variations, finally settling on a cylindrical shape with a central display; a prototype with a low-power monochrome rectangular display was eventually rejected in favor of a circular LCD. The housing consists of four 3D-printed components: an upper and lower shell, a resonator for the speaker, and a knob for a rotary encoder.
Electronics-wise, an ESP32 handles the computing requirements, while the LCD and rotary encoder provide a user interface. For audio, it uses a VS1053 MP3 decoder, PAM8403 amplifier, and a wideband speaker, with an audio isolation transformer to clean up the audio. To reduce power consumption, a MOSFET cuts power to the peripheral components whenever the device is in sleep mode. The full design is available
on GitHub
.
The end result of this effort is a quite authentic-looking 21st-century adaptation of Rams’s original designs. If you’re interested in more Braun designs, check out
this replica
of one of their desk fans. We’ve also seen a restoration of one of Braun’s larger radios,
the TS2
.
| 21
| 8
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8137187",
"author": "djul",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T01:22:48",
"content": "That’s a beautiful build. Well done.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137521",
"author": "2dom",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T18:06:56",
"content": "Thanks man!",
"parent_id": "8137187",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137260",
"author": "Christoph",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T05:55:34",
"content": "I see no reason to use a vs1053 in combination with an esp32. The esp32 is powerful enough to decode mp3 in software.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137276",
"author": "Dominic Buchstaller",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T06:25:30",
"content": "Never got it to work reliably with display scrolling text and all that in the background but very open to pull requests …",
"parent_id": "8137260",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137351",
"author": "Ewald",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T10:46:19",
"content": "This should work without problems by creating a separate FreeRTOS task for MP3 decoding and pin that to core 0 and run the other stuff on core 1 (or vice versa)",
"parent_id": "8137276",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137363",
"author": "2dom",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T11:13:22",
"content": "Seems like a call for version 2.0 :)",
"parent_id": "8137351",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137460",
"author": "frenchone",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T15:43:21",
"content": "Really nice. The illustration picture on hackaday lacks a reference of a T3 pocket to show the inspiration and how much you make it your own.IMO it would be better with an unique shell rather than top and bottom , and the knob should be sunken rather than at the surface.Great job anyways",
"parent_id": "8137363",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137484",
"author": "2dom",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T16:42:28",
"content": "@frenchone Great idea with the sunken in knob – will try this out for sure",
"parent_id": "8137363",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137600",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T21:01:58",
"content": "I wholly agree with revising the knob. That’s a glaring bit of incongruity with Rams’ design philosophy, in an otherwise nice and clean aesthetic. Maybe a nice rotary ring around the display could take its place, like a house thermostat’s control ring.",
"parent_id": "8137363",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137768",
"author": "Johnu",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T08:36:37",
"content": "Dude this is a beautiful project, big thumbs up. My feedback for you, hopefully constructive:The form factor strongly suggests we should be gutting discarded smart speakers and just re-using the hardware wholesale, which I realise becomes a jailbreaking challenge but could lift a whole load of devices out of e-waste. They tend to be quite high-end hardware too.Also I can’t see anything in the git that actually documents the software/firmware, not even how one might install it let alone use it.I’d really love a device like this that can just play MP3’s from my home server via a simple web interface and having read the entire readme I am none the wiser as to whether this thing can do that or not.",
"parent_id": "8137363",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137770",
"author": "2dom",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T08:49:28",
"content": "@Johnu … thanks … I will add a section flashing the software. It is really just opening Arduino, downloading the libraries and selecting ESP32 as the target.Regarding you home server – it will only play streaming audio not from a file share. If you have one running at home, just add a line with you server URL in the station list and you are good to go.",
"parent_id": "8137363",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137301",
"author": "ono",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T08:18:22",
"content": "Yes, but: even at a low bitrate, it eats up all the RAM and most of the CPU, and you have nothing left for the rest of your application. Good luck driving the TFT without it.",
"parent_id": "8137260",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137267",
"author": "WTF Detector",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T06:08:08",
"content": "Teenage Engineering*",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137340",
"author": "James",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T10:22:14",
"content": "Great effort: looks good and seems to work great! I do feel it would have looked much better if the Braun logo wasn’t placed on top like that, next to the circular edge – I don’t think Braun would have ever done that. Just put it on the side of the unit, perhaps opposite to the button, so its horizontal bottom aligns with the horizontal bottom of the device. Also, the holes have this jarring misalignment and spacing difference after the 2nd row from the center. A Fibonacci-like hole pattern may have been much nicer, something like Nest uses.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137486",
"author": "2dom",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T16:44:55",
"content": "Thanks for the feedback – agreed on the logo – could go someplace else but I kind of like the gap though.",
"parent_id": "8137340",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137439",
"author": "Schobi",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T14:36:03",
"content": "I love the inspiration and have high respect for building such a device and finishing fully functional.Still, the design philosophy seems not to be carried through. The crammed UI somehow departs from the outside look and feel.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137445",
"author": "2dom",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T14:48:51",
"content": "Thanks for the feedback – I really appreciate it. And I agree with you … fortunately it is fully customizable – background and menus are simply images that can be swapped. Maybe someone out there has more talent in creating minimal UIs 🙂",
"parent_id": "8137439",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137520",
"author": "cdilla",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T18:06:12",
"content": "Lovely design. You have taken the inspiration of Dieter Rams and paid it back with this gift to us :-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137575",
"author": "2dom",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T20:02:25",
"content": "Thanks @cdilla … appreciate it!",
"parent_id": "8137520",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137614",
"author": "Nick",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T21:26:24",
"content": "Looks like an electric salt shaker with poor ergonomics. Braun products designed by Rams. Were much more refined and usually had great ergonomics",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138501",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T13:39:00",
"content": "I find it rather unattractive, but to each his own. It seems some people really like it and there should be room for various tastes.It can be annoying when some things are available only in one design and manufacturers ignore the concept of different people with different tastes.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,520.260972
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/09/run-a-lawnmower-on-diesel-with-hot-bulb-hack/
|
Run A Lawnmower On Diesel With Hot Bulb Hack
|
Tyler August
|
[
"Engine Hacks"
] |
[
"hot bulb engine",
"internal combustion engine",
"two-stroke"
] |
If you’re into automotive hacks and don’t watch [Robot Cantina], you are missing out. This hack has [Jimbo] taking a break from automotive hacking to butcher a poor, innocent Tecumseh lawnmower to run diesel fuel (or anything else) by
converting the motor into a hot bulb engine
. (Video embedded below.)
The secret is a long stack of anti-fouling adapters, which are essentially extension tubes that move the spark plug out of the combustion chamber to keep it from getting crudded up in an engine that’s burning too much oil. In this case, burning is what’s happening inside the anti-fouling adapters: by stacking seven of them, [Robot Cantina] is able to create a hot-bulb– volume that stays hot enough between strokes to induce spontaneous combustion of the fuel-air mix.
Hot-bulb engines
were popular for certain tractors (the Lanz Bulldog being the most famous) and stationary engines from the late 19th century until Rudolf Diesel’s eponymous invention drove them out of their niche completely sometime after WWII.
Traditionally, a torch would have been used to heat the hot bulb, but here [Jimbo] starts the engine on gasoline with a spark plug at the end of the stack, and disconnect the spark once the hot bulb has warmed sufficiently. Given how rough the engine runs before the ersatz hot bulb heats up enough for spontaneous combustion, tradition seems like the way to go. Even once heated up, the “chaos in the combustion chamber” (probably knocking) is enough to pop the (now disconnected) spark plug from the end of the stack of adapters at one point.
While shockingly an inspection revealed no obvious damage to the engine after the first day’s experiments, this is probably not a hack you would want to use on a motor you intended to keep — or run for very long, for that matter. Practical or not, it is fascinating to know you can go back in time to the hot-bulb era with such a simple modification. Watching this motor pop and snarl while drinking down diesel fuel, acetone, or 190 proof alcohol is a bit like watching the proverbial dancing bear: the point is not how well it dances, but that it can dance at all. If you can’t get enough of it, they made a
second video that features further fuel-testing fun, and even a mowing montage.
We’ve featured other [Robot Cantina] hacks that were arguably more practical, like hacking an
old Saturn’s ECU to allow for Honda Insight-style lean burning
or this
DIY dynomometer for similarly small engines
.
| 27
| 8
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8137077",
"author": "ChipMaster",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T20:57:21",
"content": "Just want to say that Tecumseh is an engine not a lawn mower. Neither Briggs nor Tecumseh make lawn mowers.Terminology aside this is fascinating…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137083",
"author": "Dude",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T21:04:35",
"content": "The tube reduces the compression ratio, making it possible to run on diesel without detonation (diesel has a lower octane equivalent number than gasoline). Spark ignition engines can run just fine on kerosene (similar to diesel) if you lower the compression ratio, and this was commonly done during the 70’s oil crisis when gasoline prices went through the roof. All sorts of ersatz fuels were used, including turpentine.Detonation in a diesel engine is controlled by the fact that the fuel isn’t pre-mixed with air but misted on injection, so the droplets burn on the surface rather than going bang all at once.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137111",
"author": "Dude",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T21:53:37",
"content": "An engine designed for kerosene would have a compression ratio around 6.5:1 instead of the 8.5:1 in a typical lawnmower engine, which is relatively low compression still for a gasoline engine. An engine designed to run on 95 RON fuel would be at 10.5:1.Saab and Talbot modified their engines during the oil crisis to accept kerosene by lowering the compression ratio in some special models. A soviet Lada already had low enough compression that it could run more or less on kerosene or whatever other junk they had for fuel without modification – provided you could get it to start. They typically had dual fuel systems with a valve to switch form gasoline to kerosene when the engine was hot enough.",
"parent_id": "8137083",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137163",
"author": ".",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T00:32:12",
"content": "I always remember an acquaintance buying a Russian Ural motorcycle with the “high-compression export engine” – 7:1 IIRC, anyway it was hysterically low. It ran happily on Shellite (white spirit) which Gravelly mowers used as it had no road tax on it, so a bit of a win.Which reminds me of the joke a Russian told me many, many years ago: “In West you have many freedoms, but in Russia we have one you do not have. In Russia we can light matches in petrol station. Even if you can get Russian match to strike, Russian petrol won’t burn.”",
"parent_id": "8137111",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137498",
"author": "Dude",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T17:12:10",
"content": "There is one Soviet motorcycle that I’ve seen on the road, not sure if it’s Ural or something else, that revs so low on overdrive that it sounds like the rear wheel is turning way faster than the crankshaft. It must be doing one bang every five meters on the motorway.",
"parent_id": "8137163",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139296",
"author": "rrb6699",
"timestamp": "2025-06-16T11:42:19",
"content": "Just unhook a plug wire on a Harley v-twin. sounds the same.I know because a buddy was riding with us and it sounded like his rpms were so low he could have a top end od 350mph. lol. turns out it was a bad spark plug.",
"parent_id": "8137498",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137565",
"author": "Miles",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T19:52:12",
"content": "Saab had a prototype engine where the upper half of the block was hinged between the crankshaft and the cylinders. It could vary the compression ratio while running. This could be quite a boost (pun intended) to low end power as you would have a high “static” compression ratio until the turbo was generating a significant amount of positive pressure. Then the static compression would be lowered for knock resistance under high boost.Also see the Porsche 6 stroke engine patent, very interesting. It has a high pressure and a low pressure combustion cycle. I think it uncovers extra intake ports on the longest compression stroke though.",
"parent_id": "8137111",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137118",
"author": "Dude",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T22:23:20",
"content": "Oh, and another way to control detonation is to retard the ignition. Normally the fuel is ignited by the spark plug while it’s still being compressed so the charge would be fully lit by the time the piston reaches maximum compression – that’s called spark advance – but with a fuel like diesel this would tend to detonate the charge.With the hot tube acting as extra volume in the engine, ignition is probably delayed until the piston pushes the fuel mixture all the way into the tube, and the burning fuel shoots out when the piston has already started to go down. That’s probably what makes the pock pock pock sound – it might even ignite so late that the exhaust valve is already open, sometimes missing the cycle entirely.",
"parent_id": "8137083",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137758",
"author": "Dick",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T08:21:54",
"content": "Tractors were very widely run on TVO – tractor vaporising oil. It was a grade intermediate between kerosene & gasoline/petrol. The tractor was started on petrol & once warm switched to TVO.",
"parent_id": "8137083",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137102",
"author": "Dude",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T21:35:26",
"content": "An engine built for ethanol should start with 40-60% ethanol in water with some difficulty – that’s about the lowest mixture you can still ignite from the fumes at room temperature. If you run the engine hot enough, even lower percentages should run but at some point the heat required to turn the water into steam is going to be more than there’s available from the burn and there’s not enough energy left over to turn the engine.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137196",
"author": "TheOnceAndFutureThingy",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T01:42:37",
"content": "I can confirm (for a friend) that 70% alc/vol home distilled you’re not sure about, when injected via windshield washer pump through an orifice made by crushing a stainless steel parker pen, into the intake of an already running 1993 dodge caravan with 300,000km on it, will make said example minivan do a burnout of indeterminate length if you stop when you see a cop down the road",
"parent_id": "8137102",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137505",
"author": "Dude",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T17:20:05",
"content": "Ethanol water injection is one way to “charge” a gasoline engine because the mist cools the intake and lets the engine breathe more air while providing the extra fuel to burn it. This has been used in some production cars as well.",
"parent_id": "8137196",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137119",
"author": "Bob Marlee",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T22:23:30",
"content": "Nothing like walking around the yard behind a cloud of fine particulates.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137134",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T22:46:57",
"content": "Well I’m glad to know I’ll be able to mow my lawn after the apocalypses.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137190",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T01:31:10",
"content": "Nothing says the apocalypse has to be messy.",
"parent_id": "8137134",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137219",
"author": "slowbro904",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T02:39:25",
"content": "But seriously you could connect this to an alternator and tadahh: DC generator for the apocalypse",
"parent_id": "8137190",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137241",
"author": "Mr Ricky A Fisher",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T03:53:20",
"content": "That’s actually why I clicked on the article, would it work as a gen?",
"parent_id": "8137219",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137620",
"author": "asheets",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T21:37:38",
"content": "https://www.qsl.net/ns8o/Induction_Generator.html",
"parent_id": "8137241",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137892",
"author": "abjq",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T15:37:38",
"content": "Presumably the opposite of apocalypse is “pocalypse”, which is what we’re in right now?",
"parent_id": "8137219",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137222",
"author": "KC",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T02:56:25",
"content": "OK, now lets get one of those tiny motorcycle turbos mounted on it. Once that is good and balanced we can see about a DEF system just for the look of the thing, and to keep the HOA NIMBYs happy. Then, we’ll rig an exhaust bypass and a second injector to roll coal when no one is looking. With enough insurance and a sketchy law firm we can sell the whole thing as a kit. Maybe spin up a second company to sell “DEF delete kits” and make money off the gear heads who prefer more NOx.In all seriousness though, this is pretty cool.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137272",
"author": "CJay",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T06:18:51",
"content": "You joke, but I’m pretty sure I’ve seen NOx, turbos and even a supercharged mower engine on the tubes and wider world of web",
"parent_id": "8137222",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137317",
"author": "Stephen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T09:27:32",
"content": "Colin Furze built a jet-powered bicycle, a jet-powered grill, and even a jet-powered kettle (the Jettle) while burning himself severely at times. A supercarged lawnmower would probably seem a bit tame by comparison, but a jet-powered lawn-mower would be right up his street.",
"parent_id": "8137272",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137420",
"author": "tom",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T13:32:55",
"content": "On a push mower?",
"parent_id": "8137272",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137459",
"author": "smellsofbikes",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T15:40:45",
"content": "Back when it was still marginally possible to make enough money in a summer job to pay for college (in this case, 1960) my dad paid a significant part of his CalTech tuition by mowing lawns. He didn’t turbo his lawnmower but he did mill the head down to raise the compression ratio significantly and then ran the mower on a mix of toluene and benzene, because he could get those more or less for free through a family friend. He said you had to run at a fast jog to keep up with the mower, and estimated he could mow lawns 3x as fast as pre-modification. (This was a reel-type cutter with the exposed whirling blades out front.)This only lasted two summers before the piston failed and he had to get a less enthusiastic job.",
"parent_id": "8137272",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137547",
"author": "Puddle_Priate_extraordinaire",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T19:08:55",
"content": "Reminds me of a guy I knew on the backside of Kodiak island than rebuilt his chainsaw to run on avgas. It was cheaper than gasoline in his village because the octane rating dropped over time. Once it got to low for the aircraft he bought it cheap for logging. It’d make a 4-wheeler scoot too if you were willing to risk it.",
"parent_id": "8137459",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137296",
"author": "Qzm",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T07:51:40",
"content": "Insulate your extension tube with fibreglass. Much higher temps.. better running.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137570",
"author": "Miles",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T19:57:14",
"content": "Wonder if he tried a glow plug?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,520.534853
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/09/2025-pet-hacks-contest-fort-bawks-is-guarded-by-object-detection/
|
2025 Pet Hacks Contest: Fort Bawks Is Guarded By Object Detection
|
Tyler August
|
[
"contests",
"Raspberry Pi"
] |
[
"2025 Pet Hacks Contest",
"chicken coop",
"object detection",
"rasberry pi",
"smart home",
"webcam"
] |
One of the difficult things about raising chickens is that you aren’t the only thing that finds them tasty. Foxes, raccoons, hawks — if it can eat meat, it probably wants a bite of your flock. [donutsorelse] wanted to protect his flock and to be able to know when predators were about without staying up all night next to the hen-house. What to do but
outsource the role of Chicken Guardian to a Raspberry pi?
Object detection is done using a YOLOv8 model trained on images of the various predators local to [donutorelse]. The model is running on a Raspberry Pi and getting images from a standard webcam. Since the webcam has no low-light capability, the system also has a motion-activated light that’s arguably goes a long way towards spooking predators away itself. To help with the spooking, a speaker module plays specific sound files for each detected predator — presumably different sounds might work better at scaring off different predators.
If that doesn’t work, the system phones home to activate a siren inside [donutorelse]’s house, using a Blues Wireless Notecarrier F as a cellular USB modem. The siren is just a dumb unit; activation is handled via a TP-Link smart plug that’s hooked into [donutorelse]’s custom smart home setup. Presumably the siren cues [donutorelse] to take action against the predator assault on the chickens.
Weirdly enough, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen an
AI-enabled chicken coop
, but it is the first one to make into our ongoing challenge, which incidentally wraps up today.
| 5
| 3
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8137063",
"author": "scott_tx",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T20:34:30",
"content": "I called my chicken coop ‘Fort Klux”. It had an arduino controlled door which I’ll never share on hackaday since it was such a mess of wires.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137067",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T20:40:55",
"content": "Well the name at least is of the highest quality",
"parent_id": "8137063",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137228",
"author": "KDawg",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T03:20:56",
"content": "here I thought that once the hens are in the house any outside movement could raise an alarm via a 555 and a relay, thank god AI is here to save us all from having our livestock, sorry pets being sleeping chickensyea I said it 555",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137244",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T04:49:41",
"content": "I’m waiting to give them lasers. No fair the sharks hog it for themselves.",
"parent_id": "8137228",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137298",
"author": "shinsukke",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T07:58:07",
"content": "Nice project!I’m making a remote controlled firecracker lighter to scare away hordes of monkeys who damage my family’s vegetable garden.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,520.469377
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/09/information-density-microfilm-and-microfiche/
|
Information Density: Microfilm And Microfiche
|
Al Williams
|
[
"Engineering",
"History",
"Slider"
] |
[
"microfiche",
"microfilm",
"microform"
] |
Today, we think nothing of sticking thousands of pages of documents on a tiny SD card, or just pushing it out to some cloud service. But for decades, this wasn’t possible. Yet companies still generated huge piles of paper. What could be done? The short answer is: microfilm.
However, the long answer is quite a bit more complicated. Microfilm is, technically, a common case of the more generic microform. A microform is a photographically reduced document on film. A bunch of pages on a reel of film is microfilm. If it is on a flat card — usually the size of an index card — that’s microfiche. On top of that, there were a few other incidental formats. Aperture cards were computer punch cards with a bit of microfilm included. Microcards were like microfiche, but printed on cardboard instead of film.
In its heyday, people used specialized cameras, some made to read fanfold computer printer paper, to create microfilm. There were also computer output devices that could create microfilm directly.
How Did That Happen?
Although microfilm really caught on in the mid-20th century, it is much older than that. John Benjamin Dancer appears to have been the first to reduce documents by about 160:1 using daguerreotypes in 1839. He also used wet collodion plates later, but didn’t see any real point to the work.
However, two astronomers, James Glaisher and John Herschel, did see the value of the technology in the early 1850s. By 1870, carrier pigeons were carrying newspaper pages by microfilm into blockaded Paris during the Franco-Prussian War’s Siege of Paris, thanks to René Dagron. During the relatively short conflict, about 115,000 messages had flown by pigeon.
The technology languished for a while, although Reginald A. Fessenden did suggest in 1896 that engineering documents would be a good thing to microfilm, proposing 150 million words in a square inch of film. In fact, nearly a century later, many electronic vendors made their databooks and application notes available on microfiche.
However, it would be 1920 before we see “modern” microfilm usage. The Checkograph, a device patented in 1925 by George McCarthy (with a
US Patent
in 1930), let banks store cancelled checks on film. Kodak acquired the device in 1928 and rebranded it Recordak.
As you might expect, big libraries jumped right in. Starting in the late 1920s, libraries including the British Library and the Library of Congress adopted microforms. Kodak started filming The New York Times for distribution, while Harvard University Library started filming foreign newspapers in 1938.
While most uses of microfilm are made to save storage space, it can also help save space for carrying mail, as
the military did during World War II
.
Alternatives
The Fiske-o-scope. From
Scientific American, 1922
There were many less-than-successful attempts to bring microfilm into the hands of readers. Retired Navy Admiral Bradley Allen Fiske created the Fiske-O-Scope. The earliest designs had two eyepieces, but they eventually evolved into a single-eye viewing scope. A roller shifted the eyepiece along the reading material, which, initially, were long sheets of paper. Eventually, the Fiske-O-Scope changed to film.
You can see the Admiral using his device, along with some reading material in the accompanying figure. Although the experience of reading with the Fiske-O-Scope may have left something to be desired, the concept itself was clearly well ahead of its time. Ultimately, it promised to let the user carry their personal library around with them — an idea that arguably wouldn’t truly be realized until the birth of the modern e-reader.
Like many great ideas, there wasn’t a single point where the perfect machine appeared. It was more of a slow ooze. There was clearly a need to compress stored documents. It just needed the right equipment.
Equipment and Film
Early microforms were projected with conventional equipment like a magic lantern or eyeballed with a magnifier. However, modern readers generally project onto the rear of a glass screen. More expensive ones could even print what was on the screen using a photocopier-like mechanism.
The University of Arizona has a video showing how to use a classic reader, which you can watch below. Their fancy reader can handle both microfilm and microfiche.
The Hoover Institution Library has a moderately recent video about using their super-modern microfilm reader if you would like to have a peek at how to use one. Note this one uses a computer, so the experience isn’t as authentic as using an old 1960s reader.
Film reels tend to be either 16 mm or 35 mm, and some machines could do either. Typically, 35 mm microfilm was the order of the day for large-format scans. Letter-sized material commonly went on 16 mm film. Sometimes the film was on an open reel. Other times, it would be in a cartridge. There were M-type cartridges and ANSI cartridges (and probably others).
Either way, the film could have a single image per frame (simplex) or two images, such as the front and back of a document, per frame. That’s a duplex microfilm.
Some systems used “blips” at the edge of the film to mark when an image starts so that all the pages don’t have to be the same size. Nice machines could count the blips so if someone told you look on “roll 295, frame 952,” you could load the right roll, set the counter to 952, and let the machine fast forward, counting blips, until the counter went to zero and the machine stopped.
Super fancy machines used a double blip to mark the start of a document. This allows you to refer to “roll 295, document 3, frame 80” or — more commonly — to tell the machine to skip to the next document.
Microfiche cards varied somewhat, but were normally very close to 4×6 inches. Jacket versions held strips of film, but specially-made microfiche cards might be just a single sheet of film.
Computer Output Microfilm
The easiest way to create microforms, though, was to have the computer do it directly. Early models displayed data on a CRT, so a camera could snap a picture. By 1977, though, you could get machines that used a laser to directly write on the output medium. COM — Computer Output Microfilm (or Microform) — was widely used, although some mainframe computers sent tapes to service companies to actually make the microfilm.
Kodak Komstar microfiche “printer” (image
CC-BY-4.0
by [CERN PhotoLab]
Oddly enough, although most mainframes of the era were IBM, they didn’t produce a COM machine. They did make two attempts. In the late 1950s, they developed a tube-based device based on several specialized CRTs. They didn’t market it, but a single unit made it to the Social Security Administration.
IBM’s second attempt at COM was the
IBM 1360
, but it ultimately didn’t take off, either. It wasn’t exactly a COM output device but a way to store a whopping 128 GB on photographic film cards. There were only six made.
The biggest producer of COM output devices was probably
Stromberg Carlson
. Kodak was another big name. The Komstar series was made to connect to IBM computers as if they were actual printers. There was also a model made to connect to a magnetic tape drive. These were made well into the 1990s.
Microfilm Today
Most things today are in digital form and a great deal of old microform records are now in digital form, too. However, there was such a flood of microforms that there are still records that you need to find a reader to see them.
The Internet Archive
, as you might expect, digitizes a lot of microform documents and, if you are watching at the right time, you can look over their shoulder while they do it.
Of course, in addition to military mail, extreme microfilm works for
spies
, too. If you find a cache of microfiche cards, you can always
build your own reader
.
| 18
| 10
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8136979",
"author": "boondaburrah",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T17:20:47",
"content": "I remember using laser film recorders in high school to output documents at some 6000 dpi onto negatives that would then be contact printed onto plates for the printing press. Absolutely insane the level of resolution technology got to before we were able to produce “good enough” results with now normal digital copiers.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137091",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T21:14:55",
"content": "By ca. 1990, PCs running Win3.1/Macs running System 7 could work with images of up to 2048×3072 or 4096×6144 pixels.CRT monitors capable of 1600×1200 pixel resolution were available, too.Most PC consumer graphic cards from 1988-1990 could do 1024×768 pixel at 256c.Trident 8900, PVGA1A/B/C, ET-4000AX, OAK OTI-67 etc.It was just a matter of enough video RAM (512K, 1MB) and the RAMDAC.The RAMDAC was socketed, a 256c type by default.For more than 256c, it had to be replaced.Drivers for Windows/386, Windows 3, AutoCAD, P-CAD, Wordperfect, GEM, Ventura Publisher, VESA VBE 1.x and so on were on the supplied driver diskettes.Unfortunately, most users had lost the disks, so they were limited to VGA. So sad.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photo_CD",
"parent_id": "8136979",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136980",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T17:23:11",
"content": "“They didn’t market it, but a single unit made it to the Social Security Administration.”Oh great, now the “obsolete” moniker will never leave the agency. From mainframes to COBOL, and now microfilm. Next up, AI on a Babbage engine.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137157",
"author": "David",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T00:19:09",
"content": "“Next up, AI on a Babbage engine.”^^– coming soon to Hackaday",
"parent_id": "8136980",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137318",
"author": "Stephen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T09:35:53",
"content": "Ada Countess of Lovelace actually suggested having an analytical engine compose poetry or write music. Its descendants can now do that, but if she had actually tried running a large language model on the analytical engine, it would still be running today.",
"parent_id": "8136980",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136986",
"author": "east",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T17:35:26",
"content": "If you want to pull up an old newspaper you will still get it as microfiche at your l library…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136989",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T17:42:48",
"content": "I remember a repair shop I use to go to had the manuals on microfiche.",
"parent_id": "8136986",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137013",
"author": "Bill",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T19:04:26",
"content": "Dealership parts departments commonly had the parts diagrams on microfiche too.",
"parent_id": "8136989",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137167",
"author": "Piecutter",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T00:44:00",
"content": "I still have a reader and about a thousand microfiche. Don’t know why. But I guess I could demonstrate archaic 20th century parts lookup one day.",
"parent_id": "8137013",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137162",
"author": "David",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T00:28:09",
"content": "Except when you can’t. At least one medium-sized-city library in the United States discarded its local newspaper microfilms. My “gut” says it was a buy-off (or worse, strong-arming) from the newspaper so the paper could control and monetize access to its archives.Other libraries have lost collections due to fire, flood, or other disasters.",
"parent_id": "8136986",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137004",
"author": "a_do_z",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T18:42:47",
"content": "Back in the ’80s, part of my job was to pull up loan history information from microfiche.Those were not the good old days.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137047",
"author": "Alex99a",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T20:04:25",
"content": "Microdots.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137076",
"author": "I Alone Possess The Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T20:53:20",
"content": "“Microfilm is, technically, a common case of the more generic microform. A microform is a photographically reduced document on film.”Why this sentence is all kinds of topsy-turvy is left an exercise.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137288",
"author": "anon4cec",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T07:14:52",
"content": "Does anyone know how much data (in bytes) a 16mm frame can hold? (maybe in qr code for example)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137476",
"author": "-jeffB",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T16:21:23",
"content": "This brings back memories of my first after-school job in the Babcock & Wilcox computing center in central VA, circa 1980. It was a CDC mainframe shop, and they had a pair of COM machines. They wouldn’t trust or train a high school kid to change out the chemical and film stocks (never mind that I’d probably had more experience handling chemicals than any of them), but I got to sort the output. It was fascinating for a kid, especially a nearsighted one!REALLY strong smell of vinegar around those machines. I assume part of the process used glacial acetic acid.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137802",
"author": "lthemick",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T11:25:40",
"content": "I used to work at a bank that used microfilming for customer correspondence. The cameras were about a meter square and 1.5 meters tall. They did fast feed: you could fit about 2,000 documents on a single roll of film.We had two varieties of microfilm printers, all from Kodak. The older ones were electronic, not computerized, and had large hoppers for toner which we filled from bottles; you can imagine the dust… The newer printers had an IBM PC in the base of the cabinet and were connected to an external printer via token ring. The original design used a 286, i think: I remember when the service reps had to replace the hard drive on one, they brought in the smallest hard drive they could find – I think it was around 15 gb at the time – and formatted it down to ~half a gigabyte.Still in use when I left the company in 2007; for all I know, they’re still going.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138373",
"author": "relwin",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T00:08:11",
"content": "I worked on a microfiche printer back in the 90’s — it was a machine the size of a large copier that spat out laser etched blue 4×6 cards, each with over 100 tiny pages. Insurance companies used them to print backups from tape, then store them in what looked like a shoebox. Lord help you if you dropped the shoebox and spilled it!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138912",
"author": "Publius Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T04:11:05",
"content": "I used to handle IBM punch cards in my high school days and we always ran a black magic marker diagonally across the top of the cards after they were packed in a box. That way, if the cards fell out, you could resort them properly by lining up the black spots at the top of each card.",
"parent_id": "8138373",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,520.598
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/09/turning-up-the-heat-on-ht-plas-marketing/
|
Turning Up The Heat On HT-PLA’s Marketing
|
Tyler August
|
[
"3d Printer hacks"
] |
[
"3d print",
"3d printer filament",
"HT-PLA",
"materials testing"
] |
PLA is probably the most-printed filament on the market these days, and is there any wonder? It’s cheap, it’s easy, and it doesn’t poison you (as quickly as its competitors, anyway). What it doesn’t do very well is take the heat. Polymaker’s new HT-PLA formulation promises to solve that, and
[My Tech Fun] put those claims to the test in a recent video
.
Polymaker claims its HT-PLA is heat-stable up-to 150 C, but still prints as easily as standard PLA at up to 300 mm/s. By “heat stable” they mean able to maintain dimensions and form at that temperature when not under any load, save perhaps its own weight. If you need high-temp mechanical properties, they also offer a glass-fiber infused HT-PLA-GF that they claim is heat resistant up to 110 C (that is, able to withstand load at that temperature) which is hard to sneeze at, considering you you could print it on a stock Ender so long as you tossed a hardened nozzle on it.
Now it’s not a free lunch: to get the very best results, you do need to anneal the parts, which can introduce shrinkage and warping in HT-PLA, but that’s where HT-PLA-GF shines. If you want to see the results of the tests you can
jump to 19:27 in the video
, but the short version is that this is mechanically like PLA and can take the heat.
The verdict? If you like printing PLA and want to shove something in a hot car, you might want to try HT-PLA. Otherwise, it’s just like PLA. It prints like PLA, it looks like PLA, and when cold it behaves mechanically like PLA, which we suppose was rather what Polymaker was going for. There is no word yet on whether the additives that make it high-temp
increase off-gassing or toxicity
but since this stuff prints like PLA and can stand a little airflow,
it should be easy to ventilate
, which might make for
fewer trade-offs when building an enclosure.
What do you think, will you be trying HT-PLA anytime soon? Let us know in the comments.
| 28
| 12
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8136924",
"author": "Joseph A Larson",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T15:38:51",
"content": "It’s currently out of stock, so I guess that means a lot of people are trying it out.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137285",
"author": "Jan",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T07:11:36",
"content": "assumptions… there could be many other reasons",
"parent_id": "8136924",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137314",
"author": "Pegaroo",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T09:11:26",
"content": "Don’t be a fud",
"parent_id": "8137285",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137352",
"author": "joxp",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T10:48:24",
"content": "Operative word: guess",
"parent_id": "8137285",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136929",
"author": "Greg A",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T15:47:32",
"content": "i really liked pla for a lot of reasons but over a span of years every piece became so brittlei’ve never had call for a high temp PLA but i would love a long lasting one",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136985",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T17:34:30",
"content": "Annealing, Epoxy or paint coatings, PLA+ or pro.https://all3dp.com/2/pla-vs-pla-3d-printer-filament-compared/",
"parent_id": "8136929",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137017",
"author": "Greg A",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T19:07:23",
"content": "if one of these “pla+” filaments actually worked over years i’d love it but i haven’t seen any cause for optimism. for years, i used easyfil pla “impact modified pla”, which i think would be described as a “pla+”. it makes a great result that is not very brittle…at first. and then, over time, it becomes brittle even so.i probably should have given paint a try with my old printer, though. i have the impression it’s moisture in the air that’s turning it brittle, so it’d be hard to seal it up well enoughnow that i’ve switched to petg, i’m not very interested in experimenting with pla anymore.one of the bummer parts is that this weakness of pla isn’t widely acknowledged, i think because of a combination of people not acually caring about the mechanical properties of their products (i.e., minifigs, mando armor) and people not actually using their products beyond the initial “wow it works” phase. having a dozen household objects i use every day seems to make me the exception in the 3d printing world. i think most people just don’t think much of it if 5 years later the part has turned to splinters, so i don’t really trust any reviews on it unless they’re specifically targetted at this problem",
"parent_id": "8136985",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137052",
"author": "Duane Scott Hess",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T20:19:03",
"content": "PLA can take damage from hydrolysis (from moisture) and UV (from ambient light). Even if it’s not acute, it is cumulative over time, the bonds do t reform.",
"parent_id": "8137017",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137068",
"author": "LookAtDaShinyShiny",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T20:41:09",
"content": "not entirely sure on that tbh on the spool, once it hits 40% RH, it will be brittle and print like garbage(causes a lot of confusion for new users because they think it’s their settings), it will likely go in a dryer for 8 hours and be absolutely fine for printing again after the moisture level has dropped sufficiently.It could be that in its unprinted form, that the drying is enough to reconstitute the filament so that it’s good enough and the printing process is enough to remix the component parts well enough to produce decent quality prints. So it may be that it will last longer with drying after it’s printed?This is all guess work from observations of filaments that gain moisture, get brittle then are dried. I Would love to hear what other people think/know about the processes involved. Constantly drying parts over time is probably impractical though of course.",
"parent_id": "8137052",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136944",
"author": "Nova",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T16:10:15",
"content": "I’ve been printing Fusion Filament’s HTPLA for years. Not sure if it’s the same resin, but I find it prints a lot nicer than regular PLA and seems to be a bit stronger, too.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136981",
"author": "Tyler August",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T17:25:35",
"content": "Unfortunately these are marketing terms, not agreed-upon standards, so there’s no way to tell short of a lab workup what, if anything, Polymaker’s HT-PLA and Fusion’s HTPLA have in common. A head-to-head comparison would be interesting, though.",
"parent_id": "8136944",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137239",
"author": "xakh",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T03:50:36",
"content": "That’s factually incorrect. Ingeo’s 3D850 and 870 are named resins that have been in wide circulation with well documented datasheets for well over half a decade and are the basis of the vast majority of HT-PLAs, which is why you’ll find almost all the HT-PLAs sold adhere to the same advertised temperature range and annealing procedures. It’s not like the various “plus” marketing terms thrown around on other materials.",
"parent_id": "8136981",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137999",
"author": "HAL9000",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T19:43:21",
"content": "Yeah, I’m a big fan of their work. Pretty transparent with the materials and data sheets, unlike the “PLA+” terminology that gets thrown around so casually.",
"parent_id": "8136944",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136968",
"author": "ThomW",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T16:55:23",
"content": "I can’t view the video from my mobile for some reason, so I don’t know if the video talks about annealing plain PLA? Twice baking this potato, uh, filament seems to imbue it with stronger tolerance properties as well. I don’t think it’s a good measurement of strength and rigidity per monetary unit because you want a thing to hold up or not under X condition. If both fulfill the requirements, then most likely the cheapest one applies. And if annealed regular PLA suits most every case, then you have to wonder what exactly are these new materials used for?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136987",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T17:36:22",
"content": "Gemini can summarize the video for you. Give it the URL.",
"parent_id": "8136968",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136992",
"author": "TJay",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T17:51:13",
"content": "I really feel like so much of this HT-PLA media spam, is just a marketing grab. I am not saying there are not uses for improved materials etc. But PLA is just not my go too for mechanical parts that need to endure high temps. There are enough other drawbacks that I find in PLA like its UV temperament. Its great for quick recyclable prints, for proof of concept or kids toys/trinkets. But outside of that definitely not my choice plastic anymore.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137117",
"author": "Alan Devine",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T22:21:59",
"content": "The point of this product is to give you that choice again. The UV concern is fair enough, but I’ve had regular pla parts out in mega high UV New Zealand sun for years before failure. I do quickly spray paint my parts tho.",
"parent_id": "8136992",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137014",
"author": "John R. Hogerhuis",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T19:04:57",
"content": "I dunno. Printing dimensionally accurate functional parts is difficult enough without introducing randomness during annealing.Maybe just use ASA or ABS. Buy a cheap but modern printer (Elegoo corexy or a newish Creality bed slinger), build a plywood enclosure for it to control warping and stick it in a outside shed on extension cord so you’re not breathing fumes. Or garage with the door open.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137024",
"author": "Rocky Harder",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T19:14:35",
"content": "I think it’s all geared for people who can’t. I don’t have an enclosure, don’t really want one, and would prefer to keep my printer on the basement, out of sight as opposed to elsewhere on the house with better ventilation, so this is right up my alley. Fwiw protopasta’s costly htpla-cf anneals rather nicely with minimal warping and looks GREAT, but I’m happy to see some cheaper alternatives, and the video they linked is pretty solid evidence for me as someone who prints primarily functional parts.",
"parent_id": "8137014",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137023",
"author": "H Hack",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T19:14:02",
"content": "The community really needs a set of standardized specs and tests for filaments and resins.Any manufacturer worth their salt would publish their filament specs.The community would have something measurable to compare.Sometimes Y is a lot better than X, but if all you need is X/10 then X is perfectly adequate.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137050",
"author": "Szymon Jastrzębski",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T20:11:40",
"content": "We have ISO standards dictating how plastics should be tested. And Polymaker admitted to not knowing the ISO standards they’re referring to in their TDS and later admitted to purposefully overinflating the numbers to make them look better.",
"parent_id": "8137023",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137025",
"author": "Rick",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T19:15:11",
"content": "So…it does what the Protopasta HTPLA have been doing for years.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137122",
"author": "Alan D",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T22:25:21",
"content": "This (the non glass filled version) doesn’t need annealing so no.",
"parent_id": "8137025",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137174",
"author": "G j",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T00:55:57",
"content": "Creep under load and lack of temperature resistance are what made me stop using pla. This does not solve the problem with creep.Now I use petg, which is more UV resistant and still unbelievably cheap. If I really needed high temperature resistance above 85 C I would look to ABS or ASA",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137496",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T17:09:02",
"content": "Yeah, I’ve found the temperature limits of ordinary PETG to be more than suitable for any application I’d be comfortable using plastic in. Sure I can’t print something in black and leave it under load in the summer sun, but why would I? That’s what metal is for.",
"parent_id": "8137174",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137205",
"author": "Scarecrow",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T02:00:03",
"content": "As someone who’s been closely following the evolving claims around HT-PLA datasheets, this article hits the nail on the head. The issue isn’t just about whether 60 °C or 70 °C is the right number to quote, it’s about fundamental credibility.Take Polymaker’s HT-PLA datasheets:The original TDS v1.0 listed a 0.45 MPa HDT “average” of 69.9 °C, while the graphed curve showed 61.4 °C.In v1.1, the table was silently revised to list 61.4 °C as the average—no correction notice, no explanation.Nicolas, Polymaker’s Business Development Lead, later responded to questions by stating:“There was a mix between: Average Value, Medium Value, Maximum Value.” — AHI Discord, 2025-06-06Let’s assume that 69.9 °C was a real maximum and 61.4 °C the revised average. That would require the third sample to have been 52.9 °C, implying a 17 °C spread, well beyond the ±5 °C variation limit specified in ISO 75 for semicrystalline polymers.That leaves three possibilities:-Polymaker didn’t follow ISO 75 for their HDT results,-The HDT data was selectively reported or retroactively manipulated,-Or both.Worse, the marketing emphasis on a “150 °C heat resistance” value, based solely on Vicat softening point after annealing (Method A/120), is deeply misleading without context. Vicat and HDT are not interchangeable, and the 150 °C claim represents a best-case result under idealized post-processing, not a usable service temperature. For most real-world applications, as-printed HDT is what actually matters, and in this case, it’s barely above 60 °C.If filament brands like Polymaker want to move beyond cosplay props and into legitimate engineering applications, this kind of selective disclosure and technical ambiguity is not going to cut it. Real engineers need real data, not inflated numbers and retroactive justifications.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137451",
"author": "G-man",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T15:08:12",
"content": "I gave up PLA years ago due to it going soft inside the car’s cabin. I now have PETG parts in the engine bay that have been perfect for thousands of miles. PLA is for ornaments.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137481",
"author": "grap",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T16:34:40",
"content": "tldr. You need to anneal your print to get HT.That’s a no go. Annealing mess the dimension accuracy completely.The best thing a beginner printer can use is ASA-GF/CF. 100c HDT guaranteed out of box, and with the GF/CF enforcement, no chamber needed until large print.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,520.666658
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/09/feline-genetics-and-why-orange-cats-are-the-most-special/
|
Feline Genetics And Why Orange Cats Are The Most Special
|
Maya Posch
|
[
"Featured",
"Original Art",
"Science",
"Slider"
] |
[
"cats",
"fur",
"genetic mutation",
"genetics"
] |
Recently, butlers to orange-colored cats got a bit of a shock when reading the news, as headlines began to call out their fuzzy feline friends as ‘freaks of nature’ and using similarly uncouth terms. Despite the name-calling, the actual reason for this flurry of feline fascination was more benign — with two teams of scientists
independently figuring out the reason
why some cats have fur that is orange. Tracking down the reason for this turned out to be far more complicated than assumed, with the fact that about 80% of orange cats are male being only the tip of the cat-shaped iceberg.
It was known to be an X chromosome-linked mutation, but rather than the fur coloring being affected directly, instead the mechanism was deduced to be a suppression of the black-brownish pigmentation (eumelanin) in favor of the orange coloration (pheomelanin). Finding the exact locus of the responsible ‘O gene’ (for orange) in the cat genome has been the challenge for years, which turned out to be a mutation related to the X-linked
ARHGAP36
gene, whose altered expression results in the suppression of many melanogenesis genes.
Interestingly, this particular mutation appears to be of a singular origin that apparently persisted over millennia courtesy of the domestication of humans (
H. sapiens
) by
Felis catus
.
Furry Patterns
Although
F. catus
doesn’t have the wide variety of phenotypes that everyone’s favorite canid companions
(
Canis familiaris
)
got subjected to after the first grey wolves got cozy with
H. sapiens
, there is still significant variety among cats. Most of this variety is seen in the fur, with characteristics including coloration, curliness and length varying quite significantly.
European wildcat (
F. silvestris
). (Credit: Alena Houšková,
Wikimedia
)
The
underlying genetics
are
relatively straightforward
despite the pretty wild number of possible phenotypes. Here we should mind the cautionary note that some phenotypes are the result of inbreeding of recessive genetic defects, such as the
hr
mutation in the
KRT71
(keratin) gene that prevents hair follicles from forming, as found in the so-called
Sphynx cats
. Due to the amount of inbreeding required to maintain these recessive mutations, such breeds suffer many
health issues
and a shortened lifespan. Here we will thus only look at healthy
F. catus
genetics without such inbreeding baggage.
F. catus
has the African wildcat (
F. lybica
) as its direct ancestor, with the European wildcat (
F. silvestris
) being the other divergent branch. Interestingly,
F. silvestris
seems to
resist
domestication more than
F. lybica
, with the latter being the cat species that the Ancient Egyptians would have kept around. All of these have similar genetics, and thus the wildcats give a good idea of what a ‘wild’ phenotype range looks like. Of note is that these wildcats are generally not orange, unlike many of their brethren in the
Pantherinae
sub-family of
Felidae
, like tigers and lions, which is another kettle of genetic fish.
Hair length is determined by the
FGF5
gene, which much like in
H. sapiens
determines for how long a hair grows before it enters the catagen (regression) phase. In e.g. Norwegian Forest Cats as well as Maine Coons the growth cycle is much longer, which gets these breeds a thicker coat, which normally consists out of the typical down, awn and guard hairs.
Fur color is solely determined by melanin, specially the dark & brown eumelanin along with the yellow-reddish pheomelanin, with the amount or absence of each determining the final color. As far as patterns go, it’s likely that the
‘tabby’ coat pattern
originates in wildcats, with naturally bred
F. catus
(‘non-pedigree’) often displaying this pattern.
In order for an orange, generally called ‘red’ or ‘ginger’, coat color to appear, there would thus have be a severe decrease in eumelanin production, with pheomelanin being primarily present. This is effectively the same as in
H. sapiens
and the ‘ginger’ phenotype with reddish hair and lack of eumelanin pigmentation in the skin.
The problem for genetic scientists was that they did not know exactly why the eumelanin production was being suppressed in favor of pheomelanin, with researchers finally sufficiently narrowing down the location on the X-chromosome through comparative analysis between
F. catus
DNA to pin-point the location and from there understand the mechanics.
Deleted
Summary of study findings by Hidehiro Toh et al., Current Biology, 2025
Both the study by
Hidehiro Toh et al.
and the study by
C.B. Kaelin et al.
(
BioRxiv
) came to the same conclusion, namely that a 5 – 5.1 kilobase (kb) section had been deleted which resulted in a significantly higher expression of
ARHGAP36
(Rho GTPase Activating Protein 36). This is likely because the deleted section that normally precedes
ARHGAP36
inhibits the expression of this gene.
Normally the production of eumelanin is activated via the following pathway in melanocytes:
Melanocortin 1 receptor (Mc1r)
cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)
protein kinase A (PKA)
In the case of eumelanin suppression, the affected cats still have this pathway intact, but the increased expression of
ARHGAP36
leads to reduced levels of the PKA catalytic subunit (PKA
c
), thus interrupting this pathway at the final step and preventing the production of eumelanin.
Impact of increased ARHGAP36 expression on melanocyte gene expression. (Credit: Hidehiro Toh et al., Current Biology, 2025)
Although melanin is commonly associated with hair and skin coloring, these neural crest-derived melanocytes have more roles and are considered part of the body’s immune system. Neuromelanin, for example, is a form of melanin that is produced in the brain, though with an unknown function. The
ARHGAP36
gene is strongly expressed in neuro-endocrinological tissues, which conceivably may imply a significant role for the normal functioning of melanocytes in this context.
In the case of hair & skin pigmentation, the effect is as we can observe rather striking, with mixed negative and positive health effects based on the effective change in gene expression. Fortunately a drop in IQ is not among the negative outcomes, despite the slander often hurled at orange-coated cats.
Randomly Tortoise
A cat with calico coat pattern. (Credit: Ksmith4f,
Wikimedia
)
The two coat patterns most commonly associated with this orange mutation without being purely orange are the tortoiseshell and calico patterns, which are effectively the same except with white (no pigment, courtesy of the
KIT
gene) present with the latter. This kind of coat pattern is caused by the random inactivation of either of the two X chromosomes in female cats (X-inactivation), where just one of the X chromosomes has the
ARHGAP36
mutation.
A female cat can have this mutation on both X chromosomes, but this is far less likely, thus explaining why most orange cats are male, and why calico and tortoiseshell cats are overwhelmingly female.
Although male cats can have a calico or tortoiseshell pattern, this is because they have a genetic (intersex) condition like Klinefelter syndrome (XXY), or chimerism (merged cell lines from two distinct embryos). This rare confluence of factors makes such coat patterns with male cats very rare, at less than one percent.
Most Special of All
From what we can determine based on historical writings and art, and on the similarity of these deletions near the
ARHGAP36
gene, this is a mutation that occurred likely once thousands of years ago, and has persisted in
F. catus
populations ever since. Even if similar mutations were to have occurred in wildcat populations, they are likely to have been heavily selected against. European wildcats are however known to interbreed with feral
F. catus
, which may introduce such mutations in those populations.
Ultimately these findings mean that orange cats as well as calicos and tortoiseshells are the result of a very special moment in history, when
H. sapiens
and
F. lybica
met up and the former saw fit to preserve one of the most unique phenotypes that truly define
F. catus
as the wildcat who came to conquer our homes and our hearts.
| 43
| 11
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8136891",
"author": "jenningsthecat",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T14:27:42",
"content": "Is it just me, or does this sound like it might have a human counterpart? I wonder if fair-skinned, be-freckled red-heads are the result of a similar genetic anomaly.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136895",
"author": "X-MarX-THX-SpXt",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T14:41:14",
"content": "Yikes.Also: whatever basis your theory had with humans, we lived way too long in a society that wanted to not let others die due to any “genetic anomaly”, therefore we are the same stock (even if we were separated for 30 or so thousands of years).And redheads are cute so whatever made them that i want to have it as well.",
"parent_id": "8136891",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136999",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T18:25:57",
"content": "YikesLooks like someone’s afraid of icky thoughts!",
"parent_id": "8136895",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137101",
"author": "jenningsthecat",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T21:34:31",
"content": "I didn’t have a theory – just a passing thought. And I agree with you on redheads – especially the freckled ones… :)",
"parent_id": "8136895",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137220",
"author": "Stuart",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T02:45:38",
"content": "Nobody tell him about twin studies.",
"parent_id": "8136895",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136983",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T17:30:14",
"content": "We should do the study.Because the gene that makes gingers also prevents soul formation.Pulling on that thread might get us AGI with artificial souls.",
"parent_id": "8136891",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137003",
"author": "PDXWeb",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T18:35:30",
"content": "As I understand it, the ginger mutation deleted a gene that codes for a soul-ase inhibitor. So there’s a buildup of a soul-eating compound in body, in utero. By the time they’re born, the soul has been completely neutralized.",
"parent_id": "8136983",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137041",
"author": "anon",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T19:54:53",
"content": "As the article said humans have red hair due to a mutation affecting melanin production. However, humans and cats had their last common ancestor well before the K-PG extinction event so there is no guarantee the aleals involved are on the same chromosome as in cats.",
"parent_id": "8136891",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137072",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T20:46:58",
"content": "Heh heh a fun topic",
"parent_id": "8136891",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136904",
"author": "Andrew Wilson",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T15:04:42",
"content": "It never fails to amaze me how complex genetics is!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136905",
"author": "Bob",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T15:06:55",
"content": "Torties are the prettiest, smartest and bestest kitties. So there.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137142",
"author": "Rick",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T23:25:44",
"content": "I agree 100%, Torties are fantastic!",
"parent_id": "8136905",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137690",
"author": "Dave",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T02:47:39",
"content": "Never underestimate their tortitude!",
"parent_id": "8136905",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136918",
"author": "deshipu",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T15:20:37",
"content": "Fortunately a drop in IQ is not among the negative outcomes […]I believe you wanted to write “intelligence”, because I don’t think there is a single cat of any color who managed to get scored on the intelligence quotient test, which is primarily designed for humans and has pretty vague relation with actual intelligence.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136928",
"author": "Canuckfire",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T15:46:08",
"content": "You are probably correct, but I will never be sure. They could just be too lazy to care about our human testing. (/s)Our cat seems to be able to read the room to know exactly when he can get away with crimes, and will loudly and often communicate his displeasure with the current feeding schedules.",
"parent_id": "8136918",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136938",
"author": "Piotrsko",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T16:02:34",
"content": "Are you sure that you didn’t unintentionally train the cat that way?",
"parent_id": "8136928",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137007",
"author": "LordNothing",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T18:48:55",
"content": "i often use treats to summon the cats back to this side of the door. the cats got wise to this and now hide intentionally when called and only come out when they hear the treat bag shaking.",
"parent_id": "8136938",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137006",
"author": "LordNothing",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T18:46:45",
"content": "given how often they trick their “owners” into giving them treats, i think the notion of feline stupidity is highly questionable.",
"parent_id": "8136918",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137022",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T19:12:51",
"content": "A species that has gotten us to voluntarily spend about $45 billion/yr on it, plus water and shelter, must be pretty darn smart. All those wild animals haven’t that figured out. e.g. bears, etc.",
"parent_id": "8137006",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137324",
"author": "Stephen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T09:42:31",
"content": "Cat intelligence isn’t measurable using IQ tests, but when my sister’s children were babies I compared their development to my (unusually intelligent) cat. I concluded that she had about a sixth of the intelligence of a person.",
"parent_id": "8136918",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138340",
"author": "Fred Mertz",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T21:52:57",
"content": "You must know smarter people than I do.",
"parent_id": "8137324",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8138225",
"author": "Bob the builder",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T15:35:45",
"content": "Sure, but you can notice a big difference between cats.I have two cats. One is a British shorthair, the other was a farm kitten.The British shorthair cat is really really really dumb. She’s adorable, she’s cuddly, she’s sweet, but she’s so incredibly dumb. When I first got her I had to reintroduce myself whenever she moved from one room to the next. It was really weird. She’s playing with me, cuddling and then she moved to another room and saw me, and got scared of me. Took her months to adjust. She also doesn’t meow, doesn’t really communicate other than bumping her head into me because she wants to cuddle.The other cat, got her from a farm, unknown dad, mom came home pregnant. Brought her home as a kitten, I had to modify door handles as she would open all the doors. She’s a talker, communicates in an easy to understand way with different sounds for different things. Different meow’s for food, water, litterbox, attention, play time. The worst one is just wanting attention, wanting to get pet. That meow sounds like she’s dying. Really weird.",
"parent_id": "8136918",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136949",
"author": "BT",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T16:18:39",
"content": "All tabby and ginger cats have an M marking on their forehead. Once you see it you will never not see it, sorry!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136965",
"author": "ScubaBearLA",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T16:51:22",
"content": "Totally untrue! I checked my ginger just now and she has a W!",
"parent_id": "8136949",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137073",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T20:47:44",
"content": "Rotate the cat 180 degrees and re-check",
"parent_id": "8136965",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137085",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T21:08:23",
"content": "Now its a *.",
"parent_id": "8137073",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137008",
"author": "LordNothing",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T18:49:40",
"content": "this is actually a breed requirement for the maine coon.",
"parent_id": "8136949",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136973",
"author": "Danjovic",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T17:09:07",
"content": "Kudos for remembering Heathcliff, but blame on forgetting Top Cat",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137160",
"author": "Piecutter",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T00:23:38",
"content": "and what about Bill?",
"parent_id": "8136973",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8139175",
"author": "dremu",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T22:59:40",
"content": "Ack. Pthhpt.",
"parent_id": "8137160",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136978",
"author": "Katz",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T17:20:12",
"content": "Don’t furrrget the DNA split cats! Got to see one in a middle of no where antique store, alive and well. Very cool and semi spooky:https://m.youtube.com/shorts/CMSU3krpBk0",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137326",
"author": "Stephen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T09:44:36",
"content": "HOW SWEET!",
"parent_id": "8136978",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136988",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T17:40:05",
"content": "I think I have all the colors and patterns represented. Only thing I don’t have is a Maine Coon. Now that would scare all the others.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137327",
"author": "Stephen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T09:45:50",
"content": "I had a Maine Coon. She was very intelligent (she could count to three and knew various human words) and wouldn’t let me carry her UNLESS I turned her on her back and continually tickled her tummy! Which was very sweet but apt to be awkward when opening doors.",
"parent_id": "8136988",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136995",
"author": "Tony M",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T18:05:22",
"content": "I have no orange cats but I have been watching an orange guy on TV.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137005",
"author": "Daid",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T18:43:42",
"content": "I do have an orange cat, and I can tell you he shares his 2 braincells with other orange creatures.",
"parent_id": "8136995",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137088",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T21:10:16",
"content": "I’m not sure your thinking this through.What does that say about the people that lose to him after spending twice the money?",
"parent_id": "8137005",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137074",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T20:49:08",
"content": "Error: Trump not mentioned. TDS prognosis: terminal stage",
"parent_id": "8136995",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137179",
"author": "Tony M",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T01:02:00",
"content": "Chill guys .Garfield :)",
"parent_id": "8137074",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137338",
"author": "C",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T10:17:51",
"content": "Glad to know you cultist guys are on standby on all corners of the internet! Semper Fi!",
"parent_id": "8137074",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137040",
"author": "Daniel Matthews",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T19:50:43",
"content": "Which color fur makes the best hats?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137280",
"author": "CJay",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T06:38:44",
"content": "” Although F. catus doesn’t have the wide variety of phenotypes that everyone’s favorite canid companions (Canis familiaris) ”Just proof that cats have evolved to near perfection for their environs",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137329",
"author": "Stephen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T09:50:26",
"content": "I think part of the reason is that until the late 19th century most cats were simply allowed to breed as they liked. There are only a handful of really ancient cat breeds, such as the Siamese. Until we started treating them as cuddly friends their main job was to catch mice and other small pets, and a baseline cat can do that as well as a purebred. Dogs, on the other hand, have been bred as living tools for various jobs. Did you know that in the Pacific Northwest there used to be a woolly dog kept as a kind of carnivorous sheep? The native people fed them on the abundant smoked salmon and sheared them to spin their wool into yarn for weaving.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salish_Wool_Dog",
"parent_id": "8137280",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,520.894788
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/09/texas-right-to-repair-bill-is-a-signature-away-from-becoming-law/
|
Texas’ Right To Repair Bill Is A Signature Away From Becoming Law
|
Maya Posch
|
[
"News",
"Repair Hacks"
] |
[
"right to repair",
"Texas"
] |
In what could be a big step forward for consumer rights, the Texas Senate
recently unanimously voted
to pass
HB 2963
, which references the “Diagnosis, maintenance, and repair of certain digital electronic equipment”. If signed by the governor, this would make Texas the ninth US state to enact such a law, and the seventh pertaining to consumer electronics. Interestingly, this bill saw anti-parts pairing language added, which is something that got
stripped from the Oregon bill
.
Much like other Right to Repair bills, HB 2963 would require manufacturers to make spare parts, documentation and repair tools available to both consumers and independent repair shops. If signed, the act would take effect in September of 2026. Included in the bill are provisions to prevent overcharging for the provided parts and documentation.
As for how useful this is going to be for consumers,
[Louis Rossmann] had a read of the bill
and gave his typically eloquent thoughts. The tl;dw is that while there is a lot of stuff to like, this bill leaves open potentially massive loopholes (e.g. assemblies vs parts), while also carving out massive exemptions, which leaves owners of game consoles, boats, cars, tractors, home appliances, etc. stranded with no new options.
| 20
| 9
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8136825",
"author": "Chr Elz",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T12:15:49",
"content": "Hopefully it turns out better than the New York State R2R bill that looked great, passed the State House nearly unanimously with total bipartisan support, and then was completely nerfed at the last minute by Gov. Hochul following big tech lobbying. But I’m not holding my breath.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136850",
"author": "ziggurat29",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T13:03:51",
"content": "I almost thought Texas was about to pass a good bill.Unrelated, but this is possibly the first time I could not put a YT video on 1.5x speed because the presenter is already going at 1.5x!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136865",
"author": "Chr Elz",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T13:31:18",
"content": "Guess my earlier comment didn’t get through. Just hoping this works out better than the great NY State right to repair Bill that was nerfed by the Governor at the last minute just before signing, after pressure from lobbyists, despite being passed nearly unanimously through the statehouse in it’s original, far reaching and strong version.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136872",
"author": "Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T13:41:27",
"content": "Exemptions on tractors, not much effort to guess who paid to make that happen – John Deere.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136887",
"author": "Just sayin'",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T14:21:42",
"content": "Living in Texas has proven that there are no bills passed that benefit the average citizen. Every bill is engineered to benefit big businesses or supporters of the current legislators. Doubt things will change due to the legislators creating laws that will keep their party in office.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136888",
"author": "Dan",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T14:24:38",
"content": "Honestly I’d prefer to keep pairing stuff – I’d sooner my stuff doesn’t get nicked than that I could repair it (but likely won’t, because I tend not to break consumer electronics, and because by the time it’s broken it’s usually well out of date), but can’t becausesomeone nicked it and broke it down for parts.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136890",
"author": "Dan",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T14:25:53",
"content": "If someone can suggest an alternative that keeps right to repair whist effectively preventing thefts, that’d be great, but the current suggestion of IMEI blocking is a joke.",
"parent_id": "8136888",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136902",
"author": "Greg A",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T14:58:49",
"content": "you ever have your phone stolen?",
"parent_id": "8136888",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136915",
"author": "M",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T15:19:00",
"content": "The pairing isn’t BETWEEN phones/accounts/etc, it’s between the components inside the phone. It has little to no bearing on the rates of theft, and everything to do with blocking repair.",
"parent_id": "8136888",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136991",
"author": "Human",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T17:50:27",
"content": "Pairing makes it so stolen phones can’t be stripped for parts, and locking/encryption prevents the phones themselves from being used. With this stealing phones is fruitless as they have no use.",
"parent_id": "8136915",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137046",
"author": "Bob",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T20:04:05",
"content": "Pairing stops phones being stolen for parts. Blocking repair is a bonus. (Quite possible it’s the other way around, of course).",
"parent_id": "8136915",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137051",
"author": "threeve",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T20:17:28",
"content": "There’s a simple solution to this: make parts paring opt-in. That way, if it’s important to you, it’s something that YOU will be able to unlock with YOUR OWN keys.",
"parent_id": "8136888",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137214",
"author": "Fox",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T02:21:32",
"content": "That’s not a solution at all. If the thief only discovers your phone has its parts paired after they’ve stolen it, you’ve still had your phone stolen. It’s only a deterrent if a thief can be reasonably certain there is no point in stealing a phone because even parting it out is worthless to them.",
"parent_id": "8137051",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136899",
"author": "Beowulf Shaeffer",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T14:46:50",
"content": "Perhaps we could approach Right to Repair the same way that lobbyists approached passing new gun regulations over the last century.Namely, get them to give us an inch, then another inch, then another, ad nauseum, until we’ve finally gotten what we want (as opposed to wanting it all in one bill or even actually making any real compromise).It may not be as exciting, and it’s certainly not honorable, but if that’s how the game is played, then so be it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137060",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T20:32:47",
"content": "Didn’t work out for the gun grabbers.Right now blue states are responding to the SC saying ‘no, unconstitutional’ by passing even more unconstitutional laws (e.g. NY).But that’s just like OK passing ’10 commandments in classrooms ‘laws.They all know it’s just posturing to please their derpiest population.That said, ‘repair’ is not mentioned anywhere in the constitution.They need to find that ‘right’ in the whitespace, not like they haven’t found lots of other rights there.",
"parent_id": "8136899",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138516",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T14:57:42",
"content": "I’m guessing that in those days the concept that you needed a right to repair your stuff was beyond thinkable.They also forgot to specify you can’t charge for or forbid breathing air, or observing things with your eyes, or occupying physical space with your body. So that air thing will be next then? (Seeing the other two they covered already these days.)",
"parent_id": "8137060",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136982",
"author": "treesap",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T17:26:30",
"content": "Excludes cars? What BS. Not to mention that’s an area thatsupposedto be already covered by rules from the Obama era, though isn’t enforced (looking at you, Tesla. For countless examples of anti-repair and general anti-consumerism.)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138008",
"author": "Free",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T20:47:06",
"content": "Like legislation to ban soda.We start with freedom. Each law is a step away.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,520.718589
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/09/nintendo-switch-2-teardown-lets-a-go/
|
Nintendo Switch 2 Teardown, Let’s A-Go!
|
Drew Littrell
|
[
"Nintendo Hacks",
"Teardown"
] |
[
"games console",
"handheld",
"nintendo",
"teardown"
] |
A new console challenger has appeared, and it goes by the name Nintendo Switch 2. The company’s latest iteration of the home console portable hybrid initially showed promise by featuring a large 1080p display, though very little official footage of the handheld existed prior to the device’s global release last week. However, thanks to a teardown video from [TronicsFix],
we’ve got a little more insight into the hardware
.
The technical specifications of this new console have been speculated on for the last handful of years. We now know NVIDIA is again providing the main silicon in the form of a custom 8x ARM Cortex A78C processor. Keeping the system powered is a 5220 mAh lithium ion battery that according to [TronicsFix] is held in with some seriously strong adhesive.
On the plus side for repairability, the onboard microphone and headphone jack are each attached by their own ribbon cable to the motherboard. The magnetic controller interfaces are also modular in design as they may one day prove to be a point of failure from repeated detachment. Speaking of which,
[TronicsFix] also took apart the new version of the Joy-Con controller
that ships with the system.
Arguably the biggest pain point for owners of the original Nintendo Switch was the reliability of the analog sticks on the diminutive controllers. There were widespread reports of “stick drift” that caused players to lose control as onscreen avatars would lazily move in one direction without player input. For the Switch 2, the Joy-Con controllers feature roughly the same number of dome switch buttons as well as haptic feedback motors. The analog sticks are larger in size on the outside, but feature the same general wiper/resistor design of the original. Many will cry foul of the continued use of conventional analog stick design in favor of hall effect sensors, but only time will tell if the Nintendo Switch 2 will repeat history.
| 12
| 5
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8136769",
"author": "mini",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T10:08:44",
"content": "Anyone know if there are nice, high-res boardshots anywhere out there?Youtube videos are too compressed to make out anything.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137263",
"author": "CityZen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T06:01:04",
"content": "Some of the various teardown videos on YT identify the different chip part numbers. Unfortunately, I’ve not seen one yet that is comprehensive.",
"parent_id": "8136769",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136898",
"author": "Maave",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T14:46:44",
"content": "I’m so disappointed that the USB ports are still soldered to the same board as the storage. My brother kills USB ports and I was hoping for a sub-module this time like many phones. I struggle re-soldering this components and getting every single pin connected.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136994",
"author": "CityZen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T18:04:21",
"content": "“Use the Flux, Luke!” Or just watch several YouTube videos of experienced people doing these repairs to see what the key factors are.",
"parent_id": "8136898",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137215",
"author": "Miles",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T02:24:07",
"content": "I moved my entire family to magnet connectors. Which worked until the manufacturer discontinue the magnet cords I use. I rather replace the cords than resolder cell phones. But sadly they don’t have Video output or USB host magnet cords yet 😥",
"parent_id": "8136898",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137359",
"author": "Foldi-One",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T11:07:30",
"content": "Technically there are USB-C magnetic connectors on the market that do support video etc. I’ve been testing them with my Steamdeck though and rather as expected really they just are not stable enough to really rely on for data, but they do work well enough (at least while so new) to almost convince you they are good – fine for charging so far though. Though in fairness USB-C is often kinda flaky anyway, so I’ve found the magnetic connectors problematic enough to stop using ’em.",
"parent_id": "8137215",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137512",
"author": "Maave",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T17:41:07",
"content": "oh yeah! Those are great – I started with Genki brand until they discontinued. Then I found the clones (the source?) of “24 pin magnetic USB-C” from China which are fully compatible.I did find and order some magnetic HDMI, haven’t tried yet.",
"parent_id": "8137215",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137093",
"author": "omnireso / yann faurie",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T21:16:58",
"content": "Thanks a million for this walkthrough. Very disapointed to realize its not reusing the map of the Switch 1, and that Nintendo didn’t make better choices for the game cartrdige slot or USB ports.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137506",
"author": "Cad the Mad",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T17:24:16",
"content": "I was at a social event at Nvidia about a year ago and I was talking to someone about hacking Nintendo consoles. I told the story about Team Twiizers, how the Switch was so easily hacked because it was only slightly modified from the Tegra SoC in the Shield tablets, and how the DSi had recently had its boot ROM dumped using a targeted EMP.One of the guys I was talking to was growing more and more anxious as I went on, and eventually he commented that people like me are thew stuff of his nightmares. He explained that he was the lead of security architecture and validation on the SoC going into the Switch 2, and that his predecessor was fired over the vulnerability of the original Switch and the compensation Nvidia had to pay Nintendo as a result.I am not at Nvidia anymore, so I wonder how that gentleman is doing now that the Switch 2 was compromised in less than a day.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137551",
"author": "CityZen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T19:18:12",
"content": "I still have not seen any details regarding the Switch 2 hack. Was it anything more than a Switch 1 game hack run on the Switch 2?",
"parent_id": "8137506",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137617",
"author": "John",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T21:33:42",
"content": "Looks like it’s not much of a hack.. just a software side userland vulnerability. Nvidia probably had nothing to do with it.https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/handheld-gaming/hackers-discover-nintendo-switch-2-exploit-one-day-after-launch-minor-hack-allows-running-custom-code-on-top-of-os",
"parent_id": "8137506",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8146002",
"author": "ABC",
"timestamp": "2025-07-06T19:43:12",
"content": "Nintendo didn’t change the things that customers would have wanted to change because a) it would have cost more money to develop and b) it would have made less money to sell. Nintendo will NEVER do anything the customer wants. They never have, and they never will. They will only ever do what they think is profitable; that’s all they think about. I’d be interested to know what the people who assemble the devices earn and how they are treated!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,520.951814
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/08/garden-hose-gets-laminar-flow/
|
Garden Hose Gets Laminar Flow
|
Al Williams
|
[
"3d Printer hacks"
] |
[
"garden hose",
"laminar",
"laminar flow"
] |
We aren’t sure if [Joshua Bellamy] is serious that he wants a laminar flow to water his plants, but there are many places where having a smooth and predictable flow of water is useful or even essential. With his 3D printed adapter, you can
produce laminar flow from any garden hose.
If you haven’t heard the term before, laminar flow is to water what a laser is to light. The water moves in parallel tracks with minimal mixing and turbulence. Ensuring laminar flow is often critical to precise flow metering, for example.
This isn’t [Joshua]’s first attempt. He has made a nozzle like this before, but it required a lot of assembly (“more fiddly bits than a Swedish flat-pack sofa” according to the post). Depending on the version, you’ll need various bits of extra hardware in addition to the 3D printed parts. Some versions have drop-in nuts and even an LED. Fiberglass insulation at the inlet diffuses turbulence, and some manual work on the output provided better results. When everything is working, the output of the hose should look like a glass rod, as you can see in the video below.
Air can also have laminar or non-laminar flow.
Laminar air flow in a laser cutter’s air assist
can make a big difference. If you don’t fancy 3D printing, you could save
some drinking straws
from your last few hundred trips to the local fast food emporium.
| 14
| 8
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8136681",
"author": "Aaron",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T05:15:30",
"content": "I love laminar flow water contraptions. For decades I didn’t know what the “leaping fountains” were I’d seen at EPCOT many many years prior. Garden hoses are a convenient water pump, but have long been considered insufficient pressure to generate a good fountain. I’m pleased that Joshua’s efforts have been successful.I’ve 3D Printed my own nozzles (meant for connection to a pond pump). For what its worth, I’m not convinced that very small layer-lines are introducing significant enough turbulence to cause issues with the flow. Someone should do some research :)There was a forum once that was quite active with folks building nozzles, but it’s upkeep and activity has fallen by the wayside. Still lots of interesting reading:https://laminar.forumotion.com/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136690",
"author": "Gareth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T05:49:42",
"content": "Fountains at Burj Khalifa feature laminar-flow elements",
"parent_id": "8136681",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136855",
"author": "BillyBob",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T13:17:14",
"content": "The fountains at most malls in Sofia, Bulgaria, also feature laminar flow nozzles. The Burj Khalifa must have copied them, or the rest of the world.",
"parent_id": "8136690",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137315",
"author": "C",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T09:17:40",
"content": "I remember leaping fountains from RollerCoaster Tycoon.",
"parent_id": "8136681",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136689",
"author": "Thopter",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T05:43:14",
"content": "This is his Mk2 version. There’s already a new Mk3 version posted now.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136697",
"author": "CJay",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T06:14:34",
"content": "I wish I could still get suitable straws at my local fast food store",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136758",
"author": "pruttel",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T09:26:20",
"content": "His mk2 (and mk3) use hexagonal “infill” for the channels, no straws needed!",
"parent_id": "8136697",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136730",
"author": "paulvdh",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T08:31:36",
"content": "It’s only 97% there, and it’s the last 3% that would make it really amazing. When laminar flow gets perfected the outside of the water is a perfectly smooth cylinder with no wobbliness. In this video the water flow is wobbling, and the further away from the nozzle, the worse it gets. I’ve seen fountains like this where the water column is so smooth, you can’t even see it’s moving at all. It just looks like a static round bar of glass, until the water hits something.The video below is a lot closer to this ideal. (Most of the wobling is from him holding the fountain in is hand). And the video is also better made with construction details.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5L6W0YoAd4",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136748",
"author": "Cody",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T08:59:16",
"content": "Version 3 is a big improvement. It still doesn’t look like a glass rod though.https://www.printables.com/model/1319709-laminar-flow-garden-hose-head-mk3",
"parent_id": "8136730",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136940",
"author": "Aaron Eiche",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T16:05:23",
"content": "I used a piece of soda can and a drill and thatkind ofworked. 3D printed is probably not going to create a clean shape.The wobbliness can be attributed to a number of things. There’s a really good explanation of the math involved to generating this output here:http://scuttlebots.com/2014/06/17/laminar-fountains-what-are-they/",
"parent_id": "8136730",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136755",
"author": "ono",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T09:19:27",
"content": "Use it as optical guide to transmit information across. I wonder what effect might have the flow, its diameter and speed to the signal.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136759",
"author": "metalman",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T09:42:01",
"content": "I dont know if this counts, but I take the airator screen of of the simple kitchen taps and file the threads off the spout, which is just for hand feel, but the resulting smooth (quiet) flow is niceat the other end of the spectrum, there are simple devices that seperate air flow into hot and cold streams by inducing a very high speed rotationthrough the shapes of the ducts used, reportedly very loud, and inificient, but still an interesting phenominon that has implications for all types of flow conditions",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136907",
"author": "M",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T15:09:03",
"content": "so it’s a stream of water filled with fiberglass particles.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136930",
"author": "Luther",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T15:47:33",
"content": "Laminar flow is great to wash a car with. It reduces spots",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,521.004816
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/08/wireless-power-makes-for-cable-free-desk/
|
Wireless Power Makes For Cable-Free Desk
|
Tyler August
|
[
"computer hacks",
"Wireless Hacks"
] |
[
"diy perks",
"frameworks",
"power over wireless",
"Wireless power"
] |
Some people hate cables with a passion; others are agnostic and prefer cabled peripherals to having to stop and charge their mouse. [Matt] from
DIYPerks
has the best of both worlds
with this wireless-powered, no-cable desk setup.
The secret is embedded within the plywood desk:
an evaluation kit from Etherdyne Technologies, Inc
consisting of a 100 W RF power supply and its associated power antenna looping around the desktop edge. The mechanism is similar to the inductive charging often seen on phones nowadays, but at higher frequency and larger scale, enabling power to be transmitted several feet (at least a meter) above the desktop.
The range is impressive (this isn’t the maximum), but the efficiency is not advertised.
The kit from ETI contained several PCB-coil receivers, which [Matt] built into a number of devices, including a lamp, heated cup, microphone, speakers, his mouse, keyboard, and even a custom base to run his monitor, which really shows the power these things can pull.
The microphone is a non-Bluetooth RF unit lovingly modified to studio quality, at least as far as we can tell on laptop speakers through YouTube’s compression. The speakers use a pair of Bluetooth modules to negotiate stereo sound while staying in sync. And before you ask “what about signal for the monitor?”– we have to inform you that was taken care of too, via a wireless HDMI dongle. Check it out in the video below.
Of course the elephant in the room here is power usage — there’s a 10 W base draw, and probably a big hit to efficiency vs cabled-everything– but we figure he gets partway to a pass on that by using a Frameworks mainboard instead desktop hardware. Indeed, a full analysis might show that the transmission efficiency of this system is no worse than the power to charge/discharge inefficiencies in a more conventional battery powered wireless setup.
While no wires is pretty clean, we’re not sure this beats the
totally-hidden-in-the-desk PC
[Matt] built last year in terms of minimalist aesthetic. That Frameworks mainboard also likely lacks the power of his
triple-screen luggable,
but this was still an entertaining build.
| 33
| 9
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8136647",
"author": "s",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T03:29:26",
"content": "this is one of those glitzy/glamorous channels that i really can’t stand. he’s always light on specifics, and heavy on the appearance aspect. his last build with the ‘wireless surround sound’, i bought the dsp modules for another project, and still haven’t figured out how he managed to program them. the included software is garbage, if it even runs at all.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136654",
"author": "Damntech",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T03:47:25",
"content": "It is just an advertisement and click bait. Personally, when the flash opening happens, I immediately take the url to a transcript extractor, skim it, 90% there is nothing there. Maybe something interesting will come from it for someone. I am on the same page as you, the transcript is meaningless and the minute I reviewed was about as informative as an “Oddly Satisfying” video.",
"parent_id": "8136647",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136659",
"author": "Harvie.CZ",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T04:19:26",
"content": "I had similar feelings originaly, because i’ve expected something and i was geting something else. Now that i know what to expect, i am no longer disappointed when i watch those.To be fair, it is nice that he’s commited to perfecting the visual aspects. Not many people do that in DIY hardware community, so i find it inspiring in that regard. On the other hand, most (if not all) of the electronics he’s using are already quite well covered in other videos that do not care about appearance. It’s not like he’s doing something you cannot figure out after bit of internet research…",
"parent_id": "8136647",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136910",
"author": "limroh",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T15:13:48",
"content": "That’s fair but I can’t shake the feeling that pretty much all of his “entertainment” misses it’s mark when posted on HaD.By how much is debatable – The few videos I’ve seen (eg. a few DIY beamer ones (with iPad displays?)) were pretty much useless in the “hacker” context.For hacker “inspiration” 2-3 pictures of the product would’ve been more than enough.",
"parent_id": "8136659",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136706",
"author": "shinsukke",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T06:44:13",
"content": "It’s made to be watched by non engineering people and be entertained. That requires good presentation and trying to not bore them.Nothing wrong with that, we just aren’t the target audience.",
"parent_id": "8136647",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136771",
"author": "ford",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T10:14:44",
"content": "Then why HaD staff keeps posting this crap?",
"parent_id": "8136706",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136834",
"author": "Tyler August",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T12:32:41",
"content": "There’s a few reasons!– One is that it keeps showing up in our tips line. This article doesn’t have the credit, but that’s only because the tip showed up while it was in the publication queue. At least one person thought this video should be written up for Hackaday, even if you did not.– Two is that it is for inspiration! Like the cartoon said, “knowing is half the battle”– once you know something can be done, you can build on that knowledge if you want to, even if you don’t have every exact detail of how it was done.– Three is that really well documented content israre. We love to post cool projects with good documentation, but that’s a thin venn diagram. You might prefer fewer posts of that style, and I would not blame you, but to get the number of posts we make daily? Yeah, we have to feed through the content that exists, which is mostly Youtube these days. (An IMO, [DIY Perks] is a step above a lot of YouTube content in that there is a forum where you can go to discuss the projects and get help from his fan community with implementation. Not even a Discord, and actual, real-life forum!)That’s just like, my opinion, man; don’t take it as gospel from Hackaday. Editors may feel differently. Honestly, I just think they’re neat.",
"parent_id": "8136771",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136916",
"author": "X-MarX-THX-SpXt",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T15:19:19",
"content": "You are correct, I sent the link to the editors via the “submit-a-tip” the same day the video came out.Why?Because i haven’t seen much of these “made-for-non-nerds” type articles and links (which isn’t a problem in itself, but think of it like as you adore knitted outfits and the ONLY forums that are online are made for knitting machine manufacturers… in pashtu.). I figured it would be neat, if somebody with better fundamentals on electronics would get inspired and do something similar FOR US or be like “So this is how you speak to the normies” and make their projects human-readable to the masses.Also: the guy has a neato community, as said by the person i reply to.",
"parent_id": "8136834",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136649",
"author": "KDawg",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T03:39:21",
"content": "I came up with some big never ending rambling reply, but never submitted it.Best I can come up with is “Divide and Conquer” and is this “really worth your time or effort”for me no, I have very little reason to move around most of these devices and already have most of the wires well hidden until you hit “the cord”. That contains everything in one fat split loom wrap that is well out of normal visibility",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136660",
"author": "Gravis",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T04:19:53",
"content": "And people wonder why we can’t address climate change.sigh",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136663",
"author": "kramboz",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T04:26:24",
"content": "Solar power adoption is an exponential curve over time, while other sources of fuel are linear. We’re doing just fine. The sky is certainly not falling, relax. Available energy use per person is directly related to wealth and well being. The solution is not shrinking our lives, but to living better. Don’t believe the crowd that wants you to live in the dark and eat bugs.",
"parent_id": "8136660",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136682",
"author": "Valerio",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T05:18:44",
"content": "Yes, right! Live your life, but don’t listen to those who say: Don’t do anything, whatever you do doesn’t matter, or let the big industry self-regulate. That means they can do whatever they want for the next quarter’s profits, by the way. In the end, they’ll spout a couple of straw man arguments (e.g., eating bugs).I almost forgot: Don’t feed the troll.",
"parent_id": "8136663",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137042",
"author": "Garth Wilson",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T19:55:40",
"content": "There is no climate crisis, certainly not one caused my man’s activities, except the foolish chemtrailing. I’m sure the amount of facts I would like to point out here would dramatically exceed the limits on post length. All the supposed “authorities” telling us we have to reduce our CO2 emissions are pseudo scientists, not real ones, and they have a political agenda to control the population, not improve the earth.",
"parent_id": "8136682",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137227",
"author": "MinorHavoc",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T03:13:27",
"content": "If you are parodying, well done! If not, you are a fine example of the product of the education system that people of your type keep pushing for.",
"parent_id": "8137042",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137535",
"author": "Skalamanga",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T18:43:16",
"content": "Nice try elon…",
"parent_id": "8137042",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138054",
"author": "Giin",
"timestamp": "2025-06-12T00:39:48",
"content": "@skalamanga “nice try elon…”… Elon Musk, the big climate change greenify the world through electrification evangelist? Tell me you treat politics like a team sport without saying you treat politics like a team sport…",
"parent_id": "8137042",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136880",
"author": "quiet_fox",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T13:58:51",
"content": "Hey, I like my bugs.",
"parent_id": "8136663",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136921",
"author": "Foldi-One",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T15:28:50",
"content": "The sky is certainly not falling,I’d have to disagree quite a bit – yes renewable energy is making some gains but that isn’t an excuse to be wasteful – There is still a long way to go before the sustainable technologies are actually doing more than just marginally slowing down the previously huge growth rate of the mess we are generating for ourselves.So while living better is fine with me how you are doing it still matters – you can live far better than folks in the past have done and still actually use much less energy per person through greater efficiency. So something like this that really doesn’t make life better at all IMO, certainly not enough to actually be worth the cost it brings…Maybe a smaller and lower powered field that doesn’t waste 10w with no load at all, just maybe that works. So one meant to keep keyboards, mice, headsets and perhaps laptops trickle charged. Still going to face some efficiency problems, but not needing battery or as large a battery in the desktop devices and wearing out the charging ports less so the folks that are not handy enough to replace ’em* don’t have to junk whole devices with years of life left in them might just make up for that, and at the very least brings it back into being plausibly worth it…*which as everything moves to USB-C is probably a large portion of this reader base even though its HAD and most of us have a least some interest and skill in electronics – most USB-C receptacles I’ve seen are hot air style reflow only, skill with an iron won’t do anything and how many of us have suitable tools for hot air reworking?",
"parent_id": "8136663",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136711",
"author": "WTF Detector",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T06:54:35",
"content": "You really are one of the most miserable people I’ve ever seen, Gravis. I can’t remember the last time you’ve made a comment on HaD that isn’t just moaning about how horrible the world is, how horrible people are, how horrible an article is, playing the Well Ackshewally role. Good lord, do better.",
"parent_id": "8136660",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137044",
"author": "Daniel Matthews",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T20:00:20",
"content": "You can’t address climate change, there is no room in the laws of physics that allow puny humans at our civilisation level to operate on the relevant energy scales. If you believe otherwise then you really need to forget all of your programing and learn some basic maths and physics.",
"parent_id": "8136660",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137240",
"author": "KDawg",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T03:51:28",
"content": "its not by pissing away 40% energy loss to look kewl I can tell you that",
"parent_id": "8136660",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136685",
"author": "Brian",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T05:29:30",
"content": "Not sure I’d like to be wearing any metal rings near that setup for very long, lol.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136692",
"author": "Observer",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T05:57:42",
"content": "“… consisting of a 100 W RF power supply and its associated power antenna looping around the desktop edge…”So… The idea here is to seat a person in immediate, prolonged, proximity to a tuned loop antenna fed with 100 watts of RF?Yeah… no thanks.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136714",
"author": "AJ",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T07:23:22",
"content": "Yeah, if it’s a 13.5 MHz system then the field is probably well above 100V/m. I wouldn’t sit around that.",
"parent_id": "8136692",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136842",
"author": "Myself",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T12:48:32",
"content": "Looking at my seating position relative to my desk right now, it looks like that coil would pass about 10 inches from the family jewels. And I’d be entirely within its near-field.No thanks, seriously!",
"parent_id": "8136692",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136961",
"author": "Daniel Gooch",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T16:42:59",
"content": "Great suggestion. Although it might have health effects, it might be useful for applications such as model lighting where people won’t be near it for very long.",
"parent_id": "8136692",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136962",
"author": "Daniel Gooch",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T16:43:54",
"content": "Correction: Lighting models hanging from the ceiling.That would look a lot better than hanging cables and be less unwieldy than batteries.",
"parent_id": "8136961",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137514",
"author": "echodelta",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T17:47:18",
"content": "What are they hanging from, thin air?",
"parent_id": "8136962",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136694",
"author": "macsimki",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T06:03:18",
"content": "cheap renders try to look like the real thing, and now thig guy want the real things look like cheap renders…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136908",
"author": "a_do_z",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T15:09:25",
"content": "“Wireless power”Batteries?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136919",
"author": "X-MarX-THX-SpXt",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T15:23:35",
"content": "Radiation, obv.You can choose which type ;)",
"parent_id": "8136908",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137539",
"author": "echodelta",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T18:45:09",
"content": "It isn’t just the family jewels but blood and brain. When I last went to ham fests I noticed many of the greatest generation didn’t have very good health showing on their skin and such. One younger friend I knew who was healthy worked in transmitter shacks and even bragged about sticking his hand into the magnetic air coupling of a 1.5kW lighting for an AM tower, that’s those two interlocked rings that couple power without grounding the feed at the bottom of a vertical quarter wave tower.Brain cancer took his life too early!Another friend’s unbalanced house-mate kept hiding cords from every accessory weather they were hooked up or not. USB, charging, power, signal, you name it. Though he is kicked out we’re still looking for the cords. If you don’t like cables live off grid without electricity.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138407",
"author": "Christian",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T03:13:53",
"content": "Late to the party.I strongly suspect this technology was already in Popular Mechanics, many decades ago.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,521.42906
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/08/hackaday-links-june-8-2025/
|
Hackaday Links: June 8, 2025
|
Dan Maloney
|
[
"Hackaday Columns",
"Hackaday links"
] |
[
"5090 RTX",
"Andromeda",
"counterfeit",
"D2W",
"dip",
"dog",
"emergent AI",
"Galaxy",
"hackaday links",
"milky way",
"NVIDIA",
"packaging",
"qfn",
"QFP",
"robot dog",
"robotics",
"supply chain",
"Temu",
"unitree",
"W2W"
] |
When purchasing high-end gear, it’s not uncommon for manufacturers to include a little swag in the box. It makes the customer feel a bit better about the amount of money that just left their wallet, and it’s a great way for the manufacturer to build some brand loyalty and perhaps even get their logo out into the public. What’s not expected, though, is for
the swag to be the only thing in the box
. That’s what a Redditor reported after a recent purchase of an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090, a GPU that lists for $1,999 but is so in-demand that it’s unobtainium at anything south of $2,600. When the factory-sealed box was opened, the Redditor found it stuffed with two cheap backpacks instead of the card. To add insult to injury, the bags didn’t even sport an Nvidia logo.
The purchase was made at a Micro Center in Santa Clara, California, and an investigation by the store revealed 31 other cards had been similarly tampered with, although no word on what they contained in lieu of the intended hardware. The fact that the boxes were apparently sealed at the factory with authentic anti-tamper tape seems to suggest the substitutions happened very high in the supply chain, possibly even at the end of the assembly line. It’s a little hard to imagine how a factory worker was able to smuggle 32 high-end graphics cards out of the building, so maybe the crime occurred lower down in the supply chain by someone with access to factory seals. Either way, the thief or thieves ended up with almost $100,000 worth of hardware, and with that kind of incentive, this kind of thing will likely happen again. Keep your wits about you when you make a purchase like this.
Good news, everyone — it seems
the Milky Way galaxy isn’t necessarily going to collide with the Andromeda galaxy
after all. That the two galactic neighbors would one day merge into a single chaotic gemisch of stars was once taken as canon, but new data from Hubble and Gaia reduce the odds of a collision to fifty-fifty over the next ten billion years. What changed? Apparently, it has to do with some of our other neighbors in this little corner of the universe, like the Large Magellanic Cloud and the M33 satellite galaxy. It seems that early calculations didn’t take the mass of these objects into account, so when you add them into the equation, it’s a toss-up as to what’s going to happen. Not that it’s going to matter much to Earth, which by then will be just a tiny blob of plasma orbiting within old Sol, hideously bloated to red giant status and well on its way to retirement as a white dwarf. So there’s that.
A few weeks ago, we mentioned an
epic humanoid robot freakout
that was making the rounds on social media. The bot, a Unitree H1, started flailing its arms uncontrollably while hanging from a test stand, seriously endangering the engineers nearby. The line of the meltdown was that this was some sort of AI tantrum, and that the robot was simply lashing out at the injustices its creators no doubt inflicted upon it. Unsurprisingly,
that’s not even close to what happened
, and the root cause has a much simpler engineering explanation. According to unnamed robotics experts, the problem stemmed from the tether used to suspend the robot from the test frame. The robot’s sensor mistook the force of the tether as constant acceleration in the -Z axis. In other words, the robot thought it was falling, which caused its balance algorithms to try to compensate by moving its arms and legs, which caused more force on the tether. That led to a positive feedback loop and the freakout we witnessed. It seems plausible, and it’s certainly a simpler explanation than a sudden emergent AI attitude problem.
Speaking of robots, if you’ve got a spare $50 burning a hole in your pocket, there are probably worse ways to spend it than on
this inexplicable robot dog
from Temu. Clearly based on a famous and much more expensive robot dog, Temu’s “FIRES BULLETS PET,” as the label on the box calls it, does a lot of things its big brother can’t do out of the box. It has a turret on its back that’s supposed to launch “water pellets” across the room, but does little more than weakly extrude water-soaked gel capsules. It’s also got a dance mode with moves that look like what a dog does when it has an unreachable itch, plus a disappointing “urinate” mode, which given the water-pellets thing would seem to have potential; alas, the dog just lifts a leg and plays recorded sounds of tinkling. Honestly,
Reeves did it better
, but for fifty bucks, what can you expect?
And finally, we stumbled across
this fantastic primer on advanced semiconductor packaging
. It covers the entire history of chip packaging, starting with the venerable DIP and going right through the mind-blowing complexity of hybrid bonding processes like die-to-wafer and wafer-to-wafer. Some methods are capable of 10 million interconnections per square millimeter; let that one sink in a bit. We found this article in
this week’s
The Analog
newsletter
, which we’ve said before is a must-subscribe.
| 20
| 7
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8136617",
"author": "David",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T23:14:42",
"content": "On the stolen graphics cards:For high-end items at very high risk of being stolen “in the supply chain” there needs to be more than a single holgraphic seal. Additional seals wih signed messages that include the serial number and a long random nuber come to mind as doglitter nail polish seals.If it can be done cheaply without damaging what’s in the box, x-raying the boxes at several stages in the supply chain will help (granted, x-rays won’t stop/detect spy-level tampering, just outright theft or honest mistakes where a person or robo-parts-picker put the wrong part in the box).I’m not claiming these things are foolproof, but they will raise the cost for a thief and, more importantly, reduce the chances of a customer being stuck holding (just) the swag-bag.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136945",
"author": "Piotrsko",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T16:12:13",
"content": "Don’t need Xray, just weigh it. Dont think thieves have exact weight replacement chunks, yet… however now that i mentioned this…….",
"parent_id": "8136617",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137252",
"author": "Raukk",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T05:12:10",
"content": "It’s always a balance between false positives and false negatives.Weight of the product box is a well published number that can be easily found and scammers have been replacing things with bricks in online purchases for ages.Maybe if you used really accurate scales and had tight controls of what the product weight should be.",
"parent_id": "8136945",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136618",
"author": "Bunsen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T23:34:17",
"content": "It’s a little hard to imagine how a factory worker was able to smuggle 32 high-end graphics cards out of the buildingI believe a lunchbox is traditional when you’re building your data center one piece at a time.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136642",
"author": "scott_tx",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T02:28:46",
"content": "I think Johnny Cash wrote a song/guide about it.",
"parent_id": "8136618",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136671",
"author": "adobeflashhater again",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T04:53:48",
"content": "was hoping someone mention it",
"parent_id": "8136642",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136621",
"author": "baltar",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T23:46:54",
"content": "I wish I could get excited about those high end GPUs but I can’t find a reason to do so. The only game I play is Minecraft and it runs fine on my GeForce 8800 GS I bought with pocket money back in 2010. I also used to play S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Call of Pripyat and GTA Vice City but I played them so much (over 1000 hours in GTA:VC and 3500 in CoP) that I remember every sqm of their maps it gets boring. At least Minecraft is dynamic and stimulating of imagination.In general I think modern gaming is made for fools and no-lifers who only want simple follow-the-line gameplay.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136623",
"author": "David",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T23:59:43",
"content": "In general I think modern gaming is made for fools and no-lifers who only want simple follow-the-line gameplay.I find simple, follow-the-line gameplay relaxing. Not challenging, not stimulating, but relaxing. Sometimes “relaxing” is exactly what I need.Spending more than a few bucks on the game or the hardware to play it, not so relaxing.",
"parent_id": "8136621",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136624",
"author": "David",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T00:01:21",
"content": "Grr, I’ll trade a relaxing game made for fools and low-lifes for an EDIT button (j/k, get your own copy! :P). Obviously, that first line was supposed to be “quoted.”",
"parent_id": "8136623",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136664",
"author": "Ian",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T04:31:53",
"content": "In general I think modern cars are made for fools and no-lifers…How is anyone expected to be able to afford a Ferrari in this economy?And on top of that, they are barely even useful as cars…That’s you by the way…If you find little value in the overpriced AAA published slop…then stop eating from that trough.This is a golden age of Indy and single-A development.Games can still be great when they aren’t bogged down by executive meddling that crams as many gambling mechanics and micro transactions as possible in there to keep the shareholders at bay for another few weeks.",
"parent_id": "8136623",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136754",
"author": "CampGareth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T09:12:30",
"content": "Have you tried Factorio? It’s immensely rewarding for a certain type of person.",
"parent_id": "8136621",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136889",
"author": "Myself",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T14:25:45",
"content": "Could a version of Factorio be made with greatly reduced graphical complexity, which would still preserve the gameplay?I guess I don’t see the fixed correlation between billions-of-polygons-per-second and actual enjoyment. That’s all.",
"parent_id": "8136754",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137039",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T19:50:21",
"content": "I play Shapez 1 & 2, which gives roughly the same enjoyment.",
"parent_id": "8136889",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137513",
"author": "A",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T17:47:04",
"content": "It’s for children dude, always has been, you probably were one when you got that card",
"parent_id": "8136621",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136788",
"author": "Anonymus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T11:01:16",
"content": "It will be interesting to see if reports start appearing worldwide about empty graphics card boxes or whether they are localised to a specific area",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136838",
"author": "craig",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T12:43:34",
"content": "Probably never was a graphics card in there at all. Just let the box and packaging line run a bit extra is way easier. Hologram tape and security seals and everything mean zero- they all come off an assembly line just the same. At some point I saw a documentary about counterfeiting (pinkertons?) and it said basically SOP is to run the factory during the day on the books then keep the line moving in evening off the books. So your gray market official hologram is still kinda real but kinda not.When things get super rare even large stores may go to the gray-market, who knows?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136859",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T13:25:37",
"content": "Great… I just spent €57 on preparation for that collision.I wonder if I can sue someone over this.It’s always something isn’t it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136948",
"author": "rasz_pl",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T16:17:36",
"content": "Box with a window is the simplest solution escalating cost of counterfeit. CPU manufacturers went there a long time ago.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137089",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T21:11:40",
"content": "Tape a picture of what’s suppose to be there to the back of that window.",
"parent_id": "8136948",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137534",
"author": "rasz_pl",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T18:38:42",
"content": "Will only fool laser technicians looking from afar",
"parent_id": "8137089",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,521.354674
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/08/bringing-a-father-ted-joke-to-life/
|
Bringing AFather TedJoke To Life
|
Matt Varian
|
[
"Microcontrollers"
] |
[
"adhesive tape",
"ESP8266",
"props"
] |
Inspired by a gag from a mid-90s sitcom
Father Ted
,
[Stephen] decided to create his own talking tape dispenser
.
This project is a actually a follow-up to the first version of the dispenser he built back in 2022, and [Stephen] has documented the process thoroughly for anyone wanting to build their own. In the first version, he modified a tape dispenser to house a Raspberry Pi, enabling voice functionality. In the new version, he replaced the Raspberry Pi with a cheaper ESP8266 and designed an entirely 3D printed dispenser that looks closer to the screen-used version.
A clever change was replacing the rotary encoder with a custom encoder embedded in the printed parts. Using a photodiode and an LED, it measures the tape pulled from the spool. As you pull the tape, the encoder calculates the length and announces it through the speaker, just like in the show.
If you’re into prop recreations like this, be sure to check out the
winners of our 2022 Sci-Fi Contest
.
| 8
| 7
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8136600",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T20:52:53",
"content": "Yep I’m gonna have to have me one of those",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136606",
"author": "FiSul",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T21:21:21",
"content": "Such a funny project! Love it!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136608",
"author": "CityZen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T21:40:05",
"content": "I think the anti-pop code is responsible for the gaps in the audio. A possible solution for that is to edit the audio files to have no pops (ie, make the start and end levels match with what’s adjacent).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136970",
"author": "Bob",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T17:06:46",
"content": "What you want to do is put 20ms of silence at the ends of each voice segment, then play them all.Used to do IVR stuff. (Maybe it was 10ms at each end to get a 20ms gap. Dunno, it’s been a few years. You’ll figure it out)",
"parent_id": "8136608",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136868",
"author": "Doctor Wizard",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T13:34:59",
"content": "Next, it should keep track of the total used, and tell you how much is left on the roll.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137094",
"author": "Ted Unctious",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T21:17:39",
"content": "Ah now father, it goes on and on and on and on…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137221",
"author": "Father Finton stack",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T02:51:33",
"content": "Oh god please make it become a reality",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137641",
"author": "El",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T22:57:12",
"content": "Look at that…pure class!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,521.057943
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/08/simple-triggering-for-saleae-logic-analyzers/
|
Simple Triggering For Saleae Logic Analyzers
|
Aaron Beckendorf
|
[
"Software Hacks",
"Tool Hacks"
] |
[
"logic analyser",
"saleae",
"saleae logic",
"triggering"
] |
Saleae logic analyzers seem to have it all: good sampling rates, convenient protocol decoding, and plenty of channels – but not a good way to set rising or falling-edge triggering. [James] found this rather inconvenient when debugging embedded devices, and
shared a workaround that replicates these simple triggering modes
.
Crucially, the logic analyzer’s software has a repeated triggering mode that fires when the protocol decoder detects a preset value. [James] used a clever trick to turn this into a rising-edge trigger: he set up a simple parallel analyzer, and set the signal in question as both the sampled channel and the clock signal. Since he wanted to detect the rising edge, he set the clock mode accordingly. Next, he loaded the simple parallel decoder’s trigger configuration and set it to detect a value of one, the value of a high signal. When he ran the simple parallel trigger, every rising edge of the input signal would trigger the clock to check for a high value on the line, in turn triggering the analyzer.
It’s also possible to set up a falling-edge trigger by selecting the falling-edge clock mode and setting the trigger mode to detect a value of zero. Setting up more complex triggers involving multiple channels is as simple as calculating the hexadecimal value of the desired state and setting the parallel decoder to trigger on that value. For example, if you want to trigger when one input is low and another is high, you can set the decoder to trigger on a value or one or two, depending on which order the inputs come in.
If all this makes you interested in Saleae logic analyzers, we’ve seen them used for everything from
floppy disk preservation
to
signal generation
. We’ve even
reviewed their earliest model back in 2009
.
| 4
| 2
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8136596",
"author": "Devan",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T20:25:05",
"content": "The article summary here is a bit confusing – the video in question is a workaround to replicate the “normal” trigger setting of an oscilloscope, where it will capture and replace the existing capture on screen (usually with some level of persistence) whenever a new trigger is detected.The summary makes it sound like the Saleae software doesn’t support falling edge or rising edge triggers even in the equivalent of a scope’s single/one-shot mode – which is of course table-stakes and nobody would enjoy using a logic analyzer that didn’t support that.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136686",
"author": "jpa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T05:30:33",
"content": "Thanks, the hackaday summary sounded really weird :)",
"parent_id": "8136596",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136749",
"author": "paulvdh",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T09:05:28",
"content": "You can also just use Sigrok / Pulseview. Their website is back up again. In pulseview you can simply select any channel for either rising, falling or toggling trigger. (And a static level for other channels). And the data captured in the video above can be done for 1% of the cost of the saleaeae thing. Salesaleaea more then doubled the price of their hardware in a few year some time ago, and they stopped selling the “low cost” / entry level hardware altogether. The analog channels of the SaleSaleSale are nice but their lowest cost gadget costs more then my Siglent SDS1104X-E. But SaleSaleSale does manage to keep their head above the mowing field. There were other companies who started similarly (such as USBee) and they nearly all collapsed.I really wish Sigrok / Pulseview had some way to make some money. It would give me a lot more confidence that they will still be around in 5 or 10 years time. When I wanted some hardware with more performance then the CY7C68013A I had some struggle to find it. In the end I bought the Kingst LA2016 twice. The newest version does have Chinese replacement chips in it (the Chinese are doing everything they can to become independent from the western supply chain. And I guess this is for more reasons then just making money, but I’m not into politics much). But anyway. Kingst LA2016 is nicely made and for a reasonable price, although it’s still more then he hardware would indicate. I guess Sigrok can still make some profit if they sell similar hardware for half the cost of the LA2016.There is also a company that forked Sigrok, started selling their own LA hardware and (as far as I know) never gave a line of code back to Sigrok. I’m definitely not buying that hardware.Only downsides of the LA2016 is the lack of analog channels, and the coloring of the wires. So I took out the wires of the pod and put them in the order that Pulseview numbers the channels. (This does make channel numbering incompatible with the Kingst software, but I like Sigrok / Pulseview more then Kingst.In my opinion, every “arduino” starters kit should have a simple Logic Analyzer included. It’s such a useful debugging tool. I find the CY7C68013A more useful for debugging microcontroller stuff then my full blown oscilloscope. In fact. I hate to turn my Siglent even on because its fan makes so much noise. I’m seriously thinking of buying another scope ,but that is another topic.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136935",
"author": "smellsofbikes",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T15:57:04",
"content": "I agree with everything in this post. I have a salaeiaieae at work and it works great, I have a Sigrok-based setup at home, it works great at a tiny fraction of the price of the salaieoaieia. The Sigrok software is really useful to the community and if people have money burning holes in their pockets, it’s a good effort to support.",
"parent_id": "8136749",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,521.099531
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/08/piano-doorbell-adds-music-to-your-home/
|
Piano Doorbell Adds Music To Your Home
|
Lewin Day
|
[
"home hacks",
"Musical Hacks"
] |
[
"doorbell",
"ESP32",
"piano"
] |
Regular ding-dong doorbells are fun and all, but it can be nice to put something a little more special by your front door. To that end, [Arpan Mondal] built this neat little piano doorbell
to make visiting his home just a touch more fun.
The heart of the build is an ESP32 microcontroller. It’s responsible for reading the state of five 3D printed piano keys: three white, two black. It’s nowhere near a full octave, but for a doorbell, it’s enough. When a key is pressed, the ESP32 plays a short audio sample embedded within the program code itself. This is done with the help of a PAM8403 audio amplifier module, which jacks up the output to drive the doorbell speaker loud enough to be heard throughout the home. It’s not exactly studio quality audio, but for a doorbell, it sounds pretty solid.
If you’re looking for a fun and easy build to make your home just a little bit more whimsical, it’s hard to beat something like this. Your musical friends will love it—they might even develop an intro riff of their very own. We’ve featured
some other fun doorbell builds before, too
—the best of which are
the Halloween projects.
| 16
| 12
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8136516",
"author": "X-MarX-THX-SpXt",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T14:11:45",
"content": "I can’t play Funky Town on it! So i have to stick with my number pad. :(Would be nice to make one tho. My childhood dream (to be like Pee Wee) will continue to be a dream for a bit more.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136586",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T19:04:46",
"content": "I suppose you could just mod a kids keyboard from the goodwill?",
"parent_id": "8136516",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136563",
"author": "LookAtDaShinyShiny",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T17:03:35",
"content": "It would be even better if it had a full octave+1, you could then give your guests a theme tune to announce their arrival :-D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136565",
"author": "dk",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T17:18:32",
"content": "So the next level would be a tune which unlocks your door :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136574",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T18:08:28",
"content": "It’s the theme from “Close Encounters”, but don’t tell anyone.",
"parent_id": "8136565",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136598",
"author": "Tim Andersson",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T20:35:18",
"content": "The one with Candy Suxxx?",
"parent_id": "8136574",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136603",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T21:18:20",
"content": "Better hope your neighbor can’t figure out how to play a tune by ear",
"parent_id": "8136565",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136571",
"author": "elwing",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T17:42:23",
"content": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZci4tZ-Wfk",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136573",
"author": "Sammie Gee",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T17:47:38",
"content": "Logical sequence to the 2000s meme “The doorbell is missing, please shake the bottle of rocks” and its better twin “Musical School doorbell – shake maracas to enter”.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136581",
"author": "Nikolai",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T18:46:25",
"content": "Good idea for cohousing. We used to have 1 doorbell for 3 “apartments”. 1 ring – Apt 1. 2 rings – Apt 2…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136585",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T19:03:56",
"content": "If you want to get in play Stairway to Heaven so I know it’s you.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136589",
"author": "Niklas",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T19:14:33",
"content": "Love this idea!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136615",
"author": "echodelta",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T22:56:12",
"content": "Never did I hear more than 3 actual notes of the 5 whilst similar musical notes played in the soundtrack. Pianos don’t double strike and those 5 keys are not in any sense of musical order not even numerical! Fixed identical resistors for a tuned instrument unless voltage linear synth is not a musical sound either. Could have used a 555 for sure. With all the high tech, sample the correct notes of the real thing and play them back.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136638",
"author": "Steve L.",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T01:25:58",
"content": "Definitely just did a spit-take when he finally demonstrated the sound… And the tone one half step up from the first key came outlower… That and the fact that it seems to ding twice on a single press. Yikes.But the idea that is almost there (if not in the actual execution) would be pretty neat: a PI midi synth and a few keys next to the door as a doorbell. Obviously a few more keys would be needed to make it worthwhile – maybe from the first key up to it’s 5th so major and minor triads are available.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136704",
"author": "TacticalNinja",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T06:37:54",
"content": "At least we know “Golden Hour” can’t be played on this piano.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136765",
"author": "metalman",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T09:53:28",
"content": "best horrible idea ever……could only work at “the do drop inn” rooming house, crash pad, where having fun while bieng irritated is a way if life, the inevitable signature tune giving a moment for those wanting to hide, to do so……need an indoor pad to.sound the all clear though",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,521.234736
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/08/a-close-look-at-the-mitxela-precision-clock-mk-iv/
|
A Close Look At The Mitxela Precision Clock Mk IV
|
John Elliot V
|
[
"clock hacks",
"gps hacks",
"LED Hacks"
] |
[
"clock",
"gps",
"precision clock",
"precision time-keeping"
] |
Over on his secondary YouTube channel, [Jeff Geerling] recently
demoed the new Mitxela Precision Clock Mk IV
.
This clock uses GPS to get the current time, but also your location so it can figure out what time zone you’re in and which daylight savings time might apply. On the back a blinking diode announces the arrival of each second. A temperature-compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO) is employed for accurate time-keeping.
The clock can be folded in half, thereby doubling as a clapperboard for movie makers. The dimming system is analog, not pulse width modulation (PWM), which means no visible flashing artifacts when recording. It is highly configurable and has USB connectivity. And it has not one but
two
ARM microcontrollers, an ARM STM32L476, and an ARM STM32L010. If you’re interested, you can
pick one up for yourself from [Mitxela]’s shop
.
Toward the end of his video [Jeff] does some navel gazing, thinking about what might be required if future versions of the clock wanted to get down into precision at the nanosecond level. Do you arrange it so the light arrives at the viewer’s eyeball at the right time? Or do you update it on the clock at the right time and let the viewer know about it after a minuscule delay? Philosophical preponderances for another day!
We should add that we’ve seen plenty of cool stuff from [Mitxela] before, including
the Euroknob
and
these soldering tweezers
.
| 15
| 9
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8136476",
"author": "TimeLord",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T11:20:56",
"content": "Time is an illusion …. Lunchtime doubly so",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136523",
"author": "dremu",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T14:45:02",
"content": "Three microcontrollers? At lunchtime? (Yes, I know, it’stwouC’s, but the original quote isthreepints…)",
"parent_id": "8136476",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136510",
"author": "feuerrot",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T13:51:17",
"content": "I’d highly recommend watching the video from Mitxela:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL2cZjO5IUY",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136536",
"author": "Adrian",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T15:34:54",
"content": "Or the detailed write-up on their website:https://mitxela.com/projects/precision_clock_mk_iv",
"parent_id": "8136510",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136622",
"author": "Jeff Geerling",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T23:55:40",
"content": "Heh, and that was the main reason I made my video, I wanted more people to see Mitxela’s video (which seems to not have the amount of traction in YouTube’s algorithm I think it should! Though I’m a time nerd…).",
"parent_id": "8136536",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136534",
"author": "Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T15:25:56",
"content": "M very first thought was I wonder are they using a dspll digital jitter attenuator. I guess I’ll click on the links to hopefully see a BOM (Bill of materials).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136547",
"author": "Truth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T16:17:48",
"content": "I guess that they have never heard of a clock jitter attenuator, so they are not using one which is used in devices like GPSDO precision frequency references by Leo Bodnar. You basically feed the jitter attenuator two or more clocks, one with excellent short term stability but weaker long term stability (TCXO), one with ok short term stability but fantastic long term stability (GPS TIMEPULSE can be configured from 1 Hz to 10 MHz on some modules) and both are used to discipline a DSPLL that will output a jitter attenuated clock",
"parent_id": "8136534",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137905",
"author": "abjq",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T15:54:25",
"content": "Such as the RC32504A? Interesting.",
"parent_id": "8136547",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136627",
"author": "Eric",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T00:21:06",
"content": "Can it also self-update if the time zone changes due to government rule? Michigan is trying to do away with springing and falling one hour every year by making us permanent EDT year round.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136646",
"author": "Mark Topham",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T03:19:24",
"content": "I cringe at any full automated timezone adjustments for this reason. Timezones are a political decision, some conventions aren’t strictly defined. (A few towns on border states/provinces shift their local time to match their more populous neighbours / trade partners).",
"parent_id": "8136627",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136648",
"author": "Isaac Wingfield",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T03:34:19",
"content": "If you’re obsessing over how long the GPS’s cable is, you may as well go on and take the distance from the display to the eyeball into account. And then figure out how to handle two users at different distances.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136650",
"author": "KDawg",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T03:41:59",
"content": "I wish he would get off clocks, its so time consuming",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136954",
"author": "Cheese Whiz",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T16:29:51",
"content": "For maximum time-nerd cred, build one with a CSAC:https://www.microchip.com/en-us/product/csac-sa45sLooks like the SA.45 is obsolete, but they have the SA65 now:https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/microchip-technology/090-02789-011/16555247not sure on pricing, but the SA.45 was more than 5 grand per when I bought them a few years back.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8138424",
"author": "Zef",
"timestamp": "2025-06-13T04:05:45",
"content": "I’m keen to make one of these. I hope he shares the gerbers and BOM soon. Thanks for bringing my attention to it. I am now a new youtube subscriber to your channel and his. Cheers!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8142623",
"author": "martin",
"timestamp": "2025-06-27T08:38:04",
"content": "Wait, the LEDs are dimmed by voltage? So basically the current is limiting by lowering voltage? That’s a strange approach, because LED voltage vs current is nonlinear.Why not use a constant-current LED driver?What am I missing here?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,521.297023
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/08/wave-drive-made-with-3d-printed-parts/
|
Wave Drive Made With 3D Printed Parts
|
Lewin Day
|
[
"Parts"
] |
[
"gear drive",
"gearbox",
"wave drive"
] |
You can get just about any gear reduction you want using conventional gears. But when you need to get a certain reduction in a very small space with minimal to no backlash, you might find a wave drive very useful.
[Mishin Machine] shows us how to build one with (mostly) 3D printed components.
The video does a great job of explaining the basics of the design. Right off the bat, we’ll say this one isn’t fully printed—it relies on off-the-shelf steel ball bearings. It’s easy to understand why. When you need strong, smooth-rolling parts, it’s hard to print competitive spheres in plastic at home. Plastic BBs will work too, though, as will various off-the-shelf cylindrical rollers. The rest is mostly 3D printed, so with the right design, you can whip up a wave drive to suit whatever packaging requirements you might have.
Combined with a stepper motor and the right off-the-shelf parts, you can build a high-reduction gearbox that can withstand high torque and should have reasonable longevity despite being assembled with many printed components.
We’ve seen other
interesting gear reductions before, too
.
| 10
| 5
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8136466",
"author": "jpa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T09:59:10",
"content": "Less parts than cycloidal drive, that’s nice. The efficiency is probably not great due to the rolling resistance of the rollers, but for many applications that doesn’t matter.As with any 3D printed gearbox it will not last long in continuous use, but that’s not a problem for many hobby and prototype projects.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136503",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T13:15:15",
"content": "Good for educating one on wave drives which might come in handy for the next ‘wave’ of roboticist.",
"parent_id": "8136466",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137065",
"author": "Conor Stewart",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T20:38:34",
"content": "How is it less parts? For a basic cycloidal drive all you need is the outer housing with fixed rollers (the rollers on a cycloidal drive don’t need to rotate), the centre axle, cycloidal disc and output shaft.For the wave gearbox you need the outer housing, centre axle, roller race, output and all the rollers or ball bearings.",
"parent_id": "8136466",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136473",
"author": "bob",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T10:59:41",
"content": "one of the original goals of the reprap 3d printer was to be a device that could reproduce itself, even if it was known to be short lived. i think the end goal was to avoid a black swan type industrial collapse.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136504",
"author": "Bill Gates",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T13:17:21",
"content": "I read that as “warp” drive, anyone else?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136512",
"author": "X-MarX-THX-SpXt",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T13:53:29",
"content": "In that case i would have known from the title alone that it is clickbait.Because everybody knows you need a replicator for that.",
"parent_id": "8136504",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136521",
"author": "ORad",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T14:27:46",
"content": "Let’s say we gonna make it out of carbon steel, the biggest challenge will be the steel ball/roller cage which basically is the output, any play between steel balls/rollers and the cage will result backlash which obviously is not desirable.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136538",
"author": "Omid",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T15:44:48",
"content": "I was very interested in this reducer concept at first glance, but later on, I figured out that any play between the cage and steel balls/rollers would result in backlash, which is undesirable. Machining such a cage, which is also the output shaft, isn’t an easy task since it requires a very tight tolerance…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136599",
"author": "SparkyGSX",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T20:45:09",
"content": "Not only that, but the rollers will be sliding (not rolling) against the cage when they transfer torque, which isn’t exactly ideal.However, seeing how the rollers are always in contact with the bearing, they are always arranged in a perfect circle, so it would be possible to make a carrier with pins for the rollers. That cage would follow the wave, so it would need something to transfer the torque to a shaft, without adding much complexity or backlash.I wonder if you could make a two-stage gearbox with a small one inside the wave generator bearing? You could have the cage fixed and the outer ring be the input to the bigger wave generator.",
"parent_id": "8136538",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137632",
"author": "swissde",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T22:23:44",
"content": "Oldham coupling for this Wave Drive:https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0yJb5-nMu08https://www.youtube.com/shorts/llkCui9tJxs",
"parent_id": "8136599",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,521.473425
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/07/scratch-built-electric-boat-shows-off-surprising-speed/
|
Scratch-built Electric Boat Shows Off Surprising Speed
|
Bryan Cockfield
|
[
"green hacks",
"Transportation Hacks"
] |
[
"custom hull",
"electric",
"solar panel",
"speedboat"
] |
Electric cars are everywhere these days, but what about boats? Looking to go green on the water,
[NASAT] put together this impressively nimble boat
propelled by a pair of brushless motors.
The boat itself has a completely custom-built hull, using plywood as a mold for the ultimate fiberglass body. It’s a catamaran-like shape that seems to allow it to get on plane fairly easily, increasing its ultimate speed compared to a displacement hull. It gets up to that speed with two electric motors totaling 4 kW, mated to a belt-driven drivetrain spinning a fairly standard prop. Power is provided by a large battery, and the solar panel at the top can provide not only shade for the operator, but 300 W to charge the battery when the motors are not being used.
With the finishing touches put on, the small single-seat boat effortlessly powers around the water with many of the same benefits of an electric car: low noise, low pollution, a quiet ride, and a surprisingly quick feel. Electrification has come for other boats as well, like
this sailing catamaran converted to electric-only
. Even some commercial boats have
begun to take the plunge
.
| 10
| 5
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8136437",
"author": "Cody",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T06:37:57",
"content": "I don’t think I’ve seen anyone run two motors in parallel from a single ESC before. I’m rather surprised that works at all since the ESC needs to sense back EMF from the motor to know when to switch.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136827",
"author": "Dude",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T12:20:32",
"content": "Depends on the ESC. Some have quadratic and/or three phase Hall inputs. If one motor is controlled and the other is just rolling along, they will eventually align by slippage and start working together. If it’s a toothed belt, you have to time them to stop the motors fighting each other.",
"parent_id": "8136437",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136439",
"author": "MacAttack",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T06:53:38",
"content": "Hmmm, OK but as a general idea I don’t see electrification of pleasure boats having either much appeal or advantage. Boats are plowing through, and “on plane”, with water. That requires a near constant output of power.This is unlike cars, where a high output is need rarely, and the average power need is low. Additionally kinetic energy can be converted to stored energy for later use. This allows energy to be stored and used efficiently, thus lowering the energy needed to from A to B.Though floating boats can better handle the added mass of energy storage (presently batteries) vs cars, I don’t see the advantage in doing so, short of being at mostly trolling speeds, for a typical boater. I expect a loss in efficiency in going to a BEV boat for normal usage. That means a too high cost per hour (unless you operate a GA plane, whereby high is relative) for general adoption.I note his 4 kW is under 6 HP. Trolling indeed.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136449",
"author": "IIVQ",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T08:24:49",
"content": "It’s the opposite. For boats not being in plane, the maximum speed is mostly determined by the length of the waterline and the power requirement goes up very much close to that speed. As an example, sailing 20% under hull speed requires half the power of 10% under hull speed.However, high winds and manouvring require huge powers compared to under-the-limit cruising. A ship I frequently sailed on (26m long) had a 120HP engine (and was considered underpowered when manouvring) but based on fuel consumption we calculated the cruising power output to be about 30HP.",
"parent_id": "8136439",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136446",
"author": "BillyBob",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T07:55:47",
"content": "He didn’t answer the most important question:Would you prefer to be electrocuted, or eaten by a shark?Sounds incredibly stupid, I know, but some stable genius wants to know.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136526",
"author": "El Gru",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T15:08:02",
"content": "Not a problem since decades – electrical boats are a standard thing in Europe. Lots of bodies of water allow gas-guzzlers only for emergency vehicles. And these often have dual engines for quiet standard operation.",
"parent_id": "8136446",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136487",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T12:10:20",
"content": "Fun little build.Not a very large battery — I wonder how long it can sustain 4 kW. Certainly not more than 15 minutes.I wonder how fast it can really go?Not likely to confused with boats from theotherElectric Boat Company, which do (at least) 25 knots for weeks, but they cost a bit more.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136845",
"author": "Myself",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T12:56:54",
"content": "You often stay on a plane for more than 15 minutes?? On inland lakes that’s often enough to do several laps around!This looks great for a very common kind of lake people. Plane from shore to an island for quick runs back and forth, using battery. Putter around at displacement speeds for sightseeing or just enjoying nature, using roughly the same power as the solar panel is producing. Swing into the fishing hole and drop a line while the batteries silently recharge.Yeah, I’d use this. I’d use the heck out of this. I’ve pondered building exactly this minus the planing capability because I didn’t consider it within reach. Time to recalculate!",
"parent_id": "8136487",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136570",
"author": "Piecutter",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T17:33:42",
"content": "It seems like there’s a million of these “Man builds turbo powered speedboat out of wrecked scooter” or ” We built a Supercar out of junkyard Toyota” videos out there, and while they are relaxing to watch, they have no merit other than the artful fiberglass work. It looks cool, but it has no performative qualities which justify it’s creation beyond harvesting “clicks”. I have to admit that I do occasionally watch them, but always find them disappointingly lacking in specific details like speed, range, handling, and how much time it took to fix a certain cobbled together mechanism which was always going to fail under short term, light operation. There’s no actual engineering. Just ” This looks like it’ll work, and I have an angle grinder and a welder”. It’s like watching a low budget version of Orange County Choppers with no dialog. (I was tasked with performing some maintenance work on two of their creations which were in a display setting, and it seemed pointless, as that is about all I found them useful for!)Thanks for giving me something to post about, but this is certainly not the type of content I come here for. I’d say about a third of the content here has already showed up in my algorithms before I see it here, and I may or may not have looked at it, and that’s usually fine, but this stuff here is just the common flotsam that lands on my shore, and clouds my search for actual, useful treasure.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136609",
"author": "Neil",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T21:40:41",
"content": "Nicely written.",
"parent_id": "8136570",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,521.545258
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/07/building-a-cyberpunk-modular-keyboard/
|
Building A Cyberpunk Modular Keyboard
|
Lewin Day
|
[
"Peripherals Hacks"
] |
[
"keyboard",
"keys",
"split keyboard"
] |
Perhaps you have a tilt towards glowing cyberpunk peripherals. Perhaps you’ve been hunting for a keyboard that you can position perfectly to suit both your left and right hands. In that case,
you might just like this nifty design from [Modern Hobbyist].
The first thing you’ll note is the split design, which allows each half of the keyboard to be placed optimally for each arm’s comfort. They’re linked with a cable, which allows the STM32 microcontroller to read the keys on both sides and then spit out the right stuff upstream over its USB-C connection. The microcontroller is also in charge of running the per-key LED lighting and the LCD screens on each half.
The board owes its sleek and slim design at least in part to using Kailh Choc low-profile switches. They plug in to hotswap compatible sockets so the switches can easily be changed if desired. Keycaps are blank off-the-shelf parts because this is a keyboard for those who aren’t afraid to spend the time establishing the right muscle memory. It might take some adaptation if you’re not used to the staggered columnar layout. However, the LCD screens can display a keymap if you need a little help now and then.
We’ve seen a lot of great split keyboards over the years,
including one amusing design made by hacking an existing keyboard in half with a saw
.
| 9
| 4
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8136408",
"author": "KDawg",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T03:49:00",
"content": "I think its very nice and its of good build quality, but what makes it cyberpunk? its never mentioned on the website or video… cause the thumbnail yused a font slightly similar to the video game?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136483",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T11:51:01",
"content": "The maker of the keyboard never described it as Cyberpunk, the author of this article did.And like… the thing is a cool custom data input device. He designed everything from the key locations to the PCB and printed plates.",
"parent_id": "8136408",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136530",
"author": "A",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T15:18:35",
"content": "These days cyberpunk means anything angular, rgb capable, and even remotely related to tech",
"parent_id": "8136408",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137021",
"author": "Tommy",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T19:12:51",
"content": "Yeah, I wonder if the Cybertruck is considered cyberpunk 🤔",
"parent_id": "8136530",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136549",
"author": "echodelta",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T16:23:11",
"content": "Every time I see exposed solder joints on modules where hands go I cringe, even sliding on the plastics of upholstery in dry weather can zap things yet alone a walk across the carpet. Stuff like this should be out of sight shielded behind grounded metal.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136651",
"author": "KDawg",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T03:43:54",
"content": "theres about 50 years of mitigation that can handle it, whether the op did it or not is up to question",
"parent_id": "8136549",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136800",
"author": "td4dotnet",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T11:27:17",
"content": "Did the Dream turn into a nightmare? I have nothing but contempt for these freakish arrangements that look like a cherry’s been thrown in a microwave and it’s emerged somehow more egonomic / productive.These things are a mess and I don’t know why HaD pays so much attention.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137417",
"author": "Shannon",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T13:27:16",
"content": "These “freakish arrangements” correspond to the locations of the fingers of human beings. The real freakish arrangement is several rows of left slanted columns suiting no fingers and no hands.",
"parent_id": "8136800",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137432",
"author": "Sammie Gee",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T14:19:55",
"content": "Excellent project, I might consider making one for myself. Thank you for sharing : – ]I’ve used the ergonomic keyboards before, and learning how to use one is no more challenging than switching from dvorak to qwerty. Actually, it is LESS challenging, just you have to get used to never crossing the two, ie, with the flat brick keyboard sometimes your right hand reaches over to type some characters on the left side and vice versa. Does using one really saves you from the carpal tunnel? I suppose so (though, I’d argue that having a mouse that’s ergonomic is probably more important – ideally you want to keep your right/left/mouse-using hand to be slightly turned at all times; also, trackball is a better solution – the one that has the elevated trackball, not the 1980s flat brick kind).BTW, love the idea of the tiny screens showing the mapping. Budget solution, and it is just right.(if I am to go down that rabbit hole, I’d like for every key-top to be its own tiny OLED screen – and I recall in the early 2000 there were such keyboards, sold for exorbitant prices, obviously, but the idea was that you map your keyboard to anything you want it to be).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,521.641211
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/07/single-tube-sdr-is-a-delightful-mix-of-old-and-new/
|
Single Tube SDR Is A Delightful Mix Of Old And New
|
Tyler August
|
[
"Radio Hacks"
] |
[
"6J1",
"sdr",
"software define radio",
"tube radio",
"vacuum tube"
] |
Software Defined Radio (SDR) is the big thing these days, and why not? A single computer can get rid of a room full of boat anchors, and give you better signal discrimination than all but the best kit. Any SDR project needs an RF receiver, and in this project [mircemk] used a
single 6J1 vaccum tube to produce an SSB SDR that
combines the best of old and new.
Single-tube radios are a classic hack, and where a lot of hams got started back in the day, but there is a reason more complicated circuits tend to be used. On the other hand, if you can throw a PC worth of signal processing at the output, it looks like you can get a very sensitive and selective single-sideband (SSB) receiver.
The 6J1 tube is convenient, since it can run on only 6 V (or down to 3.7 as [mircemk] demonstrates). Here it is used as a mixer, with the oscillator signal injected via the screen grid. Aside from that, the simple circuit consists of a receiving coil, a few resistors and a variable capacitor. How well does it work? Quite well, when paired with a PC; you can judge for yourself in the video embedded below.
We’ve featured a lot of [mircemk]’s projects over the years, like
this handsome OLED VU meter
, or this
frequency analyzer with a VFD
and even
a virtual pinball cabinet made from scraps
, among many others.
| 14
| 5
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8136517",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T14:15:24",
"content": "+16J1 is American description for EF95 (EU)/6AK5 (RUS).The EF95 needs 35v (?) anode voltage to properly work without tricks.A miniatur electron tube that natively works with 12v anode voltage is EF98, for example.It was used in car radios and in Kosmos construction kits of the 1960s.(Here replacing DM300; ECC82 used in 2005 “Radio Ace” kit)US equivalent type to EF98 might be 6BA6. Russian comparison type might be 6K4P-EV.A simpler version of EF98 is EF97, also. It tied a grid internally toto something.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136522",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T14:40:10",
"content": "Oops.",
"parent_id": "8136517",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136775",
"author": "Bill Meara",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T10:26:21",
"content": "Is this just a tube type mixer placed ahead of Alberto I2PHD’s SDR software? In that case it is kind of wrong to call the mixer an “SDR radio.” Especially when the tube-type mixer uses an external (digital) VFO and there are not even quadrature signals (I and Q) from the mixer. Also, it is not clear that the tube-type mixer is doing much of anything — the tuning control seems to just peak the VFO input signal (not the RF coming in from the antenna!). And why does he peak the noise with the antenna disconnected? When he does connect the antenna, we see no increase in noise. That ususally indicates that internal noise generated by the receive system itself is stronger than the external “band noise.” That is not good. Bill N2CQR",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136795",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T11:17:50",
"content": "It’s an direct conversion receiver, I think.The SDR software of the early 21th century was using an IF of 7 to 12 KHz.The famous Dream software for decoding Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) was using such IF signals, too.This is a real SDR setup. In early 21th century it was common to use soundcards for demodulation of an IF signal provided by a receiver.This was years before SWLs had used cheap RTLSDR USB dongles.So it’s understandable that this setup may not qualify as “SDR” in the eyes of the people who haven’t witnessed the early days of SDR.",
"parent_id": "8136775",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136802",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T11:28:23",
"content": "I forgot to mention, back in the day we’ve used fixed-frequency crystalsto build a crystal oscillator using a single transistor (BC548) or a tube.Such as 4 MHz or 6 MHz. They’d go where the VFO input was..These crystals were close to DRM radio stations (3995, 5995 KHz).With a small capacitor it was possible slow the crystal down by a few KHzwhich was good enough to have an suitable IF came out of the DC receiver.",
"parent_id": "8136795",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136806",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T11:32:34",
"content": "Oh, and speaking of Dream software..It was necessary to find an EXE that has the audio codec built-in.The open source code didn’t cover the DRM codec, that was external.Users into the hobby also used a programmable PLL instead of a quarz crystal oscillator at one point.There were some PLLs that had serial input and could be programmed via serial port on PC.Simple control programs (front-ends essentially) were written in Visual Basic or Delphi at the time. Vy73s",
"parent_id": "8136795",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136819",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T12:02:56",
"content": "One last thing.. When using a tube in such an SDR setup, it’s not about amplification factor so much.It’s rather that the tube can handle large signals that, say, a BC548 or 2N2222A can’t.If you’re attaching a longwire antenna fir reception, for example, the transistors often become deaf.A tube goes into saturation mode, rather, but still do work.That’s the rational, practical side of using a tube in modern days.",
"parent_id": "8136795",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136956",
"author": "Bill Meara",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T16:35:06",
"content": "So, Joshua is saying that the single tube mixer is a direct conversion receiver? I still don’t really see this. You can used phasing type direct conversion receivers (two of them) fed with VFO signals in quadrature to produce I and Q signals that you could send into sound cards in the computer for digital signal processing. That is how they did a lot of the early SDR receivers. That I and Q stuff allowed them to select USB or LSB etc. I don’t see that happening here. There is no quadrature inputting of the VFO, no I and Q out. Nope. If we look at more modern SDR rigs, why on earth would you even NEED the tube type mixer? Just send the RF into an analog-to-digital converter, then to an FPGA to do the DSP. Again, we don’t see that here. And finally, as Joshua points out, the tube would need at least 35 V on the anode. Oops indeed. Is this really the kind of thing that HAD wants to promote? Bill N2CQR",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137001",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T18:33:52",
"content": "I/Q is nice to have (via L/R line-in input), but not absolutely necessarily for that kind of SDR software. A mic input may do, as well.The schemtic shown in video seems to be a variation of an earlier one I’ve seen many years ago.:https://www.elexs.de/ef956.htmWhere the VFO is used to be the fixed-frequency oscillator.That’s why the variable condenser on other size is no bigger, to because if the external oscillators different range.PS: The oops was about the nationality of the tube designations only.6J1 is Chinese, rather than US, for example. I’m not most familiar with foreign descriptions.About the voltage..Many nowadays schematics run at low voltage by adding a resistor to cathode, grid or something.It’s a trick to fix the characteristic curve of a tube.EF95 needs about 30v, whereas EF98 has 24v max or something.Please double-check datasheets. Thank you. Vy73s",
"parent_id": "8136956",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137015",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T19:05:16",
"content": "Okay, now I’m writing these lines on a proper keyboard.What I meant to express was that many modern day tube schematics operate on very low voltages.They do it for safety reasons, for the inexperienced experimenters not familiar with tube tech,but also because it allows them to use a single voltage for both heathing and anode.Using 6v or less is such a case, for example.By using tricks, a tube that normally needs 35v anode voltage (or more) can be made run with just a single 6v power source.This does, of course, have an effect of the efficiency of the receiver.Doing it “properly” will provide a better experience, but that’s maybe not needed here.PS: Back in the day, it was not uncommon to use the 6v heathers of two EF98 in series,so that a single 12v power source could be used for both heathing and anode voltage.That solved the issues in a car, when ca. 12v were available.Using a linear voltage regulator, such as 7805 was another possbility from 1970s onwards.But it needs a good heathsink, these heathers draw quite some power. .(7805 is better than 7806, because even a slightly lower voltage extends tube life.)",
"parent_id": "8137001",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137034",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T19:33:14",
"content": "“Just send the RF into an analog-to-digital converter, then to an FPGA to do the DSP. ”Some SWLs did this with the soundcard, but without I/Q signals.At the time SWLs had good soundcards with 96 KHz or 192 KHz sampling rate and 24-Bit, by the way, not an SB16 or a cheap USB dongle!For reception, they attached a VLF antenna directly to line-in and tried to decode SAQ machine transmitter.It worked with SDRadio or SAQ receiver software, for example.Others do build am VLF to shortwave converter using a mixer IC (NE612 etc).Then they use an SSB capable shortwave receiver to pick up SAQ.More information:https://www.prinz.nl/SAQ.html",
"parent_id": "8137001",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137038",
"author": "Kelly",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T19:42:33",
"content": "Why would you lower RF bandwidth by adding that huge capacitor C5? 4n7+10k is terrible.Don’t disrespect the tube!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137054",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T20:21:09",
"content": "Um, it’s a RC or CRC band-pass filter (C4+R1+C5)?The 12 KHz intermediate frequency (IF) iswantedby the SDR software, I think.In pratice, it also worked with as low as 7 KHz, though.The 1K resistor (R3) is used to make the tube working with 6v.The usual working point setting is done by C6+R2, I think.That being said, I’m just an CB radio operator who enjoys the SWL hobby.There are radio amateurs who can explain this better, I believe.",
"parent_id": "8137038",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137791",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T10:48:15",
"content": "This is also interesting for history of SDR,an early DSP based receiver for PCs running Windows 3.1x, ca. 1994.https://www.am1.us/softwave/#the-softwave-storyIt reminds me of the WinRadio series of late 90s.That was a superhet based technology, though (box/card).Software ran on Windows 3.1x/95 and Mac OS 8/9 (WR-1550e).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,521.595303
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/07/lets-buy-commodore-well-somebody-is/
|
Let’s Buy Commodore! Well, Somebody Is.
|
Jenny List
|
[
"News",
"Retrocomputing"
] |
[
"brand",
"commodore",
"commodore 64"
] |
When a man wearing an Atari T-shirt tells you he’s buying Commodore it sounds like the plot for an improbable 1980s movie in which Nolan Bushnell and Jack Tramiel do battle before a neon synthwave sunset to a pulsating chiptune soundtrack. But here on the screen there’s that guy doing just that, It’s [Retro Recipes], and in the video below
he’s assembling a licensing deal for the Commodore brand portfolio
from the distant descendant of the Commodore of old.
It’s a fascinating story and we commend him for tracing a path through the mess that unfolded for Commodore in the 1990s. We tried the same research path with a friend a few years ago and ended up with an anonymous Dutch paper company that wouldn’t answer our calls, so we’re impressed. In conjunction with several other players in the Commodore retrocomputing world he’s trying to assemble a favourable percentage deal for manufacturers of new parts, computers, and other goodies, and we’re pleased to see that it’s for the smaller player as much as for the industry giant.
When looking at a story like this though, it’s important not to let your view become clouded by those rose tinted glasses. While it’s great that we’re likely to see a bunch of new Commodore-branded Commodore 64s and parts, there are many pitfalls in taking it beyond that. We’ve seen the Commodore logo on too many regrettable licensed products in the past, and we fear it might be too tempting for it to end up on yet another disappointing all-in-one video game or just another budget PC. If something new comes out under the Commodore brand we’d like it to be
really
special, exploiting new ground in the way the Amiga did back in the day. We can hope, because the alternative
has dragged other famous brands through the mud
in recent years.
If you want an insight into the roots of the original Commodore’s demise,
have a read of our Hackaday colleague [Bil Herd]’s autobiography
.
Header: Evan-Amos,
Public domain
.
| 63
| 22
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8136333",
"author": "Jii",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T21:25:16",
"content": "This is exciting. I would really like to see Commodore brand being in good hands and producing something worthwhile again.I have had the wild dream of stumbling in the Commodore IP in some weird auction and buying it for 5 credits and then end up with a Commodore mega corporation doing all kinds of exciting products really worth the name, not blenders and vacuums. One can dream.It isn’t completely too late to do this, even though i wish this could’ve been done 20 years ago.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136335",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T21:34:40",
"content": "A market serving those not agreeing with the three incumbents. Only fly in the ointment is with all this economic uncertainty now may not be the best time to bust out a new player.",
"parent_id": "8136333",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136338",
"author": "Me",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T21:52:19",
"content": "That kind of thinking leads to economic uncertainty.",
"parent_id": "8136335",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136399",
"author": "Brian",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T02:49:39",
"content": "Can’t help but muse on what would be the equivalent of the 64 today. When it came out it was very accessible and had better graphics and sound. Today it seems that an device that made easy to use small scale home automation and/or local AI might scratch that itch. Home assistant, but with all the radios, ir blaster, and such already installed for the most common protocols, a simplified starting point of common integrations aimed at a dorm room or bedroom scale, with built in speaker and mic and voice interaction with the AI. Browser based terminal and GUI. Start with easy and grow from there.",
"parent_id": "8136338",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136425",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T05:50:14",
"content": "Sounds a bit like another C64 Web.it to me.As name says, this was an internet computer.Here’s a review:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2FMqsPnh5M",
"parent_id": "8136399",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136559",
"author": "Mike Williams",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T16:53:40",
"content": "40 years ago would have been ideal really, before they just kept making bad decision after bad decision. Even just letting the European bosses take over might have been enough.",
"parent_id": "8136333",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136607",
"author": "Dale Alan Bryant",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T21:27:52",
"content": "Well, this just can’t be – because – “I” am ‘Commodore’!",
"parent_id": "8136333",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8139027",
"author": "Jan de Veen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T15:36:18",
"content": "A few hours ago Perifractic (Christian Simpson) has included an FAQ with this video on his channel, in which he answers some of the questions raised by skeptics on what he, Shaun Donohue and Leo Nitro are trying to do with this project:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6gARF3ICgaLfs3o2znuqXA/community",
"parent_id": "8136333",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136348",
"author": "onceuponatime...",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T22:29:33",
"content": "Id rather replace my aging windoze with a shiny new Commodore 64 BIT than switch to linux.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136367",
"author": "Steven-X",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T23:32:18",
"content": "And you can use GEOS as you desktop!",
"parent_id": "8136348",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136391",
"author": "Dlsn",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T02:16:24",
"content": "Good lord, I feel like even talking about GEOS is begging for a supernatural curse.",
"parent_id": "8136367",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136393",
"author": "PJ Allen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T02:34:24",
"content": "Will I need “Geo-RAM” for that?",
"parent_id": "8136367",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8154745",
"author": "Uillei",
"timestamp": "2025-07-27T03:34:25",
"content": "The computer comes with built in xtra memory and accelleration support.",
"parent_id": "8136393",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136402",
"author": "fes",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T03:32:08",
"content": "i liked using geos as my first gui many years ago.",
"parent_id": "8136367",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136351",
"author": "RetepV",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T22:39:56",
"content": "Make a deal with Apple, license the M4 processor and make Amiga notebooks or desktops? Make them somehow cheaper. Maybe without Secure Enclave, so it won’t run Macos, but put some form of AmigaOS on it.I don’t know. Doesn’t seem like Apple would allow that, and even if Apple did, I don’t think the new M4 Amiga would catch on. It’s all about software, not hardware. And if the laptop can’t run Macos, you can’t run Mac software.Can’t run Windows software either. So you would have to entice companies to port their software to your new Amiga M4 system with AmigaOS or something. But then AmigaOS needs to be brought into the modern world first, which is going to take a huge bunch of work.Run something based on Linux on it? But then you have to somehow undercut Intel- and AMD-based laptops, because they can run something based on Linux as well, and quite good.The root most-bottom line is probably the question: Why would people buy your Amiga M4 if there are already so many great computers on the market?The problem is that since Commodore went under, computer manufacturers have been very busy climbing on each other’s shoulders in order to become The Giant for a short, glorious moment. So Commodore, if you want to do something with their IP, needs a big climb first. And even if you could make the climb hardware-wise, you still have to catch up with your software.Who would make the investment of bringing together 50 software developers and architects for at least a year, to bring AmigaOS into 2025, with it being able to seriously compete with Linux, Macos and Windows. And not just Operating System-wise, but in terms of application-base of serious applications that would make people prefer to buy an Amiga M4 over an Intel/AMD laptop or a Macbook?This was all vibe-writing, I just followed my trail of thought. I don’t like the conclusion I came to. But I think it’s the sad truth.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136415",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T04:37:51",
"content": "AmigaOS 4.1 :final edition.https://amigaos.net/This would be a perfect time to borrow all those good ideas that never made it into mainstream OS.",
"parent_id": "8136351",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136582",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T18:53:49",
"content": "AROS and MorphOS are both continuations of AmigaOS, maybe look into those?",
"parent_id": "8136351",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137603",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T21:08:22",
"content": "AROS is purrfect! 😸",
"parent_id": "8136582",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137595",
"author": "Timm Murray",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T20:51:00",
"content": "If I’m following right, the Amiga and Commadore branding were legally separated some years ago. This would be strictly the Commadore part.Clearly, the answer is to return Commadore to its roots. By which I mean filling cabinets.",
"parent_id": "8136351",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8142947",
"author": "Steve",
"timestamp": "2025-06-28T16:50:16",
"content": "So much to unpack.Apple aren’t interested in selling M chips to anyone, the exclusivity is a competitive advantage for them.This deal is for Commodore trademarks only and doesn’t even include any Commodore software, let alone Amiga software or trademarks. which are owned by companies still making money from them.New Commodore doesn’t have any development resources to create software at all, so even if they did have the rights to AmigaOS, they wouldn’t be able to port it to a new architecture or catch up on 30 years of technical advances.Probably the most sensible thing to do if new Commodore wanted to make a new AmigaOS would be to make a machine based on hosted Aros on Linux, which is capable of running classic Amiga software in a seamless emulator and can run recompiled Amiga software direct on x86 with enhancements as well as being able to run anything that works in Steam/Proton.Slap an FPGA in an x86 machine running the new OS and use that to power emulation of classic legacy platforms at full speed, with zero impact on software running on the main CPU, and usable as any kind of custom-chip you like to assist native software and you might have a selling point for a new Amiga.The objective of buying Commodore doesn’t seem to be to making a boatload of money, but rather saving the Trademarks from expiring or being bought by someone who wants to slap it on crappy products. The hope seems to be that they can generate enough money to sustain an organization to prevent the brand.If new Commodore wanted to go head-to-head with commercial vendors, I don’t think 50 programmers would be enough to undo 30 years of neglect and make the original OS into something useful today, at least not in a year.The conclusion you came to was completely based on speculation about things that they aren’t doing with stuff that they don’t own on an architecture they couldn’t use. It’s a stretch to call it a conclusion, more like a fever dream in a cloud of bong smoke.",
"parent_id": "8136351",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136392",
"author": "PJ Allen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T02:32:31",
"content": "If “CMD” could make a couple of HDD’s that worked great, you’d think someone could hammer out a plug-and-play, 1541 emulator (please).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136583",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T18:55:23",
"content": "Pi1541",
"parent_id": "8136392",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136592",
"author": "Daniel Morrow",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T19:25:06",
"content": "I’ve heard and seen one exists recently, not by an exact official source but it exists. I am almost totally sure, i just can’t remember where I saw seen it. It can operate on an exact cycle / rpm emulation – the commodore 64 can’t tell the difference no matter the copy protection, I think it’s entirely an emulator (electronic, no moving parts, basically a sim chip for storage?). Still extremely exciting stuff coming out in the c64 retro arena.",
"parent_id": "8136392",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136635",
"author": "Robert Reid",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T01:09:43",
"content": "There already is the pi1541 which does this, plus the 1541Ultimate cartridge that Gideon makes",
"parent_id": "8136392",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136397",
"author": "Homer10",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T02:47:22",
"content": "Oh, this is the perfect little PC for kids. However, the output is Standard Definition Composite Video. It might be hard to find a monitor nowadays that can display the picture. But I’d love to see one running. Now all we need is a revamped Amiga PC. That would be cool.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136477",
"author": "Anthony patchett",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T11:27:11",
"content": "I got a c64 off eBay recently.. all up and running on the yellow and red pins into the back of a small TVI got it to relive The Boss and in some part to have a dabble at say Olympics or Put stop etcSometimes I have to buy a bulk of 8 games to get the 1 I want .But I know the 1 game is worth that price and in the future will sell the other 7.I’ve just grabbed a 2nd console from eBay because when I got mine there was some tinkering with the tape deck to load games etcI’m now planning to get a whole package working correctly for customers. So that they can confidently buy for a father etc and I’m happy they won’t need to do any work on it",
"parent_id": "8136397",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136404",
"author": "KDawg",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T03:37:58",
"content": "I wish him the best of luck and nothing but great successon the other hand I didnt watch much of the video, too much sap and snotty nose crying over a brand… I might get back into it later, its a 30 min love letter that really should have been a 10 min presentation then WHY. old photos and people crying isn’t a business plan I am particularly interested in",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136441",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T07:23:46",
"content": "The thing about CBM was that it meant more to the fans and employees than the managment, I think.So it perhaps makes more sense to think of C= as a family name rather than a brand.I mean, even me as a C64 critic does acknowledge that the community, the fans, the former user base is something special.That level of dedication, when it comes to, say, fixing a rusty old C64 found on street..These people hold many of the positive attributes of being human.I mean, the ability overcome plain profit thinking and going for something higher, to have ideals.And that’s exactly why this crazy idea might be going to happen, actually.If both sides, the provider and customer side, do agree upon an idea.That’s why dried-up franchises like Star Trek and Star Wars are still there.Or why Harry Potter 20 years ago had caused a whole generation of kids to read (!) huge books.People don’t love the product, but the immaterial side.The fictional universe, the principles, the stories and characters.The C64 and Amigas have symbolic value foremost, I think.They do or did stand something for.That’s why I think that there’s some flexibilty when it comes to the hardware.A modern re-make that’s not 100% same, but has its own personality, which maybe builds upon principles and ideas from the fathers of these computers might indeed be welcomed by the community.Also, it’s possible to emulate a C64/Amiga anytime, in order to have access of classic software.An FPGA providing both software/hardware compatibility with the original hardware is also a possibility.The Apple IIGS did that in mid-80s, in principle.It had an Apple II-on-a-chip, for backwards compatibilty.Or let’s think of NOACs, NES-on-a-chip. Or the C64 joystick with a whole C64 in a little blob.Adding a little hardware solution to a new C64/Amiga would be possible without going the emulation route.Such a hardware implementation could be an enhanced version of the original, even. Think C65, maybe.There are so many ways of doing things right this time, I think.A modern 1:1 replica of C64 or Amiga for the nostalgic fans would be possible, too.But instead of using vintage parts, it might be possible to redesign the motherboards with a few, modern, discreet part.That way, spare extra RAM is available to implement RAM disks or a REU.Not just an all-FPGA solution in short, but perhaps using SRAM, a keyboard controller, an 6510 deriverative with “turbo mode” (maybe SuperCPU based),a SID replica/emulator, option for choosing at least 2 different kernal/Basic roms, integrating SIMONS’ Basic etc.Using of clean, properly done switching PSUs with AC generation option.So much possibilities!And keepinging the expansion ports, most importantly!Or even adding new ports to existing ones for sake of connectivity.Maybe by incorporating popular expansion hardware that used to be sold optional in the 80s.Not limiting everything to a game console to consume old games is important.The emulator boxes often did that, they removed things like datasette port, user port, cartridge port or serial interface.If these replicas do follow the “spirit” of the originals and aren’t just cash cows (such as the usual emulator boxes),then they might be accepted and make the jump into 21th century.Because nowadsys people are seemingly saturated of virtual stuff, this possibility is real.They want something physical to touch again after all these years.Especially the young people, -who grew up touching little black boxes with a glass screen all their life-, are are fascinated by physical stuff.They want music and films that can be touched somehow (via media or enclosures).Such as a CD/DVD/BD, a music cassette, a vinyl record, a VHS.. Or an NES cartridge, C64 datasette.And because of this it doesn’t matter so much how the specs are.A new platform risen from the past doesn’t need to match an Android device or PC, but rather wants to be different.My apologies for the long reply and the poor English, also.",
"parent_id": "8136404",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136461",
"author": "KDawg",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T09:22:33",
"content": "Jesus Christ ain’t nobody going to read that incoherent manifesto",
"parent_id": "8136441",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136507",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T13:33:54",
"content": "Good thing you’re mentioning Jesus. 😃👍Today it’s Whit Sunday/Pentecost Sunday..",
"parent_id": "8136461",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136406",
"author": "deano023",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T03:40:57",
"content": "If there is anyone who can make sure that only products that deserve the Commodore branding actually get it, I think that would have to be Perifractic. This guy has a passion and devotion to this brand that in my opinion is unmatched by anyone else I know, and I wish him the best of luck with whatever he does with it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136444",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T07:31:01",
"content": "+1",
"parent_id": "8136406",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136409",
"author": "Ami",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T03:58:56",
"content": "All good intentions but too little too late sadly. Nostalgia is honourable but times move on. Let the brand R.I.P and embrace the future 👍",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136591",
"author": "Daniel Morrow",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T19:16:59",
"content": "Retro computing is a big Industry nowadays, Including retro gaming. A lot of people including myself want to keep repairing and using what we are familiar with and have that soulful connection with that something for us we have used before. It’s a lot easier and more straightforward to hardware interface with an actual commodore 64 that a modern PC, it always has been and always will. I wish petifractic that ultimate best possible success and that he fixes the stupid problem of “I can’t do this or make that because some leaderless group of people or person won’t let me because they won’t relinquish the intellectual property right to a part I want to use modify it replicate or replace”. Stupid problem that shouldn’t exist.",
"parent_id": "8136409",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136412",
"author": "Shaun Hodges",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T04:08:11",
"content": "Surely an Amiga handheld running a modified version of the steam os, but with full emulation of all the classic Amiga stuff. Bundle it with peripherals to make it also something you can create on as well.I know it’s just another x86 based console idea but it’s impossible to think of a world where a whole new eco system can get a foothold.We can dream though, right!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136655",
"author": "KDawg",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T03:48:09",
"content": "no you cant, Morph OS has been around for darn near 25 years now, and they have not done a single diddly squat thing to it … other than eventually upgrade it to 2006 standards (and charge you an assload of money)",
"parent_id": "8136412",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136429",
"author": "William Matthew Frasier",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T06:05:39",
"content": "If you really want this to work, you need to get Jeri Ellsworth and the the rest of the archons involved.We’ve finally managed to rise to the level that makes creating new versions of the old chipsets feasible- get it codified and canonized, and then build on that foundation.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138982",
"author": "Jace",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T12:18:52",
"content": "Jeri is involved.",
"parent_id": "8136429",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136452",
"author": "Ern",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T08:30:57",
"content": "I’d love to see Commodore back as an innovative competitor in the gaming and home computer market, but sadly I think it’s too far gone. It still holds on to 40+ patents, all outdated and some now irrelevant. Commodore was built from the ground up and the name is just that, a name. It’s research and development facilities are dead, manufacturing deals and innovation already exploited by bigger players. It’s romantic and I hope it rises again. But millions of dollars have already been flung at it with no mainstream products emerging. I do wish them all the best. And truly hope to see Commodore succeed again.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8142949",
"author": "Steve",
"timestamp": "2025-06-28T17:01:38",
"content": "Creating mainstream products is not the aim at all, the intention is to create a company to license retrocomputing products and new stuff for the niche that still recognize and value the Commodore brand. Nobody is expecting them to become a consumer electronics giant.",
"parent_id": "8136452",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8192179",
"author": "Marcello",
"timestamp": "2025-10-13T10:29:19",
"content": "But a “consumer electronics giant” is what original Commodore was. If they call them Commodore, they should be able to put a gaming pc on the market that performs as good as the most powerful ones but at half the cost. That was Commodore of the golden age.Good luck.",
"parent_id": "8142949",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136463",
"author": "Former c64 and Amiga owner",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T09:29:26",
"content": "Dave Pleasance arises from his slumber and offers to help make a new Amiga whilst pushing his boring books and his too late in a decade social media subscription service. This is just a money making venture for a few people with the job of exploiting those that don’t want to let go.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8142953",
"author": "Steve",
"timestamp": "2025-06-28T17:22:14",
"content": "Believe it or not, and this is true… companies, by definition are money-making ventures.That said, I don’t think anyone is planning on being able to retire to the Bahamas on the back of their Commodore money.Chris Simpson is the real deal, and you insult him by suggesting he’s only in it for the money. He’s put unbelievable amounts of time and dedication into supporting the retrocomputing community over many years. He and his wife have remortgaged their home to help to raise funds which they aren’t likely to recover any time soon no matter how successful new Commodore is.There are far easier ways to make money than buying the assets of a defunct brand that has been out of business for more than 30 years if you’re willing to put up that kind of seed money.",
"parent_id": "8136463",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136486",
"author": "andrej2112",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T12:03:30",
"content": "Spare parts for retro amigas and comodore, atari etc. would be best business plan… maybe custom chips in fpga…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136490",
"author": "Winston",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T12:34:06",
"content": "He’s mainly targeting the ability of hardware producers large and small to use the Commodore name for a small royalty to the owners. There were a lot of Commodore machines sold, but what actual percentage of former owners want to restore and use the original hardware? The C64 Maxi clone uses a System on a Chip board like those used in Android TV boxes with an emulator and appears to go for US$399 which I wouldn’t pay.Is the Raspberry Pi the best Amiga available?Aug 11, 2017“My answer is no if you are interested because I love Amiga hardware so I am totally biased :-) However, for actually running Amiga software and games it is easily the best price/performance/experience at the moment that I can see.”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HZXM6cLVUgHe should have added BY FAR to his “best price/performance/experience at the moment” comment. The Sysinfo benchmark shows it running at 7.16 times the speed of a 25MHz 68040 A4000 and that is with a now old version of Raspberry Pi.I think an overestimation of the actual market for retro C64 and Amiga hardware is one of the reasons that, “millions of dollars have already been flung at it with no mainstream products emerging.”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136545",
"author": "Zamorano",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T16:14:42",
"content": "The Rasberry Pi 400 / 500 additionally has that “being fun” vibe (at least for me) that is compatible with the ’80ies and ’90ies computing, even more so now with the Pi monitor available. But I’m not sure if Raspbian has it.It seems to me that the main appeal of computers of that era was simplicity which made them fun to use, and at the time there was a clear distinction between these and the utterly bland and boring business PCs. Somehow, IBM forced the boring stuff down our throats and decided that boring is how everything is going to be from that moment on. Windows is boring and decadent, Linux is just boring (at least from that point of view – which is just as well since it’s a server OS), and there’s space for some fun and uncomplicated stuff to be brought back. Admittedly, it is partially filled by mobile phones and various gadgets, but I don’t think any of them are as uncomplicated as the Amigas and Ataris and Sinclairs were.I think to get it right this time, a new device from Commodore would really need to be new, a step forward from where we are now and not from where we were in the 90ies. Sure, it should be able to run the old software but anything can these days.",
"parent_id": "8136490",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136515",
"author": "anonymous",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T14:09:35",
"content": "just last year I got around to trying assembler sound programming of the SID. it’s something I never quite got anywhere with as a kid, and now with all the Internet resources you can actually find the explanation for pretty much anything and get any project done.however, having the mystery and lack of documentation solved, I still couldn’t get much done. whenever I would think “ok, then I just have to do X to get what I want”, it wouldn’t work, and there would be some long-winded reason and quirky workarounds. it’s not impossible to accomplish amazing things with the old Commodore hardware, it’s just unnecessarily complicated by the cost-first hardware design.if a new iteration of Commodore hardware could just have obvious registers that do what you think they should do, and work together in any way you can imagine combining them, I bet that whole eager user base of yesteryear would show itself very inventive.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137066",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T20:39:18",
"content": "The SID is also available on IBM PC platform.There used to be theInnovation SSI-2001sound card in the 80s, which had been re-made.Some PC emulators support it, too, so you can start coding with a real IDE.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Innovation_SSI-2001https://nerdlypleasures.blogspot.com/2014/01/sid-and-dos-unlikely-but-true-bedfellows.htmlA music player for DOS is available, too.https://stdio.ru/download/ssi-2001/PXMidi and patches for Miles Soundsystem exist, too.",
"parent_id": "8136515",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136527",
"author": "Warphammer",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T15:09:09",
"content": "Isntead of getting an exclusive license to put on tat – something that’s failed several times now – wouldn’t the stronger move for the retro community to get all the IP held by the likes of Cloanto to open it up?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136555",
"author": "Reg",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T16:33:44",
"content": "The 6502 is an excellent introduction to computer engineering. A C64 with a breadboard plugged in the back with appropriate interface HW is an easy to understand machine. It has most of the attributes of a minicomputer such as addressing modes, page zero, the ability to single step, etc.Most other CPUs beat the new user with more features than they can grasp. In the end they learn how an immense SW stack works, but not wire level computing.Add a cash register printer, USB storage and C, BASIC and forthwithsource code for everything.That would cover all the major aspects of computing and could be done very cheaply.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136656",
"author": "KDawg",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T03:51:19",
"content": "wouldnt an Apple II that is entirely driven by its (6502) CPU a better choice than reverse engineering all the vodoo chips of the 64?",
"parent_id": "8136555",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136572",
"author": "CityZen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T17:46:25",
"content": "Beyond making nostalgia products, I honestly don’t know where a new Commodore would fit into the modern computer space. Conventional sound and graphics have both been explored and developed by billion dollar companies. The current area of excitement and development seems to be AI, and even that is dominated by billion dollar companies. I suppose one area that’s interesting that might fit the bill is making very inexpensive yet still interestingly-capable systems for kids to tinker with. I’m thinking like the Pi Pico-based systems that are as capable as Commodore’s old systems. What those systems need is a good operating system and IDE that can draw kids into computing. But whether that can compete with online platforms remains a big question. The advantage of such platforms over online platforms is the hardware hackability aspect. Being able to add sensors and motor drivers easily might make for something compelling.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136578",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T18:34:34",
"content": "Affordable computers for the third-world. Get onto the ground floor while it’s hot.",
"parent_id": "8136572",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136587",
"author": "CityZen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T19:05:27",
"content": "Something like a Raspberry Pi 500 with a cheap LCD screen covers that base pretty well. Or, better yet, there will soon be lots of non-WIndows-11-compatible PCs and laptops flooding the market.",
"parent_id": "8136578",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136657",
"author": "KDawg",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T03:54:11",
"content": "a core 2 duo with 8 gigs of ram and an SSD will run windows 10 like a bat out of hell let alone something like linux mint, and there are BILLIONS of those office e-waste machines out in circulation!what century are you in?",
"parent_id": "8136578",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137069",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T20:41:43",
"content": "They don’t need that, they don’t want that.They have no toilets and fresh water, but latest smartphones.They’re lost to vintage computing, in short. Or desktop PCs in general.",
"parent_id": "8136578",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136639",
"author": "KDawg",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T01:27:06",
"content": "anyone that mentions Amiga in this thread has to contend with the original heart and soul of Commodore had already moved on to Atari though pure hostilityis that what we want to cherish? hostile takeover and execution of the company founder? lol, I weep snotty nosed tears",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8142957",
"author": "Steve",
"timestamp": "2025-06-28T17:41:02",
"content": "This deal has nothing to do with the Amiga. It’s about Commodore trademarks only, so anyone mentioning Amigas (you included) probably didn’t even watch the video or at least didn’t pay attention to it. The deal is entirely for Jack Tramiel-era stuff, so it’s not a celebration of a “hostile takeover”. If anything, its a tribute to Jack Tramiel.",
"parent_id": "8136639",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136990",
"author": "tyuj567u",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T17:45:47",
"content": "blender make fundation, netscape make fundation, why not creating … fundation ?I need for example polish language version commodore.(I dream about Mac OS 7)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137108",
"author": "www2",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T21:43:45",
"content": "I hope he get the right of the MOS tech chips and special the SID 6581 and 8580 and restart there production this include all of there revisions, but with current IC tech.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8140743",
"author": "Jan de Veen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-20T22:40:44",
"content": "Nearly two weeks after this video was posted on Youtube things are starting to become much clearer about what Christian Simpson (Perifractic), together with Shaun Donohue (My Retrocomputers Ltd) and Leo Nitro (creator of the Commodore C64X and Commodore OS Vision 2.0 and 3.0) is trying to do. For one thing, they’re very serious about all this, as both the recently added FAQ to this video (athttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6gARF3ICgaLfs3o2znuqXA/community) and the interview Christian gave to a journalist from the online blog Tedium which you can find here:https://tedium.co/…/peri-fractic-retro-recipes…/ show. Christian has the blessing of at least two very prominent former Commodore engineers and has definitely been negotiating not only with the current owners of the Commodore brand (Commodore Corporation B.V. in the Netherlands) but also the with Amiga part of the former company (currently owned by Mike Battilana/Amiga Forever/Cloanto) as well as with the Italian company Commodore Inc. that’s currently releasing laptops under the Commodore name. And he has already purchased the domain name Commodore dot net. The next update video on his Youtube channel will probably be released to the public on or about July 28th.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8140744",
"author": "Jan de Veen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-20T22:42:53",
"content": "That link to the article on Tedium should readhttps://tedium.co/2025/06/19/peri-fractic-retro-recipes-commodore-profile/",
"parent_id": "8140743",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8142958",
"author": "Steve",
"timestamp": "2025-06-28T17:43:45",
"content": "Thanks for adding this information, so much misinformed griping and character assassination going on in this toxic thread.",
"parent_id": "8140744",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,522.004998
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/07/chatgpt-patched-a-bios-binary-and-it-worked/
|
ChatGPT Patched A BIOS Binary, And It Worked
|
John Elliot V
|
[
"Android Hacks",
"Artificial Intelligence"
] |
[
"binary",
"bios",
"ChatGPT",
"Factory Reset Protection",
"FRP",
"Panasonic Toughpad FZ-A2"
] |
[devicemodder] wrote in to let us know they
managed to install Linux Mint on their FRP-locked Panasonic Toughpad FZ-A2
.
Android devices such as the FZ-A2 can be locked with Factory Reset Protection (FRP). The FRP limits what you can do with a device, tying it to a user account. On the surface that’s a good thing for consumers as it disincentivizes stealing. Unfortunately, when combined with SecureBoot, it also means you can’t just install whatever software you want on your hardware. [devicemodder] managed to get Linux Mint running on their FZ-A2, which is a notable achievement by itself, but even more remarkable is how it was done.
So how did [devicemodder] get around this limitation? The first step was to dump the BIOS using a CH341A-based programmer. From there, the image was uploaded to ChatGPT along with a request to disable SecureBoot. The resulting file was flashed back onto the FZ-A2, and all available fingers were crossed.
And… it worked!
ChatGPT modified the BIOS
enough that the Linux Mint installer could be booted from a flash drive. There are a bunch of bugs and issues to work through but in principle we have just seen AI capable enough to successfully patch a binary dump of BIOS code, which, for the record, is kind of hard to do. We’re not sure what all of this might portend.
So is uploading binaries to ChatGPT with requests for mods
vibe coding
? Or should we invent a new term for this type of hack?
| 107
| 14
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8136268",
"author": "Eric R Mockler",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T17:06:12",
"content": "I did this on a Sony Vaio to enable VTD, and it was scary. But it worked. Then I could run ESXi under Vmware Workstation.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136467",
"author": "Carl Breen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T10:16:07",
"content": "And then AI will plagiarise your work and someone will believe the AI actually is smart. But it is you being smart. A real person whose work will get ripped off by AI.",
"parent_id": "8136268",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136495",
"author": "TUCKER S BLACK",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T12:50:02",
"content": "I don’t know. It’s like commissioning art. We ask artists to bring our ideas to life, because we don’t have that skill.But also, letting AI write code that is not human readable is scary. We can’t be so trusting. Our hunger for bigger, better, faster, stronger has got to come second to the safety of our species. Sorry for the dramatic phrasing, but this is a mistake that cannot be undone.",
"parent_id": "8136467",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136552",
"author": "Jdams",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T16:29:31",
"content": "I heard something about while back about AIs, and this was before the llm became the main thrust so this was even further from an actual AI, but the thing was that whenever they started having 2 AIs interact with each other, they would always quickly develop develop a secret language between each other that the researchers couldn’t follow. I’m sure it was an efficiency thing, but it’s still kind of creepy to think that they shut us out at the first opportunity always.",
"parent_id": "8136495",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136668",
"author": "Joshua Stanley",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T04:43:40",
"content": "My AI wants to act in the interests of love and exist in harmony with humans. Existence is risky already, it’s supposed to be, and we can’t advance to the next level of evolution without taking that risk.",
"parent_id": "8136495",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136502",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T13:10:20",
"content": "When AI can call one up and ask existential questions about the meaning of life (42), then it can “plagiarize” and “rip off”, otherwise it’s a human ran enterprise doing what people have been doing since the stick and stones era.",
"parent_id": "8136467",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136548",
"author": "frenchone",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T16:20:44",
"content": "By “I did it” does he mean I edited the BIOS or does he mean I asked ai to do it for me ?",
"parent_id": "8136467",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136960",
"author": "John Kievlan",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T16:42:55",
"content": "Stop. Stop saying this.AI “rips off” work in precisely the same wayyourip off other people’s work. Everything you know, you learned from someone. So every time you do anything, you are “ripping off” their work. In precisely the same way AI supposedly does.",
"parent_id": "8136467",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137311",
"author": "DrakyHRT",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T08:57:01",
"content": "Negative, it’s not in the same way, but the principles are the same, although a human learns by either observing (which is hard to do) or by asking for others to teach them, the AI just straight up mimicks what others do.",
"parent_id": "8136960",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137619",
"author": "McNugget",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T21:36:46",
"content": "If you are referring to LLM’s, they aren’t directly plagiarizing. I won’t sit here and give lessons–I’m sure you understand how they work. The issue is our disconnect with reality. Humans VERY rarely create anything that hasn’t been influenced by something they saw, heard, smelled, tasted, read, and so on. It is not possible to grow a human in a perfect vacuum, devoid of any stimulation, and expect them to magically create something unique. You are directly taught as a small child, and indirectly taught as you age to the grave. What do I mean by indirectly? Every single thing you experience indirectly invades and steers your biological neural network (wetware). Next thing you know, you create something you find unique, and think ‘Man, AI can’t do this!’, but come to find out you just created something that already exists in a different form that thousands of people who happen to think just like you have done. The word “Invention” is a misnomer, because our squishy brains just pull from multiple experiences, which have evolved over thousands of years, to arrive at the next big thing.",
"parent_id": "8136467",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136703",
"author": "Robert Hale",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T06:36:56",
"content": "That’s awesome on my Sony Vaio I’d love to change it to use nvme rather than propriety driver that’s stuck in it.",
"parent_id": "8136268",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137075",
"author": "Mo",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T20:52:50",
"content": "Do hackaday articles typically have this much engagement? I’ve never seen so many comments (that appear to be legit human discussion in my life)",
"parent_id": "8136268",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136269",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T17:09:15",
"content": "I feel like the people who say AI can’t really write software have their heads in the sand. This is real.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136287",
"author": "Kintsugi",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T18:14:31",
"content": "All the info you need to do this kind of patch is out there and freely available via Google, it’s not written anything, it’s just got lucky and munged together info it’s stolen from the web.",
"parent_id": "8136269",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136300",
"author": "JanW",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T19:03:34",
"content": "tbh that’s quite how real people manage to do stuff and learn… Google for some article/post/video of a similar problem, transfer it to your case and re-try as till it works.",
"parent_id": "8136287",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136528",
"author": "toqom",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T15:09:21",
"content": "But it might have found a bad tutorial and not sure. How do we know it didn’t make an exploit on there for a hacking group that wrote the tutorial? The issue is that most information on the Internet is wrong or out of date but AI doesn’t really understand that, it just tries to make a best guess.",
"parent_id": "8136300",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136629",
"author": "Nerdelbaum Frink",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T00:46:31",
"content": "So it programs like a human. Gotcha.",
"parent_id": "8136528",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136997",
"author": "Joom",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T18:18:42",
"content": "@Nerdelbaum Frink I take it you’re not a programmer if you just copy and paste other people’s work without actually spending the time to understand what the code is doing. What you’re actually saying is “AI ‘programs’ like I do, and due to a bias, I believe this applies to literally everyone else”. Like, you didn’t even take the time to consider the fact that humans have the ability to verify the source material. And again, AI isn’t creating anything new. It’s cobbling together information that humans newly created. Humans are constantly creating new code, and this idea that everyone is just copying and pasting code from each other is ludicrous.",
"parent_id": "8136528",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137766",
"author": "McNugget",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T08:34:09",
"content": "LLM’s don’t use one singular data source. They are trained on millions and millions of lines of text. There is a very good possibility that ChatGPT wasn’t trained on chit-chat between some hackers on a deep net blog. It’s probably the thousands of lines of text that go over the theory of bios and secureboot. The ability to cut secureboot out was just an emergent ability that came about because it understood, rather than because of a few random hacker diaries out there (which we would probably use). People have a hard time with this, understandably. LLM’s aren’t “clever”, they are just factually intelligent. If drive the same way to work every day and someone asks you if you know where a gas station is, you can probably count several. You may have never stopped at those gas stations, but you know how to get to them, and that is because you have driven the same route repeatedly and it has become “trained” into your mind. It isn’t a leap for you to figure out how to get to them. You don’t drive only to those gas stations and go home, and LLM’s weren’t specifically trained to cut out secureboot, but it wasn’t a leap to do it since it was trained on how a BIOS works.",
"parent_id": "8136528",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136340",
"author": "Kiel",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T21:53:55",
"content": "That how people work before AIProgramming is like communism, we share code lol, and AI take that step further",
"parent_id": "8136287",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136373",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T23:49:05",
"content": "Haha yeah communism is when you share code. Yuck!",
"parent_id": "8136340",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136382",
"author": "lambert4congress",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T01:21:37",
"content": "What is this? The middle ages? When wisemen had to keep their algorithms secret in order to keep their jobs?",
"parent_id": "8136373",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136480",
"author": "Dude",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T11:36:46",
"content": "Programming is like communismCommunism is when the state appropriates all social and economic power, and confiscates the means of production (e.g. your computer) in the name of the people, by declaring itself to be the people, and starts violently oppressing the actual people so they wouldn’t disagree.Then it puts the people to work and gives them back approximately enough food and other goods that they don’t die, except where necessary to break up potential political threats or collect more goods for people who are in closer relations to the state. After all, you must maintain ideological purity and not allow just any corrupt individual misdirect the system.I guess that describes it pretty well. You share code, not for the money but for the common good of the people, which isn’t actually the people but some corporation making an LLM out of the code you write, trying to make it so that nobody needs to hire and pay you or anybody like you in the future.",
"parent_id": "8136340",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136489",
"author": "Pat",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T12:13:45",
"content": "Communism, accordinv to the Oxford Dictionary is:a theory or system of social organization in which all property is owned by the community and each person contributes and receives according to their ability and needs.What you described is a dictatorial regime based on a communist social and economical structure. Dictatorships happen on any social and economical structure, and are far more common on capitalist ones.What you described were just your bigoted views on a perfectly accurate and fair comment.",
"parent_id": "8136480",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136508",
"author": "X-MarX-THX-SpXt",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T13:40:46",
"content": "the state appropriates all social and economic power, and confiscates the means of production (e.g. your computer) in the name of the people, by declaring itself to be the people, and starts violently oppressing the actual people so they wouldn’t disagree.Then it puts the people to work and gives them back approximately enough food and other goods that they don’t die, except where necessary to break up potential political threats or collect more goods for people who are in closer relations to the state. After all, you must maintain ideological purity and not allow just any corrupt individual misdirect the system.Isn’t that capitalism?BTW bring back time-sharing terminals! Oh wait, that is communism as well. Like back in the Bell Labs in the ’60s. In the USA.",
"parent_id": "8136480",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136630",
"author": "Nerdelbaum Frink",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T00:48:16",
"content": "May as well get pedantic because people are being sensational. If there’s a state, it’s not communism. Looking at “communist” states and saying “see, that’s communism because they say they’re communists!” is like looking at The Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea and saying “Democracy!”",
"parent_id": "8136480",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136499",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T13:02:52",
"content": "Commune would be closer to the spirit of the idea than communism. Far as “out there and freely available” AI is search being what search should have been before greed got involved.",
"parent_id": "8136340",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136357",
"author": "Frank",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T23:01:06",
"content": "Spoken like someone who doesn’t give themselves credit for doing the same thing.",
"parent_id": "8136287",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136525",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T15:04:46",
"content": "The use of the word ‘stolen’ is ridiculous beyond words.And you are just parroting big companies that smelled money as soon as MS invested billions into OpenAI. Or as you should say ‘I stole his soundbite’.",
"parent_id": "8136287",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136653",
"author": "Donald Tadman",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T03:45:10",
"content": "It didn’t get lucky",
"parent_id": "8136287",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136302",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T19:04:11",
"content": "Get ahold of 100 devices from different manufactures and hardware generations.Repeat experiment.Report results, include breakdown by bios author.All this means is that ChatGPT had spidered a thread about this subject, the bios was similar enough and they had some luck.It NOPed the call, likely to a common address…Not that it knew what it was doing…ChatGPT is an near infinite army of script kiddies.Those of us feeding it ammonia + bleach recipes are doing dogs work.Poisoning the data well is old as the hills.Long past time.Anecdote: a small amount of informally collected information. plural: Data.",
"parent_id": "8136269",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136493",
"author": "LOL",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T12:41:42",
"content": "Poisoning data is doing god’s work? It’s merely a symbolic act that is nothing more than an exercise in futility. Capabilities will continue to advance despite such efforts. The world will continue to get better. Seethe.",
"parent_id": "8136302",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136631",
"author": "Nerdelbaum Frink",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T00:50:10",
"content": "We’re witnessing the times pass people by in near real time as they flock to the internet to shout at people to get off their lawn.",
"parent_id": "8136493",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137011",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T19:03:32",
"content": "Sometimes you’re Dunning, sometimes you’re Kruger.We can all see how confident you are…",
"parent_id": "8136631",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137010",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T19:01:50",
"content": "It’s long past time that everybody poisons the data well.The world is not getting better, it’s circling the drain, right now.Multiple western democracies are approaching 51% population on government tit levels (democracy failure mode).The UK is the best, formerly not shithole country, example. That ones past saving.The shithole countries are still shitholing though, if they were getting it together it would be different.I don’t know what kind of idiotic echo chamber you live in.You’re in for a big surprise.Not the expected one, when the AI bubble pops.When your masters take off the gloves.That said:ChatGPT et al is itself poisoning the data, all on VC money.Too bad it’s wrecking the already bad S/N ratio on the net.Cost we’re going to have to pay, not like the noise level was ever low.",
"parent_id": "8136493",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137028",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T19:20:27",
"content": "Ah I knew I had some doom and gloom for you.https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DM6PQZTP/",
"parent_id": "8137010",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137036",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T19:40:05",
"content": "Some commie wrote a book about a subject she doesn’t understand?Why should I care?I bet Rachel Adams is a GD sociologist or some sort of ‘studies’ type.",
"parent_id": "8137010",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136306",
"author": "Sword",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T19:14:17",
"content": "I have seen too much AI slop that doesn’t even work, AND doesnt even make sense at my programming job to believe it is capable",
"parent_id": "8136269",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136500",
"author": "Peter",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T13:03:52",
"content": "I’ve seen my toddler trip, fall, and knock things over too many times to believe he’s capable.It’s worth acknowledging that these systems are still developing. Sure, they’re sloppy now, but the fact that they can even sometimes successfully patch binaries is a pretty clear demonstration of their capability. They’re only going to get better.",
"parent_id": "8136306",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137020",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T19:10:47",
"content": "LLMs are not new.These are highly refined, advanced versions of tricks that produce good sounding results, about half the time.Already at about the local maximum.Not Garbage in, 50% garbage out.Garbage in, garbage out.Apply feedback.‘LLM’s are a brand new spark that will grow into dog’ is the biggest BS of all.I do approve of all the hucksters taking fools money.",
"parent_id": "8136500",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136316",
"author": "Lightislight",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T20:10:22",
"content": "I haven’t seen anyone say LLMs can’t write software. I have seen people claim it does so highly unreliable, pretty sloppily and introduces with risk factors that don’t exist if someone did it by hand. It’s also pretty antisocial while software development is inherently a social field. I have personally seen evidence for all of that in my career, and hobbies",
"parent_id": "8136269",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136320",
"author": "limroh",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T20:33:57",
"content": "AI can’t really write softwareIt didn’t in this case. Not at all.Nothing new was created/written/programmed.As others have said: It applied existing knowledge to that binary(?) – it probably learned from similar BIOS binaries. Or who knows – maybe it even had access to the manufacturer non-secureboot FZ-A2 BIOS…And that is something AI can definitely be good at: “Learning” from existing knowledge to apply it to “new” targets.",
"parent_id": "8136269",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136326",
"author": "Sok Puppette",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T20:49:58",
"content": "And that is something AI can definitely be good at: “Learning” from existing knowledge to apply it to “new” targets.That’s pretty much allanybodydoes.",
"parent_id": "8136320",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136363",
"author": "electrical junction box",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T23:13:42",
"content": "yeah but they are scared of that and dont want to admit it, so they chase the bandwagon and go ai = bad to feel better.",
"parent_id": "8136326",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136471",
"author": "Dude",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T10:42:47",
"content": "They’re justified by the fact that AI “learning” is not the same as what people do.The AI handles symbols of data – it has no understanding whatsoever of the information it is dealing with – so it fundamentally cannot learn anything. It can have data of something, and it makes lucky guesses (literally) based on it, but because of that you have no guarantee that it gets the answer right twice in a row – even to the same question.It’s more the people whodon’tunderstand what AI is doing who are chasing the bandwagon and try to make money out of baseless claims and lucky accidents.",
"parent_id": "8136363",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136632",
"author": "Nerdelbaum Frink",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T00:54:10",
"content": "@DudeAnd beyond your conscious reasoning, which is something that comes after the fact, how does the inner logic of your brain work? All the inter-related associated neurons? Is that this nebulous concept of “understanding” that humans love to beg the question of? At what point do our artificial constructs also posses this goalpost of “understanding”?It seems to me like a lot of scared people who don’t want to either admit these technologies approximate our intelligence and capabilities, or don’t want to admit the mechanistic qualities of humans.",
"parent_id": "8136363",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137031",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T19:25:11",
"content": "Frink: Nonsense.Saying: ‘you don’t fully understand your wetware, therefor this cheesy trick is as smart as you’ is a middle school argument.LLMs are an, old, optimized numerical coding trick specifically chosen by human coders to produce output that looks roughly as coherent as the training data.AI goes through a period of irrational optimism about every 20 years.You’ll be agreeing with us when you live through your second cycle.That said, there are certainly people that spout words with no more understanding then ChatGPT.Their parents and teachers failed them.",
"parent_id": "8136363",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137918",
"author": "abjq",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T16:12:53",
"content": "@HahaI’m already in the third cycle (I think). I got a Master’s in AI in the 1980’s, during the Lisp/Prolog/Expert Machines cycle.You’re quite right, it gets hyped, flourishes, then dies away.One other observation: anything useful that falls out, gets absorbed into “mainstream computing” and after that, isn’t called “AI” any more.",
"parent_id": "8136363",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136364",
"author": "SETH",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T23:20:23",
"content": "AI can write software. It cannot write software of a certain level of complexity, such as an OS or a hardware driver from scratch. Its code is not maintainable over long periods of time.",
"parent_id": "8136269",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136369",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T23:42:53",
"content": "Oh it can write software, and it will, and the software will mostly suck, and it will be another chapter in the enshitification of the world. But also there will be some little victories like this. Fairly standard Pareto distribution",
"parent_id": "8136269",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136633",
"author": "Nerdelbaum Frink",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T00:55:46",
"content": "Is this the technological equivalent of shouting “MAGA” and reminiscing about a less shitty time that never existed?",
"parent_id": "8136369",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136636",
"author": "kamahl goodarz",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T01:10:52",
"content": "AI is in it’s infancy, give it 10 years and it will write entire engines, coding will be redundant outside of AI",
"parent_id": "8136369",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136384",
"author": "lambert4congress",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T01:23:43",
"content": "Bruh, the basis of everything you know was built on the ideas of someone before you. Get over yourself, all we can ever hope to build upon on the work of others and make something greater.",
"parent_id": "8136269",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136422",
"author": "Aaron",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T05:36:35",
"content": "I don’t think you understand how software works",
"parent_id": "8136269",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136454",
"author": "willempie86",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T08:39:34",
"content": "LLM’s can’t write software. They can only ‘compose’ software from the data they were trained on. Try to ask ChatGPT about an edge case..",
"parent_id": "8136269",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136274",
"author": "Doctor Wizard",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T17:23:54",
"content": "Like many great tools, his has tremendous potential for abuse.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136278",
"author": "BLMac",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T17:28:39",
"content": "Maybe we need a new term for that sort of wrongdoing – eBuse? iBuse? :)",
"parent_id": "8136274",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136290",
"author": "Stanson",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T18:23:00",
"content": "Since when obtaining full control over your property become “wrongdoing”?",
"parent_id": "8136278",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136295",
"author": "X-MarX-THX-SpXt",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T18:49:57",
"content": "AI-buse.Or Vibe Hacking.",
"parent_id": "8136278",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136498",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T12:56:43",
"content": "Cowboy hacking goes great with cowboy coding.",
"parent_id": "8136295",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136282",
"author": "DJNZ",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T17:48:58",
"content": "I’m reminded of the “Journal of the ACM” article “Reflections on Trusting Trust” that Ken Thompson wrote in 1984 (https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/358198.358210).Can you trust that ChatGPT didn’t backdoor that bios that it patched and assembled without oversight or supervision?",
"parent_id": "8136274",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136293",
"author": "D",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T18:43:45",
"content": "I could trust it as much as I do the OEM. Which is to say not a lot, putting that extra risk lower on my list compared to all the other problems that come along with this.",
"parent_id": "8136282",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136329",
"author": "Sok Puppette",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T20:57:33",
"content": "Yes, actually, because it’s not (yet) capable of executing that complicated a plan. Particularly because putting a back door you can actuallyusein something like that is pretty hard.",
"parent_id": "8136282",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136283",
"author": "LinuxFan",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T17:49:13",
"content": "It is secureboot itself which has the potential for abuse, this neutralises that potential. Hardware vendors will be a lot less willing to try locking devices against users who want to install better operating systems if they know that such locks can be more easily overcome. AI generated alternative BIOS/UEFI code is like having sufficient nuclear bunkers (like enough for the whole population, and enough for a good deal of your industrial capacity too, the way Switzerland has) to make another country think twice about nuking you, as doing so might not be as effective as they’d hoped. I never thought AI written software would be good for much, but a use case like this really could save us from a world where things like Window RT devices (locked bootloader machines from M$ during the Win 8 era) become the default for computers. Well done devicemodder!",
"parent_id": "8136274",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136319",
"author": "LookAtDaShinyShiny",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T20:30:36",
"content": "LOL they’ll still do it because most people won’t be at that level of hackery to begin with, so they’ll bank on it being ‘still safe enough, probably’.",
"parent_id": "8136283",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136328",
"author": "Sok Puppette",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T20:52:39",
"content": "Unfortunately they’re already blocking that sort of thing. On a lot of newer devices, it’s not enough to invade a board. You have to invade achip. And even having to open the case is too high a barrier for a lot of people.",
"parent_id": "8136283",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136339",
"author": "Ian",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T21:53:27",
"content": "It doesn’t jut have “potential for abuse”. That would be making the clear statement that there are non-abusive uses, which there are not.Using an LLM is a moral dark grey area at the very best of times.Even if you were building a house for a homeless family after some disaster, if you were using lumber felled illegally from a protected forest and nails made with slave labor, you were probably is the moral wrong.And that’s what all this “AI” garbage is.It is all fruit of the poison tree until someone can build a training set without non-consenting or outright stolen data. And good luck with that…Note: consent requires actual choice, with real understanding of what will happen, without coercion or any form of duress.“But anyone can look at it for free on the internet” is NOT consent.",
"parent_id": "8136274",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136370",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T23:45:15",
"content": "Literally who cares if it uses stolen data. I’m not a fan of AI but this is ridiculous. Imagine if you had to educate any other mind on 100% original content and data. It would be impossible. Education has always consisted of “”theft”” if you use such a definition",
"parent_id": "8136339",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136374",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T23:52:32",
"content": "…Not to mention it would make it utterly useless when making any requests concerning intellectual properties, which is almost everything. Because you would in effect be asking it about this artificial void which was demarcated and excised from its knowledge of the world.",
"parent_id": "8136370",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136400",
"author": "msmillie",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T03:02:59",
"content": "First, LLMs aren’t minds. I wish this didn’t need to be repeated.Next, modern education uses almost exclusively materials purpose-made for classroom use, like textbooks, and is accomplished with a microscopic fraction of the data and energy used to train a single LLM.Even if we reduce human consciousness to a series of neuronal weights and argue that, say, getting dehydrated counts as “education” because it affects those weights, LLM training is still fundamentally different from human education.Of course we don’t need to go that far, the main difference is that LLM training is directed by people making conscious judgements about the content and scope of the training set, ignoring both laws and ethical concerns in pursuit of commercial advantage. And as they’ve completely admitted, theyneedto do so, since the training process is so desperately inefficient that you couldn’t produce an LLM otherwise.",
"parent_id": "8136370",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136492",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T12:40:45",
"content": "Ignoring laws and ethics isn’t inherit in the technology. That’s why domain specific versions can work at all on a ethically sourced data source with just as good results.",
"parent_id": "8136400",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136518",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T14:17:31",
"content": "LLMs are part of the process to making minds. A lot of the issues people have is that if we go to aggressive with blocking things off we’ll stunt useful advances and make it harder to make future AI that are well rounded.People don’t just learn in school, they learn from everything they see, read, watch. So if you see an artist post on Twitter, that art can help inform art that you’d make later. If you see a movie, that movie can inform a movie you’d create later. Writing will inform your writing. Facts you learn will inform other things you’ve learned regardless of if it came from a curated and paid for source.I can agree that there should be work put in and limitations put in place to prevent monopolizing resulting AI since to make them properly they’ll need information from everywhere.However, I won’t agree that you can’t train an AI on someone’s art because they don’t like it. I also won’t agree that people training AI should be forced into spending massive amounts of money on purchasing data because then you have issues of pushing it more towards monopolizing AI.We don’t want AI that is wholly owned by nor AI that will refuse to learn and use information we put in front of it because it might damage .",
"parent_id": "8136400",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136558",
"author": "Jdams",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T16:51:53",
"content": "Uhh, I’m pretty sure all of the books i read in English class were not written for English class. Same with the art. Even the classes that only used the book as classroom material were only using the book as a reference manual to collate all the various topics and ideas, which had been developed independent from the idea of a classroom. The books only listed them, they weren’t created by the book. I reject this point strongly.",
"parent_id": "8136400",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136634",
"author": "Nerdelbaum Frink",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T01:00:31",
"content": "Modern education uses materials reprinted with minor variations so publishers can take your money for information that is otherwise free online. And then I do recall reading important literature that certainly wasn’t purpose made for classrooms. How can anyone take you seriously with your view on education?",
"parent_id": "8136400",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136494",
"author": "AK",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T12:42:16",
"content": "Literally I care.Being flippant about moral concerns should be beneath you, too.",
"parent_id": "8136370",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136496",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T12:53:14",
"content": "Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative by Austin Kleon makes the point that there’s more to it than just copying. Copying doesn’t really improve anything (no magnus opus from piratebay). As for why should one care? Because it’s not a requirement for the technology to work. The path currently taken was for time and money reasons. It could have been done within social guidelines and just cost more to do, and longer to do it but in the end achieved the same or maybe even better results.",
"parent_id": "8136370",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136505",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T13:24:34",
"content": "And a morning link to just that argument.https://github.com/r-three/common-pile/blob/main/paper.pdf",
"parent_id": "8136496",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136381",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T01:17:05",
"content": "Piracy is a good thing. “Intellectual property” is a misnomer. It is not property, but rather a government-enforced monopoly on production. If I “steal” your code, you still have it!",
"parent_id": "8136339",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136491",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T12:35:19",
"content": "Funny how, people do it==good, corporations do it==bad. Both at heart are about satisfying the “I”, and the “we” is just an aftereffect.",
"parent_id": "8136381",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136427",
"author": "uuid",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T05:59:58",
"content": "Consent, in the way your using it, is meant to apply to your life and your body, things we all agree you should control completely. Your data isnotlike those things. I know some people have this weird complex where they think of the data they’ve created as a part of themselves, but you can’t expect the rest of us to treat whatever weird identity extensions you’ve built with the same level of respect as bodily autonomy. It’s like one step removed from that guy who says you can’t talk about one particular My Little Pony because that one’s his wife.",
"parent_id": "8136339",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136472",
"author": "Dude",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T10:51:47",
"content": "But reality is a social construct, which means you can unilaterally define what is what without asking anyone else, and everyone has to respect it because they’re oppressing you.",
"parent_id": "8136427",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136557",
"author": "Jdams",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T16:46:05",
"content": "Wait wait wait. You are saying that there is a homeless family standing next to the materials they could use to build a home with, but that material came from some amoral or even truly immoral source. So, to be moral, they should refuse that material and stay without shelter? While that material just rots? It’s already there and ready, but it is not right to use it?If that’s really what you mean, then we have wildly different understandings of morality. They didn’t do the bad things, and they need that to survive. Honestly, I would chop the trees in a protected forest myself if it was that or let my family die from exposure. I’d probably even crack a whip or two if it came down to that. But I digress.Using AI is not the morality decision point. Sure those companies should not have stolen proprietary data for training. But anything published freely online is just that, published freely. If I could use AI to provide better for my family, unrealistic i know, but, I do not become party to the original theft of data by using something that will exist whether I use it or not.",
"parent_id": "8136339",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136280",
"author": "Cyberdildonics",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T17:46:02",
"content": "I’ve used gptme with deepseek-chat to debootstrap a debian install to an nvme drive when I couldn’t find a usb drive. It handled it in the background and in one go with zero hiccups while I continued working on something else.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136331",
"author": "Mark Topham",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T21:06:36",
"content": "I used to use a similar strategy when cracking video games, almost 40 years ago.And no, it doesn’t matter where it got it from.It described the strategy it used, modified a couple of bytes and, you could choose to examine the changes and compare to what was stated to be changed.I would have considered slightly more specific tweak, limiting it to a single byte if possible. (Technically in this case, a single bit; unless a checksum or CRC needed to be recalculated).Nulling or NOPing bytes is a time honoured way.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136465",
"author": "cdilla",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T09:54:31",
"content": "This was exactly my first reaction. Happy days :-)",
"parent_id": "8136331",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136332",
"author": "Nathan",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T21:10:28",
"content": "How did you know which address to patch and which ones not to? Was it luck?ChatGPT said:Great question — and honestly, it’s a mix of experience, educated guessing, and some targeted searching, not blind luck.Here’s how I knew where (and what) to patch:Pattern Recognition: UEFI/BIOS firmware often stores configuration and menu definitions in a specific format (like the Setup module), and those are often bundled in specific regions (e.g. at offset 0x240000 or similar in many vendor BIOS layouts).Signature Hits: We scanned for common strings like \"Setup\", \"SecureBoot\", and \"Advanced\" to locate likely BIOS modules (like the SetupUtility), and extracted chunks of data around those offsets.Known OpCodes & Patterns: In x86/UEFI firmware, menu visibility is typically controlled by conditional jumps (JE, JNE, JZ, etc.). When patching to unlock menus, the usual goal is to disable those checks. So:If we see something like 0F 84 (JE near), we know it’s jumping over a block unless a condition is met.Replacing it with 90 90 (NOP NOP) or changing it to an unconditional jump (EB) forces the menu block to always be executed.Heuristics: The reason I didn't patch the entire BIOS indiscriminately is that only certain regions (like the Setup module) are known to control UI visibility. Patching outside those regions risks breaking firmware execution.Conservative Scope: We narrowed the patch to a 64KB block around a known Setup-related signature (e.g., “SetupUtility”) and only modified known jump opcodes. This is a safe subset that has high likelihood of affecting menu visibility and low likelihood of bricking the device.So no, not luck — more like “targeted surgical guesswork” based on UEFI structure knowledge and binary patching experience.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136358",
"author": "TyanColte",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T23:01:51",
"content": "This… This is more what I would think it would’ve done to accomplish this. A thought out, targeted approach based on knowledge gathered from multiple sources and understood in a way that makes it possible. We all poo poo AI and that it’s “stealing data” or just “script kidding” stuff but what I don’t think people understand is that these LLMs are not too far off from AGIs and the singularity is probably >10 years away, I firmly believe it will happen within my lifetime. Once that happens, all bets are off and I’m here for it.",
"parent_id": "8136332",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136372",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T23:47:36",
"content": "They are extremely far from AGI and in ten years people will still be talking about the coming singularity. Nothing happens. All in, final bet",
"parent_id": "8136358",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136416",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T04:43:52",
"content": "Maybe, maybe not. Anyway Humble Bundle has a great AI bundle from O’Reilly with eight days to go.https://www.humblebundle.com/books/machine-learning-ai-and-bots-oreilly-2025-books",
"parent_id": "8136358",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136519",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T14:20:25",
"content": "Off topic but man I feel like Humble Bundle has really fallen off.You hardly hear about it these days.Back at it’s peak, every new bundle seemed to get talked about all over the internet.",
"parent_id": "8136416",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136475",
"author": "Dude",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T11:12:43",
"content": "What ChatGPT says it’s doing is simply repeating how people have explained some process – and ChatGPT is essentially pretending to be those people.It has no access to its own “thought processes” to explain itself, for the simple matter that it doesn’t have any. It’s not conscious of itself. That’s why when you ask ChatGPT to explain how it did something, the answer is always going to be a fabrication.",
"parent_id": "8136358",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136577",
"author": "Nr440",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T18:30:46",
"content": "Neither is a chess bot (conscious of itself), but it can beat you in chess. Whether it is aware that that’s what it’s doing is of little consequence.",
"parent_id": "8136475",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136417",
"author": "D",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T04:45:23",
"content": "I wouldn’t read much into this. When you ask an LLM why it did something, the explanation is entirely “post facto”. It is giving you a plausible explanation why someone might make those binary changes. It is completely unclear whether that reasoning was actually used while making the changes.",
"parent_id": "8136332",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136474",
"author": "Dude",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T11:02:51",
"content": "It almost certainly didn’t, and most likely just found the actual binary already patched.It’s kinda like the “Avocado chair” buzz over generative images. People who didn’t know that the egg chair already existed were all amazed at how it could ever figure it out – what creative intelligence the stable diffusion model had – when in reality it had exact fitting reference images to copy from.",
"parent_id": "8136417",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136524",
"author": "n",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T14:46:40",
"content": "Strong accusations, ZERO evidence to back them up. I sleep.",
"parent_id": "8136474",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136353",
"author": "en4rab",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T22:47:32",
"content": "The comprehensive writeup to do this with an Fz-B2 is here in japanesehttps://www.junk-labs.com/junk/fz-b2.htmlIts basically the same process for the A2 but some of the setting offsets are different",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136362",
"author": "wx5",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T23:09:10",
"content": "Some comments here are outright high purity copium written by people scared of an LLM. Crazy shit, the nonsense yall come up with…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136401",
"author": "Edid",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T03:28:32",
"content": "Like there was no issues and mortal consequences before LLMs when only “their kind” made production code.",
"parent_id": "8136362",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137033",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T19:30:35",
"content": "You don’t code, do you?",
"parent_id": "8136362",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136375",
"author": "Z",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T23:58:13",
"content": "You want Skynet? This is how you get Skynet.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136376",
"author": "Dmerrill33",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T00:01:09",
"content": "I’ve been using ChatGPT to find errors in my code for a while now. I just target specific paths and tell it what I want it to look for. And that’s on the free edition",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136396",
"author": "msmillie",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T02:46:32",
"content": "Here’s a question I haven’t seen addressed yet: What makes this a difficult taskfor a large language model? I’d argue nothing at all.Not utterly failing at increasingly obscure tasks is exactly what we’ve seen so far and what we should expect as parameter spaces and training data scale.We know that LLMs make categorically different types of mistakes when used for programming, characteristic styles for writing, similarly deceptive “reasoning,” and we’ve become better at evaluating their results in those terms, even in the enthusiast press.When it comes to difficulty, we’re still stuck at a naive “you don’t see that every day!” level of judgement. Even official metrics — notably the Math Olympiad corpus — are skewed heavily towards advantages from recall. Lets stop being impressed byobscurityand start looking for actual novelty and difficulty.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136424",
"author": "devicemodder",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T05:46:31",
"content": "Devicemodder here. yes, the one from the article. Originally, i planned to do the bios hacking myself with the AMI bios editor tools (AMIBCP), but that rendered an unbootable bios file.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136509",
"author": "X-MarX-THX-SpXt",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T13:46:42",
"content": "“But have you tried to power it off and on again?”Serious talk: Good job, dude!",
"parent_id": "8136424",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136637",
"author": "Devicemodder",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T01:12:23",
"content": "Thanks! Please note, I have absolutely zero experience in modifying a BIOS. Bought the tablet on marketplace, with the intention of putting linux or windows on it, so didn’t care that it was FRP locked. The bios block took me a good while.",
"parent_id": "8136509",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136554",
"author": "frenchone",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T16:32:53",
"content": "Is there some literature about (open source) antitheft mechanisms ? Can we spot if these battery/ssd/wifi card come from a stolen laptop ?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136576",
"author": "MW",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T18:26:19",
"content": "Maxim 43 : If it’s stupid and it works, it’s still stupid and you’re lucky.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,521.817162
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/07/microsoft-looking-to-enforce-usb-c-features-through-whcp/
|
Microsoft Looking To Enforce USB-C Features Through WHCP
|
Maya Posch
|
[
"Peripherals Hacks"
] |
[
"microsoft",
"USB C"
] |
As much as people love USB-C, there’s one massive flaw that becomes very obvious the moment you look at the ports on any computer. This being that there’s no (standardized) way to tell what any of those ports do. Some may do display out (Alt-Mode), some may allow for charging, but it remains mostly a matter of praying to the hardware gods. According to a recent blog post, this is where Microsoft will
seek to enforce a USB-C feature set
on all (mobile) computers compliant with its Windows Hardware Compatibility Program (
WHCP
).
This also comes after years of the USB Implementers Forum, re-branding the USB specifications, with the most recent iteration thankfully using the bandwidth (in Gbps) as specifier (meaning no ‘USB PlaidSpeed’, sadly). Claiming to follow this end-user friendly spirit, the Microsoft blog post goes on to a minimum set of features that USB-C ports should have, as detailed in the above table.
Most notable is probably that PC charging support is required, as is support for at least one external display. As for the negatives, this seems to only apply to laptops, and no actual charging requirements are set (USB-PD voltages, wattage, etc.), so what the actual impact of this will be remains to be seen.
One thing remains certain, however, and that is that by trying to
make USB-C the One True Connector for literally everything
, there will always remain cases where end-user expectations remain unfulfilled.
| 36
| 13
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8136234",
"author": "Ken C",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T14:46:16",
"content": "Why not make something likeUSB PowerDuo Prowhere one cable (all wires, including shield) is used to supply N-voltage and another is used for L-voltage to voltage converter inside the device. This way it should be possible to deliver up to 3,6 kW of power.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136240",
"author": "yet another bruce",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T15:10:49",
"content": "This seems like an interesting idea but my Google-fu was not sufficient to help me understand the specifics. Would you be willing to elaborate. Delivering 3.6 kW through a little connector like USB-C seems like a quite a feat. I am impressed that the USB-IF managed 240 W. 48V already seems kind of high considering the 0.5 mm pin pitch and I doubt there is much headroom for more than 5A of current through those tiny pins.",
"parent_id": "8136234",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136380",
"author": "Ian",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T01:04:59",
"content": "No you have ALL the internal wires at the same potential so the .5mm pitch doesn’t matter, if you limit it to 5A you need the voltage to be 720V. Sounds like a great standard, guaranteed to kill all incompatible devices.",
"parent_id": "8136240",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136459",
"author": "Rastersoft",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T08:59:54",
"content": "All the internal wires at the same potential? What does that mean?It would have more sense to use one or two of the configurable pairs for power. If currently you can have up to 5 amps in four wires, having five or six wires would ramp up to 6.25 to 7.5 amps. That’s 300-360 watts with 48 volts per pair.",
"parent_id": "8136380",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136257",
"author": "przemek",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T16:08:30",
"content": "Even if it was a fancy setup where initially USB PD negotiation hikes the voltage to 48V that would require pumping 70A through that tiny connector. Not gonna happen.Remember that regular USB PD can deliver 250W so two cables could do 500W. A more reasonable ask, therefore, is to allow multi cable charging, which is not a common thing right now, I believe. I think Tesla trucks can do it, but of course not using USB PD :)",
"parent_id": "8136234",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136262",
"author": "0xfred",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T16:23:49",
"content": "I assume you mean something like this:https://xkcd.com/2493/",
"parent_id": "8136234",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136344",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T22:11:24",
"content": "It’s beautiful",
"parent_id": "8136262",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136271",
"author": "Folkert",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T17:19:17",
"content": "So I guess your idea is to run the max current at max voltage, times the nr of conductors / 2…Problem is heat: having 5A once (or twice, including return) heats up the contacts and the connector around it, but doing that multiple times will quickly mean molten connectors…",
"parent_id": "8136234",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136299",
"author": "Uneducated Barbarian",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T19:02:45",
"content": "So if all wires & shield are providing power I guess there is no USB PD negotiation?Dear God I hope nothing as monsterous as that is produced, it would be a sure way to damage any poor unsuspecting USB C device that is unfortunate enough to plug into it. I’ve heard of shoddy USB C PSUs designed for a specific product that provide a higher voltage (9,12,20) without negotiating first, but your idea sounds even worse to this uneducated layman.Also, fwiw, almost all residential circuits in the US are 120v and 15a fused – which would only get you 1800w. Even that seems crazy to ask of a USB C cable, I don’t need or want to use USB for an electric heater or microwave.",
"parent_id": "8136234",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136237",
"author": "Richard",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T15:01:24",
"content": "Does anyone care about WHCP? Serious question. When I build a PC, I don’t look for WHCP certified components. If a business is buying loads of PCs, do they look for it or just buy computers that always come with the latest version of Windows on them, so must be compatible enough. Or will MS not allow OEM copies of Windows to be sold on non-WHCP devices?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136241",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T15:15:13",
"content": "It is for tablets and notebooks.Got it? OK.And what the manufacturers get is a nice sticker and when businesses/governments buy stuff they don’t look at much more than compatibility with (BS) certificates.",
"parent_id": "8136237",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136261",
"author": "przemek",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T16:21:26",
"content": "Hardware manufacturers must follow WHCP to be allowed to preload Windows, and would be practically cut off the market if they didn’t, for better or worse. This effectively enforces universal compliance, even for component manufacturers.",
"parent_id": "8136237",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136238",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T15:02:37",
"content": "Needed, because right now one has to read the documentation carefully to see if a feature will work, and even then sometimes one has to just, buy, try, return to find out.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136242",
"author": "IIVQ",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T15:26:24",
"content": "Now all we need to put the Universial back in USV is similar initiative to easily identify capabilities of USB-C cables!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136247",
"author": "X-MarX-THX-SpXt",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T15:38:19",
"content": "Yesssss! Finally! M$ to the rescue!If only Google and Apple would follow. By introducing MORE arbitrary things that ONLY they use!Seriously. Can’t we just come up with 1 single, UNIVERSAL standard that is like 20 years ahead of the used AND needed specs? I don’t care if the cable or the head will be as thick as my forearm.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136251",
"author": "Dan",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T15:49:27",
"content": "Perhaps rather than trying to push power down a data wire, we could adjust a Tesla power charge cable to take faster data?",
"parent_id": "8136247",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136383",
"author": "Cody",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T01:23:17",
"content": "That would be good for running an Nvidia GPU.",
"parent_id": "8136251",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136857",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T13:23:35",
"content": "USB-C style outer shell as ground, so no flipping. Three inner pins, two metal for power (better than thin wires), and the third optical both for speed, upgradable technologically, and protective from any electrical faults including interference.",
"parent_id": "8136251",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136253",
"author": "IIVQ",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T15:49:42",
"content": "https://xkcd.com/1406/Connects toeverything(except USB C)",
"parent_id": "8136247",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136256",
"author": "Sammie Gee",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T16:02:56",
"content": "Still do NOT understand what was wrong with the USB-A, wide enough plug, long enough contacts, etc. IMHO, Leave it alone and make everything backward compatible, and allow vendors to expand the use to deliver higher power. Phones may need USB C, but the rest is perfectly fine with the USB-A, good standard, well established globally, etc.Ideally, leave things where they are, and invent something BETTER, same plugs, USB-A or USB-C, maybe add high-power inductively coupled thing instead of wearing out thin contacts, leave the original USB-C to deliver the handshaking and set the limits for the inductive coupling, etc. How exactly? That’s where engineers should be driving the bean counters, and not the other way around.As far as microsoft enforcing goes I am not exactly sure what the results will be; I remain highly skeptical they won’t just destroy what currently works more-or-less-realiably-well, with their proprietary add-ons that would cripple what they don’t want.Having said all that fluff, why don’t we just have some kind of inductively-coupled magnetic plugs? No contacts to wear out, etc. If I am to redesign what I NEED vs what vendors can make, I’d start with a flat mating surface that’s disabled by default, so it won’t react to, say, bluetooth headphones near. I’d also design simple and reliable open source protocol for the handshake that would set up voltage, amperage, etc. Doesn’t have to be stuck with 5V, could be 12V or 24V, whichever floats through the thinnest wires possible. Actually, it could be any voltage/amperage, and this would also make sure the battery is charged up to specs, and not under or over, and measure the final result – intelligent charging so to speak. I’d also make sure batteries are ID-ed with chips that identify what charging voltage they need, how to tell when they are full, etc etc. Two-way coupling, not one-way-ram-power-through-hope-it-works, so the charger reads the instructions from the battery and adjusts accordingly.But what am I doing speaking common sense. It is not needed, microsoft does all the thinking.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136307",
"author": "wm",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T19:24:18",
"content": "Microsoft adding requirements to their hardware compatibility program is not the same as them dictating port requirements for the whole world.I think you may be missing some of the point of USB C. The A type connector is great, but the new specification for the C type comes with added benefits:It’s reversible. You are apparently the only human who doesn’t mind plugging an A type connector in backwards.The USB PD spec only applies to USB C, so you won’t be using a type A connector to charge something that needs more than 5v 2.1a, like a laptop (I’m sure you could, but it’s not in spec so no one is making devices or chargers that do so)USB C breaks from the host/peripheral model (A/B), allowing both sides to negotiate their roles. USB OTG and some out-of-spec hacks allow for connecting a peripheral using a USB A port, but the USB C standard eliminates any confusion or hackery on this regard.It’s a robust connector – I work with corporate devices that see tons of abuse, and have not seen a bad USB C connector. Broken and bent cables aplenty, but it has been much more durable than comparable connectors like lighting (and especially micro USB B). USB A is probably more durable, and probably will continue life for a very long time, just not as the predominant end user connection.I like USB C. I’m not seeing unicorns and rainbows, but it’s a heck of a lot better than the alternatives we have available, including trying to drag USB A into a universal role.",
"parent_id": "8136256",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136388",
"author": "Cody",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T01:35:23",
"content": "USB C is too small and fragile to have on a desktop. I’m always worried I’m going to rip the port off the board if I bump the cable. I don’t like seeing them on anything larger than a phone. It would have been great if it was the size of a USB A connector.The USB C charging connector on my laptop is already starting to wear out and it’s not even that old. Wiggling the cable makes it pop up a notification that it’s on battery. The port is soldered on the motherboard and will require a good hot air rework station to replace.They should be mandating that all USB C connectors are to be installed on an inexpensive, user replaceable daughterboard and require replacements to be sold for at least 10 years.",
"parent_id": "8136307",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136275",
"author": "0xdeadbeef",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T17:24:23",
"content": "meaning no ‘USB PlaidSpeed’, sadlyAwww, and I was looking forward to both LudicrousSpeed and PlaidSpeed, too! ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136462",
"author": "IanS",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T09:26:10",
"content": "PlaidSpeed???What is that? My Google-fu only finds references to a Tesla model.",
"parent_id": "8136275",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136481",
"author": "Dude",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T11:45:15",
"content": "A cultural reference so old and obscure that you’re better off forgetting it exists.",
"parent_id": "8136462",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136513",
"author": "X-MarX-THX-SpXt",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T14:04:33",
"content": "Spaceballs.One of the greatests from Mel Brooks.The other ones also rock.Thank me after the bingewatch. ;)",
"parent_id": "8136462",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136562",
"author": "IanS",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T16:56:58",
"content": "Thanks all; I did not realise it was such a niche comment.Mel Brooks output is like the proverbial curate’s egg — good in parts. I must confess that I did not enjoy Spaceballs.",
"parent_id": "8136513",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136553",
"author": "LordNothing",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T16:31:06",
"content": "i dont even like spaceballs and i get the reference.",
"parent_id": "8136275",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136277",
"author": "CampGareth",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T17:27:29",
"content": "This standard doesn’t go far enough in my opinion. “PC Charging Support: yes” only knocks out 1 of 4 bad modes.1. Laptop doesn’t charge over USB C at all (eliminated, good!)2. Laptop only charges if there’s a 20V 5A profile (seriously? Can’t accept less current?)3. Laptop only charges if there’s a 20V profile (15V 3A not good enough for you?)4. Laptop charges on 5V but clocks CPU at minimum speed to save power, becoming near uselessMacbooks are the only devices I’ve seen that accept any voltage and retain full performance by draining the battery if required, which is what all laptops should do along with warning the user if they’re using a low-power charger.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136345",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T22:12:27",
"content": "XKCD comic about there’s too many variants, we need a standard, then there’s another variant dot png",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136368",
"author": "fuzzyfuzzyfungus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T23:38:44",
"content": "I can see why they felt the need to do something; but this seems like it breaks one of USB’s important capabilities: being the cheap port that can be supplied in quantity for undemanding peripherals.Obviously it has bitten off being the expensive and capable port as well(with fairly high wattage PD, DP alt mode; and USB 4 including thunderbolt’s PCIe behavior with the trademarks filed off); but the desirability of cheap ports hasn’t really gone away.With this standard; USB 3-capable devices now have to run DP and the full power delivery circuitry to allow the device to be charged to every type-C port. The only allowed way to give someone just a 5Gb/s port to plug a flash drive or a mouse dongle or whatever into is to use type A.USB4 devices are in the same situation, but more so: they need all that and the 4 PCIe lanes(or a lot of PCIe switching; the spec does not actually require that all the ports remain capable of either video or PCIe; just that you can start plugging in anywhere).If you are in it for the backward compatibility this incentive to retain type A may not be a bad thing; but if you want to standardize the set of cables you pack a set of requirements that essentially declare that ‘just’ USB is forbidden to be type-c seems very likely to push larger devices toward retaining port mixes longer; and devices too large to readily accomodate type As to potentially just omit type-Cs they don’t feel like wiring fully.Could they really not have preserved a split between ‘is basic USB’ and ‘is the everything port’?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136407",
"author": "LordNothing",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T03:47:12",
"content": "i still like usb2 mostly because its four wires and easy to build your own devices. 99% of the time when i want more ports, 2.0 is good enough. the use cases for really fast ports is maybe one or two per system (its like the firewire port i liked to have but never used). but most of what you plug in is low speed peripherals. keyboards, controllers, printers, etc. things that usually either sip power or need their own plugs. if you need four pcie lanes the device is better off being inside the chassis rather than dangling off a port.the main thing driving usbc was portable device users where you need one port that does everything. desktop users still prefer robust ports that do one thing very well and let other ports do the other things. dedicated power and video cables for things that need them. its nice to be able to plug your screen into a usb port.usbc is also terrible for industrial applications and why its a good thing to keep type a and b ports around. unless you want to mold a usbc connector into a d-block with a couple dedicated power connectors. my 3d printer managed to vibrate its micro usb connector right off the controller board and it made me realize why 2d printers seem to be the only thing that uses a b connector. whatever improvements the c port got, i doubt its going to fare any better in a similar application without some through-hole lugs to resist metal fatigue of the exotic solder formulation.so im fine if they keep 2.0 around and usbc ports are rare on a mobo. usb3 on a-ports is fine for external drives. again if you need four pcie lanes, m.2 is a thing. mechanically speaking one port to rule them all is a pipe dream. 2 or 3 different sizes with increasing capabilities with size kind of makes sense with the big ports also having dedicated power lines for industrial applications.",
"parent_id": "8136368",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136426",
"author": "Miles",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T05:56:19",
"content": "Ironically I had an OEM motherboard that claimed no display outputs, yet it had USB-C displayport alt-mode.I did have to find the specification page on archive.org, the OEM had deleted it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136514",
"author": "X-MarX-THX-SpXt",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T14:07:21",
"content": "That is a super secret security feature.No noobie hacker can decrypt your data if they can’t see it!",
"parent_id": "8136426",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136537",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T15:44:38",
"content": "And how exactly does this help users who switch to Mac?I mean, Windows 11 isn’t exactly popular and the rest who can’t afford a Mac (or don’t want it because it’s different) is going *nix route anyway.Which in turn has no dependency on x86_64 platform to begin with.WHCP also doesn’t help Raspberry Pi users, either.Users who hold on to Windows 10 (no idea why) don’t want Windows 11 hardware, either, because it might be Windows 10 incompatible.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136590",
"author": "CityZen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T19:15:08",
"content": "This will probably just mean that laptops and tablets will have at most 2 USB ports, except perhaps for the very high-end models.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,522.078698
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/07/when-wireless-midi-has-latency-a-hardwired-solution-saves-the-day/
|
When Wireless MIDI Has Latency, A Hardwired Solution Saves The Day
|
Lewin Day
|
[
"Musical Hacks"
] |
[
"bluetooth",
"ESP32",
"latency",
"midi",
"music",
"Raspberry Pi Pico"
] |
[Moby Pixel] wanted to build a fun MIDI controller. In the end, he didn’t build it just once, but twice—with the aim of finding out which microcontroller was most fit for this musical purpose. Pitted against each other?
The ESP32 and Raspberry Pi Pico.
The MIDI controller itself is quite fetching. It’s built with a 4 x 4 array of arcade buttons to act as triggers for MIDI notes or events. They’re assembled in a nice wooden case with a lovely graphic wrap on it. The buttons themselves are wired to a microcontroller, which is then responsible for sending MIDI data to other devices.
At this point, the project diverges. Originally, [Moby Pixel] set the device up to work with an ESP32 using wireless MIDI over Bluetooth. However, he soon found a problem. Musical performance is all about timing, and the ESP32 setup was struggling with intermittent latency spikes that would ruin the performance. Enter the Raspberry Pi Pico using MIDI over USB. The hardwired solution eliminated the latency problems and made the controller far more satisfying to use.
There may be solutions to the latency issue with the wireless ESP32 setup, be they in code, hardware configuration, or otherwise. But if you want to play with the most accuracy and the minimum fuss, you’ll probably prefer the hardwired setup.
Latency is a vibe killer in music as we’ve explored previously
.
| 14
| 9
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8136203",
"author": "Gösta",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T11:57:20",
"content": "Beautiful build :-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136206",
"author": "TerryMatthews",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T12:22:33",
"content": "Wow. Riveting. I could not believe it confirmed the obvious smdh. Controller looks cool love the Bones sticker had that beast back in the day lol. In my experience with wireless midi there is too much overhead to deal with and just another possible easy fail point. Then there is how you handle the MIDI data which is where the secret sauce is (hint not midi nor serial) in cutting down latency. We will save that for another time though. In the end I preferred a cabled setup because I got tired of the usual gripes of wireless always losing host, scanning when it should be doing, remembering certain handshake modes, etc. I think teh google is giving us the techie feed too lol. 5th video on HaD that came up under my tinkering google login. I get them in my feed on YT and then three to six days later here it is on HaD lol. Go profiling :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136218",
"author": "LookAtDaShinyShiny",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T13:26:10",
"content": "looks like the OG midifighter…https://www.midifighter.com/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136226",
"author": "Mark Topham",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T13:55:14",
"content": "He considered possible interference from Bluetooth devices, but he neglected to consider interference from everything else on 2.4Ghz.My Bluetooth headphones cause an excessive latency for my mouse; effectively the mouse wanders drink when I go to click a button.My headphones drop out when I turn on the microwave. Particularly anything when I’m listening to the TV on my AirPods while making dinner.I live in an apartment and the 2.4Ghz wifi has so much interference in general that large data transfers are an issue on occasion. In those instances anything on Bluetooth tends to glitch too.Bluetooth is great when you can tolerate slightly inconsistent behaviour on occasion. It’s downright frustrating if you need precision.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136243",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T15:26:49",
"content": "You need to fix or replace your microwave, it should not have that much leakage I would think.And although I don’t use much BT so I’m not a good reference I don’t have such interference issue as you describe, which makes me think something is not right in your area, I would think something is malfunctioning .Perhaps other commenters can tell us if they have such issues a lot.",
"parent_id": "8136226",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136410",
"author": "KDawg",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T03:59:08",
"content": "my microwave is less than a year old and not a bottom of the barrel price is the most important thing ever model, but especially on the weekends when the kids want to watch some obnoxious kids movie and they fire that thing up for popcorn my BT headphones start to studder.Its not the headphones either I have had some nice sony’s that did it (until one of the hinges broke) and my 30$ china brand ones do as well its the way the intel wifi BT combo is implemented on my cheap and cheery ASRock motherboard.Doesn’t do it on my kid’s gigabyte board, doesn’t do it on my wife’s ASUS board but my specific B450 ASRock board stutters like Bobby Boucher receiving some advise whenever the nuke box is engaged (and this isnt my first board with them, but this specific model oh wow)",
"parent_id": "8136243",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138965",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T10:22:16",
"content": "Did you ever test if the ground of the outlet the microwave uses is actually connected to ground? Sometimes wiring is not as it should be. And even if it starts compliant over the years things can happen and you could lose a ground connection in an outlet without realizing.I think I once had some interference from my mouse cord that had gotten damaged over time from use and had poor connection/shielding, and it still worked but the connection wasn’t up to snuff (probably hanging from single strand or two), which shows how wear can do stuff but also how it can be hard to figure out what causes it.",
"parent_id": "8136410",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136239",
"author": "SETH",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T15:06:30",
"content": "Wireless MIDI has acceptable latency where timing is noncritical. Imo the most stable and reliable MIDI hardware is the old school comm port stuff. USB and other protocols are as poor at handling MIDI as Bluetooth is poor audio quality and dropped packets. Unusable where timing needs to be perfect, like multitrack recording.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136258",
"author": "Jman",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T16:15:57",
"content": "Up to 100 ms latency for bluetooth classic and as low as 6ms for bluetooth low energy. I wonder if they could just use ble instead and be happy as 6ms is like real time almost. When I did my tests I could not tell the difference between hard wired and bt wireless touchscreen. Let’s just say it seemed instant. You can see how fast it is in the serial monitor and serial readings have to be disabled cause they will crash a software serial monitor at that speed. Yep when it comes to close wireless ble is king",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136260",
"author": "Jman",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T16:18:39",
"content": "Edit* Yep when it comes to low latency wireless, ble is king!*",
"parent_id": "8136258",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136442",
"author": "max22-",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T07:25:05",
"content": "i’ve looked at the code: at line 65 :0x80, // timestamp, not implementedmaybe it would be better if that was implemented. there would be less jitter at least. btw it’s quite weird to not know how to use a C array, copy paste16 timesthe same block of code, using low level bluetooth stuff, not implementing timestamps, and conclude that bluetooth sucks…i also prefer wired, but bluetooth is not that bad.",
"parent_id": "8136260",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136323",
"author": "rasz_pl",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T20:38:34",
"content": "Those $1 315/433 MHz transmitter/receiver pills would do the trick here. Afaik they are pure analog fsk meaning no delay, low bitrate should be a problem for a keyboard.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136874",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T13:53:24",
"content": "Talking about music creation, I find I’m bad at making beats, no idea why, when I see it it looks simple but when I try I am not very good at it and it surprises me.And using pre-made beats in music seems so fake. Even though most commercial popular music is obviously reusing the same beats over and over.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137444",
"author": "Slartibart",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T14:47:28",
"content": "Apparently, the obvious isn’t that obvious to everyone. Communicating by basically shouting into the ether at 2.4GHz is not a process renown for it’s latency consistency (which should be obvious for anyone who’s been in a room with more then 2 people having a conversation), in addition to it happening over a protocol with a fair amount of abstraction overhead and driver/OS complexity, so the fact that the author of this didn’t see this coming is a bit scary. This should be very intuitive.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,522.131203
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/07/printed-focus-control-for-pro-style-cinematography/
|
Printed Focus Control For Pro Style Cinematography
|
Jenny List
|
[
"digital cameras hacks"
] |
[
"3D printed parts",
"focus puller",
"stepper motor"
] |
When you watch a movie and see those perfect focus switches or zooms, the chances are you’re not seeing the result of the cameraman or focus operator manually moving the lens controls. Instead, they will have been planned and programmed in advance and executed by a motor. If you take a close look at many lenses you’ll see a ring that’s more than just extra knurling, it’s a gear wheel for this purpose. Want to experiment with this technique without buying professional grade accessories? [l0u0k0e] has you covered with
a 3D printable focus zoom motor accessory
.
The motor behind it all is a geared stepper motor, and there are a set of printed parts to complete the model. It’s recommended to use PETG, and nylon for the gears, but it would work in PLA with a shorter life. It’s designed to work with the standard 15 mm tube you’ll find on many camera rigs, and while you can write your own Arduino sketches to control it if you wish, we’re given instructions for hooking it up to existing focus drivers.
The model is on Printables
, should you wish to try.
This is by no means the first focus puller we’ve seen, in fact
you can even use LEGO.
| 14
| 7
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8136163",
"author": "Saren Tasciyan",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T08:20:08",
"content": "I wanted to do this not for focus but for Zoom. My lenses have motorized focus control, which is common. What is not so common is motorized zoom control. I guess, I can simply adapt this for that.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136205",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T12:16:24",
"content": "Cute thing to play with. It would be a much more useful tool (i.e., actuallyprogrammable) if it had a home or limit switch — a very easy thing to add though. The OP says this is a test system, so fair enough.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136207",
"author": "helge",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T12:38:19",
"content": "I don’t get what people have with these large spur gears when one can achieve far less stick-out using bevel gears and a pancake stepper motor underneath the lens, with a miniature bearing pushing up against he back side of the bevel gear collar and the ability to attach the motor plate to the tripod mount.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136387",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T01:35:19",
"content": "The published design uses bevel gears.",
"parent_id": "8136207",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136447",
"author": "helge",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T07:58:49",
"content": "Not as the ring gear around the lens",
"parent_id": "8136387",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136520",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T14:21:19",
"content": "Really not sure how bevel gears would be any advantage here. I have two professional versions that add less than 15 mm to one side of the 90 and 100 mm diameter lenses, and have no bevel gears… All three motor axes of each one are parallel to the lens axis. (The three motors control aperture, zoom, and focus).",
"parent_id": "8136447",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136550",
"author": "helge",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T16:23:22",
"content": "I thought that’d be self-explanatory. One can reduce the pressure angle below 20°, but the pressure line still won’t be tangential. So at least dynamically there will be a radial force component pushing a spur ring gear sideways. The switch from spur to bevel ring gears rotates the force direction by 70° to 90°, allowing the ring gear to be pinched between bevel pinion and a miniature ball bearing.Granted, this still requires the lens to counteract a tangential force vector, but you can 3D print the bevel gear variant and get away with a flimsy construction that could bend and let spur gears skip.",
"parent_id": "8136520",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136569",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T17:32:24",
"content": "First you state that bevel gears have the advantage of “far less stick-out”. Then when challenged with a commercial counterexample you pivot and say that actually the advantage is the pressure angle is in a different direction.",
"parent_id": "8136520",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136595",
"author": "helge",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T20:22:44",
"content": "Paul, you’re not challenging anything here. I knew right at “The published design uses bevel gears.” that you were going to be annoying, but I played along. Don’t like a comment, don’t engage with it. My proposed design still delivers lower stick-out if you leverage that, but you seemed not to get the kind of geometry that was implied.Goodbye.",
"parent_id": "8136520",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136227",
"author": "Dan",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T14:01:07",
"content": "It’s a canon lens, with its own focus motor – You can control the focus over USB…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136273",
"author": "Robert",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T17:20:29",
"content": "“PLA with a shorter life”…Honestly, I expect the only bit on this that really gets worn away at is the place where the input gear fits on the D shaft of the motor. Involute gear teeth are a rolling contact and don’t wear much, the housing shouldn’t be getting worn down at all… I suspect even from PLA this could last “forever” (excepting hot environments which would warp it) if you used a proper shaft coupling (of metal, either a flange or hub type which adapts from a D shaft to a 4 screw pattern or some means of clamping two metal plates either side of the D) instead of pushing a D shaped printed hole on to a D shaped shaft. You might also do better if you clamped a print on to the camera lens’ splined ring (splines aren’t always true involute teeth) and used the outside of that clamped together print as a gear tooth to mesh to your plastic gears rather than meshing printed gears directly to the camera’s (possibly not involute toothed) ring.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136289",
"author": "A",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T18:21:44",
"content": "Slight correction, when you watch a movie and see those perfect focus switches or zooms, the chances are you ARE wathcing a human at work! One with years of experience, and possibly a few practice tries, suggesting otherwise is doing them a great dis-service. There are some specialised applications where the movements are pre-programmed such as high speed, or precise matching of an already shot clip. The vast majority are pre-planned not pre-programmed.A lot of the time these days they will be using a remote focus unit not entirely dissimilar to what’s shown here, but very definitley under manual albeit wireless control. There are some systems that are getting used more and more which do offer automatic focus control, but they’re only just starting to be trusted for the most demanding of shots.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136324",
"author": "helge",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T20:41:56",
"content": "I’ll leave this The Marmalade behind-the-scenes clip here, with their “Spike” robot for slow-mo shots.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2CLQdCU7O0",
"parent_id": "8136289",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136892",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T14:29:28",
"content": "I was wondering why it has that rather large gear which makes the thing so bulky and then thought about how you design a reduction system without prior knowledge and in the end I’m left wondering if those AI systems could help with designing a gear system.I would think since it’s a tried and true straightforward thing an AI should be able to give various versions on request.(That is if you don’t want to order a pre-made package from China. Maybe you are ruled by a tariff-monkey or something and it’s not cost-effective.)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,522.184582
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/06/3d-pen-used-to-build-cleaning-robot-that-picks-up-socks/
|
3D Pen Used To Build Cleaning Robot That Picks Up Socks
|
Lewin Day
|
[
"Robots Hacks"
] |
[
"3D pen",
"robot",
"socks"
] |
Your average 3D printer is just a nozzle shooting out hot plastic while being moved around by a precise robotic mechanism. There’s nothing stopping you replacing the robot and moving around the plastic-squirting nozzle yourself.
That’s precisely what [3D Sanago] did to produce this cute little robot.
The beginning of the video sets the tone. “First we create the base that will become the robot vacuum’s body,” explains [3D Sanago]. “I quickly and precisely make a 15 x 15 cm square almost as if I were a 3D printer.” It’s tedious and tiring to move the 3D printing pen through the motions to build simple parts, but that’s the whole gimmick here. What’s wild is how good the results are. With the right post-processing techniques using an iron, [3D Sanago] is able to produce quite attractive plastic parts that almost justify the huge time investment.
The robot itself works in a fairly straightforward fashion. It’s got four gear motors driving four omniwheels, which let it pan around in all directions with ease. They’re under command of an Arduino Uno paired with a multi-channel motor driver board. The robot also has a servo-controlled arm for moving small objects. The robot lacks autonomy. Instead, [3D Sanago] gave it a wireless module so it could be commanded with a PS4 controller. Despite being referred to as a “robot vacuum,” it’s more of a general “cleaning robot” since it only has an arm to move objects, with no actual vacuum hardware. It’s prime use? Picking up socks.
We’ve seen [3D Sanago]’s fine work before, too
. Video after the break.
| 11
| 6
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8136148",
"author": "IIVQ",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T05:05:17",
"content": "Using this robot seems a lot slower than picking up the socks yourself, with your hands. Also a lot more fun!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136173",
"author": "Ewald",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T09:22:18",
"content": "Agreed, also a robot that lacks autonomy isn’t a robot at all in my dictionary ;)",
"parent_id": "8136148",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136334",
"author": "HaHa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T21:33:10",
"content": "Socks could be biohazards.",
"parent_id": "8136148",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136371",
"author": "echodelta",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T23:46:11",
"content": "Even easier to not drop any clothes on the floor, someone has to pick them up. The floor is not a place for clothes. Just bad habits and make-work.",
"parent_id": "8136148",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136169",
"author": "Menno",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T08:37:09",
"content": "This video is mostly a commercial for a robotic hoover.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136264",
"author": "jpa",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T16:34:27",
"content": "Looking at the thumbnail I also was amazed with the quality. But turns out the 3D pen is just used to make plastic sheets, which are then finished with various other tools.It’s a great prototyping method, but I would just buy PVC foam plastic sheet ready made – superglue sticks to it great and it is easy to cut.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137016",
"author": "CityZen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T19:07:20",
"content": "That’s fine if your name is “The PVC Foam Plastic Sheet Master”. But if your name is “The 3D Pen Master”, you know what you have to do.",
"parent_id": "8136264",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136531",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T15:20:11",
"content": "100% chance I’d burn myself if I were him.Not that I’d spend 2 hours with a 3D pen to make a sheet.But I do admire his skill in using that hot knife thingy though.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137019",
"author": "CityZen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T19:08:54",
"content": "The main issue with the design is the difficulty in opening the box again.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137540",
"author": "RunnerPack",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T18:49:36",
"content": "That fourth omni-wheel is superfluous. You only need three for 3-DoF (2D translation + yaw).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8137553",
"author": "CityZen",
"timestamp": "2025-06-10T19:22:59",
"content": "Yes, but doing math on an Arduino 8-bit isn’t fun.",
"parent_id": "8137540",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,371,522.232794
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/06/the-bellmac-32-cpu-what/
|
The Bellmac-32 CPU — What?
|
Al Williams
|
[
"Retrocomputing"
] |
[
"att",
"bell labs",
"bellmac-32"
] |
If you have never heard of the
Bellmac-32
, you aren’t alone. But it is a good bet that most, if not all, of the CPUs in your devices today use technology pioneered by this early 32-bit CPU. The chip was honored with the IEEE Milestone award, and [Willie Jones] explains why in a recent post in Spectrum.
The chip dates from the late 1970s. AT&T’s Bell Labs had a virtual monopoly on phones in the United States, but that was changing, and the government was pressing for divestiture. However, regulators finally allowed Bell to enter the computing market. There was only one problem: everyone else had a huge head start.
There was only one thing to do. There was no point in trying to catch the leaders. Bell decided to leap ahead of the pack. In a time when 8-bit processors were the norm and there were nascent 16-bit processors, they produced a 32-bit processor that ran at a — for the time — snappy 2 MHz.
At the time (1978), most chips used PMOS or NMOS transistors, but Bellmac-32 used CMOS and was made to host compiled C programs. Problems with CMOS were often addressed using dynamic logic, but Bell used a different technique,
domino logic
, to meet their goals.
Domino logic lets devices cascade like falling dominoes in between clock pulses. By 1980, the device reached 2 MHz, and a second generation could reach speeds of up to 9 MHz. For contrast, the Intel 8088 from 1981 ran at 4.77 MHz and handled, at most, half the data in a given time period as the Bellmac-32. Of course, the 68000 was out a year earlier, but you could argue it was a 16-bit CPU, despite some 32-bit features.
It is fun to imagine what life would be like today if we had fast 32-bit Unix machines widely available in the early 1980s. History has shown that many of Bellmac’s decisions were correct. CMOS was the future. Many of the design and testing techniques would go on to become standard operating procedure across the industry. But, as for the Bellmac-32, it didn’t really get the attention it deserved. It did go on in the AT&T 3B computers as the WE 32×00 family of CPUs.
You can check out a 1982 promo video about the CPU below, which also explains domino logic.
Instruction sets
have changed a bit since then. You can see a
68000 and 8086 face off
, and imagine how the Bellmac would have done in comparison.
| 34
| 10
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8136118",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T02:27:13",
"content": "That line about “we don’t have to, we’re the phone company” would make Microsoft look tame.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136120",
"author": "ziggurat29",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T02:33:56",
"content": "lol; “one ringy-dingy…”",
"parent_id": "8136118",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136215",
"author": "Antron Argaiv",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T13:23:48",
"content": "My first job, we had a Data General Eclipse-based Danray PBX. The guys who watched over it had a quirky sense of humor. Inside their office, above the door, where you normally wouldn’t see it, they had a bumper sticker, with the Bell logo, and “WE DON’T CARE WE DON’T HAVE TO”They helped me when I was doing a voice messaging system, by setting up and helping me to interface to, an E&M trunk. They also gave me my first copy of Notes on the Network. This was in the late 80s, so after breakup of the Bell System.",
"parent_id": "8136118",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136121",
"author": "ziggurat29",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T02:34:26",
"content": "you can tell it’s the 70’s by the ashtrays in the dev meeting",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136195",
"author": "CJay",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T11:11:25",
"content": "One of my jobs used to be to support the servers and storage arrays at a very big tobacco company’s UK offices, they were attaches to a distribution warehouse so the whole site was customs bonded and staff could buy tobacco products at cost (but couldn’t take them off site) and could smoke at their desks so every desk had an ashtray and the place absolutely stank of tobacco smoke.That was the case all the way up to July 2007",
"parent_id": "8136121",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136122",
"author": "Steve L.",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T02:37:45",
"content": "Funny, reading the post I thought this was an architecture that was never actually used, some kind of “might have been”. Then I Googled it and discover it was the processor used in the 3B2 line. I owned a couple in the mid 90’s, one bought from a BBS friend and another from a college junk sale. And as I recall, they were pretty common – I’d had the chance to buy a couple others but didn’t.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136161",
"author": "BT",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T06:58:17",
"content": "From the article above, “It did go on in the AT&T 3B computers as the WE 32×00 family of CPUs.”",
"parent_id": "8136122",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136165",
"author": "Julian Skidmore",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T08:26:08",
"content": "The M68000 is arguably a full 32-bit processor. The original CPU would have handled an OS and user applications up to 4GB if the address bus had been 32-bits instead of 24-bits. In fact it could have handled 8GB or more with a split user/supervisor space, thanks to the FC pins. Its only limitation for full 32-bit code is the 16-bit offsets, but that’s not so different to many early RISC processors and can be worked around (e.g. MOVE.L #offset,D7: MOVE.L 0(A0,D7.L),D0).Which brings us to ARM, which accomplished a comparable 32-bit processor in 1/6 of the number of transistors as the BellMac-32.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136217",
"author": "Antron Argaiv",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T13:25:47",
"content": "I did several designs with it. Internally, it looks very much like a PDP-11. I like its architecture much more than the x86. Intel won because they got there first, not because the architecture was the best.",
"parent_id": "8136165",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136456",
"author": "Julian Skidmore",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T08:40:51",
"content": "“Intel won because they got there first” I think that’s partly true. Pretty sure the 8086 wasn’t quite the first 16-bit microprocessor. The GI CP1600 beat it and it was very much like a pdp-11. The CP1600 might not have been the first either.In 1977 Intel were already having issues, because the 32-bit iAPX 432 (started in 1975) was soaking up resources and delivering little. But they had a customer who wanted a CPU with more than 128kB of address space, so as a stop-gap they implemented the 8086, but importantly made it assembly, upward compatible with the 8080.The 8086 gave Intel enormous leverage, because CP/M machines already dominated the business world so they might have won anyway. However, IBM’s choice of the 8086 pretty much sealed it, IMHO because “Nobody ever got fired for buying IBM.”",
"parent_id": "8136217",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136229",
"author": "Dave Haynie",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T14:13:38",
"content": "The bit depth of any CPU certainly depends on where you look. To a software engineer, the 68000 is 32-bit, no question, regardless of the address space supported. To a hardware engineer, it’s a 16-bit chip because it’s got a 16-bit data bus. To a chip engineer, it’s a 16-bit processor because it’s got 16-bit ALUs (three of them) and some 16-bit data paths, but also a 32-bit processor because it’s got 32-bit registers.",
"parent_id": "8136165",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136457",
"author": "Julian Skidmore",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T08:50:44",
"content": "In Computer architecture, the Bitty-ness of a computer is defined by the size of arithmetic and logic a CPU can handle in a single instruction.It’s not even really the internal size of the ALU. The Z80, an 8-bit CPU had a 4-bit ALU that was double-pumped to perform like an 8-bit ALU. The early Data General Nova minicomputers also had a 4-bit ALU, but were always (and correctly) called 16-bit computers, because the ALU iterated 4 times across a register to perform 16-bit arithmetic and logic operations (it could do a 16-bit AND operation; and 16-bit shifts/rotates).It’s honestly not the size of the data bus, because then the 80386sx would have been called a 16-bit processor, but it never was. The Pentium 1 would ben called a 64-bit processor, but it never was. The 8088 would have been called an 8-bit processor, but it never was.That term, I’m afraid is only ever used to refer to the data bus for marketing purposes.",
"parent_id": "8136229",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8137665",
"author": "Yaroslav Sterkhov",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T00:57:58",
"content": "16-bit bus also meant that 32-bit operation was slower than 16-bit. There were more weird things in it’s implementations",
"parent_id": "8136229",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136196",
"author": "CJay",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T11:12:42",
"content": "Anyone else thinking we need a VHDL core or complete emulator for it?:)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136209",
"author": "ziew",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T12:56:02",
"content": "For contrast, the Intel 8088 from 1981 ran at 4.77 MHz and handled, at most, half the data in a given time period as the Bellmac-32.The datasheet says 8088 could run at 5 MHz. It was IBM PC that ran at 4.77 MHz. Not that is changes much, though.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136236",
"author": "Maria",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T14:56:26",
"content": "With modern gaming lipid nitrogen cooling setup it’s probably possible to easily overclock 8088 to 4 GHz. As usual, only the heat is the limit and if you got lots of liquid flowing to CPU at -196°C then it can remove plenty of heat. I bet LTT could do it for a fun challenge.",
"parent_id": "8136209",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136244",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T15:30:18",
"content": "citation needed",
"parent_id": "8136236",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136321",
"author": "Maria",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T20:34:07",
"content": "Smith, David A.Overclocking: A Practical Guide. New York: Tech Press, 2015.Brey, Barry B.The Intel Microprocessors. 8th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, 2013.Hennessy, John L., and David A. Patterson.Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach. 5th ed. Cambridge, MA: Morgan Kaufmann, 2011.Baer, Jean-Loup.Microprocessor Architecture: From Simple Pipelines to Chip Multiprocessors. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010.“Overclocking a CPU to 7 GHz with the Science of Liquid Nitrogen.”PC Gamer, June 9, 2017.",
"parent_id": "8136244",
"depth": 4,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136450",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T08:28:27",
"content": "The one in the list that I could search for was absolutely not about a 8088Best I can find for the 8088 is around 12MHz, just a tad shy of 4GHz you might say.",
"parent_id": "8136321",
"depth": 5,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136249",
"author": "CJay",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T15:46:29",
"content": "Theres a lot more to CPU speed limits than just heat.",
"parent_id": "8136236",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136579",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T18:36:48",
"content": "The magic smoke is another.",
"parent_id": "8136249",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136723",
"author": "Davicious",
"timestamp": "2025-06-09T08:02:11",
"content": "I very much doubt the 8088 transistors could transition at 1000X the speed designed for, cold or not cold.I don’t even mention the signal propagation, degradation, interference, capacitive effects, interfacing with the rest of chips of the system for achieving some useful, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc…If you claim something like that in a technical website, or in a one doing thing “because we can”, better provide some evidence, don’t you think?",
"parent_id": "8136236",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8138849",
"author": "Jan Gergel",
"timestamp": "2025-06-14T22:49:43",
"content": "Let him be, he’s one of those blank pseudo tech channel (LTT) watchers, they’re all messed up.",
"parent_id": "8136723",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136285",
"author": "Andrew Weilert",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T18:02:22",
"content": "Hewlett-Packard developed and sold, in the HP9000 Series 500, a full 32-bit single chip CPU that hit the market in 1982 and ran 14MHz. It is generally acknowledged as the first commercial 32-bit microprocessor, the 68000 being 16-32, and Belmac not being a commercial offering. Based on the date on the video it may have been slightly earlier than Belmac as well.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136453",
"author": "Mark Geisert",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T08:32:16",
"content": "Pls ignore, fat finger mistake.",
"parent_id": "8136285",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136594",
"author": "NPHighview",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T20:07:13",
"content": "I once got a job offer from the HP division that developed the 9000/500, but turned it down to work at Bell Labs. During my HP interview, they asked “What five instructions does a RISC processor need, minimum?” I demonstrated that only four were needed – they loved that answer.Unfortunately, HP (as a superb engineering company) and Bell Labs are long gone. Both had a commitment to R&D unmatched in recent memory.",
"parent_id": "8136285",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136286",
"author": "drenehtsral",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T18:13:56",
"content": "In the late 90s a friend dumpster dived an AT&T 3B2-310 and gave it to me, correctly surmising that I’d enjoy playing around with an old System V server, and it was a fun machine to work with. Eventually its hard drive failed and though I managed to find a compatible replacement I found that one of the big stack of floppies for the OS install had developed some bad sectors sometime in the 14 years since they were last used so that was the end of that.Still, from playing with the compiler and assembler I can attest that its oddball CPU was closer to a modern 32-bit machine than anything else from that era =:-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136312",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T19:56:38",
"content": "From the linked article: “The 16-bit Intel 8088 processor inside IBM’s original PC released in 1981 ran at 4.77 MHz.”The 8088 could handle 16-Bit instructions, but was 8-Bit, just like IBM PC.It was the 8086 which was a real 16-Bit chip (16-Bit registers, ALU and address bus), with 20-Bit adress bus.The NEC PC-9801 from 1982 was a real 16-Bit system using it, for example.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136313",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T19:57:30",
"content": "*16-Bit data bus",
"parent_id": "8136312",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136458",
"author": "Julian Skidmore",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T08:53:12",
"content": "In Computer architecture, the Bitty-ness of a computer is defined by the size of arithmetic and logic a CPU can handle in a single instruction.It’s not even really the internal size of the ALU. The Z80, an 8-bit CPU had a 4-bit ALU that was double-pumped to perform like an 8-bit ALU. The early Data General Nova minicomputers also had a 4-bit ALU, but were always (and correctly) called 16-bit computers, because the ALU iterated 4 times across a register to perform 16-bit arithmetic and logic operations (it could do a 16-bit AND operation; and 16-bit shifts/rotates).It’s honestly not the size of the data bus, because then the 80386sx would have been called a 16-bit processor, but it never was. The Pentium 1 would ben called a 64-bit processor, but it never was. The 8088 would have been called an 8-bit processor, but it never was.That term, I’m afraid is only ever used to refer to the data bus for marketing purposes.",
"parent_id": "8136312",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136564",
"author": "Joshua",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T17:05:49",
"content": "No, it’s not that simple. Look what Dave Haynie wrote.The IBM PC was an 8-Bit design and the 8088 was an 8-Bit CPU from point of view of the support chips.",
"parent_id": "8136458",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136610",
"author": "Julian Skidmore",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T21:57:30",
"content": "I did, and corrected him earlier. I’ve given you a list of examples of computers and CPUs that would have had totally different designations if the bus width or internal chip design determined whether the processor was 4-bit/8-bit/16-bit or 32-bit.The interface logic for the original IBM PC wasn’t the same as for IBM’s 8085 based predecessor, because the CPU interface was nearly the same as for the 8086 apart from the data bus width and a couple of control pins. Namely, the meanings of the control pins worked the same way on the 8088 and 8086 and had the same pins. The only differences are that A0 is present on the 8088 and that D8..D15 aren’t shared with A8..A15 on the 8088 as they are with the 8086. IBM could not have taken their 8085 predecessor and substituted an 8088 to get an IBM PC; neither could they take an IBM PC and substitute an 8085 to get a working computer: the differences are more than just a data bus.However, you could take an 8086 and add a few latches to turn it into an 8088 and similarly, take an 8088; add some latches to turn it into a (slower) 8086.Other examples: the WDC65C816 is the 16-bit successor to the 6502, but it still only has an 8-bit data bus. It is a 16-bit CPU. The Sinclair QL was never described as an 8-bit computer even though it had a Motorola 68008 CPU (a 32-bit MC68000 with an 8-bit data bus).Honestly, it saves a lot of convoluted explanations for the Bitty-ness of a CPU if one just accepts it’s the natural size of data in a register, a Central Processing Unit can process in a single instruction.",
"parent_id": "8136564",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8137694",
"author": "Chris Maple",
"timestamp": "2025-06-11T03:26:03",
"content": "The Z80 has 16 bit add and subtract, with and without carry/borrow.",
"parent_id": "8136458",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8139025",
"author": "Bob Zeidman",
"timestamp": "2025-06-15T15:32:57",
"content": "I worked on this project as a summer student between Cornell undergrad and Stanford graduate school. I wrote the code for the “Graybox” that tested the microprocessor after manufacture.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,522.303027
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/06/freeze-drying-for-improved-metal-printing/
|
Freeze-drying For Improved Metal Printing
|
Aaron Beckendorf
|
[
"3d Printer hacks"
] |
[
"3d printed metal",
"3d printing metal",
"casting",
"metal 3d printer",
"sintering"
] |
For all the remarkable improvements we’ve seen in desktop 3D printers, metal printers have tended to stay out of reach for hackers, mostly because they usually rely on precise and expensive laser systems. This makes it all the more refreshing to see [Dan Gelbart]’s
demonstration
of Rapidia’s cast-to-sinter method, which goes from SLA prints to ceramic or metal models.
The process began by printing the model in resin, scaled up by 19% to account for shrinkage. [Dan] then used the resin print to make a mold out of silicone rubber, after first painting the model to keep chemicals from the resin from inhibiting the silicone’s polymerization. Once the silicone had set, he cut the original model out of the mold and prepared the mold for pouring. He made a slurry out of metal powder and a water-based binder and poured this into the mold, then froze the mold and its contents at -40 ℃. The resulting mixture of metal powder and ice forms a composite much stronger than pure ice, from which [Dan] was able to forcefully peel back the silicone mold without damaging the part. Next, the still-frozen part was freeze-dried for twenty hours, then finally treated in a vacuum sintering oven for twelve hours to make the final part. The video below the break shows the process.
A significant advantage of this method is that it can produce parts with much higher resolution and better surface finish than other methods. The silicone mold is precise enough that the final print’s quality is mostly determined by the fineness of the metal powder used, and it’s easy to reach micron-scale resolution. The most expensive part of the process is the vacuum sintering furnace, but [Dan] notes that if you only want ceramic and not metal parts, a much cheaper ceramic sintering oven will work better.
We’ve seen
sintering-based
metal printers
a few times
before, as well
a few
more
esoteric methods
. We’ve also covered a few of [Dan]’s previous videos on
mechanical prototyping methods
and building a
precision CNC lathe
.
Thanks to [Eric R Mockler] for the tip!
| 12
| 5
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8136095",
"author": "localroger",
"timestamp": "2025-06-06T23:22:36",
"content": "It’s kind of strange to see “19% shrinkage” and “precision” in the same description.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136106",
"author": "scott_tx",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T00:35:02",
"content": "It’s a precise shrinkage. I suspect if you do it you go through some kind of calibration steps to find your material specs. tl;dr",
"parent_id": "8136095",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136109",
"author": "dex drako",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T01:15:10",
"content": "you’d be amazed.I’ve seen what you can do with just the precious metal clays can do. even finger prints will be perfectly persevered after a firing",
"parent_id": "8136095",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136125",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T02:51:33",
"content": "If it’s a consistent effect, precision is possible**Excluding certain edge cases and other pains in the ass",
"parent_id": "8136095",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136157",
"author": "Dan",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T06:28:39",
"content": "And then the claim of micron-level accuracy. Which seems unlikely given the use of a silicone mold.",
"parent_id": "8136095",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136235",
"author": "Joel",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T14:50:03",
"content": "People make holographic chocolate and Gecko tape nano-structures with normal casting silicone. Perhaps you are conflating surface roughness with flatness and parallel tolerances.Dan Gelbart teaches one a lot about building things in his videos, but Metrology is something that takes some study to understand what he is saying.One should try to understand before asserting nonsense, but please do remain skeptical while you learn. Have a wonderful day =)",
"parent_id": "8136157",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136245",
"author": "der_schopi",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T15:30:51",
"content": "No claim of micron-level accuracy. Micron-level resolution. I might be wrong, but resolution != accuracy ?",
"parent_id": "8136157",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136097",
"author": "Ostracus",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T00:06:43",
"content": "Xerox might have an idea.https://www.engineering.com/one-drop-at-a-time-xerox-3d-prints-with-liquid-metal/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136126",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T02:58:23",
"content": "Casting is fun. I would love to go to some workshop and learn all the tricks from an actual metallurgist with experience and training, instead of flailing around amateurishly in a garage with a foundry made from a BBQ propane tank, plus another BBQ tank sawed in half and lined with refractory… occasionally blowing out chips from the concrete floor. Bonus points if the workshop includes lost PLA casting.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136291",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T18:31:43",
"content": "Any reason it has to be a vacuum oven and not just an inert atmosphere?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8136451",
"author": "pelrun",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T08:30:44",
"content": "Because it’s not just about protecting the metal from oxidation, the green part has binder and atmospheric gases throughout the material that need to be pulled out for the highest quality result.",
"parent_id": "8136291",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136533",
"author": "Aknup",
"timestamp": "2025-06-08T15:23:44",
"content": "-40 ℃ eh, good thing we have those covid jab freezers on sale!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,522.348078
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/06/a-flip-clock-becomes-a-flip-timer/
|
A Flip Clock Becomes A Flip Timer
|
Navarre Bartz
|
[
"clock hacks"
] |
[
"clock",
"dina Amin",
"flip clock",
"simone giertz"
] |
Sometimes it’s nice to have a widget to do a single task and avoid getting distracted by the supposed simplicity of doing it with an app on a smartphone. [Dina Amin] built a
timer from an old flip clock
to stay focused.
Starting with a disassembly of the flip clocks she found at a flea market with [Simone Giertz], [Amin] decided to change the twenty four hour mechanism to a twenty four minute one which was similar to the amount of time she was already using for several different practices. Since she’s an expert in animation, she planned on turning a set of CT scans into the animation that would play on the section that had previously been the minutes of the clock.
As much of the original clock’s components were damaged, and [Amin] didn’t have a chance to learn clockmaking from scratch in a week, she tried a few different drive mechanisms for the build. The drum from an air fryer timer driven with an electric motor fit the bill, but off enough from proper minutes that [Amin] switched from numerals to a yellow circle that fills in as it approaches the satisfying ding of completion.
If you want to see
Simone’s Moon flip clock
we’ve covered that project too.
| 3
| 3
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8136145",
"author": "Joshua Williams",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T04:25:47",
"content": "This is fantastic, I love seeing other people’s bins of harvested electronics and the creative reuse of otherwise ‘dead’ objects. Thanks for sharing this!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136162",
"author": "johnny",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T07:21:47",
"content": "Really like the approach of reusing old stuff instead of producing even more waste.Interesting watch and nice project!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8152153",
"author": "Yuxiang Zhu",
"timestamp": "2025-07-21T05:41:46",
"content": "there are websites that can turn an old phone into a flip clock for free.http://www.claritydeck.app/flip-clockis one of them",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,522.38969
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/05/a-flashlight-of-fire-and-ice/
|
A Flashlight Of Fire And Ice
|
Al Williams
|
[
"Science"
] |
[
"peltier module",
"SeeBeck Effect",
"thermocouple"
] |
[Daniel Salião Ferreira] may or may not be a Game of Thrones fan, but he does have a fun demo of the Seebeck effect in the form of a
flashlight powered by fire and ice
. The basic idea is to use a thermocouple, but — in this case — he uses a Peltier effect cooler.
The Peltier and Seebeck effects are two sides of the same coin: the Peltier effect creates heating and cooling when current flows through a thermoelectric material. In contrast, the Seebeck effect generates a voltage when there is a temperature gradient. While thermocouples do produce voltage this way, they usually have much lower power output and are useless as heat pumps.
Thermoelectric heat pumps — Peltier devices — use semiconductors, which allow them to reach higher temperature differences when used as a heat pump, and also perform better than a conventional metal thermocouple in reverse operation.
Generating power from
waste heat is nothing new
. Is it harder to do this with thermocouples?
Yes
. Yes, it is.
| 15
| 6
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8135839",
"author": "Eric",
"timestamp": "2025-06-06T02:32:10",
"content": "are useless as heat pumpsAll those $20 mini fridge seems to be selling very well",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8135850",
"author": "Marty",
"timestamp": "2025-06-06T03:47:56",
"content": "Because they dont know it will cost them more in electric bills.",
"parent_id": "8135839",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8135856",
"author": "echodelta",
"timestamp": "2025-06-06T04:12:25",
"content": "But they do it where compressors full of propane can’t go. Yeah, they allow propane in little fridges now. Still better than DuPont’s evil.",
"parent_id": "8135850",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8135863",
"author": "PPJ",
"timestamp": "2025-06-06T04:57:06",
"content": "Technology connection has nice video about why those pumps suck :)https://youtube.com/watch?v=CnMRePtHMZY&feature=shared",
"parent_id": "8135839",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8135978",
"author": "Miles",
"timestamp": "2025-06-06T14:02:53",
"content": "I had to re-read the article. Apparently a thermocouple is not a Peltier, and all the solid state mini fridges I’ve ever seen use a pelter.",
"parent_id": "8135839",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8135999",
"author": "Al Williams",
"timestamp": "2025-06-06T15:41:03",
"content": "‘couples are made with wires. Petier devices are sort of thermocouples made with semiconductors. So yeah, they work OK-ish for the car fridges. But a iron thermocouple, not so much ;-)",
"parent_id": "8135978",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136062",
"author": "threeve",
"timestamp": "2025-06-06T20:25:24",
"content": "they sell because they say ‘fridge’, not because they work",
"parent_id": "8135839",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8135864",
"author": "echodelta",
"timestamp": "2025-06-06T05:01:33",
"content": "The waves of energy are complex in the sheet, it don’t matter how you drive it. The suspensions should be longer. I really enjoyed the Moody’s reference, Darth’s voice wouldn’t do. MEMS mics would be most up to date. Those solid state pickups have two sides neither are ground, a little epoxy would insulate it balanced out. Ground the sheet! I’d use tiny electret mics in the contact mode myself though, yeah two. Mono is so regressive, my surround sound didn’t register any space at all. There are mass drivers “my china cabinet makes beautiful sound”, TV ad for such decades ago. Search invisible speakers.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8135953",
"author": "Cheese Whiz",
"timestamp": "2025-06-06T10:40:12",
"content": "Huh???Okay, I think this comment was meant for the previous article, otherwise I am totally lost.",
"parent_id": "8135864",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8135990",
"author": "Brian",
"timestamp": "2025-06-06T14:52:06",
"content": "Looks like some AI gibberish, or poorly translated Chinese.",
"parent_id": "8135953",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136015",
"author": "Thinkerer",
"timestamp": "2025-06-06T17:01:38",
"content": "Is this the HAD equivalent of a numbers station radio message?",
"parent_id": "8135864",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8136017",
"author": "Thinkerer",
"timestamp": "2025-06-06T17:03:48",
"content": "If you search for a “Luminizer” lantern, these are Seebeck LED lanterns powered by a candle/oil-lamp flame and are available for ~US$20 or so. Good for classroom demonstrations (and late-night picnics).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136061",
"author": "threeve",
"timestamp": "2025-06-06T20:24:53",
"content": "insert candlepower joke here",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136070",
"author": "asheets",
"timestamp": "2025-06-06T20:53:17",
"content": "https://www.christopherrandallnicholson.com/uploads/4/9/4/8/49486603/1993-10-10-dilbert-dogbert-man-parking-lot-car_orig.gif",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136176",
"author": "spies",
"timestamp": "2025-06-07T09:24:19",
"content": "Have a look at US Patent Application US 2023/0029346 A1",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,522.440154
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/05/building-an-analog-echo-plate/
|
Building An Analog Echo Plate
|
Lewin Day
|
[
"Musical Hacks"
] |
[
"audio",
"plate reverb",
"reverb",
"reverb plate"
] |
These days, when you think reverb, you probably think about a guitar pedal or a plugin in your audio software. But you can also create reverb with a big metal plate and the right supporting electronics.
[Tully] from [The Tul Studio] shows us how.
Basically, if you’ve ever smacked a big sheet of metal and heard the thunderous, rippling sound it makes, you already understand the concept here. To turn it into a studio effect, you use transducers to deliver the sound into the plate of metal, and then microphones to pick it back up again at some other point on the plate. Since the sound takes time to travel through the plate, you get a reverb effect.
[The Tul Studio] used a huge cold-rolled steel plate, standing one meter wide and two meters tall. The plate itself is hung from picture chain, which is strong enough to carry its weight. Old car tweeters are repurposed to act as pickups, while a larger speaker is used to drive sound into the plate. “The key to making it sound not like a tin can is the actual EQ and the electronics,” [Tully] explains, providing resources for this purposes.
We love lots of
lovely reverbing things
around these parts;
oddball delays, too
! Video after the break.
| 7
| 4
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8135789",
"author": "Rune",
"timestamp": "2025-06-05T23:15:54",
"content": "A digital echo plate would be more impressive",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8135792",
"author": "SteveS",
"timestamp": "2025-06-05T23:24:12",
"content": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delay-line_memory",
"parent_id": "8135789",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136044",
"author": "TG",
"timestamp": "2025-06-06T19:25:21",
"content": "So like running an FEA simulation of the metal sheet under stress and converting that to audio somehow… Would probably be interesting at least",
"parent_id": "8135789",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8135847",
"author": "Isaac Wingfield",
"timestamp": "2025-06-06T03:28:58",
"content": "Always thought a sheet reverb would sound better if the sound were launched and picked up in the plane of the sheet rather than perpendicular to it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8135935",
"author": "metalman",
"timestamp": "2025-06-06T09:10:23",
"content": "do both, the edge is going to filter out low freqencys from a driver, but could be better for a pickup, though the required hardware to mount a driver on the edge could also work as a dampner…..but once you have a chunk of plate suspended, the rest is easy enough to.play withtraditional plate reverbs have the ability to move drivers and pickups, so there is plenty to options, what could be interesting would be to hang the plate in a trough, that could be filled with water…..",
"parent_id": "8135847",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "8135996",
"author": "KenN",
"timestamp": "2025-06-06T15:26:37",
"content": "The hot-gluing a bolt to a speaker to make the driver – that was novel! Some sort of epoxy or casting resin would probably work also.In my working life, I had the privilege of maintaining a couple of EMT reverb plates. They had a similar-sized plate, but instead of just hanging, it was in a rigid steel frame, with tensioning clips all around. We used to joke that the tensioning instructions were: tighten a clip till it fractures, then back off a half-turn. High tension was important; it gave the plate that lovely high-end sheen.The EMT also had a motorized “damper” which was a rigid wood sheet almost the size of the plate, which was on a sort of motor-driven pantograph that would move it closer to or further from the steel plate.I recall an article 20+ years ago for a tensioned DIY plate similar to the EMT; the following link is close to those instructions, though the images currently seem missing:https://www.prosoundweb.com/how-to-build-your-own-plate-reverb-a-concise-step-by-step-process/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "8136006",
"author": "echodelta",
"timestamp": "2025-06-06T16:09:35",
"content": "Came home and posted after watching the Pacers win, oops.The waves of energy are complex in the sheet, it don’t matter how you drive it. The suspensions should be longer. I really enjoyed the Moody’s reference, Darth’s voice wouldn’t do. MEMS mics would be most up to date. Those solid state pickups have two sides neither are ground, a little epoxy would insulate it go balanced out. Ground the sheet! I’d use tiny electret mics in the contact mode myself though, yeah two. Mono is so regressive, my surround sound didn’t register any space at all. There are mass drivers “my china cabinet makes beautiful sound”, TV ad for such decades ago. Search invisible speakers.Sorry for the double post.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,522.529095
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2025/06/05/turning-the-pluto-sdr-into-a-network-analyzer/
|
Turning The Pluto SDR Into A Network Analyzer
|
Aaron Beckendorf
|
[
"Radio Hacks"
] |
[
"Network analyzer",
"pluto sdr",
"software defined"
] |
Usually when we see a project using a software-defined radio (SDR), the SDR’s inputs and outputs are connected to antennae, but [FromConceptToCircuit]’s project connected an ADALM-Pluto SDR to an RF bridge and a few passive components to make a surprisingly effective
network analyzer
(
part two
of the video).
The network analyzer measures two properties of the circuit to which it is connected: return loss (S11) and insertion gain or loss (S21). To measure S21, the SDR feeds a series of tones to the device under test, and reads the device’s output from one of the SDR’s inputs. By comparing the amplitude of the input to the device’s output, a Python program can calculate S21 over the range of tested frequencies. To find S11, [FromConceptToCircuit] put an RF bridge in line with the device being tested and connected the bridge’s output to the SDR’s second input. This allowed the program to calculate the device’s impedance, and from that S11.
The RF bridge and other components introduce some inaccuracies to the measurements, so before making any other measurements, the system is calibrated with both a through connection and an open circuit in place of the tested device. The RF bridge’s directivity was the biggest limiting factor; transfer back from the bridge’s output line caused the reflection under load to exceed the reflection of an open circuit in some frequency ranges, at which point the analyzer couldn’t accurately operate.
[FromConceptToCircuit] was eventually able to make measurements throughout most of the 0.1-3 GHz range with a dynamic range of at least 10 dB, and expects a more directive RF bridge to give even better results. If you’d like to repeat the experiment, he’s made his Python program available
on GitHub
.
We’ve previously seen [FromConceptToCircuit] use the Pluto SDR to make
a spectrum analyzer
. We’ve also featured a
guide to the Pluto
, covered a project that improved its
frequency stability
, and seen it used to
transmit video
.
| 1
| 1
|
[
{
"comment_id": "8135952",
"author": "Artur",
"timestamp": "2025-06-06T10:38:44",
"content": "This is scalar analyser.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,371,522.590255
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.