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HackMakeMod

@hackmakemod

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I built this robotic arm to explain how servos work… then everyone started asking me to turn it into a kit.

So I went back and fixed everything I didn’t like about the original. Stronger joints, smoother movement, exposed gearing, better controls, and of course… I completely over-engineered the electronics.

The new ClawBot can be controlled manually, programmed with keyframes, and play those movements back automatically.

Also, quick shoutout to Bambu Lab. I print almost everything I build on their printers. Their quality and speed is unmatched!

ClawBot kits are finally on our store... Link in Bio
#BambuLab #Robotics #RoboticArm #ServoMotor #Mechatronics by @hackmakemod

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a month ago

For the past couple of years, I’ve been asking one question: how will AI change the electronics hobby?

Axiometa’s London hackathon gave me a pretty convincing answer.

More than 100 builders, mostly software developers, used Genesis hardware and Axiometa Studio to turn ideas into working physical prototypes. Projects included environmental music generation, medical positioning tools, and even a guidance device for people who are both blind and deaf.

The takeaway was pretty clear… AI isn’t making hardware knowledge irrelevant. It’s removing enough friction to help people start building before they’ve mastered every layer.

That’s exactly what Bambu Lab did for 3D printing, and I think we’re about to see the same thing happen with electronics.

Huge thanks to Unicorn Mafia, Anthropic, Bambu Lab, ElevenLabs, and everyone who made the event possible.

Special Note: Bambu Lab sent us 15 P2S Printers!!! That was a huge help!!

Now we want to bring an Axiometa hackathon to the U.S.

What city should we hit first?  #bambulab #anthropic #axiometa #hackathon #london by @hackmakemod

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2 months ago

I built a garage parking sensor. Normally this is a breadboard-and-raw-components job, but this was the perfect excuse to build it with the Genesis Mini instead.

The whole thing runs on three modules: a Time of Flight distance sensor, a 5x5 addressable LED matrix for an indicator you can read straight through the backup camera, and a button for programming the stop distance. Park where you want to stop, hold the button to lock it in, and the matrix flashes blue as you approach and goes solid red when you’re in the spot. It even sleeps after 20 seconds of stillness so it’s not blaring across the garage all night.

My truck is stainless steel, and I was sure the reflective surface would wreck the distance readings. It worked better than expected... which is exactly why I test instead of trusting a datasheet.

Modules used:
Time of Flight distance sensor
5x5 addressable LED matrix
LED tactile button

Built with Axiometa Genesis Mini (ESP32-S3)
#HackMakeMod #Maker #ESP32 #Arduino #DIYElectronics Axiometa GenesisMini by @hackmakemod

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4 months ago

Ever wondered what’s actually happening inside that clicky knob on your car stereo? It’s a rotary encoder!.. and it’s one of the most useful little components in electronics.

In this video, we crack one open and show you how it works. You’ll learn the key difference between an encoder and a potentiometer, what’s spinning around inside, and the clever offset trick that lets your microcontroller figure out which direction you’re turning the knob and count every single step along the way.

#RotaryEncoder #Electronics #Arduino #Microcontroller #DIYElectronics MakerCommunity ElectronicsExplained EmbeddedSystems potentiometer by @hackmakemod

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4 months ago

Link in Bio
Axiometa Genesis Mini is one of the most interesting electronics platforms I’ve touched in years!

The Axiometa Genesis Mini is a modular ESP32 system that lets you go from idea to working project in minutes… no breadboards, no wiring mess. Just plug in modules, describe what you want, and Axie AI builds it. Free VIBE CODING!!

But the real story isn’t the hardware… it’s Axiometa Studio AI code generator.

You type what you want… Axie AI writes the code… and you still get full access to everything. You can read it, change it, break it, fix it. It’s fast, but not a black box. That combination is rare.

I liked this so much I invested in the company because Paul and his team actually remove the friction that stops most people from getting started in DIY electronics.

#ESP32 #ESP32Projects #Electronics #DIYElectronics #AICoding by @hackmakemod

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5 months ago

This little circuit solves a common problem in battery powered projects… how do you power something on with a button, but let the microcontroller shut itself off later?

The button wakes the system up. Once the microcontroller boots, it latches its own power on using an opto-isolator and a transistor. After a period of inactivity, the firmware releases the latch and the circuit cuts power completely.

The opto-isolator keeps the control side electrically isolated, which means the device draws essentially zero current when it’s off.

Simple parts… clever behavior… and a really useful trick for battery powered builds.

#electronics
#circuitdesign
#embedded
#microcontroller
#lowpowerdesign
batteryprojects
hardwaredesign
makercommunity
electronicsengineering
engineeringlife by @hackmakemod

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7 months ago

Full project + kit link in bio.

Space Drop is a handheld video game you build yourself. In this video I walk through why each design decision was made, and show how the auto-off power circuit lets the game turn on instantly and draw zero current when it’s off.

This isn’t just a soldering project. It’s a small, complete device with a display, controls, sound, and a power system designed to behave exactly the way a handheld game should. Press the button and play. Stop playing and it shuts itself down. Pull it off a shelf months later and it still works.

If you want to follow along, you can build it on a breadboard using common parts or grab the full kit.

#electronics #diyelectronics #soldering #maker by @hackmakemod

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8 months ago

I built an ESP32-powered parts counter for $34 using computer vision!

Using a LilyGo T-Camera Plus S3 and blob detection algorithms, I created a completely self-contained parts counter that requires no laptop or external processing. The secret? Classic connected-component labeling from the 1960s running under 900 lines of code.

In this video:
1. How blob counting works (binary conversion, flood-fill, and size filtering)
2. Why backlighting beats ring lights and single-source lighting
3. The three critical tuning parameters: Threshold, Min Size, and Max Size
4. Why this approach is better than machine learning for this application
5. A real-world speed test you won’t want to miss

The system uses a custom 3D-printed backlit counting tray and camera mount to ensure consistent, crisp silhouettes. The built-in screen can cycle between live camera feed, blob mask view, and final count - perfect for instant troubleshooting.

This project is completely independent - no sponsors, just sharing what works.

Free 3D files and full code available at: HackMakeMod.com
The code should work with most ESP32 camera boards. If you want to improve on this design or adapt it for your own workshop, grab the files and let me know what you build!

#esp32
#esp32s3
#computerVision
#imageprocessing
#embeddedengineering
hardwarehacking
diyelectronics
3dprinting
opensourcehardware
makercommunity by @hackmakemod

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9 months ago

The MAX98357 is the easiest way to add real audio to your microcontroller projects. This tiny I2S amplifier module takes digital audio straight from an ESP32, Raspberry Pi, or any microcontroller with I2S support and drives a speaker directly. No analog audio lines, no noise, no separate amp needed. I bought mine on Amazon.

PINOUT
VIN - Voltage In (2.5V - 5.5V)
GND - Ground
BCLK - Bit ClockTiming
LRC - Left/Right Clock (Indicates left or right channel data)
DIN - Data In
GAIN - Gain (3dB, 6dB, 9dB, 12dB, or 15dB)
SD - Shutdown/ModeShutdown control and channel selection
+/−Speaker Output - Connect directly to 4Ω, 6Ω or 8Ω speaker

SPECIFICATIONS
Output Power (4Ω @ 5V)3.2W
Output Power (8Ω @ 5V)1.8W
Amplifier Type - Class D DAC ResolutionUp to 32-bit
Sample Rates - 8kHz - 96kHzTHD+N0.013% @ 1kHz
Dynamic Range - 105dB
Efficiency - 92%PSRR77dB @ 1kHz
Output Noise - 22.8μVRMS
Frequency Response ±0.2dB

#ESP32
#RaspberryPi
#Arduino
#Electronics
#microcontroller by @hackmakemod

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9 months ago

A battery stores energy through a chemical reaction that releases electrons as the chemicals internally convert from one state to another. This process limits how fast a battery can safely deliver current and why it provides steady power over a long period. A capacitor stores energy in an electric field created by separating charges on two plates, with no chemical reaction involved. Because the plates are separated by an insulator and the energy is held purely in that electric field, a capacitor can charge and discharge far faster than any battery, but it holds much less total energy. Batteries excel at long duration power, while capacitors excel at rapid bursts of current.
#ElectronicsBasics
#BatteryVsCapacitor
#STEMEducation
#MakersGonnaMake
#ElectricalEngineering
#LearnElectronics
#TechExplained
#EngineeringLife
#MakersMovement
#FutureEngineers
#DIYTech
#TechLearning
#HowItWorks
#Capacitors
#Batteries by @hackmakemod

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a year ago

6k

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a year ago

I built a touchscreen escape room lockbox for under $30 using the infamous Cheap Yellow Display (CYD). This quirky little ESP32 board isn’t well documented and comes with plenty of flaws… but it’s cheap, flexible, and perfect for DIY puzzle projects. In this build, I turned the touchscreen into a keypad that controls a solenoid lock, added sound feedback, and even built a web interface for remote control and logging.

This project shows how to squeeze maximum value out of low-cost hardware while leaving plenty of room for future puzzle ideas. Whether you’re into escape rooms, Arduino projects, or just love making cool electronics on a budget, this one’s for you.

#EscapeRoomDIY
#DIYEscapeRoom
#PuzzleBox
#EscapeRoomProps
#Lockbox
#ArduinoProjects
#ESP32
#CheapYellowDisplay
#DIYElectronics
#ElectronicsProjects
#Microcontrollers
#MakersGonnaMake
#HackMakeMod
#MakerCommunity
#MakersOfInstagram
#TechOnABudget
#LowCostDIY
#DIYProjects
#Instructables
#MakerMovement
#Hackaday
#GeekProjects
#STEMProjects
#OpenSourceHardware by @hackmakemod

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a year ago