Articles · Topic
Tools and safety
Multimeters, soldering irons, power supplies and safe habits on the bench.
7 articles
Your first PCB for an ESP32 toy with KiCad 10
Breadboard to PCB with KiCad 10: place an ESP32-S3 module so the antenna works, size power traces, set rules graphically, use variants for two builds.
5 min readOpenSCAD with Manifold: how much faster parametric toys really render
Manifold, OpenSCAD's new geometry engine, renders far faster, but most speed-up figures come from users. What is confirmed, what is anecdotal, how to measure.
5 min readSimulate ESP32 circuits in the browser with Wokwi before you wire
Try ESP32 code and circuits in Wokwi before touching a jumper wire: what each chip supports, simulated Wi-Fi, a logic analyser for signals, and running it from VS Code.
5 min readMultimeter basics: voltage, continuity, resistance and current, safely
Multimeter basics for ESP32 and low-voltage builds: voltage, continuity, resistance, current in series without blowing the fuse, and checking USB cables and batteries.
7 min readCAD for 3D printing: Tinkercad, Fusion, Onshape, FreeCAD, OpenSCAD, Blender
Six programs makers actually use, what each is good at, parametric CAD vs mesh modelling, and the free-plan terms to read before you sell anything you design.
5 min readSoldering basics: iron temperature, flux, tinning and good vs cold joints
Iron temperatures for leaded and lead-free solder, what flux does, tinning the tip, one joint step by step, good vs cold joints, and staying safe from fumes and lead.
6 min readSTL vs 3MF vs STEP vs OBJ: which file to send to the slicer
STL is unitless triangles, 3MF adds units, colours and settings, STEP keeps editable true curves, OBJ comes from graphics. Plus export settings that keep holes round.
5 min read