High-performance 3-axis stepper motor controller Curious Scientist 2026-09-19 | High-performance 3-axis stepper motor controller
Vertical conversion of my focus stacking rig Curious Scientist 2023-04-11 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140In this video, I show you the little converter kit I designed to use my focus stacking rig in a vertical alignment. Since some viewers also asked about the load-bearing capacity of the rig, I tested it. The maximum load I put on the rig was 3119 grams and it was still able to maintain the 10 micrometres step side when I stepped the camera upwards. Please visit my blog for more info:https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/vertical-attachment-for-the-focus-stacking-railVisit my PCBWay project pages:pcbway.com/project/member/?bmbno=AD5FE3F2-BC0A-4APlease consider supporting me on Patreon:patreon.com/curiousscientist
Building a full-frame digital camera from scratch - Part 2 Curious Scientist 2023-03-27 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140In this video, I continue working on the full-frame digital scanner camera project. I did several changes (and hopefully improvements) to the device, so I decided to make an update-video about it. I replaced the scanner mechanism with a "more mobile" one. I ditched the miniature linear bearing and decided to make a sliding rail mechanism similar to the mechanism I built for my focus stacking rig. I also added limit switches to both ends of the rail so the device knows the start and end points of the scanning. Finally, I improved the PC software that captures the data from the CCD. Now, I can see the image in real time while it is being scanned. The next steps will be to add an SD card module, a display, a few buttons and a battery so the camera will become portable. Part 1: youtu.be/leEdv84zL-cPlease consider becoming my supporter on Patreon: patreon.com/curiousscientistCheck my website for more information on this project:https://www.curiousscientist.tech/blog/full-frame-digital-camera-from-scratch-part-2Get the miniature TCD1304 PCB from PCBWay directly: pcbway.com/project/shareproject/TCD1304_miniature_PCB_5ede2c9f.htmlIf you want to support my work, please consider buying the parts using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
Building a Peltier cooler-based cloud chamber - A simple construction from a scientist Curious Scientist 2023-03-01 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140In this video, I show you how to build a simple, Peltier cooler-based cloud chamber to show the presence of ionizing particles. I specifically address the most important part of the chamber, which is the cooler because many people seem to misunderstand how to use Peltier coolers. Visit my website for more details and the 3d-printable files:https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/peltier-cooler-based-cloud-chamberBecome my supporter on Patreon:patreon.com/curiousscientistFind the relevant parts and tools on my website:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
Focus stacking system for macro photography - Assembly and tutorial Curious Scientist 2023-02-20 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140In this video, I show you step-by-step how I built the mechanism and how you can assemble everything. PCB Project page: pcbway.com/project/shareproject/Focus_Stacking_Circuit_543468ac.htmlArticle - Part 1: https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/precise-focus-stacking-device-for-macro-photographyArticle - Part 2: https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/precise-focus-stacking-device-for-macro-photography-part-2Mechanism project page:pcbway.com/project/shareproject/Focus_Stacking_Mechanism_0414d38f.htmlArticle: https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/precise-focus-stacking-system-stepping-mechanismPlease consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/curiousscientistAll relevant components can be found on my website: https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
DWIN Display Tutorials #4 - Dial indicators as input or output controls Curious Scientist 2023-02-10 | In this video, I show you how to configure your DWIN display to display data on a dial indicator or use them as a knob for inputting values. I also show you how to set up a simple Arduino code to send and receive the values using these indicators through the serial port. These dial indicators can display values in a nice, easy-to-read way. Check my website for more details:https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/dwin-displays-dial-indicators-and-knobsPlease consider supporting me on Patreon:patreon.com/curiousscientistGet the display used in this demo using my affiliate link:https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DlvhzpZ
DWIN Display Tutorials #3 - Simple weather station project Curious Scientist 2023-02-01 | In this video, I show you how to set up DWIN displays as a simple weather station. I used some sensors to gather temperature, humidity, pressure, CO2 concentration and dust density and wrote a simple Arduino code to send these parameters to the display. Check my website for more details:https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/dwin-displays-simple-weather-station-projectPlease consider supporting me on Patreon:patreon.com/curiousscientistGet the display used in this demo using my affiliate link:https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DlvhzpZ
Precise focus stacking system - Custom designed rig and software updates Curious Scientist 2023-01-29 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140In this video, I show you some updates on my focus stacking rig. After my first video, I kept working on the project because I wanted to improve several things. Both on the software and the hardware side. I designed my own rig based on some off-the-shelf components as well as 3d-printed parts. I also changed a few things in the Arduino code and added some extras to make the program more flexible and user-friendly. Check out Allan's youtube channel if you want to become a macro expert:@AllanWallsPhotography If you want to buy the PCB, visit my project page on PCBWay's website:pcbway.com/project/shareproject/Focus_Stacking_Circuit_543468ac.htmlSupport me on Patreon and you get the source code:patreon.com/curiousscientistRead the article on my website:https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/precise-focus-stacking-device-for-macro-photography-part-2Buy the relevant parts and components using my affiliate link:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
DWIN Display Tutorials #0 - Setting up and configuring the display Curious Scientist 2023-01-28 | In this video, I show you how to set up DWIN displays for a basic operation. I created this video and article mainly because I don’t want to explain the same things at the beginning of all of my videos in the DWIN Display Tutorial video series. After watching this video and understanding its contents, you will be able to create and upload content to your DWIN displays. Check my website for more details:https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/dwin-displays-setting-up-the-displayPlease consider supporting me on Patreon:patreon.com/curiousscientist
DWIN Display Tutorials #2 - Transmitting float and int numbers between the display and an Arduino Curious Scientist 2023-01-26 | In this video, I continue my series on the DWIN displays. I already published a video on these displays, but that video was more of a general introduction and overview. Here, we go deeper and I show you how to work with these displays in a detailed way. If you like the content, please consider becoming my supporter on Patreon:patreon.com/curiousscientistDon't forget to visit my website where I posted an article about the process I show in the video: https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/dwin-displays-sending-and-receiving-numbersIf you want to buy the display or other parts for your electronics projects, please consider using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
DWIN Display Tutorials #1 - Transmitting text between the display and PC or Arduino Curious Scientist 2023-01-23 | In this video, I start my series on the DWIN displays. I already published a video on these displays, but that video was more of a general introduction and overview. Here, we go deeper and I show you how to work with these displays in a detailed way. If you like the content, please consider becoming my supporter on Patreon:patreon.com/curiousscientistDon't forget to visit my website where I posted an article about the process I show in the video: https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/dwin-displays-sending-and-receiving-text-with-arduinoIf you want to buy the display or other parts for your electronics projects, please consider using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
Positioning with the N20 miniature geared DC motor Curious Scientist 2023-01-19 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140In this video, I show you how to control these miniature geared motors using a simple PID algorithm. These motors come with many different gearboxes, so they have different speeds and torque, and they also come with different threaded rods (M3, M4, trapezoidal...etc) in different arrangements. Therefore, these motors are really good for different position-controlling projects. Here, I made a linear actuator using one of the motors, but you can use it for many other things. With a little 3D printing, a lot of cool things can be built with these motors. Support me on Patreon:patreon.com/curiousscientistOld video on PID control of DC motors:youtu.be/jTIRUXJKMX4More resources on my website:https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/positioning-with-the-n20-miniature-geared-dc-motorsFind relevant parts for your next project on my website:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
Precise focus stacking device for macro photography Curious Scientist 2022-12-31 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140In this video, I show you my new little device which is used for making spectacular macro photos. The device consists of a stepper motor-based linear actuator, a stepper motor driver, a display, an Arduino Nano and some auxiliary parts to make everything work properly. As you might know, macro photography is challenging, especially if you want to take pictures of very tiny things. The issue is that at these levels, the depth of field (DOF) becomes very shallow, which means that only a tiny part of the picture will be sharp and the rest of it will be blurred and out of focus. The solution for this issue is to scan across the whole subject, take pictures of all the details, and then in a suitable software, blend these partially focused images of different parts of the subject into one single image where the whole subject is sharp. Please consider supporting me on Patreon:patreon.com/curiousscientistMore details about my circuit:https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/precise-focus-stacking-device-for-macro-photographyMy project page on PCBWay:pcbway.com/project/shareproject/Focus_Stacking_Circuit_543468ac.htmlFind relevant parts for your next project on my website:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
TCD1304-based spectrometer - Part 3 Curious Scientist 2022-12-26 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140Also, don't forget PCBWay's 5th PCB Design Contest!pcbway.com/activity/5th-pcb-design-contest.htmlIn this video, I show you some of the updates/upgrades I have for this project. I got one more optical system, so I assembled a PCB for it as well as printed a lid which was "missing". I did a substantial change to the firmware of the microcontroller. I essentially wrote a new code from scratch. I also changed the client software significantly. I can calibrate the system and I can also display the wavelength-based chart with colours corresponding to the wavelength. With this update, I can see which colour corresponds to the peaks. Please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/curiousscientistFor more details, visit my website:https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/tcd1304-based-spectrometer-part-3Buy my PCB directly via PCBWay: pcbway.com/project/shareproject/TCD1304_miniature_PCB_5ede2c9f.htmlIf you want to support my work, please consider buying the parts using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
Building a full-frame digital camera from scratch Curious Scientist 2022-11-28 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140If you have a nice PCB design, make sure that you register for their contest! pcbway.com/activity/5th-pcb-design-contest.htmlIn this video, I show you how I designed and built a full-frame digital camera from scratch. It can take high-resolution black and white pictures (theoretically 21 Mpixels). I am planning to make this into a fully-portable camera, so it will receive a display, an SD-card module, a Li-po battery, controls and so on... Please consider becoming my supporter on Patreon: patreon.com/curiousscientistCheck my website for more information on this project:https://www.curiousscientist.tech/blog/digital-fullframe-camera-from-scratchGet the miniature TCD1304 PCB from PCBWay directly: pcbway.com/project/shareproject/TCD1304_miniature_PCB_5ede2c9f.htmlIf you want to support my work, please consider buying the parts using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
Workshop tour 2022 - 10000 Subscriber video Curious Scientist 2022-11-20 | It finally happened. I never thought that we will reach this many subscribers, but a few days ago, the channel crossed 10000 subscribers. Thanks for the support! As I promised, I will make something special when we reach 10k subs. I put a poll on my YouTube channel and most of the people were interested in my workshop. So, this video is about me talking about my hobby room and its content. If you want to find the stuff I showed in the video, please check out the Parts & Tools section of my website: https://curiousscientist.tech/toolsMost of the parts, tools, and instruments are there and you can purchase them via my affiliate links. Please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/curiousscientist
A self-contained PCB-based weighing scale Curious Scientist 2022-10-31 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140If you have a nice PCB design, make sure that you register for their contest! pcbway.com/activity/5th-pcb-design-contest.htmlIn this video, I reiterate my previous attempt at building a PCB-based weighing scale. After learning from the conclusions of the previous project, I designed a PCB which also acts as a weighing scale. The whole PCB is "self-contained" which means that there are no other external parts needed to operate the scale. The circuit has a LiPo battery as a power source, an ATtiny85 microcontroller, an HX711 AD converter and an OLED display as well. I met some obstacles during building the first circuit, but at the end of the process, I could make everything work and function properly. Update: I kept working on the reason for the drifting. The circuit works just fine, but it turned out that the strain gauges I used in the Wheatstone bridge are rubbish. I built a standalone bridge using 4 strain gauges of the same kind and I ran them with an HX711 module and the bridge was drifting and fluctuating a lot. Then, I disconnected the strain gauges from the PCB I showed in the video and attached a load cell to it. There was no drifting or large fluctuations!For more information, check my website: https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/pcb-weighing-scale-ver2Please, support me on Patreon: patreon.com/curiousscientistBuy the board directly from PCBWay: pcbway.com/project/shareproject/Self_contained_PCB_weighing_scale_95a0abd4.htmlIf you want to support my work, please consider buying the parts using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
Using a PCB as a weighing scale Curious Scientist 2022-10-17 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140If you have a nice PCB design, make sure that you register for their contest! pcbway.com/activity/5th-pcb-design-contest.htmlIn this video, I show you a fun concept. I use the flexibility of the PCB to measure weight. On one end of the PCB, I designed a cantilever that can hold a little tray. Originally, I wanted to incorporate the strain gauge into the PCB by drawing a pattern on the copper layer, but unfortunately, the material of the traces is a too good conductor, therefore it has very low resistance and even lower change in resistance when it is deformed. However, I designed the PCB in a way that I had this potential failure in mind, so I could attach a regular strain gauge to the flexing part. With this solution, I could use the board with success. I will probably further iterate this design and create a totally self-contained board with a better amplifier, a microcontroller and a display. It would be interesting to make a very sensitive scale.Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/curiousscientistFor additional content, visit my website: https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/pcb-weighing-scaleYou can buy this PCB: pcbway.com/project/shareproject/Weighing_scale_made_of_a_PCB_e2f40981.htmlIf you want to support my work, please consider buying the parts using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
Custom-made reflow hot plate - Final assembly Curious Scientist 2022-08-25 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140Do you want your 4 and 6-layer PCB produced for a good price? Check this link!pcbway.com/blog/News/Big_News_Sale_Promotion_for_Multilayer_PCB_86a5864f.htmlIn this video, I show you the final assembly of my custom-made reflow hot plate. I fixed some cables and connections, fixed the heating plate and assembled everything on a plywood sheet. So now I have a fixed, permanent assembly that I can pick up any time and solder my SMD circuit boards. Check my website for more details:https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/reflow-hot-plate-final-assemblyCheck my PCBWay project side for the PCB and the circuit components:pcbway.com/project/shareproject/Reflow_hot_plate_controller_board_a603f769.htmlBecome my Patreon to access the source code:patreon.com/curiousscientistIf you want to support my work, please consider buying the parts using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
TCD1304-based spectrometer - Part 2 Curious Scientist 2022-08-04 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140In this video, I show you the next step in the development of my spectrometer. I received a new PCB that I specifically designed for the optical system that I had. Except for a small mistake, everything worked out well and I could incorporate the PCB into the optical system. I also show my new, improved software for capturing the data from the CCD. As you can see, I can get real-time data on the display of my computer. I can also log it into a file or I can collect the signal for a longer period of time and average the received intensity levels for each pixel. Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/curiousscientistFor more details, visit my website: https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/tcd1304-based-spectrometer-part-2Buy my TCD1304 driver PCB: pcbway.com/project/shareproject/TCD1304_miniature_PCB_5ede2c9f.htmlIf you want to support my work, please consider buying the parts using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
TCD1304-based spectrometer - Part 1 Curious Scientist 2022-07-25 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140Also, celebrate PCBWay's 8th anniversary together with them:pcbway.com/activity/anniversary8sales.htmlIn this video, I show you my TCD1304-based spectrometer. This is just a prototype, but it is a good starting point to see how to develop this project further. I built a driving circuit for the TCD1304 using my custom PCB, then I measured two lasers and used them for calibrating the CCD. Then, I measured the spectra of different LEDs. Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/curiousscientistFor more details, visit my website: https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/tcd1304-based-spectrometer-part-1Buy my TCD1304 driver PCB: pcbway.com/project/shareproject/TCD1304_breakout_board_for_the_STM32F401_board.htmlIf you want to support my work, please consider buying the parts using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
ADS1256 - Custom Arduino Library Curious Scientist 2022-07-18 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140In this video, I show you my custom Arduino library for the ADS1256 24-bit 8-channel ADC. I developed this library from scratch and I made it compatible with different ADS1256 boards and different Arduino-compatible microcontrollers. I also wrote an extremely detailed documentation of the library, so please read it. Visit my website for all the resources regarding this library:https://curiousscientist.tech/ads1256-custom-librarySupport me on Patreon!patreon.com/curiousscientistIf you want to support my work, please consider buying the parts using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
DWIN Displays - Review and tutorial Curious Scientist 2022-06-30 | DWIN is a high-tech company specializing in human-computer interaction solutions. In the field of human-computer interaction, DWIN will always be your most reliable choice. In this getting started tutorial, we will learn to set up DWIN 4.3-inch TFT LCD Display called DMG80480C043_02WTC. It is a 4.3-inch colour LCD Display with 800X480 Pixel Resolutions called a T5L LCD Module. It operates between 4.5V to 5.5V and is compatible with all microcontrollers including Arduino, STM32, Pic, 8051, and others. We need the FCC-10 terminal cable called FCC1015A and the HDL662B UART to USB Converter Board to establish communication with a computer. To load the firmware as a factory demo, we need an SD Card. Finally, a beautiful GUI can be created without the use of any programming. If you have any inquiries about the screens or want to get a free sample, you can contact them on social platforms like WhatsApp or Email details are given below.Whatsapp: +86 19918076477Email: Cassie@dwin.com.cnAlso, you can purchase from their store using my affiliate link to support my channel:https://a.aliexpress.com/_oFP1K6H?spm=5261.26790180.Table.3.46da4edf888ehZIn this video, I show you these excellent DWIN displays I got from the manufacturer. I first review and discuss the properties of both displays I got, and then I pick the smaller display (easier to handle for a demo) and show you how to create a GUI. I also show how to transfer information in both ways: display-to-serial and serial-to-display, so you will get a lot of information available to be able to start working with the display. I also wrote a detailed article about the exact same content that I show in the video. If you prefer reading instead of watching videos, please visit my website:https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/dwin-displays-and-their-programmingPlease consider becoming my supporter on Patreon:patreon.com/curiousscientistI will create more tutorials for this display in the future, so stay tuned!If you want to support my work, please consider buying the parts using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
Improving my reflow hot plate - new heating surface Curious Scientist 2022-06-23 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140In this video I show my improvement for my reflow hot plate system. I haven't touched the electronics or the software, but I replaced a crucial component, the heater. Previously, I've been using a ceramic heater but it turned out that it has its own deficiencies. Now, I started to use a mica heater which is much better than the ceramic heater, however it still has some issues. When it gets hot, due to the thermal expansion it becomes swollen which messes up the contact between the heater and the bottom of the PCB. To mitigate this issue, I clamped a 1.5 mm aluminium plate on top of the heater which kept the things stiff and rigid and it also improved the thermal response of the system by some extent.Buy the PCB directly from PCBWay:pcbway.com/project/shareproject/Reflow_hot_plate_controller_board_a603f769.htmlPlease consider supporting me on Patreon:patreon.com/curiousscientistAdditional pictures and resources:https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/improving-my-reflow-hot-plateIf you want to support my work, please consider buying the parts using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
Probe Master 8043SK - A review Curious Scientist 2022-06-14 | This video is not sponsored or supported by the company by any means. I just decided to buy some decent kit of multimeter probes because I wanted to make my work easier. I mostly want to measure low power and low voltage stuff so this kit is more than perfect for the purpose. The sharp tip, the gold plating and the carefully assembled test leads are all great! I just wanted to share this video so those who are looking for decent probes can see how it looks and what attachments are included in the kit. Additional photos on my website:https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/probemaster-8043skPlease consider supporting me on Patreon:patreon.com/curiousscientistIf you want to support my work, please consider buying the parts using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
Custom ADS1256 board - revised version Curious Scientist 2022-06-07 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140UPDATE:Since this video, I created my own custom library for the ADS1256. Please visit my website for the library files and for a very detailed documentation:https://curiousscientist.tech/ads1256-custom-libraryIn this video I show you the revised version of my ATmega32U4 and ADS1256-based 8 channel, 24-bit voltage logger circuit. I fixed the mistakes I did on the prototype board, cleaned up a few tiny aesthetic things and added curved traces. Now the board looks better and it seems to be free of flaws. Please consider supporting me on Patreon:patreon.com/curiousscientistFor schematics and additional info, visit my website:https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/custom-ads1256-circuit-rev1Buy the PCB directly from PCBWay:pcbway.com/project/shareproject/Custom_ADS1256_board_with_ATmega32U4_ebd48815.htmlIf you want to support my work, please consider buying the parts using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
Solartron 7060 - 6½ digit multimeter Curious Scientist 2022-05-29 | In this video I show you my new toy which is a Solartron 7060 6½ digit multimeter. After a general introduction, I open up the cover and inspect the insides. There were 4 tantalum capacitors that needed to be replaced because they released the PPMs - they were toasted and/or had shiny metal blobs on their surfaces. After replacing the capacitors, I checked the device again and it seemed that I managed to do the repair without damaging it. If you find my content useful, please consider becoming supporter on Patreon:patreon.com/curiousscientistCheck my website for extra resources and pictures:https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/solartron-7060-6-digit-multimeterIf you want to support my work, please consider buying the parts using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
Making my own custom voltage logger based on the ADS1256 - Prototype Curious Scientist 2022-05-16 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140UPDATE:Since this video, I created my own custom library for the ADS1256. Please visit my website for the library files and for a very detailed documentation:https://curiousscientist.tech/ads1256-custom-libraryIn this video I show you the prototype of my ATmega32U4 and ADS1256-based 8 channel, 24-bit voltage logger circuit. After making so much experiments based on the ADS1256 AD converter I really wanted to make my own circuit based on this chip. Since I already made a fully working code for the AD converter, I thought it would be great to have the circuit to be made by me as well. Unfortunately, I did a few little mistakes on the PCB, so I have to make a second version, but the mistakes are not too large, so I could make this board to work properly with just a small hacking. Please consider supporting me on Patreon:patreon.com/curiousscientistFor schematics and additional info, visit my website:https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/custom-ads1256-circuitIf you want to support my work, please consider buying the parts using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
Making my own reflow hot plate - Part 3 - Demo and Coding Curious Scientist 2022-05-09 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140In this video I show you the assembled system with a much better heating plate than in the previous videos. I managed to obtain a nice ceramic heating plate which has much better characteristics (power and surface area) than the heater I used previously. After going through the main parts of the assembled system, I solder a simple PCB to demonstrate that the system works and after this demonstration I explain the source code line by line. Please consider supporting me on Patreon:patreon.com/curiousscientistFor schematics and additional info, visit my website:https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/custom-reflow-hot-plate-demo-and-codingDirect link to the PCB:pcbway.com/project/shareproject/Reflow_hot_plate_controller_board_a603f769.html
Making my own reflow hot plate - Part 2 - Custom PCB and assembly Curious Scientist 2022-04-26 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140In this video I continue the journey of building a hopefully decent reflow hot plate controller. This time I use my own, custom PCB and assemble the circuit on it. I also test the PCB and check if everything work well and safely. I left the programming and final cleanup for the last video, otherwise this would have been a 2-hour long video probably. Please consider supporting me on Patreon:patreon.com/curiousscientistFor schematics and additional info, visit my website:https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/custom-reflow-hot-plate-custom-pcb-part2Direct link to the PCB:pcbway.com/project/shareproject/Reflow_hot_plate_controller_board_a603f769.htmlIf you want to support my work, please consider buying the parts using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
2500 W Induction Melting Device Curious Scientist 2022-04-19 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140In this video, I will show you my newest built, a 2.5 kW induction melting device. This is the introduction part, so I will guide you through all the different parts and their purposes. Most of the components are off-the-shelf parts, but I also made some custom-made 3d printed parts such as a holder for the water pump or for the shunt resistor. I also designed and assembled the frame myself. I wanted to pack everything in a store-bought enclosure but I could not find any within a reasonable price level. Please consider supporting me on Patreon!patreon.com/curiousscientistFor extra pictures and schematics, visit my website:https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/2500-w-induction-melting-systemIf you want to support my work, please consider buying the parts using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
Making my own reflow hot plate - Part 1 - Prototype Curious Scientist 2022-04-14 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140In this video, I show you the prototype of my reflow hot plate. The hot plate is just a simple "desoldering heating plate" that you can buy from popular webshops. However, the coding part, especially the graphical user interface (GUI) is much more sophisticated. I created a fancy GUI that allows the user to enter any arbitrary reflow curve and then run the program and follow the development of the temperature in real-time. The circuit also has a MAX6675 thermocouple module for measuring the temperature and a simple BD139-based transistor circuit that switches on two tiny fans at the end of the program to speed up the cooling/solidification process. In the upcoming videos, I will put these things on a proper PCB and further improve the coding part and will try different heaters.Please consider supporting me on Patreon:patreon.com/curiousscientistFor schematics and additional info, visit my website:https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/custom-reflow-hot-plate-part-1If you want to support my work, please consider buying the parts using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
Custom DRO PCB, but for rotary encoders Curious Scientist 2022-03-28 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140In one of my previous projects, I introduced my custom-made PCB which takes the output signal of a DRO and converts it into a human readable value which is then shown on a OLED display. The soul of the system was an ATtiny85 microcontroller. I also added a button to the circuit which functions as a tare button.Please consider supporting me on Patreon: patreon.com/curiousscientistFor more resources, visit my website:https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/dro-pcb-for-rotary-encodersIf you want to support my work, please consider buying the parts using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
Making a new cable for the TS100 soldering iron Curious Scientist 2022-03-22 | In this video I am making a new cable for my TS100 soldering iron. I also replaced the power supply of it because the old one ( 9-24 V, 3 A variable PSU) is not the best for this soldering iron and its cable is really rigid. For more details and close-up pictures, please check my website:https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/custom-cable-for-the-ts100-soldering-ironIf you find my videos useful, please consider becoming my Patron on Patreon: patreon.com/curiousscientistYou can find the relevant parts on my website too. If you use the affiliate links to buy the products, you are supporting my channel!https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
Testing the Mustool MT8206 graphical multimeter Curious Scientist 2022-03-20 | In this video I am testing another promotional product from Banggood. Promotional link: https://ban.ggood.vip/11bNjDiscount: $99.99 → $54.99Code: BG1bfb21Expiration: 3.31I received this nice multimeter from Banggood for testing. This multimeter is promoted as a “2 in 1 oscilloscope multimeter”. So, apart from the traditional multimeter functions, it also has an oscilloscope function, or at least features which remind us of an oscilloscope. I tested different features of it, for example the precision of the voltmeter at lower voltages (2.5 V, 5 V and 10 V from a voltage reference), its ability of measuring capacitance, current and resistance. For more info and extra pictures:https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/testing-the-mustool-mt8206-graphical-multimeterPlease consider supporting me on Patreon!patreon.com/curiousscientistPrecision voltage reference I showed in the video:banggood.com/custlink/vGvdA1ft1NIf you want to support my work, please consider buying the parts using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
Making my own ATmega32u4 board Curious Scientist 2022-03-15 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140In this video I show you the process of making an ATmega32U4-based microcontroller. I decided to make and assemble my own ATmega32U4-based board, so I thought it would be fun to share the process with you. I tried to record the more important moments of the assembly part from a closer angle so it would be potentially more spectacular for you, the viewer. I also talk a bit about the ICSP programming which could be useful if you want to burn a custom bootloader on the microcontroller or you just want to directly upload a code without using the USB.More pictures and link to the board: https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/custom-atmega32u4-boardDirect link to the board: pcbway.com/project/shareproject/A_custom_ATmega32u4_board_e47f8c20.htmlIf you want to support my work, please consider buying the parts using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
Testing the KSGER T12 STM32 V3.1S soldering station Curious Scientist 2022-03-14 | In this video I show you my take on testing the KSGER T12 V3.1S soldering station. Promotional link and coupon code:https://ban.ggood.vip/11jJNNormal Price: $99.99 → Coupon Price: 20% OFF ($63.99)Code: BG0f20c2 Warehouse: CNExpiration date: 2023.03.31I got this product for testing and reviewing from Banggood, so this video can be regarded as a promotional video. However, my review is unbiased and while making the video I was trying to highlight both positive and negative experiences about this product. For more resources, visit my website: https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/testing-ksger-t12-v31s-soldering-stationIf you want to support my work, please consider buying the parts using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
Custom PCB for DROs using ATTiny85 Curious Scientist 2022-02-21 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140In this video I show you my custom-made PCB for the DRO that I showed in my previous video: youtu.be/WlSnp-r-oVsThis PCB allows you to replace the original display of the DRO or just use it as a secondary one. It can be useful if you need a larger display, or your original piece was damaged...etc. I added USB ports both for powering the circuit and connecting the DRO, but I also made it possible to directly solder the wires (or terminals) on the board. A tare button is also added to the circuit so you can always reset the readings to zero.For more resources, visit my website:https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/custom-dro-pcb-attiny85Direct link to the PCB: pcbway.com/project/shareproject/Custom_DRO_panel_with_ATTiny85_5fed85e4.htmlIf you want to support my work, please consider buying the parts using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
300 mm DRO with Arduino (ATTiny85 and Nano) Curious Scientist 2022-02-06 | In this video I show you a nice DRO with a great range (300 mm) and good resolution (0.01 mm). I “hacked” the DRO and was able to hijack its data and clock signal and convert it into human readable values using an ATTiny85 microcontroller. I made my own tiny display unit for this DRO and the principles I used is applicable to similar DROs and digital calipers as well as any Arduino-compatible microcontrollers. Resources: https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/300-mm-dro-with-arduinoIf you want to buy the things I used in the video and support me at the same time, please consider using my affiliate links on my website:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
Ultra-precise milliOhm meter - Calibration and full assembly Curious Scientist 2022-02-03 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140This is probably my final video with this device because now I completed everything I wanted. In this video I show you the assembly process using a microscope camera, so you will see the soldering from a closer perspective. I decided to order more components and finish all four PCBs I had left after building the first device. I also did a "calibration" using a very precise 1 Ohm resistor. So now, as the instrument is "calibrated", it can be used with a higher confidence and credibility. The circuit is based on the designs published by@scullcomhobbyelectronics1702: a milliOhm meter and for a 6½-digit voltmeter. I "alloyed" these two project into one, designed my own PCB, then built the circuit. Please don't forget to subscribe!Resources: https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/ultra-precise-milliohm-meter-calibrationYou can buy the PCB from PCBWay using the following link:pcbway.com/project/shareproject/Ultra_precise_milliOhm_meter_dd9e2c94.htmlIf you want to support my work please consider checking the tools section on my website where you can buy components, tools and other gadgets using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
Ultra-precise milliOhm meter - Part 2/2 Curious Scientist 2022-01-21 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140In this video I demonstrate the capabilities of the device I assembled and then I show you the code. I haven’t done the current and voltage adjustment yet, because I need some precise resistors for the adjustment. Nevertheless, I get reasonably good values already. I show you how the circuit is built up, what components I used and how the measurement is done using the 4-wire sensing clips. I also spend a bit longer time explaining the principles of the AD converter. I show the ADC-readout in a very detailed way because the principles can be applied to most of the AD converters, so it is worth to know how the things work. The circuit is based on the designs published by@scullcomhobbyelectronics1702: a milliOhm meter and for a 6½-digit voltmeter. I "alloyed" these two project into one, designed my own PCB, then built the circuit. Please don't forget to subscribe!Resources: https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/ultra-precise-milliohm-meter-part2You can buy the PCB from PCBWay using the following link:pcbway.com/project/shareproject/Ultra_precise_milliOhm_meter_dd9e2c94.htmlIf you want to support my work please consider checking the tools section on my website where you can buy components, tools and other gadgets using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
Ultra-precise milliOhm meter - Part 1/2 Curious Scientist 2022-01-17 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140In this video I am going to show you my adventures of building a high-resolution milliOhm meter. I found a great YouTube channel,@scullcomhobbyelectronics1702 and I found two great designs for a milliOhm meter and for a 6½-digit voltmeter. I "alloyed" these two project into one, designed my own PCB, then built the circuit. This part is only about building the circuit and testing a few parts of it. Please don't forget to subscribe!Resources: https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/ultra-precise-milliohm-meter-part1If you want to support my work please consider checking the tools section on my website where you can buy components, tools and other gadgets using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
8-digit 7-segment display - printing floating point numbers Curious Scientist 2022-01-09 | In this video I want to show you how to print floating point numbers on this 8-digit 7-segment MAX7219-driven display in a proper manner. Most of the tutorials I saw on the internet only show how to print numbers using the LedControl library, but none of them showed how to deal with floating point numbers. Since I want to use these displays in projects where I am interested in the values at both sides of the decimal point, I thought that I will write my own little code based on the LedControl library and share it with you. The demo consists of 2 parts. In the first part I generate a few random floating point numbers and print them. Then I run a relatively fast counter and print the values of it on the display. This is a great display because it is bright and readable, communicates via SPI, fast, compact and most importantly cheap! More resources can be found on my website: https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/max7219-8digit-displayIf you want to buy the parts I used and support me at the same time, you can by them by using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
Measuring speed and position using the AS5600 magnetic encoder Curious Scientist 2021-12-24 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.comIn this video I show you some nice features that I developed for the AS5600 magnetic position encoder. Using my custom made PCB and a NEMA17 motor I show you how accurate the stepper motor is. I tried to determine the speed and the position of the stepper motor's shaft using the AS5600. I also compared the position and speed values with the values provided by the AccelStepper library. According to the experiment, the position is followed exactly, without skipping even a single step. On the other hand, I have some small issues with the speed which is probably due to some programming mistake that I could not notice. Check my website! https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/as5600-nema17-speed-and-positionOrder my PCB design directly from PCBWay!pcbway.com/project/shareproject/Custom_AS5600_magnetic_encoder_board_for_NEMA17_type_stepper_motors.htmlIf you want to support my work, please consider buying the parts using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
DC motor position control using PID Curious Scientist 2021-12-19 | In this video I show you a very basic example of PID-controlled DC motor positioning. The core of the PID-based position control is to have an encoder which provides a feedback for the PID code which can determine the control signal for the motor. For example, the user has to define a target position (setpoint) in terms of encoder pulses which is passed to the PID code which in exchange generates a control signal that we can use to drive the motor. The PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) controller has three parameters (P, I and D) that we need to tune so the system will give an appropriate response for a given set point. This is a very basic video on PID and the code and the implementation is probably not the best practice, but it is enough to get started and learn the rest by experimenting and studying other people’s articles, videos…etc. Please consider supporting me on Patreon:patreon.com/curiousscientistSchematics and code: https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/dc-motor-position-control-using-pidYou can support me by buying the parts using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
Tomlov 7” microscope camera + unique attachment Curious Scientist 2021-12-11 | In this video I show you this nice digital microscope which I originally bought for soldering works. I want to start to work more with SMD components so I need a camera with a built-in display. I chose this camera because it has a reasonable image quality, I can record images and videos on an SD card, and I can connect the microscope to my PC via USB. However, I found one drawback which is the maximum available height under the camera. To overcome this issue, I designed and printed an attachment which makes it possible to attach the microscope to a microphone stand and have any arbitrary distance between the subject and the optics (obviously, within the capabilities of the optical system).Check my website for some additional stuff:https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/tomlov-7-microscope-camera-unique-attachmentIf you want to support my work, please consider buying the parts using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
Custom AS5600 PCB for NEMA17-type stepper motors Curious Scientist 2021-12-10 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140In this video I introduce my new PCB which I designed to fit on the back of a NEMA17-type stepper motor. The PCB contains the basic circuit of the AS5600 magnetic position encoder. It is a very simple circuit which consists of the AS5600 chip, 2 resistors and 2 capacitors. The panel works both at +3.3 V and +5 V. It can be used with i2c or by using the analog output. One very important thing is that if you don’t use the DIR pin, you have to tie it to the ground, otherwise you will have fluctuating readings. This simple circuit board can transfer your stepper motor into a servo, so you can have a precise information on the speed and position of the stepper motor. Or, you can also control the motor using some PID algorithm. Check my website! https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/as5600-custom-pcb-nema17Order my PCB design directly from PCBWay!pcbway.com/project/shareproject/Custom_AS5600_magnetic_encoder_board_for_NEMA17_type_stepper_motors.htmlIf you want to support my work, please consider buying the parts using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
TCD1304 linear CCD - Part 3 - Assembling my custom PCB Curious Scientist 2021-11-29 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140Order my PCB design directly from PCBWay!pcbway.com/project/shareproject/TCD1304_breakout_board_for_the_STM32F401_board.htmlIn this video I show you my new and shiny PCB which I designed to accommodate the TCD1304 linear CCD as well as to fit the STM32F401 board as some kind of breakout board. The PCB contains a simple OPAMP-based circuit that "flips" the original output signal of the CCD, so the darker pixels will produce lower values and the brighter pixels will produce higher values which makes more sense than the original output signal of the CCD. More resources and some nice images can be found on my website:https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/tcd1304-linear-ccd-custom-pcbIf you want to support my work, please consider buying the parts using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
Overengineered potentiometer using the AS5600 magnetic encoder Curious Scientist 2021-11-21 | In this video I show you how I built an overengineered potentiometer using the AS5600 magnetic encoder. Basically, I took a preassembled AS5600 board, and designed then printed a plastic enclosure around it. I also printed a knob which holds the magnet and allows us to manually rotate it above the chip. The plastic enclosure accommodates the AS5600 circuit and a flanged bearing and the knob holds a tiny, d = 5 mm, h = 2 mm diametrically magnetized magnet. When everything is assembled, the gap between the magnet and the surface of the chip is about 1 mm which is sufficient according to the datasheet of the AS5600 chip. Resources:https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/as5600-magnetic-encoder-used-as-an-overengineered-potentiometerIf you want to support my work, please consider buying the parts using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
TCD1304 Linear CCD - Part 2 - Driving the CCD Curious Scientist 2021-11-11 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140Order my PCB design directly from PCBWay!pcbway.com/project/shareproject/TCD1304_PCB_1.htmlIn this video I will show you step-by-step how you can program the STM32F401CCU6 microcontroller using STM32CubeIDE to drive the TCD1304 linear CCD. My source code is capable of driving the CCD using the electronic shutter function and it is capable of sending the raw data to the computer via USB. The code allows you to change the shutter speed which allows you to read the CCD in any kind of lightning conditions. Please don't forget to subscribe!Please visit my website for a very detailed and thorough explanation for the coding and the working principles of the CCD:https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/tcd1304-linear-ccd-driving-the-ccdIf you want to support my work, please consider buying the parts using my affiliate links:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
TCD1304 - Part 1 - Introduction Curious Scientist 2021-10-26 | Check out PCBWay's website for rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards, CNC and 3D printing services and many more! pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=482140Order my PCB design directly from PCBWay!pcbway.com/project/shareproject/TCD1304_PCB_1.htmlIn this video I introduce a new series where I will work with a very interesting linear CCD, the TCD1304. This CCD consists of 3648 pixels, 8 um wide each, therefore the full sensitive area is 29.1 mm wide. The CCD is driven by an STM32F401CCU6 microcontroller. It is more powerful than the STM32F103C8T6 "blue pill", it is cheaper and also more available. In this video I just demonstrate that I made a working circuit, designed a PCB for it and that I am able to drive the CCD and read its output with an oscilloscope.Resources: https://curiousscientist.tech/blog/tcd1304-introductionIf you want to buy the parts I used in the video and support me at the same time, please use the affiliate links on my website:https://curiousscientist.tech/tools
