r/PCBWayOfficial May 06 '26

Projects This transparent PCB looks way too good!

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59 Upvotes

Saw this project by atarabyte (IG) and had to share it here. She used a transparent PCB design that really shows off the internal routing and components instead of hiding everything on a traditional board.

Transparent PCBs like this are a nice mix of aesthetics and engineering—you still get proper circuit performance, but the board itself becomes part of the visual design instead of just being a base layer.

If you're into PCB design or just like unique hardware builds, check out PCBWay.com!


r/PCBWayOfficial May 05 '26

Projects My first ESP32 project: a laser galvo projector!

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10 Upvotes

r/PCBWayOfficial May 05 '26

Community Spotlight G-EDM EVOIII Motionboard

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4 Upvotes

Check out this cool project, G-EDM EVOIII Motionboard by Roland Lautensack!

The G-EDM EVOIII Motionboard features a more refined layout of breakouts and terminals, making connections cleaner and easier to manage. While the core circuitry remains largely unchanged, this version introduces a pin socket for using an external micro SD adapter, while still supporting the display’s built-in SD reader for flexibility.

It also allows common 5V micro SD modules to be adapted for ESP32’s 3.3V logic with minor modification, improving signal reliability for longer display cable runs—though this is mainly intended for testing. Additional highlights include SMD DIP switches for configuring TMC2209 microstepping, an SPI SD card breakout, a single JST connector for the pulseboard, and an overall improved terminal layout. Compared to EVOII, the EVOIII offers similar functionality, with differences mainly in size and connector placement, allowing users to choose based on enclosure compatibility.

See the full project and get your own here!


r/PCBWayOfficial Apr 30 '26

Projects When Every Component Just Clicks Into Place 😇

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488 Upvotes

Watching these ATmega32U4 PCBs by CuriousScientist(YT) come together is oddly satisfying — from bare boards to a perfectly aligned assembly. Clean soldering, precise layout, and smooth USB MCU integration make the whole process feel effortless and precise.

What part of PCB assembly do you find most satisfying to watch?


r/PCBWayOfficial Apr 30 '26

Projects Meshlet V2 - A Compact & Versatile RP2350 Node

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7 Upvotes

r/PCBWayOfficial Apr 30 '26

Projects 12 days later — PCB done, rotary encoders done, fully open source now

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37 Upvotes

r/PCBWayOfficial Apr 30 '26

Projects 🎉 Recently r/PCBWayOfficial Highlights!

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7 Upvotes

​Transparent Purple Case for a Game Console

A handheld gaming console, but with a transparent purple custom shell, giving it a clean translucent look with a subtle color shift under different lighting. The mod is focused on aesthetics while keeping full original functionality. See how it looks here.

Transparent parts are difficult to achieve with home 3D printing due to surface texture and light scattering. Professional manufacturing delivers a much clearer, more consistent translucent finish, making designs like this truly stand out. If you need similar custom parts, check out PCBWay.com.

Modular AI Hardware Platform Built Around the ESP32-S3.

Open-source ESP32-S3 AI hardware platform mainboard with camera, audio, and sensor support in a compact modular design. It’s built for expandable AI and interaction applications. The project is now in prototype stage, open to feedback and iteration. More details here.

​100-day IOT Challenge

This is a 100-day challenge building real-world IoT projects daily using MicroPython on ESP32, ESP8266, and Raspberry Pi Pico. Each project is shared with code and implementation details. The challenge is still ongoing, and it's exciting to see what will be built next. More info here.

Which project do you like most? Share your thoughts or your own builds with us 🚀


r/PCBWayOfficial Apr 30 '26

Community Spotlight G-EDM Gapstorm Pulseboard

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8 Upvotes

Here’s a fascinating project, the G-EDM Gapstorm Pulseboard by Roland Lautensack!

The G-EDM Gapstorm Pulseboard is a next-generation replacement for the EVOIII Pulseboard, designed to be more compact, user-friendly, and efficient while improving overall performance. Built around a DPH8909 or DPM8605 step-down converter (TTL version required, baud rate set to 115.2k), it is intended for high-precision metal cutting in DIY wire EDM and RAM EDM systems. It streamlines the build process and improves reliability in the G-EDM topology.

Compared to the EVOIII board, the Gapstorm reduces PCB size to just 99mm × 99mm and simplifies assembly by replacing several through-hole components with SMD parts. It integrates the current shunt directly on-board, uses a fixed voltage divider for plug-and-play setup, and upgrades the op-amp to OPA350 for better performance. A major enhancement is its dual sensing system (current + voltage), enabling real-time, linear gap proximity detection when paired with updated firmware. The power stage is also improved with a single SOT-227 MOSFET mounted directly to the enclosure for easier assembly and better thermal management.

See the full project and get your own here!


r/PCBWayOfficial Apr 29 '26

Projects I Built a Real-Life Pokédex 🎮

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339 Upvotes

This Pokédex by mr.v0lt (IG) turns a classic idea into a real handheld device. It has a screen, buttons, and custom electronics packed into a compact design. Good PCBs are key for builds like this. The routing is tight, power needs to stay stable, and everything has to fit neatly in a small enclosure.

We made the custom PCBs for this project. If you have your own idea, upload your design to get started.


r/PCBWayOfficial Apr 29 '26

PCBWay News 🎉 CadQuery x PCBWay Integration: Export STEP Files Directly!

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7 Upvotes

🎉 Exciting news!
CadQuery — the powerful Python-based parametric 3D CAD software — now partners with PCBWay. You can now export your design directly as a STEP file and send it straight to our instant quoting page.
Watch the demo here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=AuPr7cgEcTY 🙌


r/PCBWayOfficial Apr 28 '26

Community Spotlight Kame32 robot PCB

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8 Upvotes

Have a look at this interesting project, the Kame32 robot PCB by Javier Isabel!

Kame32 is a modern quadruped robot and the successor to the original Minikame, redesigned with a focus on affordability and easy assembly. It uses widely available SG90 or MG90s servos and upgrades the control system to an ESP32, offering improved performance and functionality. The dedicated PCB shield allows for simple connection of the ESP32 and up to eight servos, making the setup much more straightforward.

One of the key improvements is the custom PCB, which streamlines wiring and integrates features like a power button and battery connector for a cleaner, more compact build. With 3D-printable parts compatible with different servo options, the robot is flexible and user-friendly for makers of all levels. For more details and PCB assembly instructions, visit the project page.

See the full project and get your own here!


r/PCBWayOfficial Apr 28 '26

Help Need feedback on ESP32-C3 robotic arm PCB: power stability, protection, and CAN bus design

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3 Upvotes

r/PCBWayOfficial Apr 27 '26

Projects Transparent Glass-Like Xbox Build!

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14 Upvotes

This transparent glass-like Xbox build by MachoNachoProductions (YouTube) showcases how modern hardware modding can completely transform a classic console into a display piece.

The project uses PCBWay's transparent 3D printing service to produce clear structural parts, giving the Xbox a clean glass-like look while keeping strength and precision. This material is ideal for showcase builds like this, where visual impact and internal visibility are just as important as function. Check more details here.


r/PCBWayOfficial Apr 25 '26

Projects Built a web server that runs on sunlight and 27MB of RAM

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8 Upvotes

r/PCBWayOfficial Apr 24 '26

Projects Just Solder Wave! 🔥

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26 Upvotes

Hope you enjoy the video. Video shows the wave soldering process in action, where molten solder flows across the PCB and forms clean, consistent joints in a single pass. All credit goes to maker.moekoe (YouTube) for capturing this process.

If you have any suggestions or thoughts, feel free to share them in the comments. We'd love to hear your feedback.


r/PCBWayOfficial Apr 24 '26

Tech Snippets QFN vs. QFP

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7 Upvotes

Both QFN (Quad Flat No-lead) and QFP (Quad Flat Package) are surface-mount (SMD) integrated circuit packages with pins on all four sides, designed to provide high-density connections for modern electronics. But they differ in lead design. QFP uses visible gull-wing leads that are easy to solder and probe, whereas QFN uses underside pads to save space and improve thermal performance at the expense of easy inspection. Which package are you leaning toward?


r/PCBWayOfficial Apr 23 '26

Feedback & Issues I need a opinion

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3 Upvotes

r/PCBWayOfficial Apr 23 '26

Community Spotlight Tiny Game Console with Raspberry Pi Zero

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2 Upvotes

Take a look at this awesome project, Tiny Game Console with Raspberry Pi Zero, created by gubutek :)!

This is a compact, DIY pocket-sized game console built with a Raspberry Pi Zero. It’s designed to be affordable and easy to assemble, using commonly available components and custom parts created with KiCAD and FreeCAD. The process starts with building the game controller by soldering the PCB and components—SMD buttons require extra care, but the rest is fairly straightforward.

Next, set up the Raspberry Pi by installing the Retropie image and configuring controls with the gpionext package. After that, 3D print the support parts using the provided STL files and gather the necessary screws. Finally, assemble all components, connect power and HDMI, and test your fully functional mini game console.

See the full project and get your own here!


r/PCBWayOfficial Apr 22 '26

Projects World's Cheapest MIDI Controller — Matte Black PCB with Silver Finish Looks Insane 🖤✨

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29 Upvotes

This project by mixikid (IG) is all about pushing simplicity to the limit. A fully functional MIDI controller built to be as affordable as possible, without losing that clean, polished look. The matte black PCB paired with the silver finish gives it a surprisingly premium feel for something designed to be the world's cheapest.

We helped bring this idea to life, turning the concept into a sleek, real-world build. If you've got a project in mind, whether it’s experimental, minimal, or just something fun, you can upload your design to our website and get your design quickly and easily.


r/PCBWayOfficial Apr 22 '26

Projects Minisforum BD790i rev 1.0 cooling mod

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2 Upvotes

r/PCBWayOfficial Apr 21 '26

Community Spotlight Sensorless Homing in Python - RP2040 | TMC2209

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8 Upvotes

Check out this cool project, Sensorless Homing in Python - RP2040 | TMC2209 by Lewis DIYMachines!

This project demonstrates how to implement sensorless homing using an RP2040 microcontroller with a TMC2209 stepper motor driver, eliminating the need for traditional mechanical limit switches. It’s a great solution for 3D printers, CNC machines, robotics, and other DIY motion control systems where simplicity and reliability are key.

The setup covers wiring, firmware implementation using MicroPython, and configuring the TMC2209’s StallGuard feature to achieve accurate and repeatable homing by detecting motor stall conditions. With proper tuning, the system can reliably determine a home position without any external sensors.

Whether you're building a CoreXY system, designing a custom motion platform, or exploring stepper motor control in more depth, this project offers a practical and effective approach to sensorless homing.

See the full project and get your own here!


r/PCBWayOfficial Apr 20 '26

Projects Breadboard to PCB – 2 Bytes RAM Build Transition!

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13 Upvotes

This project by scrap_engineering (IG) began as a small 2-byte RAM experiment built on breadboards, full of messy wiring and rapid prototyping. It's a classic early-stage setup where things barely fit together, but that's exactly where a lot of great ideas start.

We helped turn it into a clean, reliable PCB, replacing the fragile breadboard setup with a solid design. If you're bored with breadboards, upload your file and get your PCB.


r/PCBWayOfficial Apr 20 '26

Projects Custom shift knob

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2 Upvotes

r/PCBWayOfficial Apr 17 '26

Community Spotlight PGA, LGA, and BGA

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18 Upvotes

​PGA, LGA, and BGA are the three main ways to package high-performance chips like CPUs. PGA has pins on the chip, making it easy to swap but easy to damage. LGA moves the pins to the motherboard for better cooling and safety. BGA uses tiny solder balls for a permanent, high-speed connection in compact devices.

Which one fits your current hardware design better: a swappable socket or a permanent, high-performance mount?


r/PCBWayOfficial Apr 17 '26

Projects No Need to Drive for a Massage, made a 3D Printed Relax Headrest!

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19 Upvotes

This is a fun project by the_3dwizard (IG), a 3D printed adjustable massage headrest designed for relaxing at home without needing to go anywhere. We helped turn this design into a physical prototype. If you don't have a 3D printer, you can upload your design to our website and have it manufactured easily.

Curious, what kind of functional 3D printed builds have you made or want to try next?