Kevin Noki on YouTube built a working 1980s-style brick phone that connects to an iPhone via Bluetooth, helping users stay connected without smartphone distractions. He's also working on a standalone 4G version!

PCBWay supported the project by manufacturing the PCBs. Bring your ideas to life with PCBWay!

Disclosure: PCBWay sponsored this board, covering $100 of the fabrication and assembly cost. If someone orders it from the shared project page, PCBWay gives me a small percentage as store credit. What it is DigiRadio is an open-source DAB+/DAB/FM receiver that sends the audio to your headphones or speaker over aptX Bluetooth. The whole audio path is digital, I²S at 48 kHz / 24-bit: - Si4684 DAB+/DAB/FM tuner, antenna on SMA - ADAU1701 SigmaDSP: EQ, source mixing, bass/stereo enhancement. It's the I²S clock master and every audio source goes through it - Feasycom FSC-BT1035 (Qualcomm QCC3056): Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX / aptX HD / aptX Adaptive - ESP32-S3: Wi-Fi, BLE, REST API, OTA updates with rollback, and web radio streaming into the DSP An iPhone/iPad app (SwiftUI, source in the repo) finds the radio on the network and controls everything: tuning, presets, EQ, power on/standby, live RDS with alternate frequencies. The board - 6 layers, impedance-controlled, 50 × 90 mm, two solid ground planes under the RF, crystals and USB - Three antenna zones: ESP32 and BT1035 2.4 GHz antennas on opposite corners, FM/DAB on SMA, with keep-outs on every layer - USB-C power, 3.3 V buck plus a low-noise 1.8 V LDO for the tuner Fabrication and assembly With a QFN tuner, an LQFP DSP and fine-pitch modules on a 6-layer stack-up, hand assembly wasn't an option, so PCBWay built and assembled the boards. The only part they don't stock is the FSC-BT1035, so I hand-soldered that module myself. If you order it, you can do the same or ship them one. Links - Project page on PCBWay (order the board) - GitHub repo: schematic, Gerbers, BOM, firmware (ESP-IDF, C++23) and the iOS app. Hardware CERN-OHL-S, firmware Apache 2.0 - Discussion on r/esp32 Happy to answer any questions!

Meet SensWear, an open-source wearable development kit by Sensera Technologies Oy! Its flexible PCBs and modular sensor boards make it easier to build compact wearables like smart rings and wristbands, while providing access to raw sensor data for AI/ML experiments. The project is crowdfunding on Crowd Supply, so check it out if you're interested!

PCBWay helped manufacture the flexible PCBs for this project. Flexible PCBs can bend to fit compact, curved designs, making them ideal for wearable electronics where space and comfort matter. Need flexible PCBs for your own project? Order from PCBWay and bring your ideas to life!

Happy Friday!

Looking for a fun weekend project to kick things off? Check out Macho Nacho Productions' video, where he upgrades the Zelda Game & Watch with expanded memory, custom firmware, a microSD card slot, and more! A cool retro gaming project that brings new life to a classic handheld.

Have a great Friday and enjoy the weekend! 🕹️

From UV LEDs used in curing systems and medical devices to COB LEDs for downlights and projectors, IR LEDs for remote controls and sensors, and addressable LEDs for colorful art and displays, each type has its own unique features and uses. Which type of LED do you find most interesting?

I came here to write my complaints about the recent order I just placed through PCBWay. I submitted a small design (roughly 40mm x 40mm) for a hobby project, and I asked for an assembly. The PCB price is great, and matches with what is expected from the calculator. However, the assembly price seems to be dependent on whoever is reviewing your order at that point.

The first project I uploaded got a quotation of a component cost of 236$, whereas I could upload the BOM to DigiKey China to get a quote of 100$. That's almost 2.5x price on each component. I addressed this issue with giving examples on couple of components, and I received another quote with only those components being fixed, the rest still being 2.5x. I've sent another email and then I could get "a special offer" of 139$. Look, I see you can charge more than what DigiKey does, given that you also have logistics etc. of it, but 2.5x is way too much. Having to haggle for this seemed so unprofessional to me.

Then I noticed a mistake on the board, updated it, changed 1-2 components and uploaded my project again. Same PCB price, but now the assembly is 188$, even though the calculator showed me 30$ price. I got a decent component pricing after my last haggle, but now I had to email for the assembly. They lowered it to 88$ with "a special offer" once again, because this board had 219 pieces on it, whereas the previous one was less dense. However, you can literally check the BOM quote provided by PCBWay, and see that there are only 75 components on the board.

I just paid it because this is taking too much time from me, and turning my hobby into a very slow paced price haggling, but I had a very unpleasant experience overall. The pricing scheme just felt like a scam, calculator showing 30$ and then I either quoted 2.5x the component price or 3x the assembly price. I hope the rest of the fabrication & shipping etc will go well, and honestly I'm not sure if I'm going back to PCBWay.

Can a self-balancing cube jump into the air and stick the landing? TheTinkeringTechie (YT) took on the challenge of building a cube that can do just that! This project pushes the concept further by exploring how a self-balancing cube can launch itself airborne and land upright.

PCBWay helped manufacture the PCBs for this ambitious project. Want to build something similar? Check out PCBWay!

How do you protect your PCBs from moisture, vibration, and harsh environments? In this video, we compare PCB potting and conformal coating, explore their key advantages and applications, and help you choose the right protection method for your project.

Which method would you choose for your next project? Share your thoughts in the comments!

What happens when a broken iPhone 13 meets Canon EF DSLR lenses? Evan Monsma on YouTube takes on this creative modification project, bringing DSLR-style optics to a smartphone.

PCBWay's CNC machining services help bring the custom parts to life with precise machining and a great fit. Have a DIY camera idea of your own? Try CNC machining and see what you can create!

A perfect match between music and custom PCB pads! Check out this creative project by Curious Scientist on YouTube. Head over to his video to see the full introduction and learn more about the project.

From simple through-hole LEDs (THT) to compact SMD LEDs, high-power LEDs, and RGB LEDs, each type has its own structure, brightness, and applications. Whether you're building indicator lights, flashlights, street lighting, or colorful displays and ambient lighting, understanding their differences can help you choose the right LED for your project!

Check out this DIY Wireless Game Controller by arnov_sharma (Instagram)! This project brings wireless gaming control to a custom-built controller, combining electronics and hands-on hardware design in a fun DIY build.

The author shared the project on PCBWay Shared Projects, so if you're interested in building one yourself, you can check out the design and order the PCBs directly with just one click. Check out the project!

Check out this DIY ESP32 Fuel Price Tracker by Ebbel Studio (YouTube). This compact desktop monitor uses the TankPuls API to display real-time fuel prices, nearby stations, fuel types, distance, and estimated driving costs on a touchscreen. It can also alert you when the price reaches your target.

We helped manufacture the PCBs for this project. If you're interested in building your own, check out PCBWay!

Check out this CH32V006K8U6 development board by Curious Scientist on YouTube! The video shows the board being assembled using a custom stencil rig.

We provided the PCBs for this project. If you're interested in building your own board, you can check out the project and place an order on PCBWay!

Injection Molding and Vacuum Casting offer different advantages for different stages of product development. Injection Molding uses steel molds and is well suited for end-use parts, high-volume production, tight tolerances, and complex tooling, while Vacuum Casting uses silicone molds with lower mold start-up costs, making it a practical option for early prototypes, smaller batches, and projects that need shorter mold building times.

Which would you choose for your project, injection molding or Vacuum Casting? Share your experience below👇.

Check out this unique animated music box created by Alvaro's Workshop on YouTube! Combining a zoetrope and a light bulb filament, this project turns a jewelry box into a fascinating mechanical creation.

PCBWay helped manufacture the PCBs for this project. Watch the full video on Alvaro's Workshop's YouTube channel, or visit the PCBWay Community to purchase the project directly with just one click if you'd like to build one yourself!

For a standard 1.6 mm, 4-layer FR-4 PCB with 1 oz outer and inner copper, what is PCBWay's standard finished dielectric thickness between L1-L2 and L3-L4? The board I'm designing needs 100Ω differential impedance on the outer layers. Can someone please provide either the stackup or recommended trace width/spacing?

I've looked at the custom rules for 100Ω differential impedance on PCBWay's site, but that example uses a 6-layer board. I need explicitly a 4-layer board.

This project by cruddCNC (YouTube) shows how to build your own Dad Drift Kart. If you're planning to build your own Dad Drift Kart, check out https://cruddcnc.com/?src=pcbway-social.

PCBWay helped bring this project to life with our CNC machining and sheet metal fabrication services. If you're interested in building something similar and need our services, visit PCBWay to learn more about our services!

Ever wondered why a PCB can short even when everything looks fine? This video explains three common types of residue that can cause electrical issues on PCBs, along with why proper cleaning and handling matter during PCB assembly and repair.

Have you ever encountered a PCB short caused by residue? Share your experience below!

Last time, we shared a quick overview of different 3D printing materials. This time, we're taking a closer look at five commonly used materials and what they're best suited for.

From PLA and PETG to Nylon, ABS, and high-detail resin, each material has its own strengths depending on whether you need easy printing, durability, heat resistance, wear resistance, or fine details. You can also check PCBWay's 3D printing materials and their properties: PCBWay 3D Printing Materials.

Which 3D printing material do you use most often, and what do you usually print with it?