Lmst

#toolhacks

Rock Sphere Machine Produces Off the Charts Satisfaction

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://hackaday.com/2026/02/13/rock-sphere-machine-produces-off-the-charts-satisfaction/

Rock Sphere Machine Produces Off the Charts Satisfaction https://hackaday.com/2026/02/13/rock-sphere-machine-produces-off-the-charts-satisfaction/
#ToolHacks #Spheremachine #Stonepolishing #Stonesphere

Scanning Table for the Professional Maker

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://hackaday.com/2026/02/10/scanning-table-for-the-professional-maker/

<div><img alt="" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" height="450" src="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/3D-Printing-A-Most-Over-Engineered-Scanning-Solution-5-5-screenshot-1.png?w=800" style="margin: 0 auto; margin-bottom: 15px;" width="800" /></div><p>Sometimes the simplest objects need some overthinking. This is exactly what [Chris Borge] realized when using his 3D scanner and finding that the included rotation table left quite a bit to be desired — <a href="https://www.printables.com/model/1581544-fixit-system-scanning-videography-turntable" target="_blank">providing him the perfect excuse to build a new one</a>.</p>
<p>One of the main features of a rotation stage is the, well, rotation. This was done in [Chris]’s case with a NEMA 17 stepper motor, perfect for precise rotation of scanning. Hooking up the motor to a basic perf board with an Arduino Nano allows for on the fly adjustments to rotation speed. To really solidify the over-engineering, [Chris] applies his obligatory <a href="https://hackaday.com/2025/04/13/3d-printed-milling-machine-is-solid-as-a-rock/">concrete mix</a> to add some heft to the stage.</p>
<p>While the previous features could be removed/downgraded without much loss, the adjustable grid built into the top adds significant functionality. The grid is based on [Chris]’s past projects, which allows cross compatibility.</p>
<p>We love over-engineering here at Hackaday, especially when adding something new. For more prime

Scanning Table for the Professional Maker https://hackaday.com/2026/02/10/scanning-table-for-the-professional-maker/
#ToolHacks #3dscanning #Arduino #Castconcrete #Steppermotor

He’s a Wrapper (Wire Wrapper, That Is)

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://hackaday.com/2026/02/07/hes-a-wrapper-wire-wrapper-that-is/

<div><img alt="" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" height="450" src="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ww.png?w=800" style="margin: 0 auto; margin-bottom: 15px;" width="800" /></div><p>Before PCBs, wiring electronic circuits was a major challenge in electronics production. A skilled person could make beautiful wire connections between terminal strips and components with a soldering iron, but it was labor-intensive and expensive. One answer that was very popular was wire wrapping, and [Sawdust & Circuits] shows off <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzlM8yZR5RI" target="_blank">an old-fashioned wire wrap gun</a> in the video below.</p>
<p>The idea was to use a spinning tool to tightly wrap solid wire on square pins. A proper wrap was a stable alternative to soldering. It required less skill, no heat, and was easy to unwrap (using a different tool) if you changed your mind. The tech started out as wiring telephone switchboards but quickly spread.</p>
<p>Not all tools were guns or electric. Some used a mechanical handle, and others were like pencils — you simply rotated them by hand. You could specify levels for sockets and terminals to get a certain pin length. A three-level pin could accept three wire wrap connections on a single pin, for example. There were also automated machines that could mass-produce wire-wrapped circuits.</p>
<p>The wire often had thin insulation, and tools usually had a slot made to strip the insulation on t

He’s a Wrapper (Wire Wrapper, That Is) https://hackaday.com/2026/02/07/hes-a-wrapper-wire-wrapper-that-is/
#Classichacks #ToolHacks #Wirewrapping

Welding Nuts Inside Metal Tubes, Painlessly

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://hackaday.com/2026/02/06/welding-nuts-inside-metal-tubes-painlessly/

<div><img alt="" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" height="450" src="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/welding-nuts-into-thin-tubing-banner.png?w=800" style="margin: 0 auto; margin-bottom: 15px;" width="800" /></div><p>[Jer Schmidt] needed a way to put a lot of M8 bolts into a piece of square steel tubing, but just drilling and tapping threads into the thin steel wouldn’t be strong enough. So he figured out <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nC161Ni67-E" target="_blank">a way to reliably weld nuts to the inside </a>of the tube, and his technique works even if the tube is long and the inside isn’t accessible.</p>
<figure class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_914586" style="width: 400px;"><a href="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Welding-nuts-to-the-inside-of-steel-tube-8-14-screenshot-thumb.png"><img alt="" class="wp-image-914586 size-medium" height="400" src="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Welding-nuts-to-the-inside-of-steel-tube-8-14-screenshot-thumb.png?w=400" width="400" /></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-914586">Two smaller holes on either side. Weld through the holes. A little grinding results in a smooth top surface.</figcaption></figure>
<p>Essentially, one drills a hole for the bolt, plus two smaller holes on either side. Then one welds the nut to the tubing through those small holes, in a sort of plug weld. A little grinding is all it takes to smooth o

Welding Nuts Inside Metal Tubes, Painlessly https://hackaday.com/2026/02/06/welding-nuts-inside-metal-tubes-painlessly/
#Howto #ToolHacks #Diy #Metalwork #Threadedhole #Welding

A Higher-End Pico-Based Oscilloscope

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://hackaday.com/2026/02/02/a-higher-end-pico-based-oscilloscope/

<div><img alt="A set of three stacked oscilloscopes is shown. The lower two oscilloscopes have screens and input pins visible, and the top oscilloscope is reversed, with a printed back plate visible." class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" height="450" src="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/picotronix_oscilloscope.png?w=800" style="margin: 0 auto; margin-bottom: 15px;" width="800" /></div>
<p>Hackers have been building their own basic oscilloscopes out of inexpensive MCUs and cheap LCD screens for some years now, but microcontrollers have recently become fast enough to actually make such ‘scopes useful. [NJJ], for example, used a pair of Raspberry Pi Picos to build <a href="https://picotronix.com/blog/an-introduction-to-picotronix/" target="_blank">Picotronix</a>, an extensible combined oscilloscope and logic analyzer.</p>
<p>This isn’t an open-source project, but it is quite well-documented, and the general design logic and workings of the device are freely available. The main board holds two Picos, one for data sampling and one to handle control, display, and external communication. The control unit is made out of stacked PCBs surrounded by a 3D-printed housing; the pinout diagrams printed on the back panel are a helpful touch. One interesting technique was to use a trimmed length of clear 3D printer filament as a light pipe for an indicator LED.</p>
<p>Even the <a href="https://picotronix.com/blog/picogram-data-packet-exchange/" target="_blan

A Higher-End Pico-Based Oscilloscope https://hackaday.com/2026/02/02/a-higher-end-pico-based-oscilloscope/
#RaspberryPi #ToolHacks #Diyoscilloscope #Oscilloscope #PaspberryPiPico #Rp2350

Do Expensive Filaments Make 3D Printed Wrenches Better? https://hackaday.com/2026/01/30/do-expensive-filaments-make-3d-printed-wrenches-better/
#3dPrinterhacks #ToolHacks #3dprinted #Carbonfiber #Loadtesting #Wrench

Do Expensive Filaments Make 3D Printed Wrenches Better?

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://hackaday.com/2026/01/30/do-expensive-filaments-make-3d-printed-wrenches-better/

<div><img alt="" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" height="450" src="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/🔧-Which-Material-Works-Best-for-a-3D-Printed-Open-End-Wrench_-5-57-screenshot-banner.png?w=800" style="margin: 0 auto; margin-bottom: 15px;" width="800" /></div><p>What filament is strongest? The real answer is “it depends”, but sometimes you have a simple question and you just want a simple answer. Like, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2a1h-bc2Zw" target="_blank">which material makes the best 3D printed wrench</a>? [My Tech Fun] printed a bunch of options to find out — including some expensive filaments — and got some interesting insights in the process.</p>
<p>His setup is simple: he printed a bunch of 13 mm open-end wrenches, and tested each one to failure by cranking on a clamped digital torque meter until the wrench failed by breaking, or skipping.</p>
<p>[My Tech Fun] tested a total of eighteen filaments, from regular basic PLA, PETG, ABS and ASA, and a variety of carbon fiber-infused filaments including PPA-CF. TPU is included for fun, and there’s also a wrench printed with continuous carbon fiber, which requires a special printer. More on that in a moment. First, let’s get to the results!</p>
<figure class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_913890" style="width: 400px;"><a href="https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/🔧-Which-Material-Works-Best-for-a-3D-Printed-Open-End-W

Reviewing Tweezers for Microsoldering and SMD Work https://hackaday.com/2026/01/24/reviewing-tweezers-for-microsoldering-and-smd-work/
#ToolHacks #Microsoldering #Tweezers

DIY Magnetic Makers Help 3D Scan Tricky Objects https://hackaday.com/2026/01/20/diy-magnetic-makers-help-3d-scan-tricky-objects/
#Howto #ToolHacks #3dscanning #Magnetic #Reflectivemarker

Flux and Solder Paster Dispenser Looks Good While Doing It https://hackaday.com/2026/01/19/flux-and-solder-paster-dispenser-looks-good-while-doing-it/
#ToolHacks #3dprinted #Dispenser #Flux #Solderpaste #Syringe

Review and Demo of the Zoyi ZT-QB9 Smart Clamp Meter https://hackaday.com/2026/01/18/review-and-demo-of-the-zoyi-zt-qb9-smart-clamp-meter/
#Handheldshacks #Hardware #ToolHacks #WirelessHacks #Clampmeter #EEVblogBM036 #Fluke #HiokiCM4375 #PROVA11 #ZoyiZTQB9

The Journey of Finding the Right Press Brake https://hackaday.com/2026/01/17/the-journey-of-finding-the-right-press-brake/
#Cnchacks #ToolHacks #Pressbrake #Sheetmetalwork

Building a Carousel Autosampler https://hackaday.com/2026/01/15/building-a-carousel-autosampler/
#RobotsHacks #ToolHacks #Autosampler #Laboratoryequipment

EnderSpark: Convert Your Broken Creality FDM Printer Into An EDM machine! https://hackaday.com/2026/01/11/enderspark-convert-your-broken-creality-fdm-printer-into-an-edm-machine/
#3dPrinterhacks #ToolHacks #3dprinted #CrealityEnder3 #EDM #Fusion360 #Linearrail #Rubynozzle #Watercooling #WireEDM

Tired of Burnt Fingers? Try PID Tuning the Hot Glue Gun https://hackaday.com/2026/01/06/tired-of-burnt-fingers-try-pid-tuning-the-hot-glue-gun/
#ToolHacks #Hotgluegun #Pidcontrol #Rp2040

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