Busy hands | Disquiet mind

Getting to know the Tildagon

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 12:32:52 GMT

It's (roughly) the mid-point between EMFcamps. Let's tend to that fire burning in our hearts by talking about the badge.

In 2024 they decided to do a really cool thing; make the event badge reusable, creating a stable platform for people to learn, and build projects upon. I love this idea, because I personally hadn't had much success with the badges. The 2014 badge was my first ever, iirc, event badge, from any event. I was made up just getting it working. Which it did, occasionally. I actually wrote a little app for the 2016 badge, at camp. But never got to making use of the hardware. (I also never fixed the neopixel.) 2018 I failed to obtain a badge. 2020, well, yeah. The 2022 badge only had a USB-C plug connection, and I didn't have a USB-C socket, so I couldn't do anything with it. 2024 decided to flip the script, with the Tildagon. The idea is a pair of boards; the base board being the main platform, paired to a faceplate, with the screen, LEDs, themed artwork, etc, that will be updated for each event.

( Badge )

Tildagon, in operation
Photo by chebe

( Hexpansions )

( Case )

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Merry Krampus surface-mount soldering kit

Mon, 19 Dec 2022 15:04:56 GMT

I'm not of an Alpine culture, I didn't know what a Krampus was, but I mean look at how cool this Merry Krampus surface-mount soldering kit looks! I wanted it. (It's also available on Tindie, but the Challenge version seems permanently sold out.) I found and ordered it last year, but it arrived in January, so I put it in a drawer until recently. I got the Challenge version, because a little challenge in your life can be good for you.

Slight hitch being, I didn't have any surface-mount soldering tools. So I had at the kit with my regular soldering tools. The instructions are thorough, and it even comes with a programmer that you need to assemble. But when I got to the point where I could program the board it just wasn't working. The LEDs at the eyes would blink, but then the Arduino IDE would complain that it couldn't communicate with the board. I emailed the creators, and was surprised when they replied, with even more detailed info to help me through the process! Seriously, they are lovely people.

I examined the circuit diagrams, figured out which pins on the board were which on the diagrams. I multi-metred my way through all the connections. It all seemed good. The next step was removing the transistors. I did not fancy that with my standard soldering iron, so I ordered a SMD Repair station (a.k.a. a very hot air gun). Before trying to remove the components I hit every single solder joint with the hot air. I couldn't see anything happening, but the plastic parts of the switches are very toasted, so stuff was happening. Then I tried programming the board, and it worked first time! My guess is I had made connections (multi-metre said so) but that they weren't good enough. Reflowing the solder must have helped strengthen the connections. After that you can add decorations and ways to attach the board to things/you. (There is also the challenge of changing the programming, but I might save that for next year.)

( Pictures )

Finished, and programmed board, all lit up
Photo by chebe

Of course, if you don't enjoy this kind of challenge you could buy the presoldered version, or even the solderless version, which is new this year. But as frustrating as it was doing this kit without the proper tools, it really does feel like an achievement to have it working!

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Artistic PCB Design

Sat, 08 Aug 2020 12:17:20 GMT

I attended a workshop at HOPE called 'Artistic PCB Design for Terrified Beginners'. I enjoyed it immensely. There is a lot of information at the wiki page, and the instructional part is on youtube.

You are informed about the different layers that make up a printed circuit board, and how to leave gaps to get certain effects, like exposed copper, and holes in the copper to let light through.

The basic circuit, a four-pin SAO, two LEDs and two resistors intended to be an add-on board, template was provided.

It's a steep learning curve, having to learn to use KiCad, Inkscape, and Krita. Krita is a my new favourite graphics program. It won me over by being able to create vector layers on top of your raster layers.

I wasn't prepared and had to hurriedly find some artwork to play with to make my first board. So I found some artwork of someone I don't think would mind becoming a circuit board. Here's my first attempt using too much halftone.

Now I just have to wait for the surface mount components to arrive to complete the boards.

( Images )

Board back-lit to demonstrate transparency
Photo by chebe

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