adafruit

Brooklyn, NY USA - Manufacturer, open-source hardware, certified Minority and Woman-owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) Teaching, sharing, #engineering #DIY #electronics #opensource #opensourcehardware #hardware #python #circuitpython #arduino, #raspberrypi #art #hacking... account is managed by @ladyada @ptorrone no bots, all toots are from either ladyada or pt, blame them :)

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Last Notes

2024-11-20 00:11:35

Getting ready for a fun series this year! Deck the halls with 8-bit cheer! 24 Days of Retro Computing: A festive journey through time #retrocomputing
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2024-11-19 12:55:49

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You could stack these side by side on a breadboard with as little as 0.7" pitch!

2024-11-19 12:55:48

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(http://www.unitedcreation.co/marvel-tubes/) and realized they're just using the same 1.14" TFTs we stock already (https://www.adafruit.com/product/4383), so why not re-spin the breakout into a skinny right-angle-mount version? Instead of card edge, we have 2x7 right angle headers - both rows are the same contact, but this way, we get more mechanical stability. We kept the level shifting to work with 3.3V or 5V microcontrollers but dropped the micro SD card.

2024-11-19 12:55:34

Newxie brings the joy of nixies without the 170V power supply 💡🕰️✨
If there's one thing that melts our hearts, it's a nixie clock - we built one 20 years ago! (https://www.ladyada.net/portfolio/2003/index.html) but nixies are hard to find now that we don't hit up the MIT swapfest at 7am anymore (https://calendar.mit.edu/event/swapfest-the-flea-at-mit-2024); well we saw this funky faux nixie clock
https://media.mastodon.cloud/media_attachments/files/113/509/721/958/189/737/original/4d38d7fe4eb38274.jpg

2024-11-17 15:50:19

Desk of Ladyada - Sample Sunday and Solar Soft-Start 🔋🔧🪛 https://youtu.be/3Tz-R3F3EYU
Prototypes are in! Tested our USB/Solar/DC to 5V booster—note: loads 200mA need a workaround, but it’s a win for the price. Also tested cables & a spinning motor for holiday vibes! SOIC debugging clips—perfect for 0.3" SOICs on Metro RP2350 boards!

2024-11-15 19:35:09

🚨✨ New at Adafruit! ✨🚨 💻 Raspberry Pi USB 3 Hub - 5 Gbit/s USB 3.2 Gen1, 🌈 Adafruit NeoPixel Pebble / Seed LED Strand - 100, 150, 200, and 300 LEDs, 🔋 Adafruit bq25185 USB / DC / Solar Lithium Ion/Polymer charger, and ⚡ Adafruit bq25185 USB / DC / Solar Charger with 3.3V Buck Board. Head over to https://adafruit.com/new
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2024-11-14 00:59:09

10% discount code, code is: solarbuck ends at midnight NYC time - SHOP NOW! https://www.adafruit.com

2024-11-14 00:59:03

WE ARE LIVE in BROOKLYN! ASK AN ENGINEER! https://youtu.be/PU4mqyXlBHU

2024-11-14 00:39:26

Digi-Key and Adafruit present - EYE on NPI, the engineering New Product Introduction (NPI) video series with the latest and greatest semiconductors and electronic components! TONIGHT! https://youtu.be/PU4mqyXlBHU @digikey

2024-11-13 15:44:49

ASK AN ENGINEER 11/13/2024 LIVE! 🚀
Join us tonight at 8pm ET for Adafruit's weekly engineering Q&A! Get your burning questions answered, catch up on the latest electronic trends, and grab a special discount code during the show. Tune in: https://youtu.be/PU4mqyXlBHU 🎥✨
https://media.mastodon.cloud/media_attachments/files/113/476/414/923/544/706/original/a99f303e18da03f9.jpeg

2024-11-13 15:19:22

The longest running & biggest worldwide online Show and Tell TONIGHT! Live from BROOKLYN, NY! Wednesday November 13, 2024 at 7:30pm ET come on by and show & share your projects, retro hardware, and more! https://youtu.be/OFihT5O9tYw
https://media.mastodon.cloud/media_attachments/files/113/476/314/565/441/305/original/415dfb7379122286.jpeg

2024-11-12 02:37:15

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We even managed to get a couple of niceties like switchable power for the USB host power, a USB boot button as user input, and an SD card detect GPIO.

2024-11-12 02:37:15

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We wanted to jam-pack this design, and with the extra GPIO on the B we have plenty of peripherals: the 22-pin HSTX for DVI output, Stemma QT port, NeoPixel, JST 3-SH SWD debug port, 16MB flash, an extra spot for PSRAM, MicroSD card with SPI or SDIO connections, and 5V buck converter that can give us 2 Amp easily, which we'll need since we also have a USB Host port pinout for connecting USB peripherals.

2024-11-12 02:36:57

Metro RP2350 - now with Bigger Better RP2350B! Ⓜ️🍧
We designed and prototyped an RP2350 Metro a few months ago, and it worked OK, but we were really short on pins, which meant a lot of annoying compromises - so we ended up only fabbing the RP2350 Feather to start. With that design flying off the shelves, It's time to revisit the Metro.
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2024-11-11 15:53:23

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What other stepper chips should we make breakouts for?

2024-11-11 15:53:18

The A4988 is a classic stepper driver in a new fit ⚙️🔧
The Allegro A4988 (https://www.digikey.com/short/zvb1f825) is one of many popular stepper driver chips with a STEP/DIR interface. Pololu popularized the tiny breakouts (https://www.pololu.com/product/1182) used for like every CNC and 3D printer. We wanted to make a slightly more expansive design. We have mounting holes, terminal blocks for power and stepper wires, and three LEDs that will indicate the direction and when a step is activated.
https://media.mastodon.cloud/media_attachments/files/113/465/123/706/068/381/original/df7c190f16d2fcbb.jpg

2024-11-10 16:00:32

Desk of Ladyada - Solar Boosters, Split Supplies, and a Floppsy rev 💾✨🔋 https://youtu.be/yfdQca-_H4o
Floppsy Rev B debugging (floppy pins, power, boot button) & prepping Disk tests. Crafted a split-supply board (-12V throwback to 6.101!) and boosted 5V solar power magic with bq25185 + TPS61023. Also hunting for a modern 5V stepper driver!
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2024-11-10 14:42:35

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others in consideration ...
TRS-80 Micro Computer System (1977)
Sinclair ZX-81 (1981)
Acorn Electron (1983)
BeOS (1995)
Silicon Graphics O² (1996)

2024-11-10 12:34:29

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this approach also seems like it could be a kid's book - a book for parents to follow along with their kids on the history of computers with how-tos on building, or emulating them. maybe even a "build-a-bear" - style workshops / classes for kids and parents, but for making their first computers together
🕹️ this was inspired by andy baio's approach of guiding his son through the chronological history of video games (2014)
https://kotaku.com/father-makes-son-play-through-video-game-history-chron-1669616589
https://medium.com/message/playing-with-my-son-e5226ff0a7c3

2024-11-10 12:34:09

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altair 8800 (1975)
apple i (1976)
commodore pet (1977)
apple ii (1977)
atari 400/800 (1979)
commodore vic-20 (1980)
ibm pc (1981)
commodore 64 (1982)
apple macintosh (1984)
amiga 500 (1987)
next computer (1990)
sun sparcstation 10 (1992)
compaq presario 425 (1993)
sony vaio pcv (1996)
apple imac g3 (1998)
dell dimension xps t500 (1999)

2024-11-10 12:34:09

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2024-11-10 12:33:58

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might need to do emulators for some of these, but trying to see if we can get many of these, build/re-build, or borrow -
some of the plans will be to explore the hardware - on how it all worked before computing moved to sealed black rectangles that's mostly used to buy things or pay subscriptions services.
here's the "playlist" so far - have any suggestions?

2024-11-10 12:33:46

🖥️ 🧸 a new (old) approach for 21st-century kids using computers... chronological order
as our kiddo gets older we are going on a journey with her, focusing on the evolution of computing from where it started, and using each one, in order.
our adventure begins with retrofitting a 1998 littletikes/ibm playset to house the early computers, providing her with a tangible way to interact with these machines.
https://media.mastodon.cloud/media_attachments/files/113/458/675/298/005/621/original/49547d58b3e602e3.jpeg
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2024-11-10 01:51:14

🎨✨ Fresh drops at Adafruit! Raspberry Pi Touch Display 2 - 7" 720x1280 with Capacitive Touch, Adafruit LPS28 (LPS28DFW) Pressure Sensor - STEMMA QT / Qwiic, and Adafruit Pixel Shifter - For Addressable LEDs https://adafruit.com/new
https://media.mastodon.cloud/media_attachments/files/113/456/149/169/287/932/original/05025ffc4976431c.mp4

2024-11-07 00:56:31

10% discount code, code is: shiftpixels ends at midnight NYC time - SHOP NOW! https://www.adafruit.com
https://media.mastodon.cloud/media_attachments/files/113/438/935/417/279/432/original/3cb22519b7a856aa.jpeg

2024-11-07 00:56:29

ASK AN ENGINEER 11/6/2024 LIVE! https://youtu.be/F9LdUIJsqhs

2024-11-07 00:31:21

WE ARE LIVE in BROOKLYN! SHOW AND TELL! https://youtu.be/BpKzSiYt3_A

2024-11-07 00:00:07

The longest running & biggest worldwide online Show and Tell TONIGHT! Live from BROOKLYN, NY! Wednesday November 6, 2024 at 7:30pm ET come on by and show & share your projects, retro hardware, and more! https://youtu.be/BpKzSiYt3_A

2024-11-06 04:09:12

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It's a combo buck and boost: give it 3~5VDC and give you up to -15V and +15V output. The split supply part is particularly nice because you'll want +-12V or +-15V for analog projects. This standalone power supply breakout has two mini trim pots to help adjust the output voltages on both sides so you can have as little as +/-6V and up to +/-15V. With the 2A internal switches, you'll get a fair amount of current on either rail.

2024-11-06 04:09:04

TPS65131 Split-Output Booster Supply
Generating a negative voltage over -5V is kinda annoying: most chargepumps max out at 5V inversion, and ones that can double-then-invert like the MAX232 aren't high current. We bumped into the TPS65131 (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/texas-instruments/TPS65131RGER/1672464) while working on our Floppsy design (https://blog.adafruit.com/2024/10/29/floppsy-rev-b-now-apple-ier-a-floppy-disk-shaped-board-fully-open-hardware-open-source-interface-to-archive-diskettes/) - we need -12V to bias the Apple Disk ][ drive control system.
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2024-11-03 00:43:44

New this week! 🌡️ Adafruit LPS28 (LPS28DFW) Pressure Sensor - STEMMA QT / Qwiic, and the 🔴🟢🔵 Adafruit Pixel Shifter - For Addressable LEDs.
https://media.mastodon.cloud/media_attachments/files/113/416/247/682/229/984/original/1906df71ca58c041.mp4

2024-10-30 23:34:01

ASK AN ENGINEER returns next week, the talent (ladyada) was not feeling so good, so we did Show and Tell and we'll get back to ASK an ENGINEER next week! Here's a discount code for tonight regardless! 10% discount code, code is: pixelshifter ends at midnight NYC time https://adafruit.com
https://media.mastodon.cloud/media_attachments/files/113/398/987/950/022/212/original/8ac886834ae2d031.jpeg

2024-10-30 23:31:10

WE ARE LIVE in BROOKLYN! SHOW AND TELL! https://youtu.be/DVZf3TpAmIw

2024-10-30 11:22:45

Floppsy rev B - now Apple-ier - a floppy disk-shaped board, fully open hardware / open source interface to archive diskettes! 💾 🍏 📀
https://media.mastodon.cloud/media_attachments/files/113/396/112/284/584/275/original/7f0066229f6863c5.jpg

2024-10-25 23:02:32

Open Hardware month continues, there are over 2,905 open source hardware projects certified, currently Adafruit has 790 certifications, will we hit 800 by Halloween?? SCARY! 🎃👻🕸️🧛‍♂️🧟‍♀️🍬😈
https://certification.oshwa.org/list.html?q=adafruit
@npub19ht…mmyt
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2024-10-19 14:30:24

Desk of Ladyada - Pixel Shifter Proto & Floppsy Re-visit 🖥️📀💾 https://youtu.be/sJrZRJUlvhM
We've got working Pixel Shifter prototype PCBs, leveling WS2811s and inverting TM1814s—final boards are booked! Also revising the Floppsy board for 3.25" drives, adding buttons, Apple Disk support, & more. Plus, we’re on the hunt for a short rotary encoder!

2024-10-17 00:17:56

10% discount code, code is: triplepow ends at midnight NYC time - SHOP NOW! https://www.adafruit.com & https://youtu.be/N2GmWh7eR2Y

2024-10-17 00:01:11

10% discount code, code is: triplepow ends at midnight NYC time - SHOP NOW! https://www.adafruit.com

2024-10-17 00:00:27

WE ARE LIVE in BROOKLYN! ASK AN ENGINEER! https://youtu.be/N2GmWh7eR2Y

2024-10-16 23:30:26

WE ARE LIVE in BROOKLYN! SHOW AND TELL! https://youtu.be/U_k2YzIVW-8

2024-10-16 19:52:52

CP2105 dual UART breakout 🔌💻
Sometimes, you need more than one UART for interfacing with hardware. So instead of getting two CP2102 breakouts (https://www.adafruit.com/product/5335), you could use this CP2105 (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/silicon-labs/CP2105-F01-GMR/4069046) chip. We exposed the two CDC UARTs on either side plus the modem control signals so you could use this for bootloading various microcontrollers. Coming soon!
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2024-10-13 15:45:21

Desk of Ladyada - Breakout Board Backlog https://youtu.be/oQUOjeIDtE8
We're tackling our breakout board backlog! Dusting off designs from 2021-2023 with help from ChatGPT for repetitive firmware tasks. Featured: VCNL4200 & LPS28 drivers. Plus, The Great Search is all about tubing for ported pressure sensors!

2024-10-09 01:42:15

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Get in on the fun — share your own stories, photos, and cherished gear using #ShackToberFest on social media. We can’t wait to see your favorite memories!
Follow the ShackToberFest festivities and more @ Adafruit:
https://blog.adafruit.com/tag/shacktoberfest/

2024-10-09 01:42:10

Join us all month long as we celebrate ShackToberFest! 📻🏠
What’s ShackToberFest? It’s our tribute to Radio Shack and Tandy, where we dive into the iconic parts, gear, books, and projects.
Throughout October, we’ll be sharing blog posts, featuring classic merchandise, and live demonstrations on our weekly Show and Tell. If it’s connected to Radio Shack or Tandy, it’s fair game!
https://media.mastodon.cloud/media_attachments/files/113/274/920/744/466/288/original/f269978146a94a8e.jpg

2024-10-08 18:14:17

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Our request! We would love it if there were tabs for 'fixed' file names, and then clicking on the tab set the context for the code we're collaborating on.

2024-10-08 18:14:11

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It's fast! And has very few errors. We like to go through each register one by one, add the typedefs and #defines, then the setter/getter functions, and finally the arduino ino 'sketch' to actually test and verify. However, with three files - header, cpp, and ino - canvas can get really confused about which file we're editing and what it's called.

2024-10-08 18:13:47

Ladyada tries out ChatGPT Canvas for Arduino library writing: A request- tabs & context, please!
We sat down this morning to try and crank out a library for the VCNL4200 light/proximity sensor (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/vishay-semiconductor-opto-division/VCNL4200/7394601) - these sorts of chips always have a trillion twiddly registers and are a bear to write. Phil recommended that Limor try out OpenAI's new ChatGPT Canvas (https://openai.com/index/introducing-canvas/).
https://media.mastodon.cloud/media_attachments/files/113/273/155/743/001/672/original/783dd551e9848850.mp4

2024-10-07 18:00:04

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Good for sensitive things like RTDs, thermocouples, or resistive bridges like load cells! Coming soon.

2024-10-07 17:59:59

ADS112C04 is a 24-bit 4-channel ADC
We stock and use a couple of different I2C ADCs, such as the NAU7802 (https://www.adafruit.com/product/4538) and the HX711 (https://www.adafruit.com/product/5974). Both of these are kinda designed specifically for load cells. This is a more general-purpose 24-bit ADC using the ADS122C04 (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/texas-instruments/ADS122C04IRTER/9665929) with adjustable 1x to 128x gain, up to 2ksps and an internal reference. it can be single or differential input.
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2024-10-06 21:10:27

We are LIVE! Desk of Ladyada - Sample Sunday: cafe lights and TM1814s 🌈💡🔌 https://youtu.be/7qozX1owTSM

2024-10-03 10:10:59

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finally there's an 74LVC1G04 (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/texas-instruments/SN74LVC1G04DBVR/385716) inverted data output line for TM1814 and other weird chips. terminal blocks on either side make this a no-solder board. There's also a single disableable 1.5mm NeoPixel on the DAT line for testing the WS281x signal coming through OK. Coming soon.

2024-10-03 10:10:48

A level shifter just for pixels 🔌✨💡
After noodling with some WS2811s and TM1814, we really wish we had a board that would level-shift our NeoPixel signals from 3V to 5V or give us an inverted data line. So, we designed this board. it uses an AP3602 (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/diodes-incorporated/AP3602AKTR-G1/5305823) charge pump to give a clean 5V reference voltage from 3~5V. a 74HCT2G34 (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/nexperia-usa-inc/74HCT2G34GW-125/1300830) shifts two signals - we call them DAT and CLK, but it could be anything really - to 5V from 1.8~5V.
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2024-10-02 11:46:10

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After some PIO twiddling, we did get them working pretty nicely with an RP2040 https://learn.adafruit.com/intro-to-rp2040-pio-with-circuitpython/using-pio-to-drive-a-neopixel Make us think - we should craft a NeoPixel signal shifter board with an optional inverted output! Coming soon!

2024-10-02 11:46:05

RGBW cafe lights with TM1814 chips 🌈💡✨
More! We got a set of weatherproof cafe lights with RGBW LEDs for a 'pure' white color light. However, they don't use the WS281x chipset for the control signal. Instead, it's TM1814, which is kind of similar but has a few key differences. One is you have to send an 8-byte 'global brightness' setting to start, and then you have to continuously send a signal over every 400ms, and to top it off, the signal is inverted!
https://media.mastodon.cloud/media_attachments/files/113/237/658/396/977/931/original/a5dc74a77bbf8b0b.mp4

2024-09-30 00:06:44

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2024-09-30 00:06:22

The "Nubbin bug" lives - A Star Trek prop resurrection with 3D Printing 🐛🖖🎥
https://blog.adafruit.com/2024/09/29/the-nubbin-bug-lives-a-star-trek-prop-resurrection-with-3d-printing/
#stng #startrek
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2024-09-29 14:29:31

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illuminate your projects with the Adafruit Double-Sided Emitter NeoPixel LED Strip with 120 LEDs per meter and the Adafruit NeoPixel Silicone Bead LED Strip with 180 LEDs per meter. Dive in at https://adafruit.com/new

2024-09-29 14:29:26

Check out what's new at Adafruit! Adafruit HDC3022 Precision Temperature & Humidity Sensor with STEMMA QT / Qwiic compatibility. iFixit FixHub - Power Series Smart Soldering Iron. LANA TNY - CH32V203 mini microcontroller board by PHVX BV. Adafruit Sunken USB Type C Breakout Board for reliable downstream connections ...
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2024-09-12 00:06:38

10% discount code, code is: featherrp ends at midnight NYC time - SHOP NOW! https://www.adafruit.com

2024-09-11 19:53:06

More timelapse of the Ada Lovelace mural at the new Adafruit factory in Industry City, Brooklyn New York
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2023-08-13 23:42:48

Adafruit BusIO library makes debugging I2C failures fast 🛠️💡🔌
It's not often... but every few months, one of our sensor drivers stops working due to hardware changes. It happened this week with the AHT20 tester - for some reason, it doesn't init anymore! What would typically turn into a multi-hour debugging session is a lot easier since we started using an intermediary library called BusIO for I2C/SPI device interactions https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_BusIO -
https://media.mastodon.cloud/media_attachments/files/110/884/926/878/247/116/original/bf65c835f3440974.mp4