Samwise Makers' News
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Maker Group Builds Working Replica of Chernobyl SKALA Display Panel
Maker group Chornobyl Family has completed a functional replica of the SKALA status display panel from Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant’s RBMK reactor control room, exhibited at the plant’s 40th-anniversary memorial. The build uses sheet-metal casing, addressable LEDs to recreate the electroluminescent-style indicator panels of the original, and a large alarm speaker mounted at the upper right. Components including the error indicators were 3D printed to match original geometry. The replica received approval from former ChNPP reactor operators who verified its fidelity to the original SKALA system. Full build plans are available via the Chornobyl Family Patreon. The group built an RBMK control panel replica and SKALA console for earlier exhibitions.
Sources: Hackaday
ESP32-S3 Status Screen Monitors Bambu Labs 3D Printers over MQTT
Developer Keralots has built a compact remote status monitor for Bambu Labs 3D printers using an ESP32-S3 Super Mini paired with a 1.54-inch TFT display at 240×240 resolution. The open-source project, hosted on GitHub, communicates with Bambu printers over MQTT with TLS encryption and renders live printer data as arc-gauge dashboards covering bed temperature, nozzle temperature, print progress, and AMS filament status. Buzzer notifications can be configured for print-complete or error states. The build works with any Bambu Cloud-connected printer using an access token, and supports LAN Direct connections on compatible models when Developer Mode is enabled. The project sidesteps reliance on Bambu’s official app for monitoring.
Sources: Hackaday
Analog Voltmeter Clock Uses AVR128DB28 and Software PWM
Builder lcamtuf has crafted a precision clock using three Baomain 65C5 analog voltmeters to display hours, minutes, and seconds, driven by an AVR128DB28 8-bit microcontroller running at 8 MHz. Each voltmeter face was custom-printed with the correct division count for its time unit: 13 for hours and 61 each for minutes and seconds. The needle position is controlled via software-generated pulse-width modulation, with no dedicated PWM hardware required. All electronics are mounted in a handmade wooden case featuring kerf-bent panels for curved lines. Build notes and a video are available on the author’s Substack. The rollover behavior at the end of each cycle has drawn attention from the Hackaday community.
Sources: Hackaday
Harbor Freight Predator 212 Engine Gets DIY Electronic Fuel Injection
Maker Carlos Takeshita converted a Harbor Freight Predator 212 single-cylinder gasoline engine to run on electronic fuel injection, replacing the stock carburetor. The build adds a missing-tooth trigger wheel monitored by a Hall-effect sensor for crankshaft position tracking, a custom aluminum fuel cell with a high-pressure pump and regulator, and a single fuel injector installed in a custom-fabricated intake manifold. A Teensy 4.0 microcontroller reads a manifold air pressure (MAP) sensor to calculate injection timing and pulse width. The system runs open-loop without an oxygen sensor. Full firmware and CAD files are available on GitHub. It demonstrates how low-cost hardware can replicate automotive-grade engine management on a workshop engine.
Sources: Hackaday
Rotation-Based Electroplating Method Handles Oversized 3D-Printed Parts
Maker Hendrik has demonstrated a rotation-based electroplating method for oversized 3D-printed PLA parts that cannot fit inside a conventional vat. The technique uses a custom acrylic vat, a motor rig, and an ESP32 with a stepper motor and driver to slowly rotate the conductive-paint-coated part through an electrolyte solution during an overnight plating run. After an initial copper coating was applied and polished, additional electroplating layers of different metals were added to produce a two-tone finish. The build required a custom PCB and enclosure for the motor controller, but all hardware can be reused across future jobs. The method extends maker-scale electroplating to parts previously limited by vat size constraints.
Sources: Hackaday
Selective Laser Melting Creates Porous ‘Breathable’ Steel for Injection Moulds
Hackaday’s Zoe Skyforest covers research into porous ‘breathable’ steel produced by selective laser melting (SLM) 3D printing with chromium nitride (CrNx) foaming agents mixed into the metal powder. The technique creates interconnected micrometer-scale pores—below 80 micrometers—that allow trapped gas to vent through injection mold tooling while blocking molten plastic. Porosity level is controlled by CrNx concentration and laser scan speed. The approach outperforms sintered inserts like PM-35 for complex mold geometries. The nitrogen and chromium released during foaming improve hardness and corrosion resistance of the finished part. While specialist equipment is required, the method could eliminate vent-channel design work in high-volume injection molding production.
Sources: Hackaday
1995 Casio Organizer Retrofitted with Raspberry Pi Zero and Color Display
Maker TundraLegendZ has retrofitted a 1995 Casio Business Organizer Scheduling System SF-5580 with a Raspberry Pi Zero single-board computer and a 480×800 color LCD display, tucked into the original display housing. A Raspberry Pi Pico handles all 82 keys of the original keyboard matrix over USB. Power comes from a 6000 mAh lithium battery. The build also hijacks the original buzzer as a custom notification speaker. Software prototype screenshots shared on Reddit show the device running a modern UI with calendar and note-taking applications. The project is ongoing, with a planned HackRF upgrade to add software-defined radio capability. Build details and progress images are posted on the r/raspberry_pi subreddit.
Sources: Hackaday
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