Samwise Makers' News
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Hackaday Europe 2026 Final Speakers and Workshops Announced for Lecco, Italy
Hackaday Europe 2026 has revealed its final round of speakers and workshops ahead of the May 15–17 event at the Politecnico Milano campus in Lecco, Italy, with a pre-event gathering on the evening of the 15th for early arrivals. The conference leads with a keynote from hardware legend Sprite_tm (Jeroen Domburg), who will walk through designing a compact 486 single-board computer from the silicon up, complete with modern amenities including USB and networking. The full programme spans embedded systems, RF, retro computing, and creative hardware builds, with both talks and hands-on workshops. Tickets are available via Eventbrite for the two-day conference in the Italian lake district.
Sources: Hackaday
WaveOverhangs: New OrcaSlicer Fork Prints 90-Degree Overhangs Without Supports
A new FDM slicer called WaveOverhangs, forked from OrcaSlicer, aims to eliminate support structures for horizontal overhangs by using wave-inspired toolpaths. Rather than extruding into empty space, the algorithm deposits rings of plastic that bond to the previously cooled ring, gradually cantilevering material outward without any scaffold. The technique allows overhangs approaching 90 degrees — a significant improvement over the conventional 45-degree rule. Two algorithms are available with extensive parameter tuning, though the project remains experimental — getting optimal results requires trial and error for each printer and filament. The slicer is freely available for download from the WaveOverhangs project website.
Sources: Hackaday
Compression Molding Turns Failed PLA and HDPE Prints Into Useful Objects
A hands-on video demonstration explores using compression molding to recycle failed 3D prints and plastic scrap into functional objects, offering makers a low-cost method to divert FDM waste from landfill. PLA proved the most workable material, processed at approximately 130°C — chopped-up print waste was easily pressed into molds to produce game tokens and small parts. HDPE requires a slightly higher temperature, while PETG benefits from a ratcheting clamp for added pressure. Heating typically takes five to seven minutes, with cooling complete in roughly 30 seconds. Mold files for 3D printing are freely shared alongside the video, making the technique accessible to any FDM owner.
Sources: Hackaday
Supercapacitor-Powered IoT Node Demonstrates Off-Grid High-Power Bursts
An entry in Hackaday's 2026 Green Powered Challenge by [Nelectra] demonstrates how supercapacitors can replace batteries in off-grid IoT applications requiring short bursts of high power. Unlike lithium cells, supercapacitors tolerate lower operating voltages, extreme temperatures, and physical shock without thermal runaway risk, making them well-suited to outdoor and industrial sensing. The design stores harvested energy and releases it in controlled bursts to drive a microcontroller, radio transmitter, or sensor cluster. While supercapacitors cannot match battery energy density for sustained loads, the tradeoffs are highly favourable for burst-mode duty cycles where the device spends most of its time idle.
Sources: Hackaday
Fully 3D-Printable Desktop Pinball Machine Launches on Kickstarter
A Kickstarter campaign by 3D Printer Academy offers print files for a fully mechanical, desktop-scale pinball machine manufacturable on any FDM printer — no PCB or electronics required for the base game. The modular design supports two- and four-player multiplayer by routing steel balls from one player's exit chute directly into a neighbouring machine's entry lane, creating chaotic multi-machine play. All structural, mechanical, and cosmetic parts are 3D printable. The campaign provides access to the full print file set, bill of materials, and assembly guide. Individual makers can customise layouts and themes, and the design accommodates most desktop FDM machines with a standard build volume.
Sources: Hackaday
Scrap Labs Debuts Benchtop LPBF Metal 3D Printer at $9,600 Kit Price
Boulder, Colorado startup Scrap Labs debuted the Scrap 1 at the Rocky Mountain RepRap Festival in Loveland, Colorado — a compact laser powder bed fusion metal 3D printer targeting university labs, motorsport workshops, jewelry makers, and serious hobbyists. The machine features a 100×100×100mm build volume, a 200W 915nm fiber laser with an approximately 135-micrometre spot diameter, and a 43×50×57cm footprint at just 30kg. Layer thickness ranges from 20 to 100 micrometres. Slicer support covers OrcaSlicer, PrusaSlicer, and the bundled ScrapSlicer. Founder-tier kit pre-orders are priced at $9,600 until April 30, rising to $14,200 thereafter, with assembled systems starting at $17,990. Shipments expected in early 2027.
Sources: Tom's Hardware
1955 Vacuum Tube Amplifier Rebuilt With Baking Trays as Chassis
Builder [Bettina Neumryr], known for recreating circuits from vintage electronics magazines, has completed a 1955-era vacuum tube amplifier using standard oven baking trays as the chassis instead of purpose-built metalwork. The circuit uses a preamplifier stage feeding a two-tube transformerless phase splitter into a push-pull output stage — a topology common in mid-century hi-fi design. The separate power supply employs a tube rectifier with a substantial choke-input low-pass filter for hum suppression. Adapting baking trays required careful layout and drilling to accommodate tube sockets and high-voltage wiring clearances. Despite the unconventional chassis material, the finished amplifier is fully operational and true to the original design intent.
Sources: Hackaday
Tenth GPS III Satellite Reaches Orbit, Completing the First Full Block
The tenth and final satellite in the GPS III programme has reached orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9, completing the first full block of third-generation GPS spacecraft. GPS III introduces the L1C civilian signal for interoperability with European Galileo and Japanese QZSS constellations, a new M-code military signal with eight times the power of its Block IIF predecessor, and significantly improved anti-jamming and anti-spoofing capabilities. Once calibrated and declared operational, the tenth satellite joins existing GPS III peers. Up to 22 additional GPS IIIF Follow-On satellites are planned over the coming decade as older Block IIF spacecraft are progressively retired and replaced.
Sources: Hackaday
Top Crowdfunding
Kickstarter / Crowd Supply
1. VitaLink — Foldable keyboard + 13" 4K screen, from $279 (Kickstarter)
2. LeafKVM — Open-source KVM, 4-core RV1126B SoC (Crowd Supply, live Apr 21)
3. 3D Printable Pinball Machine (Galactic Odyssey) — 100% FDM (Kickstarter)
GitHub Trending
Makers & Hardware
1. espressif/esp-drone — 1.5k★ Mini quadcopter firmware for ESP32
2. davidmonterocrespo24/velxio — Browser-based Arduino/ESP32/Pico emulator
3. IceWhaleTech/CasaOS — Open-source personal cloud for SBC home servers
Upcoming Events
Hackaday Europe 2026 — May 15–17, Lecco, Italy
Open Hardware Summit 2026 — May 23–24, Berlin, Germany
Maker Faire Bay Area 2026 — Sep 25–27, Vallejo, CA (20th anniversary)
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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