Samwise Makers' News
Friday, May 15, 2026
Start9 Launches Fully Open-Source RISC-V Router Running StartWRT
Start9 has launched the RISC-V Router, claiming it is the most open router available to consumers. Powered by a SpacemiT K1 octa-core RISC-V processor with 4GB LPDDR4 RAM and 16GB eMMC, the board includes dual Gigabit Ethernet and an AsiaRF AW7915-NP1 WiFi 6 4T4R module delivering up to 2,401 Mbps combined. The device runs StartWRT, a fork of OpenWrt, with network-wide security profiles, Identity PSK, and unlimited VPN tunnels. Hardware schematics, the OpenSBI boot stack, and the full StartWRT OS are open-source; only the WiFi firmware remains proprietary due to FCC constraints. Start9 is crowdfunding via router.start9.com, with units targeted for September 2026 at $300 or more.
Sources: CNX Software
Jailbroken Nintendo Switch Cuts Prusa MK3S Print Time From 90 Minutes to 8
Maker Cocoanix found his Prusa MK3S too slow for routine prints and solved the problem by repurposing a jailbroken Nintendo Switch as a Klipper host. Klipper offloads complex motion planning to a faster general-purpose CPU, freeing the printer's onboard microcontroller to handle only motor actuation. The result: the standard Benchy benchmark dropped from 90 minutes to just 8 minutes, a roughly ten-fold improvement. Input shaping, enabled via Klipper, further improved both print speed and output quality. While a Raspberry Pi is the typical Klipper host, the Switch hack demonstrates that almost any Linux-capable device can extend the life of older FDM printers.
Sources: Hackaday
M5Stack PaperColor Brings 4-Inch Spectra 6 Color E Ink Display to ESP32-S3
M5Stack has launched the PaperColor, an ESP32-S3R8-based development kit centered on a 4-inch E Ink Spectra 6 full-color display at 600×400 resolution. Alongside the Tensilica LX7 dual-core processor running at up to 240 MHz with 8MB PSRAM, the devkit includes a microSD slot, SHT40 temperature and humidity sensor, ES8311 audio codec with a 1W speaker, MEMS microphone with echo cancellation, two RGB LEDs, and an infrared emitter. A 1,250 mAh battery provides portable operation, with standby current measuring just 92.53 microamps. The PaperColor supports Arduino programming via M5Unified and M5GFX libraries and is priced at $75.
Sources: CNX Software
Yocto Project 6.0 “Wrynose” Released With Linux 6.18 LTS and Four-Year Support Window
The Yocto Project 6.0, codenamed Wrynose, was released on May 14 and ships with Linux kernel 6.18 LTS. Over 240 contributors landed more than 4,000 commits since the prior 5.3 Whinlatter release. Key updates include GCC 15.2, glibc 2.43, LLVM 22.1, Go 1.26, and Rust 1.94, alongside a new bitbake-setup tool and BitBake configuration fragment support. Systemd becomes the default init system for nodistro builds. This LTS release is supported until at least April 2030 and adds improved SBOM generation with SPDX 3.0 output and initial PURL support, easing compliance with the EU Cyber Resilience Act. Yocto 6.1 is planned for Q4 2026.
Sources: CNX Software
PortaRF Merges HackRF One and PortaPack H4M Into a Single Open-Source SDR Board
OpenSourceSDRLab has released the PortaRF, an open-source portable software-defined radio that consolidates the HackRF One and PortaPack H4M into a single PCB. Driven by an NXP LPC4320 dual-core Arm Cortex-M4/M0 microcontroller and Xilinx XC2C64A CPLD, the device covers 1 MHz to 6 GHz for both transmit and receive, with a 4-inch IPS resistive touchscreen replacing the original 3.2-inch display. Receive modes include ADS-B, AIS, Bluetooth, TPMS, and weather radiosondes; transmit modes include APRS, Morse code, and SSTV. An optional ESP32-S3-based AI MDK extension board enables beta voice control. The PortaRF starts at $220 from the OpenSourceSDRLab store.
Sources: CNX Software
Maker Birdbrain Builds a Brushless E-Bike Motor Entirely From First Principles
Maker Birdbrain designed and built a brushless outrunner motor entirely from first principles for use in an electric bike. Using simulation software to model core geometry, wire gauge, and winding configurations, she cut transformer laminations to shape using a bandsaw before assembling a stator from scratch. A 3D-printed housing initially failed under magnetic forces during testing, requiring a redesigned print with thicker walls. The finished motor operates correctly with a suitable driver, though budget controllers deliver poor waveforms for this winding configuration. The full build process, including simulation and driver selection, is documented in a detailed video, offering a practical deep-dive into DIY electric motor construction.
Sources: Hackaday
Clawdmeter Is a DIY ESP32-S3 AMOLED Dashboard for Real-Time Token Usage Monitoring
Clawdmeter is a DIY desk dashboard built around an ESP32-S3 module paired with a 2.16-inch AMOLED screen, designed to display Claude Code token usage in real time. The firmware uses the LVGL graphics library for the UI, the NimBLE stack for Bluetooth LE communication with a host computer, and exposes physical buttons that function as a HID keyboard for programmable shortcuts. The project targets developers who hit daily token limits unexpectedly, providing at-a-glance usage data without switching windows. The full design, including hardware schematics and firmware source, is open-source. CNX Software reports the device was among the most-viewed maker projects this week with over 8,400 views.
Sources: CNX Software
Top Crowdfunding
Kickstarter / Indiegogo / Crowd Supply
1. Start9 RISC-V Router — $300+ pledge, router.start9.com
2. SignalSDR Pro — active on Crowd Supply, ships Jun 2026
3. None confirmed this week
GitHub Trending
Makers & Hardware
1. davidmonterocrespo24/velxio — browser Arduino/ESP32/Pi emulator
2. earlephilhower/arduino-pico — RP2040/RP2350 Arduino core, 1.5k+★
3. OpenSourceSDRLab/PortaRF — open SDR hardware design
Upcoming Events
Open Hardware Summit — May 23–24, Berlin, Germany
Maker Faire Long Island — June 6, Stony Brook University, NY
Maker Faire Bay Area (20th anniv.) — Sep 25–27, Mare Island, CA
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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