Samwise Makers' News
Monday, July 13, 2026
John Deere Settles Right-to-Repair Charges with FTC
John Deere has settled right-to-repair charges with the Federal Trade Commission, a win for independent mechanics and farmer-owners who have long fought the agricultural giant over restrictive repair policies. Under the agreement, Deere must provide owners and independent repair shops with access to the diagnostic tools, software, and technical documentation needed to service their own equipment — ending a practice of funnelling repairs through expensive authorized dealerships. The case signals a broader regulatory shift: the FTC has increasingly scrutinised repair-restriction tactics across the electronics, automotive, and agricultural sectors, and this settlement could pressure other manufacturers to follow suit. Hackaday Links · July 13, 2026
Raspberry Pi Gains Industrial SPE Networking HAT
Raspberry Pi has launched a pair of HAT boards bringing 10BASE-T1S and 10BASE-T1L Single Pair Ethernet connectivity to the Pi ecosystem. Unlike conventional Ethernet — which requires four pairs of copper wires — SPE uses just one twisted pair, dramatically simplifying cabling in industrial environments while extending network reach up to 1,000 metres for the T1L variant. Both HATs use Microchip’s LAN8670 chip and support the IEEE 802.3cg standard increasingly adopted in factory automation, smart buildings, and HVAC control systems. Compatible with both Raspberry Pi 4 and 5, the boards make Pi an attractive option for low-power industrial IoT deployments.
Sources: CNX Software Share ↗
MicroPython Arrives on the SNES With AIs Help
What happens when a retro game cartridge runs a modern scripting language? [Fabian Kuebler] created exactly that: a SNES cartridge that boots MicroPython, turning the vintage Super Nintendo into an interactive Python interpreter. The project runs on FloopyDrive cartridge hardware and was developed with significant assistance from Claude Fable, Anthropic’s latest AI model — making it a notable example of AI-assisted retro hardware hacking. The SNES’s 65816 CPU handles surprisingly capable MicroPython sessions, and with the GitHub repository already trending this week, the project has sparked wide interest in creative re-purposing of classic console hardware.
DOOM Ported to the 1995 Casio Loopy Console
The 1995 Casio Loopy — marketed exclusively in Japan as a gaming console for girls, featuring a built-in sticker printer — has finally run DOOM. [ThroatyMumbo] ported id Software’s classic first-person shooter to the Loopy’s Hitachi SH-1 processor running at 16 MHz with just 1 MB of RAM, loading the game via a FloopyDrive flash cartridge. The port required creative optimisation to squeeze acceptable frame rates from hardware never intended for 3D rendering. It joins a distinguished tradition of DOOM ports to improbable platforms — from ATMs to pregnancy tests — and demonstrates that 30-year-old Japanese consumer hardware still has secrets worth unlocking.
Open-Source 4-Axis CNC Hot-Wire Foam Cutter
[Michael Rechtin] has designed and open-sourced a 4-axis CNC hot-wire foam cutter purpose-built for slicing foam into precise airfoil profiles and complex tapered geometries. The machine uses NEMA 17 stepper motors, a g-code-compatible motion controller, and largely 3D-printed structural components — keeping costs low while achieving the precision that hand-held hotwire tools cannot. A collapsible frame makes storage practical in small shops. The project targets RC aircraft builders, model-makers, and architecture students who need accurate foam blanks at a fraction of commercial machine prices. Design files and firmware are freely available on GitHub, where the repository is currently trending.
A Homemade Ceramic Printer That Actually Works
Ceramic 3D printing remains rare precisely because clay shrinks, slumps, and devours plastic extruder parts through abrasion. [Joshua Bird] tackled all three problems in a home-built polar-axis ceramic printer. An air compressor pushes clay along a feed tube into an auger-driven extruder; a gap at the top vents trapped air. After plastic augers failed within an hour, a 3D-printed stainless steel replacement solved the longevity problem. The machine successfully printed a double-walled cup, a climbing-themed mug, and a flexible chain-mail ceramic mesh — demonstrating that direct clay extrusion is within a determined maker’s reach.
The First New WW2-Spec Jeep Built Since 1945
What does a sponsorship deal gone sideways look like? For The Autopian’s [David Tracy], it meant sourcing every part for a WW2-specification Jeep from eBay, then driving it to Moab. The build demanded a new engine block sourced from France, a period-correct chassis and body fabricated in the Philippines, and faithful reproduction of the infamously loose early Jeep steering system. True to military-vehicle form, the timeline left almost no margin for road testing before a 900-mile cross-country drive. The project is a master class in supply-chain creativity and the stubborn persistence that great maker builds require.
Top Crowdfunding
Crowd Supply / Kickstarter
1. PicoIDE — open-source IDE/ATAPI emulator for vintage PCs — Crowd Supply (live)
2. HealthyPi 6 — open CERN-licensed health monitoring platform — Crowd Supply
3. Open Printer — open-source repairable inkjet for makers — launching soon
GitHub Pulse
Makers & Hardware
1. FabianKuebler/micropython-snes — MicroPython on the SNES (this edition)
2. ThroatyMumbo/LoopyDOOM — DOOM on the Casio Loopy (this edition)
3. giovi321/smalltv-mod — custom firmware for GeekMagic SmallTV ESP devices
Event Radar
📅 Maker Faire Edmonton — Jul 17–19, Alberta, Canada
📅 Crowd Supply Live — Jul 24–26, Portland, OR (SDR hardware focus)
📅 Maker Faire Bay Area — Sep 25–27, Mare Island (20th anniversary)
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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