Samwise Makers' News
Saturday, October 10, 2026
M5Stack ToughC5 Brings Wi-Fi 6, Zigbee and Thread to a Weatherproof Controller
M5Stack has introduced the ToughC5, a weatherproof IoT controller built around the Espressif ESP32-C5HR8, which pairs a single-core 32-bit RISC-V CPU running at 240 MHz with a low-power core at 40 MHz. Connectivity includes dual-band 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 LE and an 802.15.4 radio for Zigbee 3.0 and Thread 1.3. The board carries 384 KB of SRAM, 8MB of PSRAM, 16MB of flash and a microSD slot, plus a 2.0-inch 320×240 capacitive touch IPS display. RS485 connects through an M12 connector, and the housing is UV-resistant PC+ABS. CNX Software lists the price at $49.90.
Sources: CNX Software
ESP32-C3 DNS Ad Blocker Fits Up to 537,000 Domains in Flash
A developer known as Zed (M-Abozaid) has published esp32-c3-adblock, an open-source, Pi-hole-style DNS ad blocker that runs on an ESP32-C3 microcontroller costing about $2. Instead of keeping domain names in RAM, it stores 40-bit FNV-1a hashes in flash and finds matches with a binary search, using about 50 KB of RAM. A lookup takes roughly 10 ms. Capacity reaches up to 250,000 domains with dual-app partitions for over-the-air updates, and a maximum of 537,000 domains in a single-app layout that disables firmware updates. A web dashboard, per-client tracking and 3D-printable enclosure files are included.
Sources: CNX Software
Bricked Prusa Printer Becomes a Syringe-Based Embedded 3D Printer
Riley, of the Riley’s Lab YouTube channel, has turned a non-functional Prusa FDM printer into a rig for embedded 3D printing, Hackaday reports. The damaged hot end was replaced with the open-source Allstruder syringe pump. In this method, liquid is extruded into a supportive material at a selectable depth and volume, allowing materials that ordinary FDM cannot handle. Cream cheese printed successfully, while a two-part epoxy in hair gel failed because of incompatibility. A silicone (Sylgard 184) trifold torus in hair gel looked promising, but the silicone was still goopy after a few days because the hair gel inhibited curing.
Super Mario 64 Gets a Port to the Microsoft Zune HD
Developer rsheldiii has ported Super Mario 64 to Microsoft’s Zune HD, building on the sm64ex project. The Zune HD uses an NVIDIA Tegra processor from 2009, and the port relies on NVIDIA’s Tegra tools to pre-compile shaders so the hardware can handle the rest of the gameplay. The software does not include the game ROM; users with legal cartridge dumps can build it and load it onto the device. On screen, the player sees a controller interface on the touchscreen, overlaid with the video output from the game. Hackaday notes that the Zune community has stayed active even though production ended in 2012.
NEC ProSpeed 286 Laptop Gets a Raspberry Pi and a Modern Screen
Cory Whitesell has turned his NEC ProSpeed 286 laptop into what he calls a retro battlestation after repair attempts failed. The original power supply still works, and the internal computing hardware draws power from the original hard drive’s Molex connector. A Raspberry Pi, chosen for its compact size, sits inside without gutting the case and enables DOS emulation. The vintage keyboard connects through a PS/2-to-USB adapter, and the passive-matrix LCD was replaced with a modern screen of the same dimensions. The build is an entry in Hackaday’s 2026 Retrocomputing Challenge, which includes a special category aimed at keeping classic machines from becoming electronic waste.
IKEA’s Kortlinje Clock Offers a Hackable LED Matrix
Hackaday’s Jenny List reports that IKEA’s Kortlinje, a digital clock priced at around $20 that includes a hygrometer and thermometer, has a white LED matrix display that makers can reuse. Inside are three VK1640 LED controllers, an unidentified microcontroller with a 32.768 kHz watch crystal, and a chip with no identifying markings. The article says it is relatively easy to desolder the microcontroller and substitute your own, which gives access to I2C and the LED drivers. Early efforts include a post from the RevSpace hackerspace in the Netherlands and firmware development by VIPnytt on GitHub.
Two-Part H-Shifter for Racing Sims Uses a Joystick and Arduino Pro Micro
Hackaday’s Bryan Cockfield highlights a racing-sim H-shifter built by Jason from just two electronic parts: a joystick like those found inside many game controllers and an Arduino Pro Micro. The wiring between them is described as very straightforward. A prototype 3D-printed case and shift knob provide the H pattern of choice, and readily available firmware, which Jason also demonstrates, offers many options for configuring shifters. Hackaday calls it one of the lowest-cost H-shifters it has seen, showing what a few off-the-shelf components and a 3D printer can add to an affordable driving sim setup. Jason presents the build in a YouTube video.
Top Crowdfunding
Kickstarter / Indiegogo
Sipeed SLogic32U3 — Kickstarter, passed its 50,000 HKD goal within hours
Q8botOne quadruped robot — Crowd Supply, $10,000 goal
GitHub Trending
Makers & Hardware
lvgl/lvgl — 24,836★
espressif/esp-idf — 19,197★
zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr — 16,743★
Upcoming Events
Louisville Maker Faire — Oct 17, Louisville, KY
Maker Faire Rome — Oct 23–25, Gazometro Ostiense, Rome
Hackaday Supercon — Nov 6–8, Pasadena, CA
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency