Review: Sabo Optical Center Punch

The Guys at SOBA kindly sent me an optical center punch to try for an up and coming CNC Z Axis project.

If  your not familiar with optical center punches ,think of it as a normal metal marking punch with a sniper scope attached.














Over a normal metal center punch this bit of kit may seem a bit over the top. One of the catches with making an accurate CNC machine is the fact you need another CNC machine to make it.

This is where this particular center punch will come in extremely handy why? for very accurate marking before drilling the various holes.This wont be much of a review more if an overview.

Facom Micro-Tech Screwdriver Tool Holder Version 2

Facom Micro-Tech Screwdriver Tool Holder Version 2

My original tool holder served me well but, with new arrivals more space was required.

Hakko FX-888D Soldering Station Hi-Res Teardown Photos

Updated:  21/12/2017
Due to the growing number of fake Hakko FX-888D's on the market, I have added a few more pictures, for reference purposes. This is a genuine Hakko, purchased in the UK from Dancap

Gnat Stats, Tiny OLED PC Performance Monitor ESP8266

Juris Perkons,  contacted me to say he had successfully ran Gnat Stats on the ESP8266 by following a guide by KikDiy on YouTube.




Unfortunatley KikDiy's video guide is not in english but he has links to the code in the description.

Thanks for sharing, Juris :)

GnatStats Version 1.2 Update

GnatStats Version 1.0 :  Initial Release.

GnatStats Version 1.1 :  Fix intermittent screen flicker during no activity mode "screen off" (due to inverter function) fill the screen 128x64 black rectangle during this time.

GnatStats Version 1.2 :  Fix screen freeze.

uVolume USB Media Control Update 2: New PCB Revision

After a long break, the μVolume T-32 gets an update. New PCB's on order... quite a few tweaks!

Bluetooth HID On the Cheap! CSR BlueSuite Programming on a Shoestring

Bluetooth HID, using a $3 HC-05 bluetooth module plus a $2 FTDI FT232RL programmer.



In this quick guide, I will merely outline my own convenient version of the CSR SPI programmer. Along with an easy to follow connection diagram.

Gnat-Stats, Tiny OLED PC Performance Monitor

Wet Autumn afternoon fun...

After a recent purchase of a Nvidia GTX1080 graphics card, 4k monitor plus Doom(2016), I thought it would be great to see some external telemetry... from my expensive purchase.