Category: ebay

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USB Microscope

We were lucky enough to be given a USB microscope this christmas so decided to try it out by soldering some Atmega8A in a TQFP32 package that we got REALLY cheap from China. We etched a breakout board using the vinyl on paper – laser print – heat transfer technique (we will write a post up about that later) and prepared to solder.

We realised they were small but hadn’t realised HOW small!

More after the break




Luckily we could get far closer than we will ever need to solder.



 The microscope can also record video – below is our first attempt at soldering this size package. So far everything seems to have been successful!


Not the most thrilling video in the world but it works!






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Ebay Listing

We have finally got round to starting to add some products to ebay, all laser cut of course. Ebay shop. So far we have quite a few home decor items which are great but the most interesting item is a Breadboard Component Holder.

More after the break


After getting fed up of bent pins on our breadboard compatible components (being of the “stick it in the box/drawer” school of tidy) we decided to come up with something that we could use to store these items. We now have a few of these on walls and desks and in one case on the side of a PC!

With a couple of male headers we can use them to store dev boards like the Stellaris Launchpad, Chipkit and of course Arduino!


We even use them to store ICs like this L293D Motor Driver


Only problem we have is that it takes quite a while to laser drill the six thousand two hundred and nine holes!


You can get one here – Breadboard Component Holder

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Back to work

I hope everyone had a merry Christmas and a happy new year.


Right, that’s Christmas over with, back to work!



Project one of the year, Jewelry / trinket boxes. Cut from 3mm acrylic of various colours with engraving if required. Currently only available via eBay – eBay.co.uk.

Project two – productising (I do hate that word) our range for Braunston Ltd. This should include awards, plaques and signs as well as paper and board cutting. I will post a link to their website when it is up and running.


Project three – working out what projects four and above should be.


Should be a good year. 🙂