NotBlackMagic
@notblackmagic.com
Electronics engineer with a passion for DIY. Always building, exploring, and taking on new challenges. Check out my projects at notblackmagic.com.
Newest acquisition to the home lab arrived!
These are amazing, the build quality and the stiffness of the rotation/motion part is very well choose/tuned!
Only may need to get a bigger metal base.
These are amazing, the build quality and the stiffness of the rotation/motion part is very well choose/tuned!
Only may need to get a bigger metal base.
November 10, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Newest acquisition to the home lab arrived!
These are amazing, the build quality and the stiffness of the rotation/motion part is very well choose/tuned!
Only may need to get a bigger metal base.
These are amazing, the build quality and the stiffness of the rotation/motion part is very well choose/tuned!
Only may need to get a bigger metal base.
Ordered some JST-GH connectors from #AliExpress, first time I got one with the different plastic housing. The one in the bottom right, it's lighter color almost a bit translucent.
Will see if it's a lower grade plastic or not...
Will see if it's a lower grade plastic or not...
November 6, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Ordered some JST-GH connectors from #AliExpress, first time I got one with the different plastic housing. The one in the bottom right, it's lighter color almost a bit translucent.
Will see if it's a lower grade plastic or not...
Will see if it's a lower grade plastic or not...
While on one hand I fixed the BGA Tenting mistake for the work project, I have also continued to work on my new personal project!
The layout and routing is not roughly 80% done, looking forward to getting it in my hands!
The layout and routing is not roughly 80% done, looking forward to getting it in my hands!
October 31, 2025 at 1:41 PM
While on one hand I fixed the BGA Tenting mistake for the work project, I have also continued to work on my new personal project!
The layout and routing is not roughly 80% done, looking forward to getting it in my hands!
The layout and routing is not roughly 80% done, looking forward to getting it in my hands!
And this is how it is supposed to look, with the vias properly Tented!
October 28, 2025 at 12:54 PM
And this is how it is supposed to look, with the vias properly Tented!
Don't forget to double/triple check your generated Gerber files!
By mistake forgot to set the vias to tented (Altium defaults to untented ...) on a first prototype at work. KiCAD defaults to tented vias and JLC for 6L and up does not seem to have an overwrite of this.
By mistake forgot to set the vias to tented (Altium defaults to untented ...) on a first prototype at work. KiCAD defaults to tented vias and JLC for 6L and up does not seem to have an overwrite of this.
October 14, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Don't forget to double/triple check your generated Gerber files!
By mistake forgot to set the vias to tented (Altium defaults to untented ...) on a first prototype at work. KiCAD defaults to tented vias and JLC for 6L and up does not seem to have an overwrite of this.
By mistake forgot to set the vias to tented (Altium defaults to untented ...) on a first prototype at work. KiCAD defaults to tented vias and JLC for 6L and up does not seem to have an overwrite of this.
New toy arrived! The all new ESP32-C5 from #Espressif! The first dual band (2.4+5GHz) WiFi chip from them. Will be interesting to test the new bands and the potential higher throughput!
October 7, 2025 at 8:23 AM
New toy arrived! The all new ESP32-C5 from #Espressif! The first dual band (2.4+5GHz) WiFi chip from them. Will be interesting to test the new bands and the potential higher throughput!
Found this tool that looks very useful for soldering paste application! Should make it much easier to dose it then just using the syringe directly.
Ordered already, will see if it makes a good addition to the reflow soldering setup!
Ordered already, will see if it makes a good addition to the reflow soldering setup!
October 3, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Found this tool that looks very useful for soldering paste application! Should make it much easier to dose it then just using the syringe directly.
Ordered already, will see if it makes a good addition to the reflow soldering setup!
Ordered already, will see if it makes a good addition to the reflow soldering setup!
While I'm still working on the new project board (the flying squirrel shaped one 🐿️🪽), I'm also looking on how I'll solder the BGAs.
Plan is to re-flow with a Hotplate, like this one. It's 40€ shipped and has the power supply integrated in contrast to smaller USB-PD ones.
Plan is to re-flow with a Hotplate, like this one. It's 40€ shipped and has the power supply integrated in contrast to smaller USB-PD ones.
October 1, 2025 at 8:26 AM
While I'm still working on the new project board (the flying squirrel shaped one 🐿️🪽), I'm also looking on how I'll solder the BGAs.
Plan is to re-flow with a Hotplate, like this one. It's 40€ shipped and has the power supply integrated in contrast to smaller USB-PD ones.
Plan is to re-flow with a Hotplate, like this one. It's 40€ shipped and has the power supply integrated in contrast to smaller USB-PD ones.
Just found out that #Espressif launched it's first dual-band (2.4G and 5G) WiFi 6 ESP32 this year, the ESP32-C5!
Anybody has tried it out, or has it on order, around here?
Anybody has tried it out, or has it on order, around here?
September 26, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Just found out that #Espressif launched it's first dual-band (2.4G and 5G) WiFi 6 ESP32 this year, the ESP32-C5!
Anybody has tried it out, or has it on order, around here?
Anybody has tried it out, or has it on order, around here?
Added a few more parameters, the high speed interfaces that in a vision application are of high importance! A high performance camera subsystem and encoder is no much use if you can't save and transmit the data. Looking forward to the first MCU with USB 3.0!
September 19, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Added a few more parameters, the high speed interfaces that in a vision application are of high importance! A high performance camera subsystem and encoder is no much use if you can't save and transmit the data. Looking forward to the first MCU with USB 3.0!
I have done quite a bit of searching and comparing of different MIPI CSI-2 enabled MCUs for the new project. The Table below summarizes my findings, maybe some of you find it useful for your own adventures/projects.
Tell me if a MCU is missing or some value/parameter!
Tell me if a MCU is missing or some value/parameter!
September 18, 2025 at 11:57 AM
I have done quite a bit of searching and comparing of different MIPI CSI-2 enabled MCUs for the new project. The Table below summarizes my findings, maybe some of you find it useful for your own adventures/projects.
Tell me if a MCU is missing or some value/parameter!
Tell me if a MCU is missing or some value/parameter!
Finally got all the parts for the SC132GS global Shutter camera module adapter PCB! Converts from the cameras DF40C-24DS connector to a 24-pin FFC connector compatible with my #NavQPlus.
September 15, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Finally got all the parts for the SC132GS global Shutter camera module adapter PCB! Converts from the cameras DF40C-24DS connector to a 24-pin FFC connector compatible with my #NavQPlus.
Continuation on the placement of all the components, its getting dense!
September 11, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Continuation on the placement of all the components, its getting dense!
Some more progress images for the new project! Trace length matching, although not *strictly* required at these speeds (up to 200MHz) it is still good practice and provides me some learning opportunities.
Besides, they look cool!
Besides, they look cool!
September 9, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Some more progress images for the new project! Trace length matching, although not *strictly* required at these speeds (up to 200MHz) it is still good practice and provides me some learning opportunities.
Besides, they look cool!
Besides, they look cool!
Teaser of a PCB for a new (in reality revived) project of mine! It will be a very long term and complete project (if I keep the motivation up)!
It's a project I have started and restarted many times over the years but never shown.
It's a project I have started and restarted many times over the years but never shown.
September 8, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Teaser of a PCB for a new (in reality revived) project of mine! It will be a very long term and complete project (if I keep the motivation up)!
It's a project I have started and restarted many times over the years but never shown.
It's a project I have started and restarted many times over the years but never shown.
The Mini Optical Filter Wheel can be mounted on the Multi spectral illuminator creating a very versatile system!
September 2, 2025 at 6:47 AM
The Mini Optical Filter Wheel can be mounted on the Multi spectral illuminator creating a very versatile system!
First test pictures from the NEW Multispectral Imaging System using my Mini Optical Filter Wheel (notblackmagic.com/projects/min...). Using a cheap low res. RGB camera, with the interesting effect of showing the lower resolution in the RED vs GREEN band/color (typically 2 times lower).
August 30, 2025 at 8:33 AM
First test pictures from the NEW Multispectral Imaging System using my Mini Optical Filter Wheel (notblackmagic.com/projects/min...). Using a cheap low res. RGB camera, with the interesting effect of showing the lower resolution in the RED vs GREEN band/color (typically 2 times lower).
First fully populated filter wheel, with 8 narrow band optical filters! From Blue to IR covering the whole optical spectrum. Will be fitted into my Mini Optical Filter Wheel later.
Project page is also now online! Check it out here: notblackmagic.com/projects/min...
Project page is also now online! Check it out here: notblackmagic.com/projects/min...
August 13, 2025 at 7:18 AM
First fully populated filter wheel, with 8 narrow band optical filters! From Blue to IR covering the whole optical spectrum. Will be fitted into my Mini Optical Filter Wheel later.
Project page is also now online! Check it out here: notblackmagic.com/projects/min...
Project page is also now online! Check it out here: notblackmagic.com/projects/min...
We have rotation! Still testing the limits, how fast it can reliably spin/switch the filter.
The stepper is a bit underpowered so it sometimes can hang if the wheel is not well positioned inside the holder...
The stepper is a bit underpowered so it sometimes can hang if the wheel is not well positioned inside the holder...
August 7, 2025 at 9:07 AM
We have rotation! Still testing the limits, how fast it can reliably spin/switch the filter.
The stepper is a bit underpowered so it sometimes can hang if the wheel is not well positioned inside the holder...
The stepper is a bit underpowered so it sometimes can hang if the wheel is not well positioned inside the holder...
Here we go, the new version of the Mini Filter Wheel Controller fits perfectly and so far no mistakes found. Magnetic encoder works as does the Stepper driver!
Now to control firmware development!
(PCB sponsored by @pcbwayofficial.bsky.social)
#PCB #Hardware #Stepper #Camera #DIY
Now to control firmware development!
(PCB sponsored by @pcbwayofficial.bsky.social)
#PCB #Hardware #Stepper #Camera #DIY
August 5, 2025 at 9:18 AM
New revision for my Mini Optical Filter Wheel controller just arrived! Should fix the multiple mistakes in the first revision. Will see after assembly if it now will work properly!
Thanks to @pcbwayofficial.bsky.social for sponsoring the PCB for this new revision!
Thanks to @pcbwayofficial.bsky.social for sponsoring the PCB for this new revision!
July 30, 2025 at 12:55 PM
New revision for my Mini Optical Filter Wheel controller just arrived! Should fix the multiple mistakes in the first revision. Will see after assembly if it now will work properly!
Thanks to @pcbwayofficial.bsky.social for sponsoring the PCB for this new revision!
Thanks to @pcbwayofficial.bsky.social for sponsoring the PCB for this new revision!
Back to testing some cheap BLDC motors on my Motor Test Stand. Some calibrations are required again after fixing the strain gauge. Also some new motor mounts for the different BLDC motors!
July 24, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Back to testing some cheap BLDC motors on my Motor Test Stand. Some calibrations are required again after fixing the strain gauge. Also some new motor mounts for the different BLDC motors!
A new interesting discovery (with no explanation yet):
When using an USB Isolator, a test for a possible future isolated version, I get very strange signals (see image) when measuring an isolated power supply output (with battery to)...
When using an USB Isolator, a test for a possible future isolated version, I get very strange signals (see image) when measuring an isolated power supply output (with battery to)...
July 18, 2025 at 7:57 AM
A new interesting discovery (with no explanation yet):
When using an USB Isolator, a test for a possible future isolated version, I get very strange signals (see image) when measuring an isolated power supply output (with battery to)...
When using an USB Isolator, a test for a possible future isolated version, I get very strange signals (see image) when measuring an isolated power supply output (with battery to)...
Updates on trying to get cheap GS sensor (SG132GS) to work on #NavQPlus:
-FFC cable are easy to plug in wrong (killed the sensor)
-Normal LDO can only source current not sink (1.8V rail of killed senors was at 2V)
-Sensor no longer available with this connector and pinout...
-FFC cable are easy to plug in wrong (killed the sensor)
-Normal LDO can only source current not sink (1.8V rail of killed senors was at 2V)
-Sensor no longer available with this connector and pinout...
July 11, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Updates on trying to get cheap GS sensor (SG132GS) to work on #NavQPlus:
-FFC cable are easy to plug in wrong (killed the sensor)
-Normal LDO can only source current not sink (1.8V rail of killed senors was at 2V)
-Sensor no longer available with this connector and pinout...
-FFC cable are easy to plug in wrong (killed the sensor)
-Normal LDO can only source current not sink (1.8V rail of killed senors was at 2V)
-Sensor no longer available with this connector and pinout...
Broke a strain gauge, the one in my Motor Test Stand. A design flaw in the holder I designed pushes to harsh on the cables and broke the V+ line. Nothing some scraping, soldering and epoxy can't fix! In any case, a new one is on the way to XD
July 8, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Broke a strain gauge, the one in my Motor Test Stand. A design flaw in the holder I designed pushes to harsh on the cables and broke the V+ line. Nothing some scraping, soldering and epoxy can't fix! In any case, a new one is on the way to XD