Hackaday Podcast Ep 338: Smoothing 3D Prints, Reading CNC Joints, and Detecting Spicy Shrimp
Sep 19, 2025
Dive into the latest tech innovations, from smoothing 3D prints with heated ball probes to fascinating retro AI projects. Discover the art of using typefaces as CNC joinery and the intricate history of email protocols. Learn about the quirky detection of spicy shrimp and why American Science & Surplus is scaling back. Plus, a nostalgic twist with the reveal of the Beakman's World theme. Packed with community hacks and a new contest, this episode celebrates creativity in tech!
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In-Situ Rounded Ironing For Smoother 3D Prints
- Try using a rounded heated probe to iron non-planar 3D prints for much smoother surfaces.
- Calibrate ball size, pressure, spacing, and speed carefully to avoid catching nozzle edges or artifacts.
Typewriter-Inspired Robot Mouth Mechanics
- The robot mouth uses a typewriter-like rotating element but replaces old linkages with powerful steppers and novel tilting linkages.
- The mechanism achieves fast, convincing speech-shaped motion with precise mechanical design.
Hacking A PAX Payment Terminal
- Lucas Tusk documented four and a half years of reverse engineering a PAX payment terminal to run custom code.
- He resorted to buying chips and replacing the signed MCU to bypass tamper and signature protections.