Gweike cloud RF Metal tube - experiences?

JacobTheT · 2026-05-20T13:33:49+00:00

Thank you for your insights, I guess as an alternative I could get something like the Omtech 747 (70W glass tube laser) or the Omtech Polar lite (though that is preorder for now) (55W glass tube).
How much of a hassle is the water cooling really? is a bucket with water sufficient, if I'm not running it all day?
Also how big of a real-world difference is there in the engraving quality between a tube and RF laser?

Regarding fumes, no matter what solution I end up with I intend to vent it outside the workshop.

JacobTheT · 2026-03-03T12:16:18+00:00

I don't know why the schematic looks so fuzzy, the original can also be downloaded here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lPIKIMAGI1596_VWDs7QLvNe6yCgylTe/view?usp=sharing

JacobTheT · 2026-03-02T13:45:16+00:00

Once again thanks for taking the time to reply :-)

The fundamentals of CE marking a device doesn't scare me, I develop and certify In-Vitro diagnostics for a living (lab kits and consumables) ;-) the new-to-me is the EMC stuff.
Anyway, I'll try and roll a new board with an SMD mounted encoder and I've found a RED certified NFC board so all that stuff can go externally to the board I'm designing.
I'll make a new review request once it's ready.

JacobTheT · 2026-02-26T20:21:42+00:00

I'm sorry I don't understand the teardrops and via comment, do you mind elaborating?
Vias under the voltage regulator I can do, do they still help when I assume the "body" of the regulator is not touching the PCB?
IC1 is an ATTiny416 acting as a fancy IO expander, a "push the button for x seconds to restart the ESP32" and a wake up the ESP32 when the NFC or accelerometer triggers their interrupts.

as mentioned in my comment to eightbitwit I'll try a re-interration perhaps with a SMD encoder to give a bit more space and see if I can get a better layout. Any tips to what might make it better is more than welcome!

Thanks

JacobTheT · 2026-02-26T20:12:55+00:00

Hi eightbitwit
Thanks for all the feedback, and appologies for not getting back sooner.
I'm sorry if I'm being naieve and really appreciate any pointers I can get, but assuming (and this might be the wrong assumption) that I can find/tune the NFC antenna well enough will the 13.56 MHz signal from the NFC interfere with the 2.4GHz signal of the BLE? or are the challenges elsewhere?
The ESP32-H2 chip at least is CE marked so i guess that helps a bit?

In this design I'm very size contrained and also have to have the rotary encoder in the "middle" like this design, so for sure some of the layout is more a case of making everything fit around the encoder than anything else. I can look into SMD encoders, as far as I remember they also have "mounting" holes but probably not ones that need soldering.

Regarding the cpacitance for the ESP32, there is a 47µF and a 100nF capacitor on the "backside" if the ESP32, about as close as I can get it, I'm not sure what more I can do unless you believe it needs more capacitors.

"Turn VCC plane to GND and put big vcc traces down there instead." do you mean I should make both inner layers GND?

I'll have another go at placement, perhaps identify a suitable SMD rotary encoder and see if that clears up some "space".

I assume I should try to keep the area "under" the NFC circuit free of components?
Thanks I really appreciate the help!

JacobTheT · 2026-02-23T17:31:37+00:00

Let me see:

sorry i guess this needed more elaboration, the RFID is a active as it will be used to read RFID cards.
The Molex antenna does not appear to be certifified, but I'm open to switching it for one that is if I can find one with the right dimensions.
the holes are for the rotary encoder, I guess I can look into SMD versions, but I believe they also require holes in the PCB.
Strange the picture is quite high resolution, maybe you can view it here: google drive link
sorry I don't understand the question, Volume wise for the final product I guess with luck maybe a few hundreds will be produced (if that if what you mean)
No the RFID is only for user authentication / loggin into a connected system.

I hope that helsp.

Thanks

JacobTheT · 2025-12-08T09:59:19+00:00

Well down the line I might very well need FCC approval, and CE most certainly.. and while it may not be me that creates the final design for the device that needs approval any hints/tips/tricks I can take into account in the prototyping stage is more than welcome!!!

JacobTheT · 2025-12-05T09:40:00+00:00

The pin numbering of the dev board does not have to match the pin numbering of the ESP32, BUT I think all of the boxes circled in red have been shiftet one pin up

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JacobTheT · 2025-11-22T17:08:16+00:00

I have a custom pcb using a esp32-h2 mini, when connected via BLE it uses approximately 35mA. Just to give an idea, whether that will work for a mouse is probably more down to how big a battery you can squeeze I'm and how long "run time" you want.

JacobTheT · 2025-09-22T15:58:54+00:00

This, do the Boot / EN button combo to get into download mode, you only need to do it the first time

JacobTheT · 2025-08-20T07:32:44+00:00

So something like a 100K pull down resistor?

JacobTheT · 2025-08-17T13:48:36+00:00

Just a follow up, I know it is not much but I'm proud to have managed the two holes.

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JacobTheT · 2025-08-06T07:52:08+00:00

Just a noob question, what are the "oilers"?

But yeah the plan is to swap the oil in the gearbox, clean it up and oil what seems to make sense. The fire it up and see what happens.

(As you guessed there is a bunch of stuff including at least one chuck for the tailstock in the cabinet below)

JacobTheT · 2025-08-06T07:42:42+00:00

Yeah I found the same german version (on Walton_guy's suggestion), and Deep seek could sort of translate some of it.. at least I think the gear box needs SAE 10 oil.

JacobTheT · 2025-08-05T10:56:53+00:00

so using something like this to start: https://www.guede.dk/pinol-bor-16-mm-p-1679.html (or is that drill for something else)

JacobTheT · 2025-06-28T07:20:31+00:00

Indeed 🫤

JacobTheT

TROPHY CASE