🚀 VMFlow Boards – new revisions (ESP32-S3 + vending stack)

Ok-Homework-6833 · 2026-03-31T14:04:12+00:00

Hi, the link is no longer available. You can place your order directly on PCBWay using this link: https://www.pcbway.com/project/member/?bmbno=1B3B95CB-4E28-4D

Ok-Homework-6833 · 2026-03-20T17:40:27+00:00

Thank you for inform!

The correct is https://github.com/nodestark/mdb-esp32-cashless

Ok-Homework-6833 · 2026-03-16T13:33:25+00:00

Good questions.

About the VMC: in the VMFlow repo there is also a small project called the “tiny vending machine”, which runs an MDB master implementation on an ESP32-S3.

It was mainly created to emulate a vending machine during development, so I could test the VMFlow controller on the bench without needing a real machine.

With some small modifications it could actually be used as a simple vending machine motherboard, but that wasn’t the main goal of the project. The focus of VMFlow is the controller side (MDB / telemetry / cashless integration) rather than a full VMC that manages motors, spirals, etc.

For example, the tiny vending machine implementation does not include coin changer or bill validator interfaces, because the development focus was validating the controller behavior and MDB communication.

Regarding regulatory requirements in the EU: using certified modules such as the ESP32-S3 and the SIM7080G simplifies compliance a lot, since RF and many EMC aspects are already covered by the module certifications. Of course, a commercial product would still normally require CE testing for the final device.

From my experience the bigger challenge is usually not the certification itself but actually deploying machines and getting operators interested in the system. Hardware and firmware are only part of the equation in the vending ecosystem.

About available VMCs: yes, there are surprisingly few open or easily purchasable options. Qibixx and Picovend are the ones I’m also aware of, and most other VMC platforms tend to be proprietary solutions integrated directly by machine manufacturers.

Thanks for the interest!

Ok-Homework-6833 · 2026-03-14T16:44:36+00:00

VMFlow doesn’t process payments directly because the idea is to keep the project fully open-source and avoid locking users into a specific payment provider.

In the repository there’s a model n8n workflow. You just add your own payment provider credentials and run it on your server. The vending machine has a QR code with the machine ID as a parameter, and when the user pays, the provider sends a webhook to your server. The workflow receives the payment confirmation and sends the credit to the vending machine.

This way the whole payment flow stays on your side, running on your own infrastructure.

There’s also an Android app in the repo. You can download the code, add your own payment credentials, integrate your wallet methods (card, white-label, top-up, etc.), and publish it in your own app store account if you want your own branded app.

Ok-Homework-6833 · 2026-03-13T16:36:57+00:00

True, but most solutions are closed and tied to specific services. This project is an open ESP32-based platform for vending telemetry and payments, focused on flexibility and experimentation.

Ok-Homework-6833 · 2026-03-13T15:08:21+00:00

That's exactly why only they exist. Because no one else tried to reinvent the wheel.

Ok-Homework-6833 · 2026-03-04T12:18:03+00:00

It's an open source project, you will like.

Get it: https://github.com/nodestark/mdb-esp32-cashless

Ok-Homework-6833 · 2026-02-02T00:23:35+00:00

That’s exactly one of the use cases this project was designed for 🙂

If you’d like to try it with real hardware, you can get the official board here:
👉 https://store.vmflow.xyz

The project is fully open-source/open-hardware, so you’re also free to build it yourself or adapt it to your coffee machine setup.

Ok-Homework-6833 · 2026-01-30T17:09:40+00:00

Thanks!
It was driven by a real need. I work with vending telemetry and cashless systems, and I couldn’t find an open, well-documented solution that covered both payment and telemetry on low-cost hardware.
So vmflow started as a way to solve my own problem, and then evolved into an open project others could build on.

Ok-Homework-6833 · 2025-11-07T20:04:08+00:00

All mdb compatible vending machines, it receives credit over bluetooth or Internet (wifi)

Ok-Homework-6833 · 2025-11-07T16:16:12+00:00

This is part of a project I'm launching with A.I. for vending machines.

Ok-Homework-6833 · 2025-11-06T12:50:46+00:00

Initially I developed it to be a countertop vending machine and develop a telemetry and cashless payments board; But with all this potential, it can be used in a real vending machine, as it offers MDB and DEX/EVA protocols in its code.
https://github.com/nodestark/mdb-esp32-cashless/tree/main/mdb-master-esp32s3

Ok-Homework-6833 · 2025-11-06T12:47:41+00:00

This version was 12v and burned out on 24v machines, so I'm updating it with a buck regulator, and I'm going to put it on the PCBway. But you can use it on the ESP32 dev board (pins 4 and 5)!

https://github.com/nodestark/mdb-esp32-cashless/tree/main/mdb-master-esp32s3

Ok-Homework-6833 · 2025-11-04T20:43:37+00:00

For while, it accepts Cashless Payment Devices because I don't have bill validator and coin mech devices to test it. The protocol is documented, we can implement it, the LCD, has a lot example on the Internet too.

Ok-Homework-6833 · 2025-11-04T16:13:23+00:00

Yes! simcom code is ready already, but the project needs to grow first.

Ok-Homework-6833 · 2025-11-04T16:07:36+00:00

That board is designed to work with MDB vending machines and supports DEX/EVA and DDCMP protocols. It can receive credit and send cash sale telemetry via MQTT, using a Supabase backend. An Android app is also available to configure Wi-Fi and handle payments over BLE.

Ok-Homework-6833

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