Articles taggedHardware

Installing the rv003usb USB bootloader on a CH32V003 breakout board so programs can be written over a USB cable: the USB circuit, building the bootloader with PlatformIO and writing it with minichlink, option byte settings, and entering the bootloader with the reset button.

A general-purpose CH32V003F4P6 breakout board designed in KiCad and hand-soldered: soldering the TSSOP20 and USB Type-C connector, a regulator pinout mistake found at power-up and the workaround, a socket that takes the WCH-Link directly, and LED blink and button tests in MounRiver Studio Ⅱ.

A walkthrough of ordering two PCBs designed in KiCad from JLCPCB, covering generating and uploading the order files, choosing manufacturing options and a stencil, replying in English to a post-order confirmation email, payment methods and actual cost, and the delivery timeline.

The left click on my Logitech MX Ergo S trackball started double-clicking, so I repaired it by replacing the tact switches. This post records the tools needed for disassembly, how to choose the right switch, removing the main board, and the desoldering and soldering steps, plus the differences from the older MX Ergo and pitfalls when buying parts.

Connected an SCD41 CO2 sensor to M5StackChan as a built-in MCP tool. The AI reads live CO2 levels in conversation and suggests ventilation when levels exceed 1000 ppm. Covers wiring, firmware, and testing.

Learn how to self-host Xiaozhi AI server with Ollama to run M5StackChan AI.AGENT locally for private voice conversations without cloud AI.

This article explains how to add custom MCP servers to M5StackChan AI.AGENT for external tools, local services, and AI workflows.

A walkthrough of M5StackChan setup, covering unboxing, smartphone pairing, Wi‑Fi configuration, AI conversations, and Avatar mode using the stock firmware.

Driving a WS2812B (NeoPixel) RGB LED from a CH32V003 using SPI and DMA, reusing the ch32fun driver header in a MounRiver Studio Ⅱ project. Covers wiring, the two register-name fixes for the official SDK, and a sample that cycles through six colors.

Generate a 50 Hz PWM signal with TIM1 on the CH32V003 microcontroller using the official SDK in MounRiver Studio Ⅱ and drive an RC servo motor (MG90D), with reusable servo.h/servo.c code and oscilloscope verification of the 1.5 ms pulse.