Recent content in Home on Blind Makers
If you’re working on a large 3D model, you know that they can take hours to print. But what if you want to preview part of the model without printing the whole thing? This post explains one way to do that using OpenSCAD and 3DMake. Using this technique, you can “cut off” a portion of the front, back, sides, top, or bottom of the model, leaving only the portion that’s in a…
3D printing is an affordable gateway to tactile graphics, allowing you to share and print them at home. And unlike a braille embosser, a new working 3D printer can be purchased for $200 USD. It’s no surprise that there are Blind makers, artists, and educators out there who have gotten started with 3D printing. However, most of the tools for 3D CAD (designing 3D objects) and slicing…
I happen to have a Mountbatten Learning System electronic brailler. In addition to its “typewriter” mode, the Mountbatten can be used as a PC Braille embosser, and even supports basic tactile graphics. There has never been a Linux driver published for it, but I got it working using a USB serial adapter. This script will let you emboss a text or BRF file if you have such an adapter,…
My friend Ron is blind and does a lot of carpentry and DIY work. One challenge he ran into is the need for an accessible level for putting up shelves and the like. So I put together web-based audio level that uses the orientation sensor in your phone or tablet. 
 The level is designed to be used with the screen up and the back of your device against the plane you’re trying to level.…

 

 
 Most Braille embossers can produce low-resolution tactile graphics by reducing the space between adjacent lines and character cells, making it possible to emboss continuous lines of dots. But designing these graphics is a tedious process because you get no incremental tactile feedback until you emboss them. It would be nice to have something more tactile to work with when…
For months I’ve been carefully refining a mechanical Braille cell project, and it’s now ready for you to build. Say hello to the BrailleBit! 
 
 

 
 This project has very modest goals: 
 
 Provide a single cell of standard-size Braille output 
 Be very simple to assemble by Blind or sighted people 
 Be made of cheap parts 
 Be easy to control…
This is part of a series of posts on automatically generating circuit descriptions. In part 1, I wrote about the problem I’m trying to solve by converting circuits to text. Part 2 describes where we can get some example circuits. Today we’re going to take a look at the fruits of my labor so far.
Example circuits Here are a few Fritzing projects automatically described by the…
In the last post we looked at different ways to represent the information that’s usually presented in a circuit diagram, also called a schematic. The goal is to start automatically converting existing circuit designs into a form that’s accessible to blind people. But before we can produce such an output, we need to get the circuit information into a format that our program can…
Let’s say you’re a blind hobbyist who’s into electronics. You look online for project ideas, but 99% of circuit designs are provided as an image. That’s completely useless with a screen reader. Here’s what a circuit diagram (also called a schematic) looks like: 
 
 
 
 A single transistor relaxation oscillator 
 

 
 If you have a…
Motivation Lately I’ve been working on projects to support blind people who are interested in “maker” hobbies like electronics. There are blind ham radio operators and electronics hobbyists, and at least one professional blind electrical engineer. While electronics could be a great pursuit for more blind people, there are many barriers. As a sighted person, I have access to a…
3DMake 3DMake is a tool for designing, inspecting, and printing 3D models. Unlike most other such tools, it is designed for Blind and visually impaired people who need non-visual workflows for model design and 3D slicing.
The latest version is v0.10.
Download 3DMake for Windows Download 3DMake for macOS Download 3DMake for Linux Read the documentation Read the release notes
Part description: PC16550D, Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter with FIFOs, PDIP-40 Package description: This package has two parallel rows of pins extending down from opposite edges of the chip.
There should be a semicircular notch that you can feel in the middle of one of the package's shorter bare edges. With the pins facing downward and the chip oriented so notch is on the side of…
Part description: I2C Serial EEPROM, 128 Bits, DIP-8/SOIC-8/TSSOP-8/DFN-8 Package description: This package has two parallel rows of pins extending down from opposite edges of the chip.
There should be a semicircular notch that you can feel in the middle of one of the package's shorter bare edges. With the pins facing downward and the chip oriented so notch is on the side of the chip furthest…
Part description: I2C Serial EEPROM, 1Kb, DIP-8/SOIC-8/TSSOP-8/DFN-8 Package description: This package has two parallel rows of pins extending down from opposite edges of the chip.
There should be a semicircular notch that you can feel in the middle of one of the package's shorter bare edges. With the pins facing downward and the chip oriented so notch is on the side of the chip furthest from…
Part description: I2C Serial EEPROM, 2Kb, DIP-8/SOIC-8/TSSOP-8/DFN-8 Package description: This package has two parallel rows of pins extending down from opposite edges of the chip.
There should be a semicircular notch that you can feel in the middle of one of the package's shorter bare edges. With the pins facing downward and the chip oriented so notch is on the side of the chip furthest from…
Part description: I2C Serial EEPROM, 4Kb, DIP-8/SOIC-8/TSSOP-8/DFN-8 Package description: This package has two parallel rows of pins extending down from opposite edges of the chip.
There should be a semicircular notch that you can feel in the middle of one of the package's shorter bare edges. With the pins facing downward and the chip oriented so notch is on the side of the chip furthest from…
Part description: I2C Serial EEPROM, 8Kb, DIP-8/SOIC-8/TSSOP-8/DFN-8 Package description: This package has two parallel rows of pins extending down from opposite edges of the chip.
There should be a semicircular notch that you can feel in the middle of one of the package's shorter bare edges. With the pins facing downward and the chip oriented so notch is on the side of the chip furthest from…
Part description: I2C Serial EEPROM, 1024Kb, DIP-8/SOIC-8/TSSOP-8/DFN-8 Package description: This package has two parallel rows of pins extending down from opposite edges of the chip.
There should be a semicircular notch that you can feel in the middle of one of the package's shorter bare edges. With the pins facing downward and the chip oriented so notch is on the side of the chip furthest…
Part description: I2C Serial EEPROM, 128Kb, DIP-8/SOIC-8/TSSOP-8/DFN-8 Package description: This package has two parallel rows of pins extending down from opposite edges of the chip.
There should be a semicircular notch that you can feel in the middle of one of the package's shorter bare edges. With the pins facing downward and the chip oriented so notch is on the side of the chip furthest…
Part description: I2C Serial EEPROM, 16Kb, DIP-8/SOIC-8/TSSOP-8/DFN-8 Package description: This package has two parallel rows of pins extending down from opposite edges of the chip.
There should be a semicircular notch that you can feel in the middle of one of the package's shorter bare edges. With the pins facing downward and the chip oriented so notch is on the side of the chip furthest from…
Part description: I2C Serial EEPROM, 256Kb, DIP-8/SOIC-8/TSSOP-8/DFN-8 Package description: This package has two parallel rows of pins extending down from opposite edges of the chip.
There should be a semicircular notch that you can feel in the middle of one of the package's shorter bare edges. With the pins facing downward and the chip oriented so notch is on the side of the chip furthest…
Part description: I2C Serial EEPROM, 32Kb, DIP-8/SOIC-8/TSSOP-8/DFN-8 Package description: This package has two parallel rows of pins extending down from opposite edges of the chip.
There should be a semicircular notch that you can feel in the middle of one of the package's shorter bare edges. With the pins facing downward and the chip oriented so notch is on the side of the chip furthest from…
Part description: I2C Serial EEPROM, 512Kb, DIP-8/SOIC-8/TSSOP-8/DFN-8 Package description: This package has two parallel rows of pins extending down from opposite edges of the chip.
There should be a semicircular notch that you can feel in the middle of one of the package's shorter bare edges. With the pins facing downward and the chip oriented so notch is on the side of the chip furthest…
Part description: I2C Serial EEPROM, 64Kb, DIP-8/SOIC-8/TSSOP-8/DFN-8 Package description: This package has two parallel rows of pins extending down from opposite edges of the chip.
There should be a semicircular notch that you can feel in the middle of one of the package's shorter bare edges. With the pins facing downward and the chip oriented so notch is on the side of the chip furthest from…
Part description: SPI Serial EEPROM, DIP-8/SOIC-8/TSSOP-8 Package description: This package has two parallel rows of pins extending down from opposite edges of the chip.
There should be a semicircular notch that you can feel in the middle of one of the package's shorter bare edges. With the pins facing downward and the chip oriented so notch is on the side of the chip furthest from you, Pin 1…
Part description: UV Erasable EPROM 128 KiBit, [Obsolete 2000-11] Package description: This package has two parallel rows of pins extending down from opposite edges of the chip.
There should be a semicircular notch that you can feel in the middle of one of the package's shorter bare edges. With the pins facing downward and the chip oriented so notch is on the side of the chip furthest from…
Part description: UV Erasable EPROM 256 KiBit, [Obsolete 2000-11] Package description: This package has two parallel rows of pins extending down from opposite edges of the chip.
There should be a semicircular notch that you can feel in the middle of one of the package's shorter bare edges. With the pins facing downward and the chip oriented so notch is on the side of the chip furthest from…
Part description: UV Erasable EPROM 512 KiBit, [Obsolete 2007-01] Package description: This package has two parallel rows of pins extending down from opposite edges of the chip.
There should be a semicircular notch that you can feel in the middle of one of the package's shorter bare edges. With the pins facing downward and the chip oriented so notch is on the side of the chip furthest from…
Part description: EPROM 64 KiBit, [Obsolete 2000-11] Package description: This package has two parallel rows of pins extending down from opposite edges of the chip.
There should be a semicircular notch that you can feel in the middle of one of the package's shorter bare edges. With the pins facing downward and the chip oriented so notch is on the side of the chip furthest from you, Pin 1 will…
Part description: OTP EPROM 128 KiBit, [Obsolete 2004-01] Package description: This package has two parallel rows of pins extending down from opposite edges of the chip.
There should be a semicircular notch that you can feel in the middle of one of the package's shorter bare edges. With the pins facing downward and the chip oriented so notch is on the side of the chip furthest from you, Pin 1…
Part description: OTP EPROM 256 KiBit Package description: This package has two parallel rows of pins extending down from opposite edges of the chip.
There should be a semicircular notch that you can feel in the middle of one of the package's shorter bare edges. With the pins facing downward and the chip oriented so notch is on the side of the chip furthest from you, Pin 1 will be in the far…
Part description: OTP EPROM 512 KiBit Package description: This package has two parallel rows of pins extending down from opposite edges of the chip.
There should be a semicircular notch that you can feel in the middle of one of the package's shorter bare edges. With the pins facing downward and the chip oriented so notch is on the side of the chip furthest from you, Pin 1 will be in the far…
Part description: OTP EPROM 64 KiBit, [Obsolete 2004-01] Package description: This package has two parallel rows of pins extending down from opposite edges of the chip.
There should be a semicircular notch that you can feel in the middle of one of the package's shorter bare edges. With the pins facing downward and the chip oriented so notch is on the side of the chip furthest from you, Pin 1…
Part description: TRANS JFET N-CH 25V 10MA TO-92 Package description: This small package has three pins protruding from one end. The body of the part has a curved side and a flat side, forming a D-shaped cross section. With the flat side facing up and the three pins pointing toward you, the pins are numbered 1, 2, 3 from left to right. Pin assignments Pin Signals 1D 2G 3S This pinout was…
Part description: 0.2A Ic, 40V Vce, Small Signal NPN Transistor, TO-92 Package description: This small package has three pins protruding from one end. The body of the part has a curved side and a flat side, forming a D-shaped cross section. With the flat side facing up and the three pins pointing toward you, the pins are numbered 1, 2, 3 from left to right. Pin assignments Pin Signals 1E 2B 3C…
Part description: TRANS NPN 40V 0.2A TO92 Package description: This small package has three pins protruding from one end. The body of the part has a curved side and a flat side, forming a D-shaped cross section. With the flat side facing up and the three pins pointing toward you, the pins are numbered 1, 2, 3 from left to right. Pin assignments Pin Signals 1E 2B 3C This pinout was automatically…
Part description: TRANS NPN 40V 0.2A TO-92 Package description: This small package has three pins protruding from one end. The body of the part has a curved side and a flat side, forming a D-shaped cross section. With the flat side facing up and the three pins pointing toward you, the pins are numbered 1, 2, 3 from left to right. Pin assignments Pin Signals 1E 2B 3C This pinout was automatically…
Part description: TRANS NPN 40V 0.2A TO-92 Package description: This small package has three pins protruding from one end. The body of the part has a curved side and a flat side, forming a D-shaped cross section. With the flat side facing up and the three pins pointing toward you, the pins are numbered 1, 2, 3 from left to right. Pin assignments Pin Signals 1E 2B 3C This pinout was automatically…
Part description: TRANS NPN 40V 0.2A TO-92 Package description: This small package has three pins protruding from one end. The body of the part has a curved side and a flat side, forming a D-shaped cross section. With the flat side facing up and the three pins pointing toward you, the pins are numbered 1, 2, 3 from left to right. Pin assignments Pin Signals 1E 2B 3C This pinout was automatically…
Part description: TRANS NPN 40V 0.2A TO-92 Package description: This small package has three pins protruding from one end. The body of the part has a curved side and a flat side, forming a D-shaped cross section. With the flat side facing up and the three pins pointing toward you, the pins are numbered 1, 2, 3 from left to right. Pin assignments Pin Signals 1E 2B 3C This pinout was automatically…
Part description: -0.2A Ic, -40V Vce, Small Signal PNP Transistor, TO-92 Package description: This small package has three pins protruding from one end. The body of the part has a curved side and a flat side, forming a D-shaped cross section. With the flat side facing up and the three pins pointing toward you, the pins are numbered 1, 2, 3 from left to right. Pin assignments Pin Signals 1E 2B 3C…
Part description: -0.2A Ic, -40V Vce, Small Signal PNP Transistor, TO-92 Package description: This small package has three pins protruding from one end. The body of the part has a curved side and a flat side, forming a D-shaped cross section. With the flat side facing up and the three pins pointing toward you, the pins are numbered 1, 2, 3 from left to right. Pin assignments Pin Signals 1E 2B 3C…
Part description: TRANS PNP 40V 0.2A TO92 Package description: This small package has three pins protruding from one end. The body of the part has a curved side and a flat side, forming a D-shaped cross section. With the flat side facing up and the three pins pointing toward you, the pins are numbered 1, 2, 3 from left to right. Pin assignments Pin Signals 1E 2B 3C This pinout was automatically…
Part description: TRANS PNP 40V 0.2A TO-92 Package description: This small package has three pins protruding from one end. The body of the part has a curved side and a flat side, forming a D-shaped cross section. With the flat side facing up and the three pins pointing toward you, the pins are numbered 1, 2, 3 from left to right. Pin assignments Pin Signals 1E 2B 3C This pinout was automatically…
Part description: TRANS PNP 40V 0.2A TO-92 Package description: This small package has three pins protruding from one end. The body of the part has a curved side and a flat side, forming a D-shaped cross section. With the flat side facing up and the three pins pointing toward you, the pins are numbered 1, 2, 3 from left to right. Pin assignments Pin Signals 1E 2B 3C This pinout was automatically…
Part description: TRANS NPN 40V TO92 Package description: This small package has three pins protruding from one end. The body of the part has a curved side and a flat side, forming a D-shaped cross section. With the flat side facing up and the three pins pointing toward you, the pins are numbered 1, 2, 3 from left to right. Pin assignments Pin Signals 1E 2B 3C This pinout was automatically…
Part description: TRANS NPN 40V 0.6A TO-92 Package description: This small package has three pins protruding from one end. The body of the part has a curved side and a flat side, forming a D-shaped cross section. With the flat side facing up and the three pins pointing toward you, the pins are numbered 1, 2, 3 from left to right. Pin assignments Pin Signals 1E 2B 3C This pinout was automatically…
Part description: TRANS NPN 40V 0.6A TO-92 Package description: This small package has three pins protruding from one end. The body of the part has a curved side and a flat side, forming a D-shaped cross section. With the flat side facing up and the three pins pointing toward you, the pins are numbered 1, 2, 3 from left to right. Pin assignments Pin Signals 1E 2B 3C This pinout was automatically…
Part description: TRANS PNP 40V TO92 Package description: This small package has three pins protruding from one end. The body of the part has a curved side and a flat side, forming a D-shaped cross section. With the flat side facing up and the three pins pointing toward you, the pins are numbered 1, 2, 3 from left to right. Pin assignments Pin Signals 1E 2B 3C This pinout was automatically…
Part description: TRANS PNP 40V 0.6A TO-92 Package description: This small package has three pins protruding from one end. The body of the part has a curved side and a flat side, forming a D-shaped cross section. With the flat side facing up and the three pins pointing toward you, the pins are numbered 1, 2, 3 from left to right. Pin assignments Pin Signals 1E 2B 3C This pinout was automatically…