Join Hackaday Editors Elliot Williams and Tom Nardi as they go over their picks for the best stories and hacks from the previous week. Things start off with a warning about the long-term viability of SSD backups, after which the discussion moves onto the limits of 3D printed PLA, the return of the Pebble smart watch, some unconventional aircraft, and an online KiCad schematic repository that has plenty of potential. You’ll also hear about a remarkable conference badge made from e-waste electronic shelf labels, filling 3D prints with foam, and a tiny TV powered by the ESP32. The episode wraps up with our wish for hacker-friendly repair manuals, and an interesting tale of underwater engineering from D-Day.

Check out the links below if you want to follow along, and as always, tell us what you think about this episode in the comments!

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As always, this episode is available in DRM-free MP3.

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Episode 348 Show Notes:

News:

• A Friendly Reminder That Your Unpowered SSDs Are Probably Losing Data

What’s that Sound?

• Congratulations to [for_want_of_a_better_handle] for guessing the data center ambiance!

Interesting Hacks of the Week:

• Designing PLA To Hold Over A Metric Ton
• The New Pebble: Now 100% Open Source
• Magnus Effect Drone Flies, Looks Impossible
  
  • Your Quadcopter Has Three Propellers Too Many
  • KFC Winged Aircraft Actually Flies

  
  

• An Online Repository For KiCad Schematics
• Shelf Life Extended: Hacking E-Waste Tags Into Conference Badges
• On The Benefits Of Filling 3D Prints With Spray Foam

Quick Hacks:

• Elliot’s Picks:
  
  • Get To The Games On Time With This Ancient-Style Waterclock
  • How To Design 3D Printed Pins That Won’t Break
  • Necroprinting Isn’t As Bad As It Sounds
  • Tiny Little TV Runs On ESP32

  
  

• Tom’s Picks:
  
  • Little Lie Detector Is Probably No Worse Than The Big Ones
  • Build Your Own Glasshole Detector
  • Portable Plasma Cutter Removes Rust, Packs A (Reasonable) Punch

  
  

Can’t-Miss Articles:

• Give Us One Manual For Normies, Another For Hackers
• How Cross-Channel Plumbing Fuelled The Allied March On Berlin

hackaday.com/2025/12/05/hackad…