Show HN: F32 – An Extremely Small ESP32 Board
3 days ago
- #ESP32
- #PCB Design
- #DIY Electronics
- The f32 is an ultra-compact ESP32 development board measuring 9.85 mm x 8.45 mm.
- Powered by ESP32-C3FH4, it ignores standard design guidelines and has only one exposed GPIO connected to an onboard LED.
- Designed for WiFi/web development, it features a captive portal for user interaction via a control page.
- Initial connectivity issues were resolved by adding a makeshift antenna, improving functionality.
- Manual testing showed connectivity up to 120ft in clear line of sight.
- PCB designed with DipTrace, manufactured by PCBWay for $10.75 (5 boards), with assembly done at home.
- Tools used include soldering flux, fine solder, Pinecil iron, rework station, and digital microscope.
- Assembly steps involve cleaning, flux application, component placement, and soldering with hotplate/rework station.
- Firmware can be uploaded using ESP-IDF or Arduino, with example application steps provided.
- Future improvements include exposing more GPIOs and enhancing antenna circuitry.