Hackaday editors Elliot Williams and Al Williams reviewed the highlights from last week in the 384th episode of the podcast. The episode covered projects including a 3D-printable Stirling engine, producing LED at home, a setup that optically reads MOD files, and converting a Casio F-91W into a contactless payment device.
The program also discussed iPod emulation, a 3D-printed railway vehicle, and automated document-reproduction devices from 1890. In the “Can’t-Miss Articles” section, a presentation on PCB manufacturing from Hackaday Europe 2026 and articles on the early history of space stations were highlighted.
Why it matters
The podcast’s range of topics shows that projects spanning home manufacturing to reinterpretations of older technologies are brought together within the same editorial framework. This scope offers a selection that allows hardware enthusiasts to follow different manufacturing methods, as well as approaches such as emulation and optical reading, together. The Can’t-Miss Articles section, devoted to PCB manufacturing and the early history of space stations, also connects current technical practices with the history of technology within the same weekly agenda. However, the available information does not provide details about the projects’ results, limitations, or level of feasibility; therefore, the episode serves more as a summary providing access to a range of topics than as an assessment of the success of any particular project.
Background
MOD is not a new name in the FikirPilot archive: we have published 2 news articles mentioning this name in the last 90 days; the most recent is dated August 27, 2026. This development joins those records in our archive; readers can follow the previous articles carrying the same name in the archive to see the full timeline.