Unexpected Maker

891 orders since Apr 09, 2018

Bentleigh East, VIC, Australia

Ships from Australia.

Custom Work Available

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Overall Rating:

Review Breakdown

Average Ratings

Product: (4.93)

Documentation: (4.74)

Shipping: (4.83)

Communication: (4.97)

All Reviews

Jon | Aug. 29, 2024

Great kit that needs actual directions

For W.O.P.R. Missile Launch Code Display Kit - HAXORZ

This is a great kit. I had a great time building it, and it only took a few hours. However there really needs to be an instruction sheet. Just a page, shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes to write. The provided video and component layout sheets are nice but not enough.

Couple pro tips; make sure you install all the SMT components first. Use hot air reflow if you can, the joints will be a lot cleaner and more uniform. Be sure you position the diodes properly. The board has a mark silkscreened on that corresponds to the line on the component itself.

Then do the segment LEDs and switches. Clip the excess LED leads when you’re done.

The switches don’t go in any specific orientation since they’re just momentary push buttons. Be careful with the small ones - one of mine came apart (the housing and button popped off exposing the membrane - I was able to reassemble it).

Then do the headers. MAKE SURE THE SHORT END OF THE HEADER GOES THROUGH THE MAIN PCB. This was my mistake and one line of text woulda saved me a lot of hassle. If you put the long end through you’ll end up with joints that interfere with the 3D printed case. Either way you’ll need to clip off the excess leads. Then solder the TinyPico and audio shield to the long header pins and clip the leads.

Now finally you have to flash the TinyPico. That wasn’t clear from the video since he did the build then plugged it in and everything worked. Sure, if the computer is already set up. Instructions for doing this are clear-ish on GitHub though those could use some polish too. WiFi settings are in the secrets header file and get directly compiled in.

Once you’ve got the board assembled and test fit into the upper plastic case(not including the acrylic) you can install the DEFCON numbers. These have vinyl protectors on them, both sides. Peel off the white stickers carefully to expose the nice clean acrylic. Drop them in place from above. You’ll see how they sit on top of the RGB LEDs. Take them out one by one and put a TINY dot of super glue on the front of bottom portion. Gently guide it in place and hold it against the outer case (not the LED) until it sticks. Repeat with the others. It’ll look and work great.

Ludovic | Dec. 18, 2023

Excellent product, but....

For Reflow Master Pro

I have 2 reflow master pro, one is connected to my BGA rework station (heating : ceramic), the other to my hotplate (heating : PTC)

For my rework station, the temperature is well controlled, but for the hotplate, it is another story, I had to build my own controller to follow with accuracy my soldering profile. According to me, a zero crossing controller should be used in some case (with a random SSR). It will be great to add this feature on the master pro (use the stemmaQT connector as input to grab the pulse for a home made crossing detector).

About the features : This product is excellent

Thank you

Krasimir | Sept. 21, 2023

1 year ago. - An excellent, fully functionally completed pro

For Reflow Master Pro

1 year ago.
An excellent, fully functionally completed project!
Ready to use.
Without remarks.
-------------------------------------------------
1 year ago.
An excellent, fully functionally completed project!
Ready to use.
Without remarks.
-------------------------------------------------
1 year ago.
An excellent, fully functionally completed project!
Ready to use.
Without remarks.
-------------------------------------------------
1 year ago.
An excellent, fully functionally completed project!
Ready to use.
Without remarks.
------------------------------------------------
1 year ago.
An excellent, fully functionally completed project!
Ready to use.
Without remarks.
----------------------------
Thanks for the wonderful product!!!

Gary | April 12, 2023

Surface-mount make this a tough build for the hobbyist.

For W.O.P.R. Missile Launch Code Display Kit - HAXORZ

If you're not used to dealing with the super-tiny world of surface-mount components, don't buy this kit until you are.

The kit is very well made and the results are fabulous, but when a capacitor pops out of your tweezers it is *gone*. These components cost pennies and I think the kit should come with extras, but aside from that it's a wonderful display piece.

Jennifer | Jan. 1, 2023

It works very well!

For Reflow Master Pro

I've been using this for about a year now, and it does exactly what I need it to do. I've reflowed a few boards with this quite successfully.

I also use the "bake" mode to re-dry my desiccant in my 3D printer filament containers. Very handy.

Paul | June 18, 2022

Retro, Interesting and Fun! Be the envy of other nerds

For W.O.P.R. Missile Launch Code Display Kit - HAXORZ

A really cool kit. I would recommend adding on the Tiny PICO and Audio shield when you order the WOPR. It was a combination of through hole and surface mount components. Clear instructions. Had a little trouble with the LEDs but turns out it was my poor soldering job.
Code example gave basic functionality but can be easily modified, I have ideas maybe to tie into the weather and display temp, lower the DEFCON for a storm warning.

Any nerd from the 80s needs this.

Derek | March 1, 2022

If you like using SMD components, then you need this!

For Reflow Master Pro

The Reflow Master has really helped me lift my project production game when using SMD parts, highly recomended.

Kevin | June 8, 2021

I’m ready to play a game Joshua.

For W.O.P.R. Missile Launch Code Display Kit - HAXORZ

This is a project that I’ve pondered doing myself a number of times but this kit is 100 times better than I would have been able to pull off.

First time venturing into surface mount for more than a diode, it required a few reworks on pin traces (my fault) but in the end worked great. Simple and forgiving!

Only thought is I wish there was a better way to get the defcon 1-5 indicators to stay in place, I may use a dab of hot glue one day if I think of it.

Uno | May 10, 2021

Product are great, so far!

For Reflow Master Pro

As much i have tested it, its works. Can not say more because still need to buy owen. But so far without owen its works. Documentation is apsolutely great.
Sipping is only thing what i can not be hapy with. but it is due a global situation with COVID. Definetly will recomend ReflowMaster to my friends!!!!

Nicholas | April 18, 2021

WOPR

For W.O.P.R. Missile Launch Code Display Kit - HAXORZ

Great kit, sits on top of my restored missile command arcade game. No issues getting together or setting it up.

V Bruce | March 10, 2021

Great Product. Adds Reflow to Oven

For Reflow Master Pro

I just received my Reflow Master (with case) and obtained the fans and SS relay. I modified my Oster Oven by mounting the thermistor and SS relay. I opted to control the power in and set the existing Oster controls at high heat, bake and always on. I drilled a small hole from the control area in the Over just large enough for the thermistor wires. I ran the control and USB power wires out of the control area along side the power cord and then to the Reflow Master. I put off mounting the fan for another day. The Reflow Master performed flawlessly immediately. Ran the heat up and cool down tests ( included in the firmware) to make sure that the oven passes the test. It did and the oven is now an integral part of my prototype PCB setup. Looking forward to baking a reel of PLA with the new software. This is definitely a great product for the PCB DIY people like me. Super Product.

Will | Feb. 9, 2021

Awesome unique kit!

For W.O.P.R. Missile Launch Code Display Kit - HAXORZ

This is a perfect kit for anyone who watched Wargames too many times on cable television growing up. The surface mounted components were a bit rough to solder onto the PCB for a less experienced individual like myself, but Seon (the seller) was very responsive when I ran into a challenge. Shipping from Australia to the US was surprisingly efficient.

Jason | Jan. 19, 2021

Excellent little reflow oven controller

For Reflow Master Pro

I bought the Reflow Master to replace the Adafruit PyPortal I was using as the controller for my homemade EZ Make Oven. The PyPortal has worked great so far, but I have other plans for it, and wanted something more purpose-built.

It arrived in just under a month which is not bad for free shipping from Australia to the US, during a global pandemic, and over the holiday shopping season peak. I bought the 3D printed case, and am glad that I did, as it's much better quality than I can easily achieve with my old printer.

Within 10 minutes of its delivery, I had swapped out the PyPortal for the Reflow Master. I performed the reflow test, then ran an actual reflow cycle. Worked perfectly the first time. I'm using the relay-switched power strip used in Adafruit's EZ Make Oven tutorial, so I didn't even need to take apart my toaster oven.

Thanks Seon!

I.E. | Oct. 26, 2020

Nice kit

For W.O.P.R. Missile Launch Code Display Kit - HAXORZ

The kit was very well packaged.
Build instructions are ok, it is a glossy A4 with detailed views.

Programming instructions are missing and needed search howto setup the ESP32 branch TinyPico.
A link on the build instructions would have done the trick.

I am not a ESP32 fanboy but must admit the TinyPico does run very well.
No spontaneous resets or hangs have occurred during past the weeks.

Greg | Oct. 5, 2020

Works great!

For Reflow Master Pro

Bought Reflow Master for prototyping my commercial boards and short runs. Works great out of the box. I didn't need to add a new solder profile, I am using the first one on the menu for Chipquick-138 Celsius (Sn42/Bi57.6/Ag0.4). This solder is readily available in US on Digikey. I adapted the Aldi 1400w oven without much trouble and currently am not using a fan. I like the feature on the Reflow Master to "test" the oven for temperature ramp up/down, with this you can determine if the oven is suitable before you start hacking it. Buy the case, worth the extra couple bucks for a nice clean setup and to protect the connections/screen.

Shipping happened the next day but took about 4 weeks with Australian Post, definitely impacted by COVID. Choose DHL if you need it sooner.

Thanks Seon, Great product.
Greg

Emanuel | Aug. 28, 2020

Follow the video and don't be afraid to ask questions!

For W.O.P.R. Missile Launch Code Display Kit - HAXORZ

If you follow the video then you'll probably have a great end result. Just a few observations that may help - 1 use non-magnetic tweezers. I started with very fine tipped metal tweezers and some SMD components just would not let go during placement. Either straight or curved ceramic tipped tweezers worked very well. Just don't squeeze too hard else the part may go flying off in a random direction, never to be found again amonst the crumbs/fur balls/ whatever. 2. The first tack of soler for each SMD part needs to be very small (so use very fine solder). If your hands are steady then a slight downward pressure from the tweezers as that first tack point is reheated will help seat the parts (a big blob of solder will make it a little more difficult for the part to seat down). 3. The RGB LEDs on the first version PCB may only be very lightly bonded to the underlying tracks. Too much handling of the board and they may break away. I managed to reflow 3 out of 5 but 2 remained non-working. 4. To the great credit of the designer, replacements were very quickly and happily provided - so don't be shy in coming forward if you have problem, Whether it's a replacement or some advice, I'm sure Seon will do all that can be done to get you up and running.
No hesitation in recommending this item with just one caveat - make sure you have some tools suitable for a little fine work. A magnifying headset was a great aid too for some of those elusive microscopic parts :).

Daryl | Aug. 23, 2020

Great product and support

For Reflow Master Pro

Great product works as expected for reflow soldering. Detailed documentation and great support from the seller.

Piero Giorgio | Aug. 12, 2020

Small, it's small... But!

For TinyPICO V3

You could get an ATTiny85, and it would be smaller. But then, you would not get WiFi, an ESP-32 CPU with all the memory and microPython (if that's you rcup of tea, of course). All in very little more space than the ATTiny85.

Tristan | Aug. 10, 2020

Very Cool

For W.O.P.R. Missile Launch Code Display Kit - HAXORZ

After seeing this on YouTube I had to have one and it didn't disappoint. This turned out to be a fun and easy to kit to build. The diagram is clear and the 0805 components are fairly easy to solder as long as you have a pair of fine tweezers. I did have the same issue as one of the other reviewers. One of the pre-soldered LEDs for the DEFCON indicators broke off as I was cleaning the flux off the board. Fortunately I have a hot air station and was able to reattach it without damage by masking the surrounding plastic components with foil and kapton tape and carefully heating the area from the other side of the PCB with the hot air set to 260C. It worked fine afterwards. I don't think it would be possible to solder the LEDs with a soldering iron without melting them. So a degree of caution in handling is advisable in order to not make the same mistake.

I'm really looking forward to playing with the firmware and this seems like a good project for learning more about the ESP32. Thanks for creating this kit.

Evan | Aug. 7, 2020

Lovely kit

For W.O.P.R. Missile Launch Code Display Kit - HAXORZ

This was a really fun build! Documentation was clear and assembly straightforward. I have plans to 3D print a larger enclosure to more closely map the movie version.

If there's a revision 2, I'd suggest replacing the SMD LEDs used for the Defcon indicators. One of them popped off the board after a slight bump, and getting it back on without a hot air station wasn't really doable (had some fun trying though). I'm making my own case anyway and it'll be simple enough to wire some spare nanopixels directly to the TinyPICO. For others, handle with care if you don't have a rework station handy!

Alex | Aug. 6, 2020

Amazing WOPR clock, best one on the market!

For W.O.P.R. Missile Launch Code Display Kit - HAXORZ

Fairly easy kit to put together, remember it is surface mount, so flux is your friend and take you time.

The finish product looks spectacular, and makes a great desk piece.

The source code is easy to extend, so you can add the features you want to see as part of the clock/launch system.

Highly recommend the W.O.P.R. as well as Unexpected Marker in general.

Barry | June 11, 2020

Amazing

For W.O.P.R. Missile Launch Code Display Kit - HAXORZ

I absolutely love my WOPR Clock. It’s a well made and documented kit.

This was the first time I’ve soldered SMDs. I was apprehensive but wanted the WOPR clock so bad. I had some issues due to a lack of soldering skills on my part. Seon gave great support, helping me to diagnose and resolve my issues. My clock now takes pride of place on my desk.

I had an issue with shipping as I’m in the UK and my purchase happened during the coronavirus epidemic. It took two months to get here via Sendle, after getting lost for a month. I don’t blame Seon, who provided regular and honest communication throughout.
I think I was just unlucky with timing. He does now also offer additional shipping options for those who are happy to pay a bit more to have it sooner, which is a great addition..

I would recommend both the clock and unexpected Maker.

Philip | June 2, 2020

Amazing Product from an Amazing Maker!

For Reflow Master Pro

First of all, I've been following Seon / Unexpected Maker since the beginning of my journeying in creating my own ESP32 based product. Without a doubt he is one of the best guys in terms of the quality in his Youtube content, support here during the delivery/order process and has been a life saver for producing the Reflow Master. Although it took me some time to get up and running, only due to my technical ability it's been real fun hacking my own reflow oven, the code and I have successfully reflowed a few PCBs! So thanks for your support Seon, it's greatly appreciated.

Charles | May 20, 2020

TinyPico - a great thing to play with while in LockDown :)

For TinyPICO V3

I'm just scratching the surface of Micropython and the ESP32 range of chips.
Seon's tutorials have been great - and so of course I had to buy a TinyPico to try.
It's great to buy locally manufactured tech goods and support a fellow Aussie when nearly everything is imported.
My first project (A Siri controlled laundry hamper lid) is still going through testing, but the potential is huge :)

Charles.

Alan | April 26, 2020

Neatest Correct Entry - Cannot be beaten at the price

For Reflow Master Pro

My needs were for a good reliable tool that made making prototype PCBs a doddle. I do not want to spend much time developing tools in order to get my real task done. The documentation is easy to read and accurate - my problem was that I couldn't find the USB port until I had a good look. Go figure!

Seon's YouTube videos also helped me find the ideal toaster oven, which in my case was a 2 element Ambiano unit from Aldi. With a good crimping tool and some heat-shrink tubing, I was able to use the existing high temperature wiring to connect everything, using the front neon to show me when the SSR was on. It also has a door that can stay partially open for the cool down process - which the Reflow Master also manages. I did not opt for a fan, I was concerned that the unit may not heat up fast enough with any additional heat escape through the fan blades.

So for $50 odd for the oven, about $70 for the solid state relay and Seon's Reflow Master (complete 3D printed case), I was done. And yes it works, really well. You can see the progress of the cycle and open the door when screamed at by the buzzer. On the graphics, with eyes that need high contrast some will not be able to see the dark blue axes and certainly not be able to read the scale titles. But who cares? I know what the heat curve needs to look like and I can read the actual values.

I'll certainly buy from Seon again. He cares about his product and produces a high quality product.

Owen | April 1, 2020

Highly recommend!

For Neo7 Display (2 Pack)

Seon shipped the product virtually immediately and it arrived in the US in quick time.
Beautifully made and the libraries work flawlessly.

Nigel | March 30, 2020

Great displays

For Neo7 Display (2 Pack)

These are well made and extremely useful displays. They are easy to connect and work flawlessly with the Arduino libraries. High quality rgb led"s mega bright and very pleased with my purchase

Kristofor | March 4, 2020

Beautiful displays!

For Neo7 Display (2 Pack)

I purchased a few of these for a project - putting them together was straightforward with a bit of patience. I'd totally recommend using a reflow oven if you have one - use Seon's Reflow Master if you fancy making your own oven! Seon offered great support with a small issue I had. All-in-all, a great product.

Kris | March 4, 2020

A great bit of kit!

For Reflow Master Pro

Really fast shipping to the UK and a doddle to put together. I paired this up with a cheap toaster oven from Aldi and it works a treat; ideal for the hobbyist.

Richard | Feb. 27, 2020

This ESP32 protoboard design is awesome.

For TinyPICO V3

As a maker I have used various ESP32 protoboards and love this one the best. I implemented deep-sleep and on battery it draws only 30uA with the dotstar disabled. That is awesome and it opens up new battery powered opportunities. If powering auxiliary devices during sleep, the 3v3 is active and will draw too much current. I used an arduino compatible MOSFET to turn off those devices (like an ultrasonic distance detector) and the current stayed in the same range. Since this is a small board, the battery can either be soldered onto two pads or the battery connector can be soldered on the bottom (connector included). Unfortunately this connector adds height to the board and it can not plug into a protoboard. They do include extenders that allow pins to be plugged into the top of the board and that does suffice. It is entirely compatible with Arduino IDE and github has some valuable tips. Great on-line documentation too. I hope in the future it can ship from the USA to cut delivery time. All in all, my favorite ESP32 board.

Michael | Feb. 15, 2020

So cool!

For Unexpected Maker Badge 2019 Kit

Lovely item, had so much fun building it can’t wait to hack! I will be buying again from unexpectedmaker! 😊

Robin | Jan. 26, 2020

Exactly what I was looking for!

For TinyPICO V3

Small yet powerful, a perfect fit for our WebAssembly demo. I also ordered the IPS Display Shield, should prove a great combo.

David | Nov. 27, 2019

You won't find a better device (and we looked)

For Reflow Master Pro

This is just perfect for us. The screen is a necessity when you are trying to work out what is going on and why your profile may not be working. We started using a smaller oven (read cheap) that couldn't quite keep pace on the ramp time. We were able to edit the profile and achieve exactly what we wanted.

This thing is well put together (buying the case for it is well worth it) and the software is easy to follow which enabled us to modify it for some drying and pre-heating applications.

This product is what makes Tindie such a great destination.

Francois | Oct. 31, 2019

Great super small board

For TinyPICO V3

The board is great and the seller even greater. We had many issues with the local post and he reacted super fast.
Thanks a lot !

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