Craft Computing

Logistics, 3D Printing, Lasers, Manufacturing - Openviro 2026 Update

Jeff provides a detailed status report on the Open VRO environmental sensor platform, focusing on the final manufacturing steps required before the first units ship. The video walks viewers through the 3D‑printed housing for the temperature‑humidity‑pressure probes, the laser‑engraved aluminum enclosures for the rack‑mount brain, and the logistics of assembling thousands of tiny components. Key technical details include the use of a Bosch BME280 sensor delivering temperature accuracy to 0.5 °C and fidelity of 0.01 °C, a Raspberry Pi Pico RP2040 controller with PoE and USB power options, and a production run of 1,200 probe housings (3,600 printed parts) requiring 559 printer‑hours and 12 kg of glass‑filled PETG filament. Jeff upgraded three Bamboo Lab P1S printers with $160 diamondback steel nozzles and super‑tac build plates, cutting warpage and ensuring dimensional consistency. The aluminum chassis (6061 extruded) and IO shields are laser‑cut locally, with 700 enclosures and 1,400 shields engraved in just 4‑6 hours. Notable moments include Jeff’s claim that the sensors can detect temperature shifts as small as 0.01 °C, the estimate that the entire 3D‑print farm will finish by mid‑February, and the promise to open‑source the firmware on GitHub once the first batch ships. He also highlights the logistical bottleneck of sourcing 10,400 screws and the final arrival of IO shields as the last piece before full assembly. The update signals that Open VRO is on track to begin shipping to Crowd Supply backers in early March, with additional units slated for Mouser distribution. Early‑warning environmental monitoring could reduce HVAC‑related downtime for data centers, while the open‑source hardware and firmware model invites community customization and broader adoption across enterprise and hobbyist markets.