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Hardware Requirements

Required Components

Component Recommendation Notes
Raspberry Pi Pi 4/Pi 5 recommended Must run Raspberry Pi OS (Debian-based). Other models may work but are less validated.
Display LAFVIN 7\" HDMI Touch 1024x600 Kiosk is optimized for touch interaction. This kit includes Raspberry Pi adapters (angled HDMI/micro USB style adapters).
NFC reader PN5180 module (SPI) Current daemon driver targets PN5180 (SPI, manual CS).
Scale ADC NAU7802 module (I2C) Uses I2C bus 1 (/dev/i2c-1, address 0x2A).
Load cell Compatible load cell for your platform Required for live spool weight readings.
Power supply Stable Pi PSU for your model Undervoltage causes unstable kiosk/device behavior.
Angled USB-C connector 90° angled USB-C connector Plugs into the Pi's USB-C power port. The cable exits through the cutout on the back of the case.

NFC Tags

SpoolBuddy can interact with:

  • Bambu Lab RFID spools (MIFARE Classic)
  • NTAG213/215/216 stickers/cards for writable custom tags

Wiring Reference

Full pin-by-pin wiring tables and ASCII diagrams are documented on:

Dual voltage requirement

The PN5180 board requires both 5V and 3.3V connections. Do not feed 5V into the 3V3 pin — this will damage the module.

Manual CS

SpoolBuddy uses manual chip-select on GPIO23 (dtoverlay=spi0-0cs) to satisfy PN5180 timing requirements.

Practical Build Notes

  • Module side (PN5180, NAU7802): Solder wires directly to the pads — easy and reliable.
  • Pi GPIO side: Use crimped 2.54 mm connectors (HARWIN M20 or similar). Dupont connectors work but can cause intermittent errors — verify contact with a multimeter. Soldering to GPIO pins is possible but risky; a solder bridge can permanently damage the board.
  • Keep NFC wiring short and clean to reduce signal issues.
  • Ensure Pi user/service has access to gpio, spi, i2c, and video groups.
  • If you use DSI backlight control, video group access is required for brightness writes.