Hi, I'm Maarten. Dad, maker, not a firmware engineer.

I build things my kids actually use.

A printed case, a cheap board and code I write with an AI at my elbow. Every build gets a video, a step-by-step build page, and the parts at the prices I paid.

Latest episode
thumbnail: the box on the kitchen table, a kid's hand reaching for a figure [runtime] EP 001
I built my kids a story player Watch, then build it →
On the bench EP 002 · [working title] · [what is happening this week] Build log →
Episodes

One build per episode

All videos on YouTube ↗
thumbnail: the box, a kid's hand on a figure [runtime] EP 001
Ep 001 · out now · Storybox

I built my kids a story player

A printed box, a figure on top, a story from a microSD card. About €60 in parts.

Watch, then build it →
thumbnail: build 002 on the bench FILMING EP 002
Ep 002 · on the bench · [build name]

[Episode 002 working title]

[One line: what it is and who in the house it is for.]

Follow the build log →
Shorts

From the bench, under a minute

More on YouTube ↗
clip: meter on the SD pins I wired the SD card backwards clip: ticking off the bench sheet Seven tests before the glue clip: AMS printing a figure A story figure, no paint clip: kid’s hands, first story plays Kid QA, round one clip: the AI reading serial logs What the AI got wrong
Build log

What I tried, what broke, the fix

  1. Five tests before the glue. There turned out to be seven. EP 001 · bench tests · [date]
  2. Brute-forcing the SD card wiring EP 001 · wiring · [date]
  3. From an Arduino test to real firmware, with an AI EP 001 · firmware · [date]
  4. A parent app, so the kid never gets handed a phone EP 001 · app · [date]
The build note · roughly weekly

One email a week from the bench

What I built, what broke, and what the AI got wrong. The Storybox pack comes with the first one.

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Follow along

Same builds, three places

YouTube ↗ The full builds From bare parts to the first story, mistakes left in. Instagram · TikTok ↗ The short cuts Timelapses, fails and kid QA, under a minute. MakerWorld ↗ The print files Figures and cases, once a build’s Plans are out.