An nameless maker has constructed a low-power moveable distraction-free Python-powered ePaper typewriter, dubbed the ZeroWriter — pushed by a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W single-board laptop and buildable for below $200.
“This challenge began as a private try to make an reasonably priced [ePaper] typewriter, much like the Freewrite or Pomera DM30,” the maker, recognized solely by the challenge title ZeroWriter, explains. “The concept was to make use of a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W because the brains, so I may give attention to shortly getting collectively the {hardware} and get to writing. It is easy sufficient for a newbie, as a result of I’m a newbie!”
This compact 3D-printed moveable goals to supply a distraction-free writing setting, with low-power ePaper show. (📷: ZeroWriter)
Inspiration for the challenge got here from Penk Chen’s Penkēsu, or ペンケース — a retro-themed ultra-wide pocket-friendly laptop with a 48-key ortholinear keyboard and a chunky clamshell chassis. Chen, who had beforehand designed the business Raspberry Pi-based CutiePi pill, launched the Penkēsu below the permissive MIT license — giving the ZeroWriter challenge a base on which to construct.
Reasonably than an ultra-wide shade show, although, the ZeroWriter opts for a low-cost Waveshare 4.2″ ePaper show. Utilizing electrophoretic know-how, the show requires energy solely when updating — and is readable in direct daylight, although with no front-light system can also be totally unreadable in darkness. When the system boots, it does so straight right into a customized Python text-editing software operating on high of Raspberry Pi OS — and providing no tempting distractions like video games or an online browser.
The machine is powered by a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W single-board laptop operating a Python program atop Raspberry Pi OS. (📷: ZeroWriter)
“For simplicity, this challenge makes use of an exterior battery pack,” the maker provides. “These are useful to have anyway, and tremendous straightforward to exchange down the road. If you wish to activate the typewriter, you plug within the battery pack, and it boots inside 5s. If you’re a bit extra comfy tinkering, you’ll be able to definitely set up your personal LiPo [battery] + battery controller chip but it surely provides some problems (like studying battery stage and state, and many others), so I reduce it for this construct.”
The complete challenge write-up is accessible on Hackaday.io, whereas the supply code and STL information for 3D printing the chassis have been revealed on GitHub below an unspecified license.
