Final testing of the RS485 breakout with 48 V passthrough building block board, including higher-speed RS485 communication tests over approximately 20 metres of Cat 6 cable.

Thinking through the next stage of the Protoworks building block board roadmap, including RS485 communications, isolated RS485, digital I/O expansion, low-side driver outputs, 48 V distribution, USB to serial, and future prototype board ideas.

Reflecting on the first RS485 breakout with 48 V passthrough board and why the next revision may split RS485 communication and 48 V distribution into separate building block boards.

Further testing of the RS485 breakout with 48 V passthrough board, including validation of the 48 V polarity protection, identifying a backfeed issue, and testing basic RS485 serial communication over Cat6 cable.

Testing the RS485 breakout with 48 V passthrough building block board using a simple transmitter and receiver setup, including basic signal checks and cable testing over approximately 20 metres of Cat 6.

The first manufactured RS485 breakout with 48 V passthrough boards have arrived, followed by initial inspection, a silkscreen mistake, and the first basic bring-up checks.

Starting a new 8-channel low-side driver building block board for driving solenoids, relays, small motors, and other DC loads from logic-level control signals.

Thinking through how to position Protoworks’ small-batch open hardware building block boards, who they are for, and why open hardware makes sense.

Starting work on a digital IO expander building block board with 8 logic-level inputs, 8 logic-level outputs, output indicator LEDs, and shift-register-based control.

Publishing the USB-C breakout and 3.3 V regulator building block board as an open hardware KiCad project under the CERN-OHL-W-2.0 licence.