HardLabs

Wirehead

knosmos·wirehead·mcp/test_client.net

Wirehead

About the Wirehead PCB

Wirehead is an open source Microchip SAM PCB design by knosmos, published on GitHub. It is a board, with 13 components from 8 distinct parts.

Its main chip is the ATSAME70J21A-AN, from the Microchip SAM family. Other key parts include the XTR111AxDGQ and AP33771. By type, the board carries 6 capacitors, 3 ICs, 3 resistors and 1 crystal.

From the project

2nd place grand prize @ hackmit 2025 | video demo

2nd place grand prize @ hackmit 2025 | video demo

The world’s devices run on PCBs, but designing even simple PCBs can take dozens of hours of repetitive, effort-intensive work. As computer scientists, we work closely with electrical engineers (one of us is an electrical engineer!), so we’re no strangers to just how time-consuming PCB-design can be. A tool to speed up this process wouldn’t just help electrical engineers--anyone working with the hardware down the line, from mechanical engineers to computer scientists would feel the acceleration.

Main components on the Wirehead

ATSAME70J21A-ANXTR111AxDGQAP33771

Wirehead bill of materials (BOM)

13 components, 8 distinct parts.

QtyPartRefs
1
ATSAME70J21A-AN
U1
1
XTR111AxDGQ
U2
1
AP33771
U3
1
8 MHz
Y1
4
0.1µF
C1, C2, C5, C6
2
10 pF
C3, C4
1
2kΩ
R1
2
22Ω
R2, R3

Wirehead design files

The KiCad project lives in the knosmos/wirehead repository on GitHub; these links point at the commit this page was built from.

Wirehead: common questions

What microcontroller does the Wirehead use?

The Wirehead is built around the ATSAME70J21A-AN, from the Microchip SAM family.

How many components are on the Wirehead?

13 components, from 8 distinct parts. The full bill of materials is listed on this page.

Where can I download the Wirehead design files?

From the knosmos/wirehead repository on GitHub, which has a netlist; the links under Design files point to each one.

Can I use the Wirehead design in my own project?

The repository has no license, so all rights stay with knosmos. Use it as a reference, and ask the author before reusing the design.

Can I test firmware for the Wirehead without the hardware?

Yes. HardLabs builds a simulation of the board from its netlist and BOM, so you can run and debug Microchip SAM firmware against it before you order a PCB.

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