LED ambient lighting for TV

Problem

Your living room lighting is either full-on or off — no atmosphere in between. Your eyes get tired while watching a movie.

Solution

Indirect LED strip lighting controlled by WLED and connected to a Raspberry Pi Zero. The HDMI signal passes through the device, allowing the lights to respond precisely to what is displayed on the screen. In addition, the predefined lighting presets and digital microphone allows the lights to react to sound.

Technologies

WLED, WS2812B, ESP32, Home Assistant automations

Result

The lighting automatically adapts to what is shown on the screen. You can also tune the LED precision individually to be used as regular lighting.

Smart blinds for Home Assistant

Problem

Commercial motorised blinds cost hundreds of euros per window and require you to feed your personal data into the manufacturer's app.

Solution

A stepper motor unit in a 3D-printed housing, ESPHome control and a position slider in the Home Assistant UI. The same controller scales to multiple windows.

Technologies

ESP8266, NEMA 17, A4988, ESPHome, 3D-printed mechanics

Result

The blinds follow the sun and cost roughly a third of the commercial options.

Hallway bus departure display

Problem

Checking the bus schedule on your phone every morning — shoes on, hands full.

Solution

An OLED display that fetches the next four departures from your own stop via the Tampere transit API through Home Assistant.

Technologies

WeMos D1 Mini, SSD1306, Home Assistant, Nysse API

Result

Departure times at a glance by the door. No more sprinting to the stop for nothing.

3D-printed board game organizers

Problem

Your big board game has hundreds of small pieces that end up loose in the box, and setup takes far longer than it should.

Solution

Each game gets its own insert designed to neatly sort cards, dice, and tokens into its box — the same expertise also applies to dice towers and other gaming accessories that improve your quality of life.

Technologies

Parametric 3D modelling, PETG/PLA printing, multi-color printing

Result

Repeat paid commissions across dozens of different games — Tinkoder's most consistently repeating revenue line so far.

Balcony floor frame

Problem

The plastic frame of your floor tiles has cracked after years of exposure to the elements, and replacement frames are no longer available.

Solution

The dimensions of the broken piece are measured to create a 3D-modelled, stronger frame. The new frame is printed in PETG in four parts, which would then be glued and welded together. The wooden parts are attached to the frame, which allows the complete floor to be easily snapped into place.

Technologies

FreeCAD, 3D printing, PETG, Reverse engineering

Result

Extended lifespan of the balcony floor without needing to replace the entire flooring.

DIY packable packraft

Problem

Ready-made packrafts cost over thousand euros, and most designs require sewing skills that you may not have.

Solution

A Skeena-style packraft was built from scratch, including a detachable spray deck attached without any sewing — a fully heat-sealed seam and zipper.

Technologies

Heat-sealing, PVC/TPU fabric, hand-built construction

Result

The finished raft sold at a profit — the technique carries over to other outdoor gear too.

Movable kitchen island

Problem

Ready-made islands aren't movable, the right size, or don't have enough storage space.

Solution

A custom island with drawers that can hold not only cutlery and plates, but also other things. Ikea's inexpensive drawers served as the base, modified with additional wooden frame and a worktop to extend your workspace.

Technologies

Woodworking, Design, Drawer Assembly, Surface Treatment

Result

A kitchen island that fits the home's theme and serves as a worktop and serving surface. The island can easily be moved to different locations within your home as needed.

Boardgame Tokens and Components

Problem

The included tokens in your board games are often paper-thin, dull, and feel cheap. Immersion is missing.

Solution

3D-printed, custom-fit tokens bring a sense of depth to game nights.

Technologies

3D modeling, 3D printing, painting, airbrush

Result

The tokens look great, are pleasant to handle, and the game world builds on the table in a completely new way.

Smart litter box air filter

Problem

Odours spread through your flat before the box gets cleaned.

Solution

A wall-mounted filter unit with PIR sensor that starts the fan right after the cat's visit. Swap out the activated-carbon cartridge with a snap.

Technologies

PIR sensor, 40 mm fan, USB-C, parametric OpenSCAD design

Result

An odour-free hallway and a ten-second cartridge change. In development as a small-batch product.

Robotic cat teaser arm

Problem

Your cat needs stimulation even when no one is home.

Solution

A compact servo-driven arm that waves a toy in randomised patterns. Started remotely or on a schedule from Home Assistant.

Technologies

ESP32, MG90 servos, 3D-printed frame

Result

A happy cat — and movement patterns unpredictable enough to stay interesting.

Reverse-engineered discontinued spare part

Problem

A broken hinge on a quality appliance and the manufacturer no longer supplies the part.

Solution

The original part was measured, remodelled and reinforced at the fracture point with impact-resistant PETG.

Technologies

Calliper measurement, FreeCAD, ASA/ABS/PETG printing

Result

The appliance is back in use within a week. The new part outlasts the original.

Paint rack

Problem

Paints used for miniatures take up space and it's difficult to find the required colour.

Solution

3D-printed rack that keeps paints in order. Adjustable to the size and quantity of available paint bottles.

Technologies

3D printing, FreeCAD, Reverse engineering

Result

A paint rack that shows the paint colours clearly and can be scaled up or down, accommodating variations in paint bottle sizes and quantities.

Remote and keyboard holder

Problem

Remote controls and keyboard for television and media equipment often end up cluttering on the sofa or the table. They need a place where they are easily accessible but doesn't take up space.

Solution

A custom-designed and manufactured stand that attaches to the television, holding multiple remote controls and media device keypads in their own dedicated spots. The stand is tailored precisely for the equipment in use, so each device has its own place and is easily accessible.

Technologies

3D Design, FreeCAD, 3D Printing, Mechanical Design and Dimensioning

Result

A simple solution that keeps living room equipment organised and easily accessible at the same time. The stand's design can be tailored according to the intended use and existing devices.

Sauna heater backplate and stone frame

Problem

Heat from the heater and impurities in the air stains the wooden paneling behind the heater. Additionally, the original heater holds too little stone, resulting in you having to continuously add water to maintain sufficient steam levels.

Solution

A aluminium backplate was fabricated behind the heater to protect the wooden paneling. Additionally, a separate stone frame was designed and built for the heater, allowing the stone volume to be doubled compared to the original.

Technologies

Mechanical design and engineering, Aluminium machining, Stone frame design and fabrication, Installation planning

Result

Doubling the stone volume, improved steam quality and reduced need to add water continuously. The aluminium backplate protects the sauna's wooden paneling from staining caused by the heater.

Plant pots for old decorative metal wall brackets

Problem

Your old decorative metal wall racks for which no ready-made plant pots could fit. The brackets were intended to be reused.

Solution

Custom-designed and manufactured plant pots that fit the brackets exactly. The pots were adapted to the existing metal frames' shape so that they sit securely in place and make use of the old brackets as they are.

Technologies

3D design, FreeCAD, 3D printing, Custom measurement modeling

Result

The old wall brackets can be put back into use without needing to be altered. The custom-made pots fit seamlessly into the existing brackets, maximising the root space available for plants and forms a cohesive totality with their decorative styling.

Shelf for Board Games

Problem

Your board game boxes come in different sizes. Sat in a traditional fixed shelves, space often ends up being underutilized. Additionally, as your collection grows, more storage space is often needed.

Solution

A board game shelf was designed and built with continuously height-adjustable shelves. The shelves are mounted on threaded rods, allowing each level to be positioned at the desired height without fixed mounting holes or separate brackets. The design also allows additional shelves to be added later as your collection grows.

Technologies

Mechanical Design, Woodworking, Threaded Rods, Mechanical Fasteners, Custom-Measured Manufacturing

Result

A shelf that makes efficient use of available space and accommodates board game boxes of different sizes. Shelf heights can be adjusted as needed, while additional levels can be added later without rebuilding the entire unit.

Kitchen Extension Shelf

Problem

Your kitchen does not have enough counter and storage space for all the appliances you use on a daily basis. Items such as a coffee grinder and air fryer take up valuable workspace and storing them creates inconvenience.

Solution

A wall-mounted extension shelf was designed and built underneath the window, making use of otherwise unused wall space. The shelf was sized around the existing window, radiator and surrounding structures.

Technologies

Mechanical design and dimensioning, Woodworking, Custom fabrication, Wall-mounted construction

Result

Additional usable space in your kitchen for your kitchen appliances without having to expand the existing worktop. Optimises previously unused space while keeping frequently used appliances easily accessible.

Cultivation system for chilies

Problem

Growing chilies in soil requires constant watering on hot summer days to prevent them from drying out. Additionally, soil provides a breeding ground for various pests that can spread between plants. In traditional pot-in-soil cultivation, your available space also limits the number of plants that can be grown.

Solution

A compact hydroponic system was built for chilies, allowing multiple plants to be grown in the same circulating nutrient solution. The system uses horizontally mounted grow tubes, into which plants are placed in individual growing positions. Plants receive continuous water and nutrients without the need for traditional soil-based growing medium.

Technologies

Hydroponics, PVC pipes, pumping technology, 3D design, 3D printing, mechanical design

Result

A system that speeds growth, significantly reduces daily watering and eliminates the soil-based growing medium that hosts many pests. Multiple plants can be grown efficiently in a small space, and the system can be expanded as needed.

Ambient lighting for the living room

Problem

You use traditional ceiling light in your rooms, which produces strong ambient light but offers little control over the mood. Your space requires a softer and more adaptable lighting solution.

Solution

An indirect LED strip lighting was installed along the ceiling edge, where the light reflects through the ceiling to illuminate the entire room. The lighting is controlled via WLED, which allows free adjustment of colours, brightness and various lighting effects, even down to the level of individual LEDs. Light can be turned on for just one wall.

Technologies

WLED, WS2815B LED strip, ESP32-S3, digital microphone, electronics design, 3D printing, 3D modeling, FreeCAD

Result

Lighting that is easily adjustable part of the space. It can be used as a calm mood light, a functional light source, or even synchronised with music. The indirect setup keeps the light source hidden and produces even lighting throughout your room.

Cat Balcony Net

Problem

Glass panels on the balcony need to be kept closed to prevent cats from falling or escaping. You cannot open the balcony door on hot days with quick rising temperatures. With the glass panels closed, your cats cannot enjoy the outdoors freely, and the panels would get dirty quickly.

Solution

A separate frame was designed and built for the balcony, allowing the glass to remain open safely. The frame forms a supportive structure for the net and uses the existing balcony framework to slide the frame smoothly with installed rails. The frame attaches to adjacent glass panels using specially designed and printed clips.

Technologies

Mechanical design and dimensioning, 3D modelling, 3D printing, custom fabrication, mechanical fastenings

Result

The balcony door and glass can remain open while your cats are on the balcony. This improves ventilation in your home and keeps the balcony more pleasant, especially on warmer days, while allowing your cats to safely enjoy the outdoors.

Shade for an old ceiling light

Problem

One of your original shades for an old ceiling light broke, and there were no replacement parts available.

Solution

A new shade was designed and manufactured for the light, replacing the original one. The shade was designed to fit directly onto the existing metal fittings, allowing the original light frame to be preserved and the installation to be straightforward.

Technologies

3D design, 3D printing, measurement-based modeling

Result

You can continue to use your old ceiling light without one missing shade being an issue. The new shade fits directly into the existing structure and remains faithful to the original appearance of the light.