Shopping List¶
Everything you need to build a SpoolSense scanner. Total cost: $10-20 depending on options.
Required¶
| Component | Options | Est. Cost |
|---|---|---|
| ESP32 Board | ESP32-WROOM DevKit (if you want extras like LCD/keypad) or ESP32-S3-Zero / S3-Zero-M (smaller builds, M = pre-soldered pin headers) | $3-8 |
| NFC Reader | PN5180 (recommended, all tag formats) or PN532 (ISO14443A only, SLIX2/OpenPrintTag not supported) | $3-6 |
| NFC Tags | NTAG215 stickers for UID-based tracking, or ICODE SLIX2 for OpenPrintTag (PN5180 required) | $5-8 |
| Jumper Wires | Female-to-female dupont wires (8 minimum, more if adding extras) | $2 |
| USB Cable | USB-C (most boards) or Micro-USB (older WROOM variants) | $1 |
Optional¶
| Component | Use Case | Est. Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 16x2 I2C LCD | Display spool info directly on the scanner | $3-5 |
| SK6812 RGBW LED | Status indicator (WROOM only, S3 has onboard LED) | $1 |
| 3x4 Matrix Keypad | Toolchanger users: assign spools to tools by typing the tool number | $2-3 |
NFC Tags: Which to Buy?¶
| Tag Type | Best For | Works With | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| NTAG215 stickers | Most users. Register UID in Spoolman, write TigerTag or OpenTag3D format, or use UID-only. | PN5180 and PN532 | ~$0.10 each |
| ICODE SLIX2 | OpenPrintTag format with full CBOR filament data on the tag | PN5180 only | ~$0.30 each |
Tip
Start with NTAG215 stickers. They're cheap, work with both readers, and cover the most common workflow (UID lookup in Spoolman). You can always add SLIX2 tags later if you want OpenPrintTag.
Where to Buy¶
All components are widely available on Amazon, AliExpress, and electronics suppliers. Search for:
- "ESP32 WROOM DevKit" or "ESP32-S3-Zero Waveshare"
- "AITRIP PN5180 NFC module" or "PN532 NFC module SPI"
- "NTAG215 NFC stickers" or "ICODE SLIX2 NFC tags"
- "16x2 I2C LCD 0x27"
- "3x4 membrane keypad Arduino"
Tip
Buy the AITRIP PN5180 module specifically. It has the correct pinout and antenna for spool scanning. Generic PN5180 breakout boards may have different pin layouts.