I recently bought a G3061 PD65W Hot Plate to help with SMD soldering, and decided to add a VL53L0X ToF sensor to automatically start and stop the heating when it detects a PCB. 

Requires:

• 1x G3061 PD65W Hot Plate: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006380068665.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.78.47e118025nPwCk
• 1x VL53L1X ToF Sensor: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006829011999.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.24.77363e448rB2yd&aem_p4p_detail=202504100723311111608050195760002263802&algo_pvid=231432be-a772-4ede-810b-01cccd72ded7&algo_exp_id=231432be-a772-4ede-810b-01cccd72ded7-23&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22order%22%3A%2232%22%2C%22eval%22%3A%221%22%7D&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21SGD%212.59%212.59%21%21%2113.78%2113.78%21%40213bd97f17442950112555022ee1eb%2112000038437640682%21sea%21SG%211806006742%21X&curPageLogUid=spKycyNxjN7S&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A&search_p4p_id=202504100723311111608050195760002263802_6
• 2x BC337 NPN Transistor
• 2x 2.2K Ohm Resistor
• 1x Microcontroller, ensure it is supported here: https://circuitpython.org/downloads (I used a WeAct S3 Mini, but it's overkill and a Raspberry Pi Pico is more than enough)

To be printed:

• 1x Case
• 1x Base
• 1x VL53L0X Holder
• 1x Backdrop

Programming:

1. Download Thonny here: https://thonny.org/
2. Then, proceed to download Circuitpython onto your microcontroller: https://circuitpython.org/downloads
3. For ESP32 microcontrollers, you can use the online installer. For Pi Pico, you will need to download the .uf2 file and place it inside the Pi Pico folder. It will disconnect and reconnect with “CIRCUITPY” being its directory name.
4. You will also need to download the “adafruit_vl53l0x” library. It can be found inside this library bundle: https://circuitpython.org/libraries
5. Copy the “adafruit_vl53l0x” library into the “lib” folder.
6. You can then open the “code.py” file in the CIRCUITPY directory, and paste the following code:
    

import time
import board
import busio
import adafruit_vl53l0x
from digitalio import DigitalInOut, Direction, Pull
TRANSISTOR_BASE = board.pin_number_here
VL53L0X_SCL = board.pin_number_here
VL53L0X_SDA = board.pin_number_here
heating = False
Base Pin Setup
BASE = DigitalInOut(TRANSISTOR_BASE)
BASE.direction = Direction.OUTPUT
VL53L0X Setup
i2c = busio.I2C(VL53L0X_SCL, VL53L0X_SDA)
vl53 = adafruit_vl53l0x.VL53L0X(i2c)
vl53.measurement_timing_budget = 200000
def toggle():
    print("Toggled")
    BASE.value = True
    time.sleep(0.2)
    BASE.value = False
time.sleep(3) # Sleep To Allow G3061 To Turn On First
while True:
    print("Range: {0}mm".format(vl53.range))
if vl53.range not in range(70, 80) and vl53.range <= 80:
    if not heating: 
        toggle()
        heating = True
    
if vl53.range in range(70, 80):
    if heating:
        toggle()
        heating = False

Installation Instructions:

1. Remove PCB from the original casing (Can be taken out without desoldering).
2. Extend wiring for OLED to around 4cm.
3. Then, solder one cable to each of each of the two buttons like this:
    

     4. Solder cables to the VCC and GND pads of the PCB.

     5. Using a veroboard (or not), solder the cables connected to the button to each of the                    collectors of the transistor (first leg of the transistor with flat side facing you)

     6. Solder the two 2.2K Ohm resistors to each of the base of the transistors (middle leg).                Solder the other leg of the resistor to an empty column, and then solder a cable to this              column (will be connected to microcontroller later)

     7. Solder two cables to the emitter of the transistor leg (any hole along the column is fine)

     8. You should have something like this:
 

     9. Using a small drill bit, drill two holes: (for reference, collector is bottom right)

     10. On your microcontroller, solder the VCC and GND cables. Solder the wire connected to              the base of the two transistors to your microcontroller.

     11. Solder another 4 wires to the microcontroller, these will be for the VL53L1X. Connect                  one to 3.3V, one to GND, and the other two to the I2C pins of your microcontroller. 

     12. Route these 4 cables through these two holes:

     13. Solder these cables to the VL53L1X sensor, and then place it into the holder. Attach this            holder to the middle two standoffs. Do the same for the backdrop on the other side. 

     14. With everything wired, put it into the 3D printed case. Make sure to align the PCB so                  that the two pogo pins can be inserted. Remember to also put the two buttons into the              new case. 

     15. Before putting on the base, connect to your microcontroller and replace                                        “pin_number_here” with the pins that you are using. 

     16. If everything is working, you should see the distance sensor reading being printed out.              You can now safely close up the bottom of the case. 

     15. This shoud be the final result: