// hardware · raspberry pi · mdb pi hat · qibixx
Connect any vending machine
in under 10 minutes
A Raspberry Pi with the qibixx MDB Pi Hat plugs directly into your machine's MDB bus. One command installs everything and registers the device to your account. No custom PCB. No firmware to flash. No soldering.
// what you need
Bill of Materials
Everything you need to connect one vending machine. Estimated total: ~€260–330
The brain — runs the Vendilator agent, talks to the MDB hat over UART
ⓘ Pi 5 also works. Pi Zero 2W not supported.
Plugs onto GPIO header — bridges MDB bus to serial (UART). No soldering.
ⓘ Supports MDB cashless levels 1 & 2.
Standalone card terminal — accepts tap/chip/swipe, paired to the machine via SumUp API
ⓘ One-time hardware cost. SumUp charges 1.69% per transaction, no monthly fees.
OS storage for Raspberry Pi OS Lite
ⓘ Samsung or SanDisk recommended.
Hat Peripheral port → vending machine MDB cashless port (not the hat Master port)
ⓘ Usually a 9-pin molex or bare-wire harness. Many machines have a free MDB port already — check before ordering.
Powers the Pi. The MDB hat can alternatively draw from the MDB bus if the machine supplies it.
ⓘ Official Raspberry Pi PSU recommended.
Optional: A 3D-printed or off-the-shelf enclosure to mount the Pi+Hat inside the machine cabinet. Any standard Raspberry Pi 4 case with a GPIO cutout works — check local sellers or Printables.com.
// setup guide
Get your hardware
Purchase the components listed in the Bill of Materials above. The qibixx MDB Pi Hat plugs directly onto the Raspberry Pi's 40-pin GPIO header — no soldering required. Pair a SumUp Solo terminal with the machine for card payments.
- ▸Raspberry Pi 4 (2GB+) or Pi 5 ↗
- ▸qibixx MDB Pi Hat ↗
- ▸SumUp Solo card terminal (optional, for card payments) ↗
- ▸MicroSD card (32GB+, Class 10/A1) + USB-C 5V 3A PSU
Flash Raspberry Pi OS
Use Raspberry Pi Imager to write the latest Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit) to your SD card. Enable SSH and set a username/password in the imager before writing.
- ▸Download Raspberry Pi Imager ↗
- ▸Choose: Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit)
- ▸Click the gear icon → enable SSH → set username & password
- ▸Write to SD card, insert into Pi, power on
Seat the MDB Pi Hat
Power off the Pi and press the qibixx MDB HAT (PCB002Q v1.2) onto the GPIO header. Power the Pi from USB-C 5V 3A — always. Plug the vending machine MDB cable into the hat Peripheral port only; leave the Master/VMC port empty when the real machine is the VMC.
- ▸Jumpers: C_S/X2 (two caps) and BOOT (one cap) — leave factory settings; no C_M jumper on v1.2
- ▸Peripheral MDB port → machine cashless harness
- ▸Master/VMC port on hat → empty for Palma and most machines
- ▸Boot Pi on USB first; power or reset the machine after the Pi is running
- ▸In Vendilator: Cashless Slave ON (sends C,1 to the hat — software, not a jumper)
Get your provision token
Log into your Vendilator account, go to Settings → Devices, and generate a one-time provision token. Each token claims one device.
- ▸Go to vendilator.com/settings ↗
- ▸Click "Add Device" → "Generate Token"
- ▸Copy the token — it's single use
Run the install script
SSH into your Pi and run the one-liner below. It configures the UART, installs the Vendilator agent, registers the device to your account, and sets up a systemd service that starts on boot.
Replace your_token with the token from your Vendilator settings.
// what the script does
Configures UART
Enables ttyAMA0, disables Bluetooth, removes serial console — required for MDB hat communication.
Registers device
Uses your provision token to claim the device to your account. Token is single-use and invalidated after.
Issues device key
Generates a unique per-device API key stored locally on the Pi. Used to authenticate all API calls.
Installs agent
Writes the Vendilator agent to /opt/vendilator and sets up a Python venv with pyserial.
Systemd service
Registers vendilator-agent.service — auto-starts on boot, restarts on failure.
Reboots
A reboot is needed to activate UART changes. The script prompts you before rebooting.
// faq
Which Raspberry Pi models are supported?
Pi 4 and Pi 5. Pi 3B+ works but is not recommended for new installs. Pi Zero 2W is not supported.
Does it work without a vending machine connected?
The hat boots and communicates with the Pi without an MDB connection. However it won't process any vend events until plugged into a machine.
What happens if the Pi loses internet?
The agent queues events locally and syncs when connectivity is restored. The vending machine continues to operate normally — internet is only needed for payment processing.
Which vending machines are compatible?
Any machine that supports the MDB protocol (Multi-Drop Bus), which covers most machines manufactured after 1995. This includes Crane, Dixie Narco, Wittern, Azkoyen, Sanden, and many others.
Can I run the agent on an existing Pi that already has other software?
Yes. The install script only modifies UART settings and installs a systemd service. It won't touch your other software.
// ready to connect your machine?
Start with a free account
Create an account, generate a provision token, and have your first machine online in minutes.
// supported machines
Machine Compatibility
Works with any MDB-protocol vending machine. Full setup guides and programming codes available for: