Macrofab Engineering Podcast

We’re joined by Alexander Vartanov, an electrical engineering student with a knack for hands-on projects. He discusses his journey from early soldering mishaps to his behind-the-scenes role in creative YouTube projects. We delve into his experiences with rapid prototyping for YouTube, his favorite solder, and shopping for surplus aerospace materials. Additionally, we explore his unique projects, including transforming ordinary alarm clocks into machines that shred money or douse sleepers with water. Tune in for a mix of engineering insights, student life, and tales of creative projects.

Our hosts discuss Parker’s recent transition from Eagle to KiCad, facing challenges with library management and device layer integration. They discuss the new MacroFab Quote Wizard and our first entry to the MacroFab Food Device Design Derby Challenge! This leads to a discussion of comparing air fryers to convection ovens for fried food fun. The episode delves into adopting LibrePCB as an alternative EDA tool and the integration of Eagle into Fusion 360. Join us for an exploration of the evolving EDA tool landscape and practical design tips.

Sergiy Nestorenko, founder of Quilter and former SpaceX engineer, discusses revolutionizing PCB design automation. He shares his journey from aerospace to starting Quilter, aiming to transform PCB design into a streamlined, AI-driven process. We delve into the technical hurdles, the fusion of engineering and advanced software, and the vision behind making circuit board design more efficient and intuitive. Sergiy also addresses the potential educational impacts and the future of hardware engineering in an AI-augmented world. Join us for a dive into the evolving landscape of PCB design and engineering innovation.

We dive into the intricate world of vintage computing with James Lewis, aka the Bald Engineer, who takes us through the journey of constructing a functional computer based on the Apple II GS's Mega II chip. He shares his nostalgic connection to the Apple II series, revered for its open design and pioneering hardware engineering. Our conversation spans the detailed architecture and challenges of his Mega IIe project, from initial concepts to the complexities of integrating modern microcontrollers like the RP2040 during pandemic component shortages. Tune in for a fascinating journey from the past to the future, bridging vintage computing with modern technology! 

Kent Johnson, Senior Corporate Advisor at the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation joins us this week to discuss the multifaceted role of religious diversity in the workplace.  Topics range from addressing challenges, fostering inclusivity, and integrating faith with mental health support. We discuss authentic expression and trust building, social media's impact, interfaith collaboration, and the intersection of religion and science. Join us for this exploration of how religious diversity is an important aspect of diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. 

Parker and Stephen dive into the world of batteries, sparked by the BetaVolt BV100's claim of a 50-year lifespan. With discussions on its construction, potential applications, and recycling challenges, they unpack the implications of this revolutionary energy source.

Join Parker and Stephen as they delve into Japan's decision to phase out floppy disks and CD-ROMs for government submissions. From reminiscing about nostalgic tech quirks to analyzing the challenges and benefits of this transition, they explore the implications for industries and digital competitiveness. Discussing Japan's slow tech evolution, resistance to cloud systems, and the enduring use of floppy disks in various sectors, they ponder the future of outdated tech and its impact on global standings. Tune in to gain insights into the end of an era and what it signifies for technology and society.

Discuss this episode.We welcome Chris Gammell, Developer Relations Lead at Golioth, to explore the exciting world of IoT (Internet of Things) and hardware. Chris brings his extensive engineering background to Golioth, a software company with a unique approach to IoT solutions. Join us as we delve into Golioth's distinct strengths in security, developer experience, scalability, reliability, and interoperability. Discover the future of IoT device provisioning and explore Chris's intriguing projects. If you're curious about IoT, Golioth, or the challenges and solutions in this space, don't miss this insightful episode with Chris Gammell.  Some of the topics we cover include: Getting the gang back togetherDeveloper relations = Application engineeringA hardware guy in a software worldCloud engineers vs. software engineers: what’s the difference?CockroachDB “will never die”What does Golioth do?Learning about the Constraint Application Protocol (aka CoAP)Golioth vs. other IoT companiesWhat is “Follow Along Hardware?

This week Parker and Stephen welcome Brenden Duncombe to the show to discuss the pros and cons of continuous integration and continuous delivery/deployment (aka CI/CD) for hardware. Continuous integration (CI) refers to the practice of automatically and frequently integrating code changes into a shared source code repository. Continuous delivery and/or deployment (CD) is a two-part process that refers to the integration, testing, and delivery of code changes. In theory, CI/CD helps organizations avoid bugs and code failures while maintaining a continuous cycle of software development and updates, but we wanted to learn more about this with Brenden, so Parker and Stephen asked him about CI/CD, and also covered the following:Brenden’s product development background“What is a Director of Customer Engineering?”A brief history of CI/CDWhy it’s the opposite of a nightmareUnit tests for software…how does it work for hardware?Pinball Wizardry A “smearing” vs. a “silo”Test-driven dev benefits over the entire dev cycle

Prepare to plug into the world of electrical engineering on Circuit Break - A MacroFab Podcast. Join two adventurous engineers, Parker Dillmann and Stephen Kraig, as they dissect the latest tech innovations, break down industry news, navigate the challenges of DIY projects and engage in compelling conversations with industry experts. Their real-world practical experience fuels their infectious passion and serves as the driving force behind a show that delves into both theoretical concepts and practical issues engineers face.  Parker and Stephen speak with fellow engineers, makers, hackers, and business leaders, creating a dynamic space for discussing challenges in the realm of electrical engineering. They unravel the origins of product updates, ponder the lab-to-marketplace journey of technological advancements and reverse engineer the engineering process. They love to speculate about the decisions dev teams have made and boldly offer their own opinions. The show provides a unique window into electrical engin

This week Parker and Stephen welcome Joe Grand to the show to discuss insecure IoT devices. Inspired by a recent incident where Bosch wrenches were infected by ransomware called DRILLCRYPT, the guys asked Joe to join them to talk about how attackers could compromise the safety of the wrench and cause safety issues for users. Of course, this kind of breach could impact almost any company and its products, and so many topics were covered, including:“Actually, it’s Dr. Grand…”If you’re in attack mode, firmware updates are greatSupply chain issues are hard enough to manage without these security breachesA lack of security can be a business decisionGive me convenience or give me threatsThe hardware industry isn’t as well-versed as the software industry isHow to update 10,000 devices in the fieldHacking is problem-solving (someone tell the FBI)“If you’re not being sued, you’re not working hard enough’Sourcing parts and the risk of getting counterfeit partsWhy a firmware update shouldn’t disable your carResisting Bi

This week Parker and Stephen welcome Kent Johnson to the show to discuss ethics in engineering. It’s a topic that has been alluded to over the course of Circuit Break, but this is the first time Parker and Stephen have delved into it with a real expert on the matter. Yes, most companies have standards and regulations and a moral code that guide them but, as Kent suggests, there are more ethical gray areas in the realm of engineering than we might realize. Topics covered here include:Discovering something isn’t being done properly at your new jobAgreeing to work on something with life-or-death consequences, and you don’t really know what you’re doingBypassing important project safety tests to meet a deadlineCrediting others in an age of ChatGPT and redefinitions of plagiarismHow do you credit and use open source code?Why siloed departments at companies are causing such harm to work dynamicsThe tyranny of the specThe true dangers of “failure” or “gotcha” work culturesAccepting accountability and being willing t

A recent Circuit Break Community thread about K-map design inspired a tangential conversation about how well certain subjects are taught in college. Parker and Stephen love a good tangent, thank you, and so they dug in by recalling their own experiences at school with excellent professors who clearly wanted electrical engineers to succeed, while other instructors and their teaching methods were challenging or else just downright bizarre. Other topics covered here include:How a terrible electronics professor can impact someone’s careerIs a “self-paced” classroom really just lazy teaching?Still not knowing how Bode plots workA strange digital circuits analogy where chickens and snakes are shockedWatching videos like you’re in A Clockwork OrangeA grade curve so severe, a 17% was a BClasses and profs we lovedWas a class hard, or was the professor just absolute garbage?Still having nightmares about forgetting to go to class for a whole semesterHeat Shrink Voltage Ratings+moreRelevant links:Attend MacroFab Founder

This week Parker and Stephen welcome James Lewis back to the show after a rather long absence! The occasion stems from James chiming in on a Circuit Break Community thread that Stephen started, asking all about component aging effects. Stephen posed questions like, “What happens to resistors over 5 years? How about 20 years? Are there rules of thumb or better yet, calculations for aging?” And helpful engineer that he is, James got in there and tried to provide some answers before agreeing to appear on the show to elaborate. Other topics covered here include: How no one is completely sure about how to approach component aging When component aging actually affects designers The difference between aging and reliability The impact of components lasting longer than they were meant to Variables, parameters, and other factors that can inhibit and exacerbate aging Levels of violence in polymer tantalum explosions The history of constants Device longevity laws How to define rated voltage for a capacitor +more! About o

Not unlike Han Solo emerging from cryosleep, the annual MacroFab Star Wars Christmas Special is back! Parker and Stephen welcome Josh Rozier, Chris Kraft, and Hyr0n to Circuit Break for a wide-ranging discussion covering at least the following about the Star Wars universe: The Most Ingenious Pieces of Technology in Star Wars The Most Underrated Characters  Favorite (and Most Profound) Star Wars Quotes Personal picks for cool lightsaber functions Do Star Wars ships and vehicles ever need gas? Medical care in Star Wars vs. Star Trek Whether or not you’re sleeping while encased in carbonite or just dead the whole time A burning desire for vibroblades The toilet paper situation in Star Wars Does Star Wars really illuminate the vastness of space? Chewbacca knows everything Spider-Man’s goo So many Star Wars magic tricks Tow Cable/Power Harpoon as a reasonable tactic to use against the AT-ATs on Hoth? Science-Fiction vs. Science-Fantasy “Skippy” and The Mandalorian FM Radio Transmissions in Caves Star Wars: Th

Parker and Stephen discuss a recent news story about how car manufacturers are increasing their focus on Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs) which are cars that use more software instead of physical components to control vehicle functions. This prompted a comparison between SDVs and Drive-by-Wire or DbW technology in the automotive industry, which is the use of electronic or electro-mechanical systems in place of mechanical linkages that control driving functions, how DbW relates to Fly-by-Wire tech and the fate of the F-117 Nighthawk, how Marvell Semiconductor is working on technology, particularly Ethernet, to support this change to SDWs, plus we get a brewery project update from Stephen, and much more!Relevant links: Marvell Sees Software-Defined Vehicle Readiness Near at Hand Circuit Break Podcast #65: Self Driving Cars With Josh Hartung From Polysync Circuit Break Podcast #396: PoE - Phantom over Ethernet Circuit Break Podcast #107: Orthogonal for Mutual Conductance Circuit Break Podcast #229: Get Cute This

Parker and Stephen welcome Pete Staples, the CEO and Co-Founder of Blue Clover Devices, to the show! Staples founded Blue Clover in 2003 to explore ways to make the electronics industry more efficient. Prior to that, he worked as a systems engineer at Boeing Satellite Systems in El Segundo near LAX. Blue Clover continues to hone their processes to eliminate waste and provide the best value for their clients. In 2018, those efforts culminated in the release of Blue Clover’s Production Line Tool (PLT), a cloud-native hardware test automation device. Because of his expertise in device testing, Parker and Stephen wanted to catch up with Pete to ask him some questions about such things, and so we’re happy to welcome him to Circuit Break!Relevant links: Blue Clover Devices Circuit Break Podcast #404: The Barcode is 50 With its Creator, Paul V. McEnroe Circuit Board Testing Methods: What You Need to Know Circuit Break Podcast #189: Not Even My Final Form – Jeff Garoon on Industrial Product Design Thank you for liste

Parker and Stephen discuss a recent article exploring how electrostatic discharge damage isn’t the only kind of static hazard your digital designs can face and possible solutions to such problems, a recent report that CHIPS for America published, entitled “The Vision for the National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program” (NAPMP), which elaborates on goals and investment areas to establish U.S. leadership in advanced packaging and provide the technology needed for packaging manufacturing in the U.S, a rumour about Raspberry Pi and how Tesla released service documentation for its original roadster, addressing some commentary by Discourse Community members, Todd_Zebert and Pdp-1, 1960s Batman stuff, and much more!Relevant links: The Other Kind Of Static Hazard To Your Logic Circuits Circuit Break Podcast #326: The Infinite Finite Grid Chips For America Publishes “The Vision For The National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program,” Supporting Leadership And Technology Growth Circuit Break Podcast #388: CHIP

Parker and Stephen welcome JITX CEO and Co-founder, Dr. Duncan Haldane, to the show to discuss his company, which is a code-powered PCB design platform that aims to revolutionize circuit board design by integrating automation with human expertise. Prior to co-founding JITX, Dr. Haldane was responsible for a “hyper-aggressive pogo-stick” robot called Salto-1P. After discovering just how much work went into designing Salto-1P, Duncan was inspired to start JITX, because he wanted a better way to design robots. In an approach that some engineers find divisive, JITX is innovating in ways to design circuit boards by writing code, and so Parker and Stephen asked Dr. Haldane to explain his background, the problems JITX is trying to resolve, the company’s plans to build a new auto-router, just what exactly the deal was with that “hyper-aggressive pogo-stick,” and much more!Relevant links: JITX Circuit Break Podcast #21: Let The RF Hit The Noise Floor Circuit Break Podcast #30: You won’t believe this ONE WEIRD Engineer

Parker and Stephen discuss the fact that physical limitations of shrinking process nodes are leading to new advancements in silicon interposers and enabling 2.5D packaging architectures, which is making 3D packaging possible, plus an exploration of what ChatGPT is and isn’t capable of, in terms of it answering our questions and whether or not it matters that it can’t draw upon its own experiences to relate to us, like say, wanting to have a beer sometimes. Plus, much more!Relevant links: Why 3D packaging could be the next breakthrough for processing Circuit Break Podcast #118: Battlestar Galactic Grounds Circuit Break Podcast #17: System-in-Package (SiP) Platforms with Greg Sheridan How is ChatGPT biased? Researchers identify a variety of concerns  MEP EP#365: Let’s Segway into the Next Topic Join the Circuit Break Discourse Community! Thank you for listening to the MacroFab Engineering Podcast!  We’d love to hear what you think of the show so please tweet at us @MacroFab and join our Circuit Break Community