Macrofab Engineering Podcast

The concerning news of a missing submarine near the Titanic wreck site this week sparks conversation about the implications of using a $30 Logitech gamepad for steering, the importance of regulatory bodies for deep sea exploration and why backups are essential for critical systems. We also explore the question; is an engineer a scientist? Lastly, we discuss a breakthrough in laser-based data transmission that could revolutionize internet connectivity. Submarine Safety: Unconventional Controls and Engineering Design Suitability of game controllers for critical systems Regulatory compliance and safety standards in engineering projects What can we learn from this story and why backups are essential  Engineer vs. Scientist: Perception and Practice Proficiency at something vs. being an expert  Education vs. professionally paid for your work  “If you wear a white lab coat in your day job, you are a scientist”  Inspired by u/amirouche_up’s question at r/askengineers  Laser Internet: Overcoming Atmospheric Interferen

MEP EP# 383: Screaming into the Social Media VoidAutoDesk is dropping support and development for the dedicated Eagle EDA tool and moving efforts to the AutoDesk Fusion 360 Electronics. This has set the electronic enthusiast online communities ablaze with KiCad users and supporters frothing at this opportunity to take market share away from Eagle in the EDA space. Parker and Stephen discuss this and more on this week’s episode of the MacroFab Engineering Podcast!Topics:Parker was on The Coriolis Effect last Friday with Bill Herd and Ben Jordan! Check out the episode here. AutoDesk dropping dedicated Eagle Support. Effective June 7 2026. Autodesk will no longer sell Eagle Fusion 360 Electronics is the “path forward”  Supposedly Eagle files are fully compatible with Fusion 360 Electronics Hackaday’s take on this: “They used to be a big shot but now they are no more” Discussion points:  What will happen to all of the historic Eagle materials out in the world? What will happen to stand alone eagle?  Is this a

MEP EP#382: The Danger PoolThe CHIPS act is in full swing with Texas Instruments, TSMC, Intel and other chip manufacturers scaling up and building new facilities in the United States. There is just one problem however, the engineering manpower required to run these high tech facilities. TSMC is struggling to fill hiring quotas and articles are citing TSMC working conditions as the reason. Stephen and Parker decide to explore the possibility of more reasons for this on this week’s episode of the MacroFab Engineering Podcast.Chipmaker TSMC needs to hire 4,500 Americans at its new Arizona plants. We touched on this in the past with the chip act. 668,000 domestic manufacturing jobs for the chips act on Episode #345 - The Hot List of Tasty Chip Fabs TSMC says it will hire 4,500 new workers to support its two Arizona fabs, a sizable chunk of the total new jobs created. So far TSMC has hired ~2000 but say it is tough to hire. Compensation and hiring TSMC pays up to $160,000 annually for Ph.D.s with some good experi

MEP EP#381: Bil Herd - Back Into the StormBil Herd, one of the early engineers of Home Computers, joins as a guest on this week’s episode of the podcast. Bil led the hardware design for the Commodore C128 and Plus4 Series of computers in the 1980’s and currently co-hosts a weekly webcast which can be seen at Coriolis-effect.comTopics:Back Into the Storm: A design engineers story of Commodore Computers in the 1980’sVintage Computer Festival Returning to Texas this June June 23rd - 25th VCF Southwest August 4-5th VCF West Vcfed.org Coriolis-Effect Bil co-hosts this along with Ben Jordan!  Summary of the show / Topics Deep dives into circuit analysis Signal integrity DFM and assembly process The Commodore C128 was designed during the era of through hole components. How did the advent of Surface Mount Tech change design?  Through hole is still used today and what mistakes do modern engineers and designers do when using through hole components?   How often did “green wire” fixes go into production?

MEP EP#380: The Simplest SMT Component… In The WorldStephen’s CNC steps closer to being completed on this CNC electronics centric podcast! We discuss design snafus and problems with poorly constructed CNC controllers and design misses in the mechanical assembly. Then Parker receives a newsletter that has the simplest SMT component in the world. What could that component even be used for?Topics:Stephen’s CNC - What remains? The 2000 mm ball screws in right before the episode Drives/drivers/power supply have arrived! Need to order Controller - purchased NVEMNow the STB4100 Limit switches E-chain MPG Safety stuff like the change over switch and breaker Need to make a box for the FRO/SRO/SJOWhy this isn’t a normal thing is strange Making the surface of the tableMDF with sunken screws Software Making control box wiring diagrams Brewery controller Thunder ohm style wiring Max max Printable heat shrink to match diagrams Electrical Enclosure Vevor 24x24x8 Cabling woes The Simplest SMT component… In The Worl

MEP EP#379: Taking pictures with magnetic fluxTwo major topics this week! Major Box Truck updates and going over the Texas DMC Occupations Code for what a Motor home is. Then we flash back to the year 2000. Parker was only 13 years old when he took a photography merit badge class for scouts and was introduced to digital photography through the Sony MVC-FD5. This Sony camera stores images on a floppy disk. Will this archaic storage media sink Parker’s nostalgia for this camera or will it just spawn extra projects? Podcast News: Switching Podcast hosting seems to have gone seamlessly! Trying out a new piece of recording software this week. Topics:Box Truk Updates Brake Lights arrived and installed! Spare tire holder built and installed 360 degree camera system partially installed Starting work on the “RV” portion Built the shower stall so far Texas DMV Occupations Code, Section 2301.002 (21)“Motor home” means a motor vehicle that is designed to provide temporary living quarters and that: (A) is built on a motor

MEP EP#378: Crawfish ConundrumCooking crawfish a mile above sea level? How will the crawfish cook differently? On this episode of the MacroFab Engineering Podcast, Parker and Stephen discuss the different seasoning, boil and soak times, and building an inexpensive boil pot from materials and supplies Stephen already has. Parker also makes the Box Truk an official project on the podcast even though it has nothing to do with electrical engineering. The last topic is on 3D printing and what is the state of Parker’s and Stephen’s machines and what they use the 3D printers for. Podcast News:Switching Podcast Hosting CompaniesTopics:Box Truk Updates Transmission cooler and fan installed and wired upThermal switch and relay setup Finished up the rear light wiring but waiting on the brake lights Installed a used on board air system for filling up tires and running pneumatic tools Next on the list Install a spare tire holder Check for leaks in the transmission lines Install the 360 degree camera system Crawfish Boi

MEP EP#377: Countdown to HypeTopics: Electronics and radiation Radiation Handbook for Electronics Silicon does strange things in the presence of radiation Failures -  Two Flavors - non permanent or permanent SEE (single event error) SEU (single event upset) SEL (single-event latch-up) SEGR (single-event gate rupture) SEB (Single event burnout)  PN junctions Fets CMOS - Memory Types of radiation exposure TID (total ionizing dose) Rate specific ELDRS (Enhanced low dose rate sensitivity) Proton Neutron SpaceX starship Starship is the largest and most powerful launch vehicle ever flown and the first intended to be fully reusable Launch was great to watch Damage to launch pad Twice the thrust of the Saturn V What kind of topics and discussions do Senior or Principal Engineers Care about? How many times can you sit through an introduction on a topic? Ion Open Accelerator: Designing & Manufacturing A PCBA

MEP EP#376: Starting From The BeginningWhen did you start listening to the podcast? Have a favorite episode? Let Stephen and Parker know which is your favorite. Also, we are going to do another design contest! The Box Truck also gets an update from Parker.May the Fab be with you! MacroFab event page. Topics: Favorite Episodes from listeners?  When did you start listening to the podcast? Stephen’s Favorite episode? Brandon Sander of Inheritance Machining Idea Tank episodes Episode #77 Episode #223 Episode #296 Parker’s Favorite episode? Centex Paranormal Episode JOSH - the podcast editor James Lewis on MLCC / Ceramic Capacitors Top downloaded is #153 Discrete Atomic Luffa Control Next Electrical Engineering Contest Projects that use FR4 in structural ways Listeners have any ideas? Box Truck Build Update Auxiliary Power Infrastructure Figuring out automotive wiring schematics What has been completed so far Under hood Factory Auxiliary Fuse Box Trailer Controller Banks iDash

MEP EP#375: From Zero to Hero in PythonTopics:Why is python requested in embedded software/firmware engineer jobs?The Complete Python Bootcamp From Zero to Hero in Python - UdemyRapid Harness Software Designing some pinball harnesses Powerful for a single task Has a free version but limited CNC stuff Critical speeds on ball screws Length Diameter End supports SFU2010 got 700in/min which is almost a foot a second. Rotational speed of 1778 RPM Power supplies for stepper motors Shared axis power supply considerations.

MEP EP#374: Brandon Sander of Inheritance MachiningBrandon Sander: Classically trained in mechanical engineering, Brandon inherited his grandfather’s personal machine shop in the winter of 2021. He created a Youtube channel to document restoring these machines, continuing his grandfather’s legacy, and getting back to his metalworking roots. Topics: How inheritance machining came about Making drawings by hand Projects Useful items - knurling tools/ tap follower/ etc Tool upgrades - tool holders/better hold downs Restoration projects Which project did you like the best? The worst? The most difficult? Have there been any projects for YouTube that have been scrapped midway through? What you hope to do with the shop Most recent episode showed working on “organic” material - will there be more of this? What is left to do to call the shop "done" (I know this is probably not achievable!) Machine setup Filming “tools” What are your plans with the channel going forward? Do you have any advice for a young guy abo

MEP EP#373: Full Stack Manufacturing - David and Joel of Teenage EngineeringJoel Westerberg is head of IT at teenage engineering. Joel started at teenage engineering in 2013 by working on the OD-11 loudspeaker project. Joel has been involved in building the teenage engineering factory system and various other projects. Joel does everything from backend services, embedded development, to pcb design.David Eriksson is the head of hardware and co-founder of teenage engineering. A DJ and synth enthusiast since age 12, David started teenage engineering in 2006. David is responsible for platform and electronics design, software architecture, and designing manufacturing systems.Topics: What is Teenage Engineering? How did the company start? Managing the scaling from your first product launch of the OP-1 to the wide selection of products you currently offer How do you handle all these products? Shared components and Designs?.  Button design - OP-1 PCB design - OP-1 The Pocket Operator How did you come up wi

MEP EP#372: The POD-GanizerNews:May the Fab Be With YouMay 4th, 20236:00 PM - 9:00 PM CDT10305 Round Up Ln Suite 400Houston, TXTopics:Bud Industries - Board-ganizer Enclosure KitCombine breadboards and evaluation boards into an enclosureFluke 87V multimeter Vs Centech 61593 (also got a rigol DS2072 oscilloscope) $520 vs $39.99 6000 count vs 2000 count Fluke can do “High Res” mode and go to 20,000 count Autorange vs range select Benefits of both Manual range might be better for keeping your ducks in a row. Main difference - the fluke is basically 4x or better on nearly all measurement accuracy The all important beep test Parker uses a ‘Velleman’ DVM850BL Debugging things that don’t work Wagoneer was not happy recently Events that lead up to the problem Problem solving techniques Resolutions? Power Distribution Module What is up with this project? Building an adjacent community for long term discussion of the podcast and projects The MacroFab Podcast Contest IS BACKDetails at a later podcast episode

MEP EP#371: Riley Hall - Can Fictiv make Beef Flags?Riley HallRiley is the Director of Product Marketing for Fictiv. He has over ten years of experience working in highly technical manufacturing engineering environments at companies including Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence, Hilti North America, and Markforged. Riley holds a B.A. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan as well as an MBA from the University of Colorado Boulder and lives with his wife Hannah in Denver, enjoying hiking, skiing, and the occasional Colorado brewery.Topics Fictiv What is Fictiv? Mike Geyer from Fictiv was on the podcast back on episode 187 We talked about Fictiv’s State of Hardware Report for 2019 State of Manufacturing Report Enclosures for Electronics Types of enclosures Manufacturing Processes 3D printing Injection Molding CNC Machining Material Selection DRC verse DFM

MEP EP#370: Making Money the Hard WayDenes SzaboDenes was born and raised in Colorado. His parents owned a machine shop where Denes worked from a young age till 50. Denes now runs the tooling department at the US Mint Denver.Topics What is the process of getting US currency made? Making changes and updates? How does this differ from other currencies? What goes into creating the tooling? Materials Files for creating the tools How are they approved Quality controls on currency manufacturing Producing at scale Inventory and Logistics

MEP EP#369: The Yeti Job HuntNews May the Fab be with You Show off the new factory! Star Wars theme of course Contest for best Star Wars Costume Food and Drink Possible Cantina Band? The State of Electrical Engineering Jobs Denver Industries Medical Aviation Space Communications Manufacturing Commonalities Design - Hardware Design - Firmware Board stuff Cad/Cam and mechanical Regulations Most stuff Secret clearance Repair Manufacturing practices Knowledge High speed electronics RF Communication protocols - Some board level stuff but lots of ethernet Follow up from last week What happened last week? New Computer?  Ordered a case Sliger CX4200i  Building a new rack for this

MEP EP#368: The Thermal Hum of the UniverseNewsMay 4th, Bringing back the MacroFab meetup.Stephen Kraig looking for a job. Email stephen.l.kraig@gmail.comAnother thought on ground planes Finally tried an honest to god ground plane on an amp and the results are what you would expect. Realizations Component placement matters as much if not more than trace routing Pool analogy Understanding current is key Trade offs Makes ground easier while making signaling harder It is possible to have too much ground Venting of Sealed (washable) Relays (that have vents provided) TE Connectivity application note about sealed relays  Unless specifically advised otherwise by TE Engineering, all sealed relays (that have a venting means provided by the manufacturer) must be vented after PCB assembly and cleaning, but before use electrically, in order for published ratings to remain applicable. Dumb Aviation plug Stephen bought GX16 aviation plugs Need Gx20 What does the number mean? The mounting hole size….

MEP EP#367: Vapor Wave ReflowNewsMay 4th, Bringing back the MacroFab meetup.Question From slack: Eric Smith How do you find new machines for the factory lines? Google Youtube Vendors Resellers Do you guys get mailed catalogs? Auctions yes. New machines no Do you go to conferences? I have been but never to purchase a machine   if you find something which could be potentially good, how do you evaluate it?  Is there something like a trial period with the manufacturer? Research is key. Evaluation is difficult to do.   Do you have an examples of machines you purchased but regret? Or examples of machines that helped a lot? Mimaki Printer Stencil printer Datron CNC Direct question I'd also be curious if you prefer to keep homogenous lines or do you prefer to optimize some lines to a particular task, i.e. Less precise but more throughput.    I can come up with good arguments either way.   It sounds like you all keep things pretty dynamic and reconfigure fairly often.

MEP EP#366: Laser Cutting TolerancingMacroFab News May 4th, Bringing back the MacroFab meetup. MacroFab moved into the new headquarters and we already produced our first products! Checker Battery Box Materials arrived Monday, will need to weld it Designing for laser cutting / welding New Project Car - 2021 Chevy Express 4500RV / Camper / Tow Rig buildThe CNC is coming together! Finally got all of the extrusions Been taking my time and savoring it. Have to rearrange basement to get everything to fit 4 rounds of buying hardware What remains Get the drive electronics Get the ball screws SFU2010 - 2000mm and 1950mm for the X and Y axis C7 grade Dual x drive - slave axis Build the electronics cabinet NVEM ethernet stepper controller. Run all of the wire management 8020 3d printed cable management First attempt is good but needs some adjustment Probably too tight Add tabs that will allow you to turn it by hand when in the slot Add some features that slowly allow it to engage with the slot instead of all at onc

MEP EP#365: Let’s Segway into the Next TopicMacroFab News May 4th, Bringing back the MacroFab meetup. MacroFab is moving headquarters! New Website! The podcast and all that content looks sexy now. Chat GPT NPC Instead of the standard tree format of communication - just use ai AI dungeon master? How easy would it be to break? Segway announcement on Good Morning America Checker Battery Box Relocation of the battery Tool Storage ⅛” 304 Stainless Steel Cat Feeder Unreminder Schematic completed Been “bench testing” for the past couple weeks Enclosure design roughed in