Hardware Podcasts

S1E28 High End Iron Entries, Semiconductors, and Electric Motors | Justin Smart

Being an Engineer · 14 Aug 2020 · 49m · Episode 28

What this episode covers

Justin Smart, General Manager at Interlink Engineering, discusses his career path from designing high-volume consumer products at RYOBI and precision semiconductor automation at Motorola to leading operations at high-end architectural door manufacturers Coletti Design and First Impression Iron Works. He details the engineering challenges of balancing industrial design constraints in lawn and garden attachments, the extreme precision required for ball grid array assembly equipment, and the thermal and manufacturing realities of custom wrought iron doors. Smart explains how his current role at Interlink Engineering combines on-demand contract engineering, 3D printer sales, and managerial duties, leveraging his diverse background in both high-tech and old-world fabrication.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies and companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Emerson, US Motors, RYOBI, MTD, Black and Decker, Motorola, Coletti Design, First Impression Iron Works, HEBO, Interlink Engineering
Products
InSinkErator, QuickLink system, Ball Grid Arrays, 3D printers

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 28m

    Merry Keyzermas!

    Chris Gammell, an engineer at Valve, discusses the high-volume manufacturing of the Steam Controller, detailing the transition from prototype to a massive automated assembly line in Illinois. He explains the engineering challenges of designing for production variation, such as component tolerances and temperature-sensitive magnets, and the complexities of designing for automation. Gammell also shares insights from his frequent trips to China for PCB assembly, emphasizing the importance of a portable 'China kit' and rapid quality control processes.

    PCB design & layoutManufacturing partners & offshoring
    7 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 18m

    An Interview with Omer Kilic

    Omer Kilic, CTO of Den Automation, explains how his company is redesigning power sockets and light switches to be reliable, manufacturable, and interoperable within the IoT ecosystem. He details the engineering challenges of integrating high-voltage safety with smart features, such as per-socket power monitoring and tactile actuation, while avoiding the 'walled garden' problem of proprietary alliances. Kilic also discusses the broader IoT landscape, criticizing the industry's focus on gimmicky 'Internet of Sh*t' products and highlighting the difficulties small startups face in accessing semiconductor support compared to large volume manufacturers.

    Industrial & consumer product designConnected products & IoT
    9 chapters

  • Thoroughly Considered · 1h 01m

    87: We Should Probably Cut This

    Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat discuss the reception of the new Material Docks, the progress of the Mark Three pen, and custom Seracote finishes for the Mark One. They detail the manufacturing complexities of the Mark Three, including Swiss turn machining of complex parts like the 'mech inner,' and the challenges of managing color SKUs. The episode concludes with Dan’s Tech Corner analyzing the longevity and design implications of Apple's Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14.

    Materials & manufacturing processesIndustrial & consumer product design
    6 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 16m

    MightyHohm For The Holidays - Kaiser Keyzer's Kits

    Chris Gammell of Valve discusses his transition from chip design to consumer electronics, highlighting the steep learning curve of design for manufacturability (DFM) and the challenges of scaling production. He details the logistics of running his side business, MightyOhm, specifically the manual assembly and component sourcing for his Geiger counter kits. The conversation also covers the Seattle hardware community, including swap meets and amateur radio events, and the utility of free RF design tools like QUCS.

    Design for manufacturing & NPIScaling production
    6 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 23m

    Wait, why is Jeff glowing?

    Jeff Keyzer, founder of MightyOhm, discusses his return to self-employment after five years at Valve, where he managed the full product lifecycle of consumer electronics. He details the challenges of high-volume manufacturing, including the difficulty of changing assembly processes once tooling is set and the importance of vendor relationships for custom components. Keyzer also describes a recent trip to the Hanford site in Washington to tour the historic B Reactor and the LIGO observatory, highlighting the engineering complexities of early nuclear production and gravitational wave detection.

    Manufacturing partners & offshoringScaling production
    9 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Being an Engineer. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.