# S5E13.5 PDX: Jason Addink

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2024-04-10
- Length: 12m
- Episode: 13
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-04-10-s5e13-5-pdx-jason-addink
- Listen: https://www.thewave.engineer/product-development-expo/pdx2024info/

## Summary

Jason Addink, a mechanical engineer at Pipeline Design & Engineering, discusses his approach to using Excel as a universal technical language for engineering communication. He highlights a challenging medical device project involving sterile, miniature ultrasound sensors and explains how he uses Excel to visualize complex data, such as overlaying plots on CAD images to define design criteria. Addink also details an innovative tool he built in Excel to generate robot dispensing paths for glue application, allowing non-programmers to easily edit and export data for PLCs.

## Chapters

- [0:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-04-10-s5e13-5-pdx-jason-addink#t=14) Introduction: Jason Addink and Pipeline Design & Engineering
- [1:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-04-10-s5e13-5-pdx-jason-addink#t=90) Challenges in Medical Device Design: Sterile Micro-Components
- [3:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-04-10-s5e13-5-pdx-jason-addink#t=184) The Philosophy of Excel as a Communication Tool
- [5:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-04-10-s5e13-5-pdx-jason-addink#t=347) Visualizing Data: Overlays, Criteria, and Options
- [8:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-04-10-s5e13-5-pdx-jason-addink#t=534) Practical Learning at PDX vs. Speed Competitions
- [10:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-04-10-s5e13-5-pdx-jason-addink#t=632) Building a Robot Dispensing Path Tool in Excel

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Pipeline Design & Engineering (company)
- PDX (other)
- Excel (tool)
- CAD (tool)
- PLC (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [505: Potato in a Number Field](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-07-10-505-potato-in-a-number-field) (Embedded.fm)
- [Ep 330: Hover Turtles, Dull Designs, and K'nex Computers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-07-25-ep-330-hover-turtles-dull-designs-and-knex-computers) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [122: Glue a Board to Your Resume](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-10-21-122-glue-a-board-to-your-resume) (Embedded.fm)
- [#440.2 - Interviews with Greg Davill and Michael Ossmann](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-05-01-440-2-interviews-with-greg-davill-and-michael-ossmann) (The Amp Hour)
- [461: Check Out My Immune System!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2024-11-08-461-check-out-my-immune-system) (Making It)

## Citing this page

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