Hardware Podcasts

90: Stick It in a Pumpkin

Embedded.fm · 26 Feb 2015 · 1h 07m

What this episode covers

Todd Kurt, co-founder of ThingM, discusses the evolution of his company's smart LED products, specifically the I2C-based BlinkM and the USB-based Blink(1). He explains the technical trade-offs between using ATtiny microcontrollers for I2C communication and Microchip PIC processors for native USB support, highlighting the firmware and timing challenges with WS2812 (NeoPixel) and APA102 (DotStar) LEDs. Kurt details the business strategy behind using Kickstarter for market validation and PR, while recounting specific manufacturing pain points in China, including firmware bugs, PCB layout issues, and CNC machining errors. He also touches on the complexities of managing a small hardware team, dealing with software contractors, and exploring future wireless product directions.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
ThingM, Adafruit, Seeed Studio, Highway One, Tindie, Crash Space
Products
BlinkM, Blink(1), NeoPixel, DotStar, BlinkMaxM, Crystal Monster, Cash Machine
Chips
ATtiny85, PIC16F1455, WS2812, APA102
Also
Unchained Reaction

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 23m

    An Interview with Marcus Schappi - Kit Ketch Kenophobia

    Marcus Schappi, founder of Little Bird Electronics and partner at Ninja Blocks, discusses his new Kickstarter for the MicroView, an Arduino-compatible device with a built-in OLED display. He explains how Little Bird consolidated shipping for Australian hobbyists to compete with US vendors, and details the design process for the MicroView, including using SparkFun Electronics for manufacturing to ensure on-time delivery. Schappi also reflects on the challenges of his previous company, Ninja Blocks, particularly the pitfalls of 3D printing enclosures and the strategic shift toward IoT platforms like the Electronic Imp.

    Crowdfunding & preordersIndustrial & consumer product design
    10 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 33m

    An Interview with Ken Burns

    Ken Burns, founder of Tiny Circuits, explains how his company evolved from a Kickstarter-funded hardware startup into a small-scale manufacturer in Ohio. He details the painful but necessary transition to in-house SMT production, highlighting early failures with solder paste and low yields that were eventually solved by hiring experienced staff and upgrading to modern equipment. Burns also discusses his new 'Whiskers' sensor platform, which simplifies IoT prototyping with stackable sensors and CircuitPython support, while noting the strategic importance of selling through distributors like DigiKey and Mouser.

    Manufacturing partners & offshoringPrototyping & iteration
    10 chapters

  • Making It · 1h 20m

    429: The Fabric of Your Lungs

    Jaco, Jimmy Diresta's daughter and founder of the brand Giaco, discusses the development of her Kickstarter product, the Darkfade flashlight, explaining how trusting an external electronics engineer initially caused significant delays and stress due to a mismatch in design philosophy. She details the solution: partnering with a specialized LED expert to refine the device's unique 45-degree head and gesture-controlled brightness interface. Meanwhile, Bob Clagett shares a lesson on laser maintenance involving a melted lens, and David Picciuto discusses his strategy of slowing down production on a record player stand to prioritize detail over speed.

    Crowdfunding & preordersIndustrial & consumer product design
    8 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 09m

    The Synergy Bus

    Chris Gammell and Dave Jones discuss troubleshooting I2C communication on an ESP32, revealing that the bus implementation was software-based and highlighting the importance of pull-up resistors and logic analyzers. They explore the history of the I2C standard from Philips, the specific PT8A2511 toaster controller from Pericom, and the failed Ocic smart headphone Kickstarter, attributing its failure to scope creep and VC-driven business model shifts. The conversation also covers the Essential smartphone's high development costs, the 76477 Space Invaders sound chip, and upcoming hardware hacker events like Tor Camp and DEF CON.

    Debugging & failure analysisChips, FPGAs & semiconductors
    8 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 10m

    A 2013 Recap - Year-end Yarn Yakking

    Hosts Chris Gammell of Contextual Electronics and Dave Jones of EEVblog discuss a wide range of hardware engineering topics, including the complexities of part numbering, version control in production, and the challenges of sourcing obsolete components. Jones details his experience with a Kickstarter campaign for his Microcurrent device, highlighting the impact of currency exchange rates on unit economics and the decision to manufacture locally in Australia. The conversation also covers the technical limitations of a new 10 GHz USB sampling oscilloscope, the decline of the hobbyist kit market due to cheap contract manufacturing, and the value of lab notebooks for patent defense.

    Sourcing & supply chainPricing, margins & unit economics
    7 chapters

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