# 154: Physics Is a Big Pain

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2016-06-02
- Length: 1h 22m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-06-02-154-physics-is-a-big-pain
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/embedded-ep154mp3

## Summary

Jeff Keyzer, an electrical engineer at Valve and founder of the open-source electronics kit company MightyOhm, discusses the challenges of designing and manufacturing consumer hardware like the Steam Controller. He shares insights on the importance of clear specifications for vendors, the difficulties of managing complex electromechanical assemblies, and the critical role of embedded software in facilitating manufacturing test and programming. Keyzer also provides detailed technical advice on soldering techniques, flux selection, and the physics of RF antenna design.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-06-02-154-physics-is-a-big-pain#t=6) Introduction and Background
- [12:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-06-02-154-physics-is-a-big-pain#t=734) Valve Hardware and the Steam Controller
- [25:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-06-02-154-physics-is-a-big-pain#t=1505) Manufacturing Lessons and Automation
- [36:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-06-02-154-physics-is-a-big-pain#t=2187) Embedded Software for Manufacturing
- [43:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-06-02-154-physics-is-a-big-pain#t=2593) Soldering Techniques and Flux
- [1:05:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-06-02-154-physics-is-a-big-pain#t=3945) RF Design and Antenna Physics

## Topics

- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises, early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Valve (company)
- Steam Controller (product)
- MightyOhm (company)
- Geiger Counter kit (product)
- Soldering Is Easy (product)
- Glowforge (company)
- Hakko FX-888 (tool)
- Kester 186 (material)
- MG Chemicals 835 (material)
- Atmel AVR (chip)
- Atmega 328 (chip)
- Half-Life (product)
- Portal (product)
- Steam (product)
- Vive (product)
- Osh Park (company)
- Adafruit (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Merry Keyzermas!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-12-25-merry-keyzermas) (The Amp Hour)
- [MightyHohm For The Holidays - Kaiser Keyzer's Kits](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-12-25-mightyhohm-for-the-holidays-kaiser-keyzers-kits) (The Amp Hour)
- [The Ghost of Keyzermas Past](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-12-23-the-ghost-of-keyzermas-past) (The Amp Hour)
- [Keyzermas Vacation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-12-23-keyzermas-vacation) (The Amp Hour)
- [A Keyzermas Story](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-12-28-a-keyzermas-story) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-06-02-154-physics-is-a-big-pain. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.