# 217: 10000 Pounds of Pressure

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2017-09-29
- Length: 55m
- Episode: 217
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-09-29-217-10000-pounds-of-pressure
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/217-10000-pounds-of-pressure

## Summary

Bob Skala, president and co-owner of Interactive Instruments, discusses his company's history of building desktop wind tunnels and high-precision materials testers that use large servo motors to apply up to 10,000 pounds of force. He explains the technical differences between stepper motors and AC servos, detailing commutation, feedback loops, and the shift from 8051 microcontrollers to STM32 processors for reliability and ease of use. Skala also shares his personal journey from working on Smith Corona typewriters to founding his own small business, and his recent engagement with ham radio and the WSPR protocol.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-09-29-217-10000-pounds-of-pressure#t=6) Introduction and Guest Background
- [3:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-09-29-217-10000-pounds-of-pressure#t=198) Servo Motors vs. Stepper Motors
- [9:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-09-29-217-10000-pounds-of-pressure#t=543) Materials Testing and Crack Growth Analysis
- [28:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-09-29-217-10000-pounds-of-pressure#t=1720) Desktop Wind Tunnels for Education
- [35:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-09-29-217-10000-pounds-of-pressure#t=2113) Microcontroller Evolution: 8051 to STM32
- [40:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-09-29-217-10000-pounds-of-pressure#t=2451) Ham Radio and WSPR Protocol
- [46:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-09-29-217-10000-pounds-of-pressure#t=2767) Engineering Career Advice and Typewriter History

## Topics

- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Interactive Instruments (company)
- Smith Corona (company)
- STM32 (chip)
- 8051 (chip)
- Maple Mini (product)
- Teknic (company)
- Clearpath Brushless DC Servo Motors (product)
- WSPR (other)
- FT8 (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Ep. 4 |The Future Is Coding: Experts from iRobot and STMicroelectronics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2020-06-25-ep-4-the-future-is-coding-experts-from-irobot-and-stmicroelectronics) (Moore's Lobby)
- [Ep 278: DIY Subs, the ErgoRing, and Finding NEMA 17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-07-05-ep-278-diy-subs-the-ergoring-and-finding-nema-17) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [An Interview with Trey German - Launchpad Laden Lodesman](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-08-20-an-interview-with-trey-german-launchpad-laden-lodesman) (The Amp Hour)
- [Ep116: Three DIY Lab Instruments, Two Tickers, and a MicroCar](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-04-30-ep116-three-diy-lab-instruments-two-tickers-and-a-microcar) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep071: Measuring Micrometers, the Goldilocks Fit, Little Linear Motors, and 8-bit Games on ESP32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2020-06-11-ep071-measuring-micrometers-the-goldilocks-fit-little-linear-motors-and-8-bit-ga) (Hackaday Podcast)

## 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/2017-09-29-217-10000-pounds-of-pressure. 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.