325: Hasn't Been R2D2'd

Embedded.fm · 26 Mar 2020 · 57m · Episode 325

What this episode covers

John Saunders, founder of Saunders Machine Works and host of the NYC CNC YouTube channel, details the ambitious construction of a life-sized, 7-foot-tall Johnny 5 robot. He explains how collaboration with Input Inc provided the original CAD models and how his team sourced off-the-shelf food-grade conveyor belts for the tank treads. Saunders discusses the transition from a solo build to a community-driven project, managing thousands of parts and integrating hobby servos and Raspberry Pi controls. He also reflects on his journey from a hobbyist with a Taig machine to running a shop with 5-axis CNC equipment, emphasizing the educational value of such projects for inspiring students.

Mentioned

Companies
Saunders Machine Works, Input Inc
Products
NYC CNC, Johnny 5
Chips
Raspberry Pi, Arduino
Tools
Fusion 360, SolidWorks, KiCad, Taig, Tormach, Haas, Shapeoko

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Robot Talk · 24m

    Episode 109: Building robots at home - Dan Nicholson

    Dan Nicholson, founder of MakerForge.tech, discusses his journey from a software engineer to building a large-scale open-source bipedal companion robot. He explains how he transitioned from a simple cube design to a complex, 3D-printable robot using hobby servos, Raspberry Pi, and cloud-based CAD tools to make robotics accessible to non-experts. Nicholson highlights the challenges of balancing cost and functionality in hobby robotics, the importance of rapid prototyping with 3D printing, and the value of open-source collaboration in accelerating development and community engagement.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 24m

    An Interview with John Saunders

    John Saunders, founder of Saunders Machine Works and host of the NYC CNC YouTube channel, discusses the transition from hobbyist machining to running a manufacturing business and training company. He advocates for Fusion 360 as the optimal parametric CAD tool for hardware entrepreneurs, contrasting it with SolidWorks and Rhino, and explains how to design for manufacturability using services like Xometry and ProtoLabs. Saunders details the practical aspects of CNC machining, including workholding, speeds and feeds, and material selection, while sharing insights on building a brand through educational content and on-site training.

  • Being an Engineer · 58m

    S2E41 The Hacksmith | James Hobson

    James Hobson, founder of Hacksmith Industries, explains how he transitioned from a mechanical engineering student to running a YouTube channel that builds functional prototypes of fictional items like the Iron Man helmet and Tesla Cybertruck. He details the company's growth from a solo hobbyist project to a 23-person team operating out of a 13,000-square-foot facility, highlighting the role of viral hits like the Captain America shield in driving sponsorship revenue. Hobson also discusses the technical challenges of building the Alien Power Loader, the importance of in-house manufacturing tools like fiber lasers, and his philosophy on self-taught engineering.

  • The Electromaker Show · 23m

    Raspberry Pi 500, Robot Roadies, Huge 3d Printers and Car Hacking!

    Host Ian discusses Christopher Barnett's 'Raspberry Pi 500' build, which repurposes an Atari 500 case for a Raspberry Pi 5, and announces Cooper Rox2 as the winner of the Arduino Nano 33 BLE Sense Rev 2 competition. The episode covers Dexterity Robotics' automation of truck loading, the WiSer wireless serial project on Crowd Supply, and Elegoo's massive OrangeStorm Giga 3D printer. Finally, Ian reviews a car CAN bus hacking project using Blues Wireless Note Carrier F and an Adafruit M4 CAN board.

  • Making It · 1h 07m

    Episode 180: 50ish-esque

    Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss the maker community, with Jimmy recounting his luck in acquiring a Bridgeport mill and Bob detailing his construction of a cherry bar and tapered table legs using a table saw jig. The hosts also address the operational challenges of content creation, specifically the overwhelming volume of social media interactions and the difficulty of scaling personal engagement, while David shares his experience relearning how to use a plasma CNC machine after a long hiatus. They conclude by listing dream collaborations with figures like Jack White and Ben Uyeda, and reviewing media such as a Steven Spielberg documentary and Laura Kampf's video.

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.