# 352: Baby's First Hydrofluoric Acid

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2020-11-20
- Length: 1h 00m
- Episode: 352
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-11-20-352-babys-first-hydrofluoric-acid
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/352-babys-first-hydrofluoric-acid

## Summary

John McMaster, president of McMaster Consulting, explains the process of decapping computer chips to extract firmware and analyze their internal structure. He details the use of hydrofluoric acid, lapping machines, and focused ion beam (FIB) tools to delayer chips, allowing for the imaging of ROM and other circuitry. McMaster also discusses software tools like Rompar and bitract for converting microscope images into binary code, and shares insights on the legal and technical aspects of reverse engineering older hardware like the SNES S-PPU1.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-11-20-352-babys-first-hydrofluoric-acid#t=6) Introduction: John McMaster and McMaster Consulting
- [1:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-11-20-352-babys-first-hydrofluoric-acid#t=78) Lightning Round: Chemicals, Processors, and Tools
- [3:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-11-20-352-babys-first-hydrofluoric-acid#t=199) Garage Lab Setup: Microscopes and Lapping Machines
- [6:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-11-20-352-babys-first-hydrofluoric-acid#t=414) Reverse Engineering History and Motivation
- [8:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-11-20-352-babys-first-hydrofluoric-acid#t=524) Cost and Feasibility of Decapping and FIB
- [15:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-11-20-352-babys-first-hydrofluoric-acid#t=949) Decapsulation Techniques: P-Dip and Live Decap
- [24:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-11-20-352-babys-first-hydrofluoric-acid#t=1442) Using Hydrofluoric Acid and Plasma Etchers
- [28:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-11-20-352-babys-first-hydrofluoric-acid#t=1713) From Images to Firmware: Rompar and bitract
- [34:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-11-20-352-babys-first-hydrofluoric-acid#t=2048) Project Selection and Legal Considerations
- [46:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-11-20-352-babys-first-hydrofluoric-acid#t=2772) Lab Accidents and Safety Protocols
- [49:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-11-20-352-babys-first-hydrofluoric-acid#t=2978) SNES S-PPU1 Reverse Engineering Project
- [55:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-11-20-352-babys-first-hydrofluoric-acid#t=3301) Educational Resources and Career Advice

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- McMaster Consulting (company)
- Hardwear.io (other)
- Rompar (tool)
- bitract (tool)
- SNES S-PPU1 (product)
- Scanning Electron Microscopy (tool)
- Focused Ion Beam (tool)
- Plasma Etcher (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [032 - High Molarity Rants](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2020-02-25-032-high-molarity-rants) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [An Interview with Dmitry Nedospasov](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-06-17-an-interview-with-dmitry-nedospasov) (The Amp Hour)
- [022 - Bits Through the Microscope](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2019-06-30-022-bits-through-the-microscope) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [005 - Circuits That Go Nowhere](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2017-11-06-005-circuits-that-go-nowhere) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [#397.8 - An Interview with Chris Gerlinsky](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-06-25-397-8-an-interview-with-chris-gerlinsky) (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/2020-11-20-352-babys-first-hydrofluoric-acid. 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.