Embedded.fm · 19 Aug 2021 · 51m · Episode 384
Liam Cadigan, co-founder of InspectAR and now at Cadence Design Systems, explains how the company evolved from a Memorial University capstone project into a commercial product before being acquired. He details the technical challenges of parsing complex PCB manufacturing data formats, specifically contrasting the intelligent IPC-2581-B standard with the legacy Gerber format. Cadigan discusses the strategic decision to use Unity for cross-platform augmented reality development and the difficulties of founding a hardware-adjacent startup from Newfoundland, including investor outreach and the eventual sale to Cadence in August 2020.
early-stage companies and large enterprises
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Chris Gammell discusses his new video podcast, The Contextual Electronics Podcast, and details a Gerber file resolution error he encountered with JLCPCB while designing the ABC board. Dave Jones explains the technical nuances of Gerber resolution and aperture settings, while both hosts analyze the industry implications of ARM being up for sale, Intel's manufacturing struggles, and Google's new $300 engineering certification program.
Natasha Baker, Founder and CEO of SnapEDA, explains how her experience at National Instruments and a frustrating project with a Texas Instruments reference design led her to build a centralized library of symbols and footprints for PCB designers. She details the challenges of establishing trust with engineers, the importance of IPC 7351 standards, and how SnapEDA uses a neutral meta-format to export native-like libraries for tools like KiCad, Altium, and Eagle. Baker also discusses SnapEDA's growth through Y Combinator, their strategy of providing anonymized analytics to suppliers, and their future vision of using data to proactively assist engineers during the design process.
Jonathan Hirschman, founder of PCB:NG, explains his mission to automate PCB assembly by building proprietary software and hardware, aiming to make ordering assembled boards as easy as printing a business card. He details the technical challenges of parsing diverse CAD outputs, managing multiple board vendors to ensure quality, and developing custom pick-and-place automation to reduce setup times. Hirschman also discusses his bootstrapped funding model, derived from selling his previous product, the Paste Press, and his strategy of offering transparent, flat-rate pricing to cut through industry opacity.
Greg Davill, an engineer at an Australian aero surveying company, discusses his hobbyist work with KiCad, detailing how he uses Fusion 360 and Python scripts to create realistic renders of PCBs by converting SVG layers. Michael Ossmann, founder of Great Scott Gadgets, announces the shipping of the GreatFET One, a high-performance USB hacking tool, and discusses the company's transition from garage to scaling, highlighting collaboration challenges and testing failures with the HackRF.
Zachariah Peterson, founder of Northwest Engineering Solutions and Altium's technical consultant, discusses the state of PCB design, the industry's shift toward EMC expertise, and the impact of AI tooling. He details Altium's acquisition by Renesas, the critical need for engineers to understand manufacturing constraints and stack-ups, and the risks of relying on semiconductor data sheets for EMC guidance. Peterson also shares insights from his 'Layout Review' content series, highlighting common DRC errors and the value of mentorship in a lean industry.
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