# 448: Little Squiggles All Around

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2023-04-27
- Length: 1h 01m
- Episode: 448
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-04-27-448-little-squiggles-all-around
- Listen: https://embedded.fm/episodes/448

## Summary

Carl Bugeja, an engineer from Malta and creator of flexar.io, discusses his work creating actuators from flexible PCBs to flap origami figures and drive a foldable rover. He details the design of self-soldering circuits using resistive squiggles and PCB motors with printed windings, explaining how he overcame thermal limitations and component shortages. Bugeja also shares insights into his open-source hardware philosophy, his YouTube documentation process, and the business model behind selling development kits.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-04-27-448-little-squiggles-all-around#t=6) Introduction: Carl Bugeja and Lightning Round
- [3:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-04-27-448-little-squiggles-all-around#t=199) PCB Actuators and Origami Flapping Mechanisms
- [8:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-04-27-448-little-squiggles-all-around#t=498) Self-Soldering PCBs and Resistive Heating
- [19:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-04-27-448-little-squiggles-all-around#t=1167) PCB Motors and Foldable Rover Design
- [29:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-04-27-448-little-squiggles-all-around#t=1748) YouTube Content Strategy and Business Model
- [43:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-04-27-448-little-squiggles-all-around#t=2611) Startup Failure and Community Building

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Creator business](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/creator-business)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- flexar.io (company)
- CarlBugeja (other)
- github.com/CarlBugeja (other)
- carlbugeja.com (other)
- instagram.com/carl_bugeja (other)
- ESP32 (chip)
- PIC16F (chip)
- dsPIC (chip)
- PlayStation controller (product)
- Xbox controller (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Motors on PCBs with Carl Bugeja](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-03-26-motors-on-pcbs-with-carl-bugeja) (The Amp Hour)
- [Ep 196: Flexing Hard PCBs, Dangers of White Filament, and the Jetsons' Kitchen Computer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2022-12-09-ep-196-flexing-hard-pcbs-dangers-of-white-filament-and-the-jetsons-kitchen-compu) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Episode 277: Edible Robots, a Personal Eclipse, and DIY PCBs to Die For](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-06-28-episode-277-edible-robots-a-personal-eclipse-and-diy-pcbs-to-die-for) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep047: Prusa Controversy, Bottle Organ Breakdown, PCBs Bending Backwards, and Listen to Your LED](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-12-20-ep047-prusa-controversy-bottle-organ-breakdown-pcbs-bending-backwards-and-listen) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [An Interview with MG (Mike Grover)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-08-12-an-interview-with-mg-mike-grover) (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/2023-04-27-448-little-squiggles-all-around. 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.