# Ep101: Lasering and Milling Absolutely Everything

- Show: [Hackaday Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast)
- Published: 2021-01-15
- Length: 42m
- Episode: 101
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-01-15-ep101-lasering-and-milling-absolutely-everything
- Listen: https://hackaday.libsyn.com/ep101-lasering-and-milling-absolutely-everything

## Summary

Hackaday editors Mike Szczys and Elliot Williams discuss a week of hardware hacks centered on laser and milling techniques. They cover a 20W fiber laser for PCB fabrication, a DIY vertical mill built from scrap, and a method for micromachining glass using laser-induced backside wet etching. The episode also explores an open-source ESP32-based laser tag system, a tool for mounting browser tabs as a Linux file system, and the technical details of NVMe storage interfaces.

## Chapters

- [0:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-01-15-ep101-lasering-and-milling-absolutely-everything#t=2) Introduction and Laptop Screen Hack
- [4:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-01-15-ep101-lasering-and-milling-absolutely-everything#t=276) Fiber Laser PCB Fabrication
- [7:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-01-15-ep101-lasering-and-milling-absolutely-everything#t=439) DIY Vertical Mill Build
- [11:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-01-15-ep101-lasering-and-milling-absolutely-everything#t=704) ESP32 Laser Tag System
- [14:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-01-15-ep101-lasering-and-milling-absolutely-everything#t=843) Micromachining Glass with Lasers
- [19:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-01-15-ep101-lasering-and-milling-absolutely-everything#t=1145) Browser as File System (TabFS)
- [22:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-01-15-ep101-lasering-and-milling-absolutely-everything#t=1367) DIY Rocket Motors
- [26:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-01-15-ep101-lasering-and-milling-absolutely-everything#t=1574) Quick Hacks and Can't Miss Articles

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Fabrication & craft](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fabrication-and-craft)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- ESP32 (chip)
- ESP8266 (chip)
- Raspberry Pi (chip)
- NVMe (other)
- Bus Pirate (tool)
- GreatFET (tool)
- TabFS (tool)
- Zachary Tong (other)
- Roland Van Roy (other)
- Tech Ingredients (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 229: Jimmy made a laser bandsaw.](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2019-09-20-episode-229-jimmy-made-a-laser-bandsaw) (Making It)
- [Chemical-Free PCB Production: How uFab is Changing Everything](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-08-12-chemical-free-pcb-production-how-ufab-is-changing-everything) (OnTrack)
- [Giant Lego 3D Printing, Self Soldering PCBs, new ESP32 C6 modules, and more!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2023-01-26-giant-lego-3d-printing-self-soldering-pcbs-new-esp32-c6-modules-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)
- [Milling About](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-05-31-milling-about) (The Amp Hour)
- [477: The Print Dialog Box](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2025-03-28-477-the-print-dialog-box) (Making It)

## Citing this page

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