# Ep 242: Mechanical Math, KaboomBox, and Racing the Beam

- Show: [Hackaday Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast)
- Published: 2023-10-27
- Length: 43m
- Episode: 242
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-10-27-ep-242-mechanical-math-kaboombox-and-racing-the-beam
- Listen: https://hackaday.libsyn.com/ep-242-mechanical-math-kaboombox-and-racing-the-beam

## Summary

Editors Elliot Williams and Kristina Panos discuss a range of hardware hacks, including Ken Shirriff’s teardown of a Bendix mechanical air data computer and Cameron Coward’s RFID-enabled 'Kaboombox' music player. They also cover Humphrey Whittington’s 3D printing on a spinning rod, Denki Otaku’s factory tour of Nippon Chemicon capacitors, and Julian Schiffer’s deep dive into 'racing the beam' graphics techniques for retro consoles. The episode concludes with Kristina Panos wrapping up her series on USPS stamp technology.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-10-27-ep-242-mechanical-math-kaboombox-and-racing-the-beam#t=1) Supercon Keynote and Halloween Hackfest
- [6:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-10-27-ep-242-mechanical-math-kaboombox-and-racing-the-beam#t=391) Ken Shirriff’s Bendix Mechanical Computer Teardown
- [10:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-10-27-ep-242-mechanical-math-kaboombox-and-racing-the-beam#t=650) Kaboombox RFID Music Player and 3D Printing on a Rod
- [18:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-10-27-ep-242-mechanical-math-kaboombox-and-racing-the-beam#t=1098) Haunted Keyboard, Capacitor Manufacturing, and Commodore Datassette
- [24:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-10-27-ep-242-mechanical-math-kaboombox-and-racing-the-beam#t=1499) Quick Hacks: Print F, LED Frame Rate, and Paper Shredder Robot
- [32:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-10-27-ep-242-mechanical-math-kaboombox-and-racing-the-beam#t=1922) Racing the Beam: Retro Video Game Graphics
- [37:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-10-27-ep-242-mechanical-math-kaboombox-and-racing-the-beam#t=2262) USPS Stamp Technology Series Finale

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Ken Shirriff (other)
- Bendix (company)
- Cameron Coward (other)
- Kaboombox (product)
- Raspberry Pi Pico (chip)
- Humphrey Whittington (other)
- Denki Otaku (other)
- Nippon Chemicon (company)
- Linus Atkinson (other)
- Commodore Datassette (product)
- Al Williams (other)
- Julian Schiffer (other)
- Atari (company)
- NES (product)
- Commodore 64 (product)
- USPS (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [004 - 0x0FF the Rails](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2017-10-13-004-0x0ff-the-rails) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [Chaffered Chocolate Coemption](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-04-09-chaffered-chocolate-coemption) (The Amp Hour)
- [Episode 155: Brain tornado-ing and pretzels](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2018-02-09-episode-155-brain-tornado-ing-and-pretzels) (Making It)
- [030 - Supercon 2019](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2019-12-01-030-supercon-2019) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [An Interview With Todd Bailey - Embedded Embrasure Engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-04-16-an-interview-with-todd-bailey-embedded-embrasure-engineering) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

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