# Ep 272: Desktop EDM, Silence of the Leaves, and the Tyranny of the Rocket Equation

- Show: [Hackaday Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast)
- Published: 2024-05-24
- Length: 1h 16m
- Episode: 272
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-05-24-ep-272-desktop-edm-silence-of-the-leaves-and-the-tyranny-of-the-rocket-equation
- Listen: https://hackaday.libsyn.com/ep-272-desktop-edm-silence-of-the-leaves-and-the-tyranny-of-the-rocket-equation

## Summary

Hosts Tom Nardy and Dan Maloney discuss a desktop wire EDM machine from Rack Robotics that fits in a 10-gallon aquarium, enabling precise machining of conductive materials like steel and titanium on a small scale. They also cover a project that reverse-engineers Nintendo 64 games into native PC code, a 3D-printed noise suppressor for DeWalt leaf blowers developed by Johns Hopkins students and adopted by Stanley Black & Decker, and a high-altitude balloon project that successfully filmed a solar eclipse from 80,000 feet.

## Chapters

- [0:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-05-24-ep-272-desktop-edm-silence-of-the-leaves-and-the-tyranny-of-the-rocket-equation#t=3) Introduction: Episode 272 Overview
- [1:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-05-24-ep-272-desktop-edm-silence-of-the-leaves-and-the-tyranny-of-the-rocket-equation#t=118) Sound Guessing Game: The Bloop
- [7:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-05-24-ep-272-desktop-edm-silence-of-the-leaves-and-the-tyranny-of-the-rocket-equation#t=465) NetBSD Ban on AI-Generated Code
- [17:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-05-24-ep-272-desktop-edm-silence-of-the-leaves-and-the-tyranny-of-the-rocket-equation#t=1073) Rack Robotics Desktop Wire EDM
- [28:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-05-24-ep-272-desktop-edm-silence-of-the-leaves-and-the-tyranny-of-the-rocket-equation#t=1686) Static Recompilation of N64 Games
- [34:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-05-24-ep-272-desktop-edm-silence-of-the-leaves-and-the-tyranny-of-the-rocket-equation#t=2083) Johns Hopkins Leaf Blower Noise Suppressor
- [46:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-05-24-ep-272-desktop-edm-silence-of-the-leaves-and-the-tyranny-of-the-rocket-equation#t=2809) Wi-Fi Filament Diameter Sensor
- [52:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-05-24-ep-272-desktop-edm-silence-of-the-leaves-and-the-tyranny-of-the-rocket-equation#t=3147) High-Altitude Eclipse Filming Project
- [1:01:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-05-24-ep-272-desktop-edm-silence-of-the-leaves-and-the-tyranny-of-the-rocket-equation#t=3700) Quick Hacks: Cable Lacing and GPS Jamming
- [1:05:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-05-24-ep-272-desktop-edm-silence-of-the-leaves-and-the-tyranny-of-the-rocket-equation#t=3903) Can't Miss: Single Stage to Orbit and Helicopter Magnetometers

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Rack Robotics (company)
- NetBSD (other)
- Stanley Black & Decker (company)
- DeWalt (product)
- Johns Hopkins University (company)
- Nintendo 64 (product)
- ESP32 (chip)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [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)
- [Episode 254: Inch everything along](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2020-03-25-episode-254-inch-everything-along) (Making It)
- [Episode 268: Welcome to New York, Dave.](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2020-07-10-episode-268-welcome-to-new-york-dave) (Making It)
- [88: Science Is a Lot Like Quilting](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-02-12-88-science-is-a-lot-like-quilting) (Embedded.fm)
- [477: The Print Dialog Box](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2025-03-28-477-the-print-dialog-box) (Making It)

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