# Ep 285: Learning Laser Tricks, Rocket Science, and a Laptop That's Not a Laptop

- Show: [Hackaday Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast)
- Published: 2024-08-23
- Length: 53m
- Episode: 285
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-08-23-ep-285-learning-laser-tricks-rocket-science-and-a-laptop-thats-not-a-laptop
- Listen: https://hackaday.libsyn.com/ep-285-learning-laser-tricks-rocket-science-and-a-laptop-thats-not-a-laptop

## Summary

Hosts Tom Nardy and Christina Panos cover the 2024 Tiny Games Challenge, an open-source liquid-fueled rocket by Half Cat Rocketry, and a retro trackball laptop by Ominous Industries. They also discuss a teardown of a Minuteman nuclear missile's navigation system by Ken Shirriff, a method for cleaning screwdriver handles with ammonia, and a new theory regarding the 'Wow! signal' involving magnetars. The episode concludes with a review of the Crow View Note, a KVM-style laptop shell, and a tip for aligning items on laser engravers.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-08-23-ep-285-learning-laser-tricks-rocket-science-and-a-laptop-thats-not-a-laptop#t=1) Introduction and Tiny Games Challenge
- [4:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-08-23-ep-285-learning-laser-tricks-rocket-science-and-a-laptop-thats-not-a-laptop#t=274) Half Cat Rocketry Open Source Liquid Rocket
- [10:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-08-23-ep-285-learning-laser-tricks-rocket-science-and-a-laptop-thats-not-a-laptop#t=619) Shelton Makers Fortnite Laser Art
- [12:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-08-23-ep-285-learning-laser-tricks-rocket-science-and-a-laptop-thats-not-a-laptop#t=729) Ken Shirriff Minuteman Missile Teardown
- [19:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-08-23-ep-285-learning-laser-tricks-rocket-science-and-a-laptop-thats-not-a-laptop#t=1162) Cleaning Screwdriver Mange with Ammonia
- [21:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-08-23-ep-285-learning-laser-tricks-rocket-science-and-a-laptop-thats-not-a-laptop#t=1302) Wow! Signal and Magnetar Theory
- [28:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-08-23-ep-285-learning-laser-tricks-rocket-science-and-a-laptop-thats-not-a-laptop#t=1690) Ominous Industries Trackball Laptop
- [35:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-08-23-ep-285-learning-laser-tricks-rocket-science-and-a-laptop-thats-not-a-laptop#t=2105) Crow View Note KVM Review
- [47:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-08-23-ep-285-learning-laser-tricks-rocket-science-and-a-laptop-thats-not-a-laptop#t=2830) Laser Engraver Alignment Tip

## Topics

- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists, early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Half Cat Rocketry (company)
- Ominous Industries (company)
- Crow View Note (product)
- Fusion 360 (tool)
- ESP32 C3 (chip)
- X tool S1 (tool)
- Minuteman (product)
- Ken Shirriff (other)
- Shelton Makers (company)
- Ford Motor Company (company)
- Atari (company)
- Atari 7800 Plus (product)
- Raspberry Pi (chip)
- Image R (tool)
- LightBurn (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Space Difficulties and Lost Heroes - Wanzing Workshop Whemmle](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-11-06-space-difficulties-and-lost-heroes-wanzing-workshop-whemmle) (The Amp Hour)
- [004 - 0x0FF the Rails](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2017-10-13-004-0x0ff-the-rails) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [387: Bucket of Spiders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-09-23-387-bucket-of-spiders) (Embedded.fm)
- [PI Day, DOOM on the RP2040, Pockit Modular Computer, and more!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2022-03-17-pi-day-doom-on-the-rp2040-pockit-modular-computer-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)
- [Multicopter, DIY drones & Tektronix - Zappy Zendik Zoilism](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-08-30-multicopter-diy-drones-tektronix-zappy-zendik-zoilism) (The Amp Hour)

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