Hackaday Podcast · 8 Nov 2024 · 55m · Episode 295
Hosts Elliot Williams and Dan Maloney review recent hacks, including Zach Frieden's 4-axis circuit graver that uses a lathe tool to engrave PCBs with high precision, and Eric Yufang Wu's wiring-free quadruped robot that mounts motors directly to a PCB spine. They also discuss a National Academies report on the Arec Observatory collapse, attributing the failure to electroplasticity in zinc sockets caused by RF energy, and highlight Max Scheffler's portable solder paste station that uses vacuum pressure to prevent smearing. The episode covers reusing old Android phones via FTDI GPIO, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and long-form articles on installing Gentoo Linux and the mechanics of vintage video tubes.
makers and hobbyists
Other shows on the same ground, closest first.
Hosts Dave Jones and Chris Gamble discuss the open-source RC controller from Gizmo For You, highlighting its complex injection-molded cases and 8-layer PCB. They review Ken Lumbard's 'Reading Jim Williams' project, which curates and analyzes the application notes of legendary analog engineer Jim Williams. The hosts also cover rumors of a DARPA humanoid robot grand challenge and share experiences using CircuitLab for SPICE simulation.
Greg Davill, an engineer at an Australian aero surveying company, discusses his hobbyist work with KiCad, detailing how he uses Fusion 360 and Python scripts to create realistic renders of PCBs by converting SVG layers. Michael Ossmann, founder of Great Scott Gadgets, announces the shipping of the GreatFET One, a high-performance USB hacking tool, and discusses the company's transition from garage to scaling, highlighting collaboration challenges and testing failures with the HackRF.
Hosts Carl and Corey discuss their 2015 resolutions, including revisiting basic electronics design and exploring open-source EDA tools like KiCad and Altium CircuitMaker. They announce a shift to a bi-weekly release schedule to allow for more guest interviews and higher-quality content. The episode then explores the topic of reverse engineering old hardware, citing examples like the original Xbox, cable modems, and Kinect sensors to demonstrate how discarded electronics can be repurposed or studied.
Mohit Bhoite, a Senior Hardware Engineer at Particle, discusses his hobby of creating free-form circuit sculptures using brass wire and passive electronic components. He explains his process of using BEAM robotics principles, EAGLE CAD for schematics, and specific tools like Xuron pliers and CircuitWorks flux to build functional art like his TIE interceptor alarm clock. Bhoite details the challenges of soldering lead-free solder, managing heat dissipation in complex structures, and balancing his day job with his artistic output without commercializing the hobby.
Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss recent tech hype, including debunking viral claims about the 'Water Cube' dehumidifier and beta-voltaic 'nuclear diamond' batteries. They cover the merger of Evil Mad Scientist and Bantam Tools, a side-channel security vulnerability affecting ESP32 microcontrollers, and the acquisition of a used TVM pick-and-place machine. The conversation also touches on power grid issues, CAD software choices like Fusion 360 and Onshape, and the failure of solar roadways.
The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Hackaday Podcast. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.