# Ep 327: A Ploopy Knob, Rube-Goldberg Book Scanner, Hard Drives And Power Grids Oscillating Out Of Control

- Show: [Hackaday Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast)
- Published: 2025-07-03
- Length: 1h 09m
- Episode: 327
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-07-03-ep-327-a-ploopy-knob-rube-goldberg-book-scanner-hard-drives-and-power-grids-osci
- Listen: https://hackaday.com/2025/07/04/hackaday-podcast-episode-327-a-ploopy-knob-rube-goldberg-book-scanner-hard-drives-and-power-grids-oscillating-out-of-control/

## Summary

Hosts Elliot Williams and Dan Maloney review the Ploopy Knob, an open-source precision knob by Colin that uses a large bearing and magnetic encoder, sparking debate about the lack of open parametric CAD formats. They analyze Matthias Wandle’s pneumatic standing desk, noting its unique gas-strut mechanism and sync tapes, and Maya Posh’s guide to time-series databases like Grafana and Victoria Metrics for data logging. The episode also covers Brad Matson’s automated book scanner, Cornell students’ audio localization and robot dog projects, and Hendrick’s electroplated 3D prints. Finally, they discuss the 2025 Iberian Peninsula blackout, attributing it to low-inertia grid-following solar inverters causing oscillations.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-07-03-ep-327-a-ploopy-knob-rube-goldberg-book-scanner-hard-drives-and-power-grids-osci#t=1) Introduction: Hackaday Podcast Episode 327
- [7:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-07-03-ep-327-a-ploopy-knob-rube-goldberg-book-scanner-hard-drives-and-power-grids-osci#t=424) The Ploopy Knob and Open Source CAD Formats
- [15:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-07-03-ep-327-a-ploopy-knob-rube-goldberg-book-scanner-hard-drives-and-power-grids-osci#t=934) Matthias Wandle’s Pneumatic Standing Desk
- [19:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-07-03-ep-327-a-ploopy-knob-rube-goldberg-book-scanner-hard-drives-and-power-grids-osci#t=1198) Time Series Databases: Grafana and Victoria Metrics
- [27:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-07-03-ep-327-a-ploopy-knob-rube-goldberg-book-scanner-hard-drives-and-power-grids-osci#t=1632) Automated Book Scanner by Brad Matson
- [34:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-07-03-ep-327-a-ploopy-knob-rube-goldberg-book-scanner-hard-drives-and-power-grids-osci#t=2066) Cornell University Student Projects
- [38:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-07-03-ep-327-a-ploopy-knob-rube-goldberg-book-scanner-hard-drives-and-power-grids-osci#t=2328) Electroplated 3D Prints by Hendrick
- [46:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-07-03-ep-327-a-ploopy-knob-rube-goldberg-book-scanner-hard-drives-and-power-grids-osci#t=2804) Quick Hacks: Smith Charts and Service Loops
- [49:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-07-03-ep-327-a-ploopy-knob-rube-goldberg-book-scanner-hard-drives-and-power-grids-osci#t=2957) Camp Miss Articles: Janet Jackson and Power Grids

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Ploopy Knob (product)
- Matthias Wandle (other)
- Maya Posh (other)
- Grafana (tool)
- Victoria Metrics (tool)
- Brad Matson (other)
- Cornell University (company)
- RP2040 Pico (chip)
- Hendrick (other)
- PVB (material)
- Edison Motors (company)
- Alcatel (company)
- Raymond Chen (other)
- Janet Jackson (other)
- Brendan Gregg (other)
- Solar Wobbles to Cascade Failures (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Pneumatic Tubes, Straight To The Home](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-01-22-pneumatic-tubes-straight-to-the-home) (The Amp Hour)
- [124: Please Don't Light Yourself on Fire (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-11-29-124-please-dont-light-yourself-on-fire-repeat) (Embedded.fm)
- [It Works With Option Number 5](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-06-19-it-works-with-option-number-5) (The Amp Hour)
- [147: Bolts for Tuco](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-04-13-147-bolts-for-tuco) (Embedded.fm)
- [I2C on your PC with Pico, Pocket Integrator Goes Live, OrangePi Monitor, and more!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2022-12-02-i2c-on-your-pc-with-pico-pocket-integrator-goes-live-orangepi-monitor-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)

## Citing this page

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