# Ep 331: Clever Machine Tools, Storing Data in Birds, and the Ultimate Cyberdeck

- Show: [Hackaday Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast)
- Published: 2025-08-01
- Length: 48m
- Episode: 331
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-08-01-ep-331-clever-machine-tools-storing-data-in-birds-and-the-ultimate-cyberdeck
- Listen: https://hackaday.com/2025/08/01/hackaday-podcast-ep-331-clever-machine-tools-storing-data-in-birds-and-the-ultimate-cyberdeck/

## Summary

Jenny List and Elliot Williams discuss several hardware projects, including AJC's selective electroplating robot built from an old CNC router, Sector 07's high-quality Raspberry Pi cyberdeck with ball-bearing hinges, and the Compass CNC router. They also cover Ben Jordan's experiment storing images in a starling's song, various quick hacks like a plasma tube notcher and a browser-based solder paste dispenser, and the launch of a replacement motherboard for the original PlayStation. The episode concludes with commentary on US power line inspections and the UK's Online Safety Act.

## Chapters

- [0:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-08-01-ep-331-clever-machine-tools-storing-data-in-birds-and-the-ultimate-cyberdeck#t=2) Introduction: Hackaday Podcast Ep 331
- [1:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-08-01-ep-331-clever-machine-tools-storing-data-in-birds-and-the-ultimate-cyberdeck#t=102) Guess the Sound: Sonification of Data Transfer
- [3:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-08-01-ep-331-clever-machine-tools-storing-data-in-birds-and-the-ultimate-cyberdeck#t=202) AJC's Selective Electroplating Robot on CNC Router
- [7:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-08-01-ep-331-clever-machine-tools-storing-data-in-birds-and-the-ultimate-cyberdeck#t=460) Sector 07's Raspberry Pi Cyberdeck with Ball-Bearing Hinges
- [13:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-08-01-ep-331-clever-machine-tools-storing-data-in-birds-and-the-ultimate-cyberdeck#t=834) Compass CNC Router: Human-in-the-Loop Cutting
- [18:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-08-01-ep-331-clever-machine-tools-storing-data-in-birds-and-the-ultimate-cyberdeck#t=1107) Ben Jordan: Storing Images in a Starling's Song
- [21:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-08-01-ep-331-clever-machine-tools-storing-data-in-birds-and-the-ultimate-cyberdeck#t=1292) Quick Hacks: Plasma Tube Notcher and Laser Engraving Jig
- [27:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-08-01-ep-331-clever-machine-tools-storing-data-in-birds-and-the-ultimate-cyberdeck#t=1635) Stephen Hawes: Browser-Based Solder Paste Dispenser
- [30:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-08-01-ep-331-clever-machine-tools-storing-data-in-birds-and-the-ultimate-cyberdeck#t=1852) Quick Hacks: Transparent PCBs, Ethernet Synth, and QR Reader
- [33:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-08-01-ep-331-clever-machine-tools-storing-data-in-birds-and-the-ultimate-cyberdeck#t=2026) PlayStation 1 Replacement Motherboard and Cable Modem Hack
- [39:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-08-01-ep-331-clever-machine-tools-storing-data-in-birds-and-the-ultimate-cyberdeck#t=2344) Camp Miss Articles: Power Line Patrols and UK Online Safety Act

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- AJC (other)
- Sector 07 (other)
- Raspberry Pi (chip)
- Compass CNC (product)
- Ben Jordan (other)
- Stephen Hawes (other)
- JLCPCB (company)
- Wenzel Labs (company)
- Useful Sensors (company)
- Charles (other)
- Laurentio B (other)
- PlayStation 1 (product)
- Eccentric Workshop (other)
- Random Alley Cat (other)
- Dan Maloney (other)
- UK (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Raspberry Pi 500, Robot Roadies, Huge 3d Printers and Car Hacking!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2023-11-26-raspberry-pi-500-robot-roadies-huge-3d-printers-and-car-hacking) (The Electromaker Show)
- [Electromaker of the Month Winners, Maker Music Festival, and more!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2022-03-10-electromaker-of-the-month-winners-maker-music-festival-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)
- [Hacked E-Paper Price Tags, Raspberry Pi MCU Dev HAT, Arduino Robot Arm, and More!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2023-01-18-hacked-e-paper-price-tags-raspberry-pi-mcu-dev-hat-arduino-robot-arm-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)
- [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)
- [Pi Powered Jägermachine, Anti-tracking hardware, Trojans inside AVR bootloaders, and more!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2022-10-03-pi-powered-jagermachine-anti-tracking-hardware-trojans-inside-avr-bootloaders-an) (The Electromaker Show)

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