# Ep 333: Nightmare Whiffletrees, 18650 Safety, and a Telephone Twofer

- Show: [Hackaday Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast)
- Published: 2025-08-15
- Length: 48m
- Episode: 333
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-08-15-ep-333-nightmare-whiffletrees-18650-safety-and-a-telephone-twofer
- Listen: https://hackaday.com/2025/08/15/hackaday-podcast-episode-333-nightmare-whiffletrees-18650-safety-and-a-telephone-twofer/

## Summary

Hosts Elliot Williams and Kristina Panos discuss the 3D printing industry's shift toward patenting, James Brown's talking robot using IBM Selectric wiffle tree mechanics, and a PDP-1 replica built from PCBs. They analyze the safety risks of unprotected 18650 batteries in the WHY 2025 conference badge, review various hardware hacks including a fluid-simulation business card, and debate the hackability of modern smartphones and the history of early telephone media services.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-08-15-ep-333-nightmare-whiffletrees-18650-safety-and-a-telephone-twofer#t=1) Introduction: Supercon, One Hertz Challenge, and AOL Dial-up
- [3:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-08-15-ep-333-nightmare-whiffletrees-18650-safety-and-a-telephone-twofer#t=200) What's That Sound: Coin Counting Machine Guess
- [4:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-08-15-ep-333-nightmare-whiffletrees-18650-safety-and-a-telephone-twofer#t=258) 3D Printing Industry: Prusa vs. Chinese Patent Stockpiling
- [12:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-08-15-ep-333-nightmare-whiffletrees-18650-safety-and-a-telephone-twofer#t=748) James Brown's Talking Robot: IBM Selectric Wiffle Tree Mechanics
- [15:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-08-15-ep-333-nightmare-whiffletrees-18650-safety-and-a-telephone-twofer#t=936) PDP-1 Replica: PCB Case Construction and Assembly
- [21:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-08-15-ep-333-nightmare-whiffletrees-18650-safety-and-a-telephone-twofer#t=1263) Juki Selectric Clone and Typewriter History
- [22:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-08-15-ep-333-nightmare-whiffletrees-18650-safety-and-a-telephone-twofer#t=1377) WHY 2025 Badge: 18650 Battery Safety and Shorting Risks
- [30:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-08-15-ep-333-nightmare-whiffletrees-18650-safety-and-a-telephone-twofer#t=1812) Fluid Simulation Business Card and Caliper Shootout
- [35:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-08-15-ep-333-nightmare-whiffletrees-18650-safety-and-a-telephone-twofer#t=2111) Quick Hacks: Trash Can Reverb, Capacitor Bias, and Polyglot Files
- [36:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-08-15-ep-333-nightmare-whiffletrees-18650-safety-and-a-telephone-twofer#t=2214) Smartphone Hackability and the First Podcast (Telefon Hermundo)

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Prusa (company)
- IBM Selectric (product)
- PDP-1 (product)
- Juki (company)
- WHY 2025 (product)
- 18650 (chip)
- RASPI 2350 (chip)
- ESP32 (chip)
- Telefon Hermundo (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Use The Protection Circuit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-03-18-use-the-protection-circuit) (The Amp Hour)
- [058 - Technically Met the Specs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2022-06-15-058-technically-met-the-specs) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [Magical Fire Bags](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-12-09-magical-fire-bags) (The Amp Hour)
- [Voltnuts for Flashlights](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-06-17-voltnuts-for-flashlights) (The Amp Hour)
- [Our First Call In Show](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-11-06-our-first-call-in-show) (The Amp Hour)

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