# Board with Lasers, Op-Amp Torture, and Farewell Supercon 9

- Show: [Hackaday Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast)
- Published: 2025-11-07
- Length: 1h 13m
- Episode: 344
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-11-07-board-with-lasers-op-amp-torture-and-farewell-supercon-9
- Listen: https://hackaday.libsyn.com/ep-344-board-with-lasers-op-amp-torture-and-farewell-supercon-9

## Summary

Hackaday editors Tom Nardi and Al Williams review highlights from Supercon 9, focusing on the Component Abuse Contest and innovative hardware projects. They discuss Stephen Halls' laser-etched PCBs using pre-drilled vias, Trashtronic's pressure-sensitive op-amp weight sensor, and the repurposing of X96Q Android TV boxes as $10 Linux servers. The episode also covers HTX Studio's reproduction of the Ming Kai typewriter, Prusa's silicone printing head for the XL, and the community-driven success of the Supercon badge.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-11-07-board-with-lasers-op-amp-torture-and-farewell-supercon-9#t=1) Introduction: Supercon 9 Recap and Component Abuse Contest
- [4:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-11-07-board-with-lasers-op-amp-torture-and-farewell-supercon-9#t=275) Guess That Sound: PDP 1 and 4St4r
- [5:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-11-07-board-with-lasers-op-amp-torture-and-farewell-supercon-9#t=353) Stephen Halls: Laser-Etched PCBs with Pre-Drilled Vias
- [9:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-11-07-board-with-lasers-op-amp-torture-and-farewell-supercon-9#t=598) Trashtronic: Op-Amp Torture and Pressure Sensing
- [15:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-11-07-board-with-lasers-op-amp-torture-and-farewell-supercon-9#t=944) Repurposing X96Q Android TV Boxes as Linux Servers
- [21:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-11-07-board-with-lasers-op-amp-torture-and-farewell-supercon-9#t=1280) HTX Studio: Reproducing the Ming Kai Typewriter
- [30:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-11-07-board-with-lasers-op-amp-torture-and-farewell-supercon-9#t=1849) 3D Printing: Print-in-Place Pumps and Prusa XL Silicone Head
- [46:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-11-07-board-with-lasers-op-amp-torture-and-farewell-supercon-9#t=2770) Quick Hacks: NFC Cards, PCB Stands, and SolidWorks Certification
- [51:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-11-07-board-with-lasers-op-amp-torture-and-farewell-supercon-9#t=3075) Supercon 9: Keynote, Badge Hacking, and Community

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Analog & power electronics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/analog-and-power-electronics)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Fabrication & craft](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fabrication-and-craft)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Stephen Halls (other)
- Trashtronic (other)
- TL 074 (chip)
- X96Q (product)
- HTX Studio (other)
- Ming Kai typewriter (product)
- Prusa (company)
- Prusa XL (product)
- Filament Two (company)
- NFC (other)
- SolidWorks (tool)
- Z80 (chip)
- ESP32 (chip)
- MeshTastic (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [030 - Supercon 2019](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2019-12-01-030-supercon-2019) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [033 - All Over the Place](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2020-04-27-033-all-over-the-place) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [016 - Supercon 2018 Part 1](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2018-11-10-016-supercon-2018-part-1) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [Hyperloop, Upverter and Soldering - Unbelievable USB Ustulater](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-08-14-hyperloop-upverter-and-soldering-unbelievable-usb-ustulater) (The Amp Hour)
- [494: All Tech Is Wearable](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-02-07-494-all-tech-is-wearable) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-11-07-board-with-lasers-op-amp-torture-and-farewell-supercon-9. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Hackaday Podcast.