# Ep 384: OCR MOD Records, Magical PCBs, and the Gravity of Space Stations

- Show: [Hackaday Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast)
- Published: 2026-08-28
- Length: 1h 06m
- Episode: 384
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-08-28-ep-384-ocr-mod-records-magical-pcbs-and-the-gravity-of-space-stations
- Listen: https://hackaday.com/2026/08/28/hackaday-podcast-episode-384-ocr-mod-records-magical-pcbs-and-the-gravity-of-space-stations/

## Summary

Hackaday editors Elliot Williams and Al Williams discuss a wide range of DIY projects, including a 3D-printed thermoacoustic Stirling engine, optical reading of MOD tracker files, and home fabrication of LEDs. They also cover the history of space stations, from the fictional 'Brick Moon' to the Manned Orbiting Laboratory, and review a talk by Catherine Dietrich on designing usable PCB props for Dungeons & Dragons.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-08-28-ep-384-ocr-mod-records-magical-pcbs-and-the-gravity-of-space-stations#t=1) Introduction and Retro Computing Challenge
- [5:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-08-28-ep-384-ocr-mod-records-magical-pcbs-and-the-gravity-of-space-stations#t=304) Mailbag: DC Motor Controller and AI Ethics
- [14:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-08-28-ep-384-ocr-mod-records-magical-pcbs-and-the-gravity-of-space-stations#t=898) Thermoacoustic Stirling Engine and 3D Printed Clogs
- [25:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-08-28-ep-384-ocr-mod-records-magical-pcbs-and-the-gravity-of-space-stations#t=1548) 3D Printed Film Camera and Home LED Fabrication
- [34:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-08-28-ep-384-ocr-mod-records-magical-pcbs-and-the-gravity-of-space-stations#t=2072) OCR MOD Records and NFC Casio Watch Hack
- [41:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-08-28-ep-384-ocr-mod-records-magical-pcbs-and-the-gravity-of-space-stations#t=2504) Quick Hacks: iPod Emulation and Quest VR Jailbreak
- [44:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-08-28-ep-384-ocr-mod-records-magical-pcbs-and-the-gravity-of-space-stations#t=2673) Hackaday Europe Talk: PCB Props for D&D
- [53:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-08-28-ep-384-ocr-mod-records-magical-pcbs-and-the-gravity-of-space-stations#t=3191) History of Space Stations

## Topics

- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Hackaday (company)
- Digiki (company)
- Z80 (chip)
- CP/M (product)
- PDP-8 (product)
- Altair (product)
- Commodore 64 (product)
- Raspberry Pi (chip)
- Cool Retro Term (product)
- Supercon (product)
- Snapmaker (company)
- Adidas (company)
- Casio (company)
- F 91 W (product)
- NFC (product)
- Proxmark (tool)
- PP 5020 (chip)
- Meta Quest (product)
- Archive.org (company)
- Eliza (product)
- Lisp (product)
- Prolog (product)
- Catherine Dietrich (other)
- Edward Everett Hale (other)
- Herman Noordung (other)
- Wernher von Braun (other)
- Skylab (product)
- Salyut (product)
- Almaz (product)
- Space Station Freedom (product)
- Mir (product)
- International Space Station (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Psst...Hey buddy, wanna buy an Octopus?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-10-09-psst-hey-buddy-wanna-buy-an-octopus) (The Amp Hour)
- [474: The Doublemint Gum Remote Control](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2025-03-07-474-the-doublemint-gum-remote-control) (Making It)
- [PI Day, DOOM on the RP2040, Pockit Modular Computer, and more!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2022-03-17-pi-day-doom-on-the-rp2040-pockit-modular-computer-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)
- [314: Why Are Wings Needed in Space?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-12-20-314-why-are-wings-needed-in-space) (Embedded.fm)
- [81: Two of Those People Can't Be Ducks](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-12-17-81-two-of-those-people-cant-be-ducks) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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