# Ep 385: 3D Printers with Lasers, Wicked RAM Prices, and Reverse Polish Notation

- Show: [Hackaday Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast)
- Published: 2026-09-04
- Length: 1h 08m
- Episode: 385
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-09-04-ep-385-3d-printers-with-lasers-wicked-ram-prices-and-reverse-polish-notation
- Listen: https://hackaday.com/2026/09/04/hackaday-podcast-ep-385-3d-printers-with-lasers-wicked-ram-prices-and-reverse-polish-notation/

## Summary

Hosts Elliot Williams and Jenny List discuss a variety of hardware hacks, including a 3D printer modified with blue lasers to smooth FDM prints by remelting layers, and an air conditioning unit tricked into cooling more effectively by heating its external temperature sensor. They also cover the impact of high RAM prices on single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi, leading some manufacturers to stop shipping devices, and explore alternative operating systems such as Haiku, ReactOS, and AROS. The episode concludes with a deep dive into PETG filament properties and an overview of Reverse Polish Notation calculators, including a teardown of a Sinclair Cambridge.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-09-04-ep-385-3d-printers-with-lasers-wicked-ram-prices-and-reverse-polish-notation#t=1) Introduction: Retro Computing Contest and Geothermal Survey
- [3:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-09-04-ep-385-3d-printers-with-lasers-wicked-ram-prices-and-reverse-polish-notation#t=182) Mailbag: Road Trip Hacks and Prototyping with Legos
- [9:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-09-04-ep-385-3d-printers-with-lasers-wicked-ram-prices-and-reverse-polish-notation#t=573) 3D Printer Laser Smoothing and Print Quality Debate
- [22:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-09-04-ep-385-3d-printers-with-lasers-wicked-ram-prices-and-reverse-polish-notation#t=1363) Alternative Operating Systems: Haiku, ReactOS, and AROS
- [28:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-09-04-ep-385-3d-printers-with-lasers-wicked-ram-prices-and-reverse-polish-notation#t=1682) Tricking an Air Conditioner with a Heater Element
- [32:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-09-04-ep-385-3d-printers-with-lasers-wicked-ram-prices-and-reverse-polish-notation#t=1933) Offline Wikipedia on ESP32 and Retro Computer HDMI Hack
- [42:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-09-04-ep-385-3d-printers-with-lasers-wicked-ram-prices-and-reverse-polish-notation#t=2563) High RAM Prices Impacting Single Board Computers
- [46:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-09-04-ep-385-3d-printers-with-lasers-wicked-ram-prices-and-reverse-polish-notation#t=2794) Quick Hacks: Digital Film, NES CD-ROM, and ZX81 RAM
- [53:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-09-04-ep-385-3d-printers-with-lasers-wicked-ram-prices-and-reverse-polish-notation#t=3208) PETG Filament: Chemistry, Printing Tips, and Durability
- [1:00:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-09-04-ep-385-3d-printers-with-lasers-wicked-ram-prices-and-reverse-polish-notation#t=3655) Reverse Polish Notation: Calculators and Stack Arithmetic

## Topics

- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Hackaday (other)
- MCP 6847 (chip)
- ESP32 (chip)
- PETG (material)
- PLA (material)
- Haiku (other)
- ReactOS (other)
- AROS (other)
- Sinclair Cambridge (product)
- Hewlett Packard (company)
- Raspberry Pi (product)
- Pine64 (company)
- ESP32 P4 (chip)

## 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)
- [Incredible LoRa and 3d Printing Breakthroughs, Best SBCs for AI, and more!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2024-04-04-incredible-lora-and-3d-printing-breakthroughs-best-sbcs-for-ai-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)
- [New Arduino Board, No More Pi Shortages, Absurdly Tiny Resin Printers, and More!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2023-01-12-new-arduino-board-no-more-pi-shortages-absurdly-tiny-resin-printers-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)
- [83: The First Time I Was Electrocuted](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-01-07-83-the-first-time-i-was-electrocuted) (Embedded.fm)
- [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)

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