Hardware Podcasts

Episode 097: At your own risk…

Making It · 18 Nov 2016 · 59m

What this episode covers

Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss the legal liabilities of making and selling physical products, the high cost of insurance for custom work, and strategies for budgeting in content creation and client projects. They cover specific safety concerns, such as the use of SawStop table saws and personal protective equipment, and share anecdotes about product liability risks in both professional and hobbyist contexts.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Albany Steel, Spring House Press, DeWalt, Lyka
Products
Tormach, SawStop, Torchmate, Kubo and the Two Strings, Nightmare Before Christmas

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Shop Talk Live · 1h 19m

    STL 72: Another Tablesaw Lawsuit

    Shop Talk Live hosts interview attorney John Bell and SawStop inventor Steve Gass regarding a recent not-guilty verdict for Ryobi in a table saw liability suit and the impending launch of SawStop's new portable job site saw. Bell explains that the defense succeeded by clarifying the legal standard that manufacturers must produce non-defective products, not necessarily the safest possible ones, while Gass discusses the economic justification for his flesh-detection technology and the challenges of CPSC regulation. Gass also announces the details of his new $1,299 portable saw, highlighting its unique features and the modest manufacturing cost increase to incorporate the safety system.

    Policy, trade & tariffsIntellectual property
    6 chapters

  • Shop Talk Live · 58m

    Shop Talk Live 5: Compounding Errors

    Asa Christiana and Mike Pekovich of Fine Woodworking discuss the pros and cons of internet-based woodworking advice, emphasizing the importance of vetting experts by their portfolios. They answer listener questions on safely resawing wood on a table saw versus a bandsaw, setting up a spray booth for water-based finishes in a basement, and techniques for installing tiles in tabletops. The episode concludes with a debate on potential Consumer Product Safety Commission legislation mandating flesh-sensing safety technology in table saws.

    Sourcing & supply chainIndustrial & consumer product design
    7 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 03m

    Adafruit, Chip heist, Hackerspaces - The Kit Conniption

    Hosts Chris Gammell and Dave Jones discuss the challenges of building a kit business, with Jones advising that lowering the bill of materials (BOM) cost is critical to achieving the high margins necessary for viability. They debate the use of Kickstarter for hardware, with Jones warning against taking customer money before the product is proven, and discuss licensing options like the Open Source Hardware License versus Creative Commons for protecting intellectual property while allowing community contribution.

    Pricing, margins & unit economicsCrowdfunding & preorders
    6 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 08m

    Vecordious Vacation Variorum

    Jeff Keyzer of MightyOhm.com joins Dave Jones and Chris Gammell to discuss the challenges of hardware engineering, including the disruptive nature of context switching and the potential for internal technical sabbaticals. The hosts critique a spray-on RF antenna product for its lack of technical data and discuss the business models of 3D Systems and MakerBot, specifically regarding the pricing of 3D model files. They also debate the viability of selling electronics kits versus pre-assembled units, citing the MakerBot Cube and EEVblog power supply as examples.

    Careers & educationPricing, margins & unit economics
    7 chapters

  • Thoroughly Considered · 40m

    3: Onward

    Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat discuss the failure of their Obi Kickstarter campaign and how it led to a strategic pivot toward smaller, lower-risk products. They detail the development of the Apple TV Remote Stand, which they manufactured in-house using a desktop CNC router, and the iClip for Apple Watch, produced via Shapeways. The hosts analyze the financial and operational lessons learned from these contrasting approaches to product design, manufacturing, and timing.

    Crowdfunding & preordersDesign for manufacturing & NPI
    5 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Making It. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.