Episode 106: You’ve always got more options…

Making It · 27 Jan 2017 · 37m

What this episode covers

Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss overcoming project failures by revisiting assumptions and exploring overlooked options. David Picciuto shares a detailed story of troubleshooting a CNC engraving issue with a V-bit, realizing an insert was off-center after breaking a tip, while Bob Clagett recounts abandoning a complex 1,000,000-subscriber video project that failed despite multiple iterations. The hosts also touch on the importance of checking hardware setup, such as bandsaw blade direction, and the value of subconscious problem-solving.

Mentioned

Companies
Sondra's Machine Works, Jet, Rockwell
Products
Adam Ruins Everything
Tools
Tormach, Fusion
Also
Steve Siegel's

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 05m

    Occam's Engineering Razor

    Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss the pitfalls of over-complicating troubleshooting, illustrated by Dave's solar panel saga where a tiny coax cable shadow caused a 20% power drop. They explore the psychology of engineering resilience, referencing Ben Krasnow's persistence, and debate the efficacy of project management methodologies like Gantt charts versus agile demos in hardware development. The conversation also covers the semiconductor industry, analyzing Intel's foundry ambitions and the challenges of automotive chip sourcing.

  • The Spark Gap · 38m

    The Spark Gap - Episode 23

    Hosts Carl and Corey discuss their numerous unfinished electronics and maker projects, attributing the stalls to lack of time, space, and technical roadblocks. Carl details an unused robot arm with an Arduino, a stalled custom automotive gauge project limited by PCB size, and a frustrating emulation setup using an ECS Liva mini PC. Corey shares his abandoned rear-projection multitouch table prototype and a 3D printer enclosure project, while also noting his own stalled Christmas light synchronization system plagued by a hot microcontroller.

  • The Amp Hour

    Your Mind Is The Tool

    Chris Gammell and Dave Jones discuss troubleshooting a dead short in a PCB where a manufacturer modified Gerber files, causing a via to be placed on the wrong layer. They analyze why standard e-test fails to catch such errors and debate whether two-layer PCBs are sufficient for complex designs, referencing tools like KiCad and JLC. The conversation shifts to Dave Jones's decision to stop designing his own products, citing the high NRE costs, lack of discipline in solo projects, and the competitive advantage of rebranding existing hardware. They also touch on industry news, including the retirement of Jack Gansell and the passing of BBS inventor Ward Christensen.

  • Shop Talk Live · 1h 06m

    STL 87: Shop Talk Live Moving to Video

    Fine Woodworking editors Ed Burnick, Matt Kenney, and Mike Pekovich discuss the launch of their video podcast format, answering listener questions on handplane frog adjustment, dovetail joinery techniques, and dust collection system design. They showcase specific tools including Veritas shoulder planes, Sigma Power Select 2 waterstones, and a custom dovetail alignment jig, while debating the structural merits of half-pins versus half-tails. The hosts also share workshop mishaps, such as drilling a plane body incorrectly and struggling with dovetails due to poor lighting, emphasizing that woodworking is an accumulation of managed errors rather than a pursuit of absolute perfection.

  • Embedded.fm · 55m

    343: Getting Brains to Work

    Hosts Elecia White and Christopher White discuss the show's new transcript availability, the technical details of using a Cricut Maker with SVG files, and the legal and technical risks of using the Arduino IDE for professional products. They also cover debugging strategies for intermittent bugs and share personal experiences with focus, motivation, and executive function challenges.

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.