# 478: Know When You’re Learning, and When You’re Earning

- Show: [Making It](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it)
- Published: 2025-04-11
- Length: 1h 09m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2025-04-11-478-know-when-youre-learning-and-when-youre-earning
- Listen: https://making-it-with-jimmy-diresta-bob-clagett-and-david-picciuto.castos.com/episodes/478-know-when-youre-learning-and-when-youre-earning

## Summary

Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss their current projects, including Diresta's new X-Tool laser welder and plasma table, Clagett's edge banding dispenser, and Picciuto's broken Trotec laser tube. They share a detailed lesson on commission work, emphasizing the importance of sticking to a job even when losing money, managing client expectations, and separating learning from earning. The hosts also review content from Hank's Channel, the Pete and Sebastian podcast, and Little King Goods, while discussing the upcoming Neutron movie trailer.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2025-04-11-478-know-when-youre-learning-and-when-youre-earning#t=1) Introduction: Birthdays and New Equipment
- [4:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2025-04-11-478-know-when-youre-learning-and-when-youre-earning#t=275) Bob Clagett's Plasma Table and Mach 3 Software
- [9:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2025-04-11-478-know-when-youre-learning-and-when-youre-earning#t=586) David Picciuto's Trotec Laser Tube Failure
- [15:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2025-04-11-478-know-when-youre-learning-and-when-youre-earning#t=910) Picciuto's Intentionally Ugly Frame Project
- [17:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2025-04-11-478-know-when-youre-learning-and-when-youre-earning#t=1058) Jimmy Diresta's Sedona Spring Break
- [23:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2025-04-11-478-know-when-youre-learning-and-when-youre-earning#t=1411) Clagett's Arduino Edge Banding Dispenser
- [29:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2025-04-11-478-know-when-youre-learning-and-when-youre-earning#t=1741) Diresta's X-Tool Laser Welder Setup
- [40:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2025-04-11-478-know-when-youre-learning-and-when-youre-earning#t=2403) Commission Work: Learning vs. Earning
- [59:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2025-04-11-478-know-when-youre-learning-and-when-youre-earning#t=3562) Content Recommendations and Patreon

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch

## Mentioned

- Trotec (company)
- X-Tool (company)
- Mach 3 (tool)
- Aeon (product)
- Arduino (chip)
- Hank's Channel (other)
- Pete and Sebastian (other)
- Little King Goods (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Bob Widlar, Electronic Design, FIRST Robotics - Monday, Meta Monday](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-03-08-bob-widlar-electronic-design-first-robotics-monday-meta-monday) (The Amp Hour)
- [Cheap Respins And A Time Machine - Multiscience Mercenary Marketplace](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-06-04-cheap-respins-and-a-time-machine-multiscience-mercenary-marketplace) (The Amp Hour)
- [STL 48: Guitar God Mike Pekovich](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2013-12-27-stl-48-guitar-god-mike-pekovich) (Shop Talk Live)
- [Dotty Ernest Annty Frost](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-09-09-dotty-ernest-annty-frost) (The Amp Hour)
- [Vecordious Vacation Variorum](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-02-14-vecordious-vacation-variorum) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2025-04-11-478-know-when-youre-learning-and-when-youre-earning. 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 Making It.