# Chemical-Free PCB Production: How uFab is Changing Everything

- Show: [OnTrack](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack)
- Published: 2025-08-12
- Length: 33m
- Episode: 308
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-08-12-chemical-free-pcb-production-how-ufab-is-changing-everything
- Listen: https://podcast.altium.com/e/chemical-free-pcb-production-how-ufab-is-changing-everything/

## Summary

Tyler Richards, founder of uFab, explains how his company is revolutionizing PCB manufacturing with the PCBee system, a laser-based printer that produces multi-layer boards in under 4 hours without chemical etchants. Richards details the technology's ability to handle materials like FR-4, Rogers, and flex substrates with 2-mil feature sizes, addressing the supply chain disruptions of 2020 that inspired the venture. The discussion covers the economic and environmental benefits of eliminating hazardous waste, the technical challenges of plating and via drilling, and the potential for reshoring production to smaller, localized facilities.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-08-12-chemical-free-pcb-production-how-ufab-is-changing-everything#t=0) Introduction and Tyler Richards' Background
- [2:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-08-12-chemical-free-pcb-production-how-ufab-is-changing-everything#t=138) The Origin Story: COVID Supply Chain Disruptions
- [4:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-08-12-chemical-free-pcb-production-how-ufab-is-changing-everything#t=244) uFab PCBee Technology and Materials
- [10:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-08-12-chemical-free-pcb-production-how-ufab-is-changing-everything#t=654) Technical Specs: Feature Size, Vias, and Layer Counts
- [17:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-08-12-chemical-free-pcb-production-how-ufab-is-changing-everything#t=1068) Panelization and Depanelization Capabilities
- [20:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-08-12-chemical-free-pcb-production-how-ufab-is-changing-everything#t=1228) Cost, Environmental Impact, and Reshoring
- [24:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-08-12-chemical-free-pcb-production-how-ufab-is-changing-everything#t=1470) Industry Response, Education, and Reliability
- [29:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-08-12-chemical-free-pcb-production-how-ufab-is-changing-everything#t=1755) Future Growth and Traditional Manufacturer Adoption

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- uFab (company)
- PCBee (product)
- DuPont (company)
- Panasonic (company)
- Rogers (company)
- FR-4 (material)
- Rogers 4000 (material)
- Upwork (company)
- RadioShack (company)
- Arduino (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [407: Boards Are Like Sandwiches](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-03-24-407-boards-are-like-sandwiches) (Embedded.fm)
- [An Interview with Laen - Purple PCB Philosophy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-06-12-an-interview-with-laen-purple-pcb-philosophy) (The Amp Hour)
- [Electronica 24: Steve Driver on Fresh Talent and Green Tech in the PCB World](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-12-19-electronica-24-steve-driver-on-fresh-talent-and-green-tech-in-the-pcb-world) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [Ep 363: The History of PLA, Laser DIY PCBs, and Corporate Craziness](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-03-27-ep-363-the-history-of-pla-laser-diy-pcbs-and-corporate-craziness) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Exploring the Shift Towards a Sustainable PCB Industry with PCB Entrepreneur Steve Driver](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-01-25-exploring-the-shift-towards-a-sustainable-pcb-industry-with-pcb-entrepreneur-ste) (EMS@C-LEVEL)

## Citing this page

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