Ep. 0 - Introducing the OHM Podcast!

Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast · 5 Jul 2023 · 15m

What this episode covers

Stephen Hawes and Lucian Chapar of Opulo introduce the Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast, discussing the challenges of running an open-source hardware company that manufactures the LumenPnP desktop pick-and-place machine in-house. They define open hardware as the publication of native design files and BOMs, highlighting the benefits of community collaboration and iterative design improvements. The hosts share their backgrounds in manufacturing and engineering, emphasizing the importance of transparency in documenting best practices for shipping, hiring, and quality control that are rarely recorded elsewhere.

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Amp Hour

    A Benchtop Pick and Place with Stephen Hawes

    Stephen Hawes, founder of Opulo, discusses the development and business of the Lumen Benchtop Pick and Place machine, an open-source device for low-to-medium volume PCB assembly. He explains how the company evolved from a garage prototype to a scaling operation, detailing the technical challenges of software integration with OpenPnP and the pragmatic decision to use Marlin firmware. Hawes also shares insights on manufacturing operations, the importance of dogfooding, and his experiments with making PCBs using fiber lasers.

  • Embedded.fm · 50m

    45: Yanking on a Cat's Tail Is the Only Way to Learn

    Dave Anders, who works for CircuitCo, the manufacturer of the BeagleBone Black and MinnowBoard, discusses the nuances of open source hardware, contrasting fully open designs with 'open source friendly' products like the Flyswatter 2. He explains how CircuitCo manages production scaling for the BeagleBone Black to meet OEM demand and details the transition of the MinnowBoard to a 100% open hardware model in partnership with Intel. Anders also covers the business models of open hardware, noting that while tools like the original Flyswatter were fully open, later iterations restrict fabrication files to prevent poor-quality clones while still allowing software development.

  • Embedded.fm · 58m

    176: Let's Go Light It Up

    Toni Klopfenstein, Quality Assurance Manager at SparkFun, discusses the company's evolution from a hobbyist parts supplier to an education-focused hardware provider. He details the challenges of open source hardware certification through OSHWA, the importance of comprehensive documentation for community adoption, and SparkFun's strategic shift toward supporting teachers and students in classrooms.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 23m

    An Interview with Ian Lesnet - Bus Buccaneer Builder

    Ian Lesnet of Dangerous Prototypes discusses the evolution of the Bus Pirate and the company's open hardware business model, which relies on manufacturing partnerships with Seeed Studio in China. He details the technical challenges of developing the Bus Pirate version 4, including the switch to an open-source USB stack and the implementation of built-in self-test (BIST) for manufacturing quality control. Lesnet also explains the 'Sick of Beige' initiative to standardize PCB footprints for recyclable cases and the community-driven nature of their firmware development.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 06m

    Hardware, Surveys and Giveaways - Radular Rental Ranting

    Hosts Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss the nuances of professional titles, the strategic use of Bill of Materials (BOMs) in open source hardware, and the economics of test equipment rentals. They analyze Intel's joint partnership with Altera for 14nm FPGA production and debate the ethics of unlocking paid hardware features, citing Rigol oscilloscopes as a case study. The episode concludes with announcements for the show's listener survey and a t-shirt giveaway.

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