# Ep. 10 - Automation Equipment

- Show: [Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast)
- Published: 2023-12-07
- Length: 42m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-12-07-ep-10-automation-equipment
- Listen: http://opulo.io

## Summary

Lucian Shapar and Stephen Halls of Opulo discuss their experiences with manufacturing automation, categorizing tools into 'easy wins,' 'easy punts,' and 'on the fence' decisions. They highlight specific successes like the 'Bobby' belt cutter and the 'Gundam' software testing suite, while warning against over-engineering solutions for tasks that are better handled by vendors or manual processes, such as their failed attempt to automate belt winding. The conversation emphasizes pragmatic decision-making, referencing the XKCD automation chart and Seth Godin's 'The Dip' to determine when automation is truly worth the investment.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-12-07-ep-10-automation-equipment#t=0) Introduction to Automation Decision Making
- [5:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-12-07-ep-10-automation-equipment#t=322) Easy Wins: Bobby and the Lumen
- [13:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-12-07-ep-10-automation-equipment#t=833) The Gundam Testing Suite
- [22:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-12-07-ep-10-automation-equipment#t=1348) Easy Punts: Vendor Solutions and Deprecated Jigs
- [29:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-12-07-ep-10-automation-equipment#t=1758) On the Fence: The Screw Gun and Staging Plates
- [36:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-12-07-ep-10-automation-equipment#t=2214) Conclusion: The Dip and Future of Automation

## Topics

- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Lumen (product)
- Bobby (product)
- Gundam (product)
- Form Labs (company)
- Allie Express (company)
- GT2 timing belt (material)
- WS2812 LEDs (chip)
- Arduino (tool)
- Raspberry Pi (chip)
- OpenCV (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The AI Revolution: Rethinking Automation with Al Whatmough, Ep #13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2025-02-26-the-ai-revolution-rethinking-automation-with-al-whatmough-ep-13) (Lights Out)
- [The Automation Trap: Why Automating Chaos Won't Save You, Ep #18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2025-06-20-the-automation-trap-why-automating-chaos-wont-save-you-ep-18) (Lights Out)
- [Episode 203: So and So Johnson](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2019-02-22-episode-203-so-and-so-johnson) (Making It)
- [S1E46 The ABCs of Industrial Automation | Mauricio Romero](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-10-23-s1e46-the-abcs-of-industrial-automation-mauricio-romero) (Being an Engineer)
- [The Automation Trap: One Shop's Hard Lesson in Lean Thinking, Ep #19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2025-07-04-the-automation-trap-one-shops-hard-lesson-in-lean-thinking-ep-19) (Lights Out)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-12-07-ep-10-automation-equipment. 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 Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast.