Cabling the Backplane

Oxide and Friends · 4 Apr 2023 · 1h 00m · Episode 10

What this episode covers

Doug Wibben of Benchmark and Robert Keith of Oxide Computer Company explain the mechanical design of the Oxide rack's cabled backplane, which enables 'blind-mated' server sleds without user-visible cabling. They detail the engineering challenges of aligning sheet metal tolerances, preventing bent pins through rigid steel guide pins, and managing the insertion force of high-density Xmax connectors. The team also describes the development of custom 'squid cables' and the collaborative debugging process with Samtech to resolve signal loss and assembly damage issues.

Mentioned

Companies
Benchmark, Oxide Computer Company, Samtech, Amphenol
Products
Xmax, Gimlet, Squid Cable

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Spark Gap · 1h 11m

    The Spark Gap - Episode 40

    Hosts Carl and Corey discuss the design gotchas of electronic connectors, covering power inputs like barrel jacks and screw terminals, as well as signal interfaces including ribbon cables and board-to-board connectors. They highlight specific risks such as contact resistance, voltage breakdown in high-density connectors, and the importance of pin sequencing for power rails. The conversation also covers practical PCB layout advice, including the use of 3D models to verify mechanical fit and the thermal limitations of surface-mount components during reflow.

  • Embedded.fm · 1h 15m

    494: All Tech Is Wearable

    Debra Ansell, known as GeekMomProjects, discusses her winning entry for the Hackaday Supercon badge add-on contest: a flexible, bendy PCB structure called the 'Bendy SAO' that mimics a wacky waving inflatable tube man. She details the mechanical engineering challenges of creating slip-ring-like connections between eight PCBs using spring contacts and push rivets, and the subsequent crisis of wiring the SAO connector backwards. The episode covers her efforts to make the device programmable via I2C using an ATtiny3224 and a Raspberry Pi Pico, while navigating the complexities of having Supplyframe manufacture the unmanufacturable design in China for RoHS compliance.

  • Making It · 1h 12m

    486: If I Had $300, I Could Do That Too

    Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss their recent projects, including Jimmy's giant boot go-kart, Bob's synchronized sliding doors, and David's Yellowstone photography trip. They also address a manufacturing error where one-inch dowels failed to fit into pre-drilled holes, debating solutions like using a lathe or CNC. The episode concludes with recommendations for Tom Sachs, Overland Projects, and a school donation by Printed Solid.

  • Thoroughly Considered · 23m

    44: A Good Two Weeks of Stress

    Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat discuss the production challenges of their Mark One mechanical keyboard, specifically a nickel plating defect on the aluminum pin bodies that caused surface failures during sandblasting. They detail the engineering decision to nickel plate the inner diameter for wear resistance, which inadvertently created adhesion issues on the exterior finish. The team describes the stressful two-week period of developing new racking fixtures and manual sandblasting processes to salvage parts and meet their Kickstarter shipping deadlines.

  • EMS@C-LEVEL · 7m

    Thermal Reliability and Beyond: A Glimpse into the Future of Tech with Indium Corporation's Chris Nash

    Chris Nash of Indium Corporation discusses the critical role of reliability in modern electronics manufacturing, highlighting e-mobility as the primary driver for stricter thermal and mechanical standards. He details specific challenges in the server industry, such as managing warpage in large BGAs and ensuring flux compatibility with liquid immersion cooling fluids. Nash emphasizes that solving these complex material science problems requires deep collaboration across the entire ecosystem, from component manufacturers to EMS providers.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Oxide and Friends. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.