Oxide and Friends · 11 Jul 2023 · 1h 24m · Episode 20
Kate Hicks, Kirstin Neira, CJ Mendez, and Eric Austin of Oxide Computer Company discuss the logistics of assembling, packaging, and shipping the first Oxide Rack. They detail the engineering challenges of crate design, including shock and vibration testing, and the resolution of component issues like warped sidecar heat sinks and mistuffed shark fin PCBs through close collaboration with contract manufacturer Benchmark Electronics. The team emphasizes the importance of on-site presence, custom manufacturing software, and building strong supplier relationships to navigate the complexities of new product introduction and early-stage scaling.
early-stage companies
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Dan Provost and Tom Gerhardt of Studio Neat discuss the sudden shutdown of their injection molding supplier, Premier Source, and the resulting supply chain challenges. They detail the complex process of designing and iterating on packaging for the Mark 2 pen, balancing aesthetic goals with labor costs and waste. The episode concludes with a description of their 'merciless' fundraising campaign for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss the realities of making physical products, from prototyping failures to manufacturing delays. Jimmy details the year-long journey of producing his custom action figure with Carlos from Toy Backer and the sculpting work by the 4 Horsemen, while also explaining his decision to keep manufacturing his ice picks in-house due to quality control issues with overseas factories. Bob shares his experience with a failed dog ramp project and the technical challenges of welding equipment grounding out, while David discusses the difficulties of estimating materials and managing multiple concurrent projects.
Dave Millman of BizDev.Global joins host John Teel to discuss seven hardware startup horror stories, ranging from a health wearable transmitting unencrypted data to a Power Computing clone failing due to swapped capacitors. They analyze specific failures including offshore developers passing off off-the-shelf boards as custom designs, logistics nightmares from excessive SKUs, and shipping rejections due to lithium-ion battery regulations. The conversation highlights the importance of independent design reviews, managing inventory complexity, and navigating changing tariffs and certification requirements for global markets.
Dave Jones of EEVblog and Chris Gammell of Contextual Electronics discuss the realities of hardware development, ranging from Dave's new storage bunker to the intense pressures of meeting trade show deadlines at Altium. They delve into the technical challenges of manufacturing, including humidity testing, conformal coating, and the difficulties of repairing vintage test equipment like Tektronix scopes. The conversation concludes with an analysis of NASA's Orion launch, the political and financial complexities of space exploration, and the impact of supply chain alliances on component availability.
Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat discuss the assembly of the Apollo Pin, noting that hiring part-time help from a family nanny alleviated a bottleneck where manual assembly was stifling new product development. They detail the iterative design revisions to the mechanism and PVD finishes, which improved consistency and reduced reject rates compared to the original Mark One. Myke Hurley updates listeners on the Theme Journal System, explaining the stress of managing inventory, unexpected sell-outs, and supply chain delays caused by the Lunar New Year and coronavirus, while highlighting the unique challenges of scaling paper product manufacturing.
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