Hardware Podcasts

DJ and Jazzy Jeff

The Amp Hour · 9 Feb 2011 · 1h 02m · Episode 29

What this episode covers

Dave Jones and Jeff Keyzer of Mightyohm discuss the realities of hiring engineers, contrasting university graduates with hobbyists who demonstrate practical skills through hands-on tasks like handling 01005 components. They critique the inefficiencies of trade shows and the excessive packaging practices of distributors like Newark Electronics, while also exploring the challenges of PCB footprint creation in Eagle versus Altium. The conversation highlights the importance of real-world experience in hardware development, from using surplus test equipment to navigating regulatory hurdles for shipping lithium batteries.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Mightyohm, Newark Electronics, DigiKey, PCB Matrix, Mentor Graphics, HP, Hewlett Packard
Tools
Eagle, Altium
Also
EEV Blog, Design Con, EEWeb, IPC

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Embedded.fm · 58m

    122: Glue a Board to Your Resume

    Hosts Elecia White and Christopher White discuss the embedded job market, advising engineers to build hardware projects to demonstrate manufacturing knowledge. They explain bypass capacitors using a software buffer analogy, review development tools like Visual Studio and Visual Micro, and offer advice on contracting rates and contract terms. The episode also covers the VW emissions scandal, drone registration regulations, and the hosts' move to a new recording location.

    Careers & educationAnalog & power electronics
    7 chapters

  • Moore's Lobby · 1h 00m

    Burning Man Maker, Music Mogul, and PCB Revolutionary—Flux CEO Matthias Wagner

    Matthias Wagner, CEO of Flux, discusses his unconventional career path from Siemens to music production and back to hardware, explaining how his experience creating the viral 'Crazy Frog' track and designing modular energy systems for Burning Man informed his vision for Flux. He details the frustration hardware engineers face with legacy, waterfall-style PCB design tools, contrasting them with the fluid, real-time collaboration found in modern software and music production workflows. Wagner explains how Flux aims to democratize hardware design by combining GitHub-style version control with Figma-like usability, allowing users to iterate quickly without managing complex file formats or manual footprints. The episode concludes with a look at Flux's new AI assistant, which helps engineers with component selection, schematic validation, and even generating entire designs from natural language prompts.

    PCB design & layoutStarting a product company
    9 chapters

  • Embedded.fm · 58m

    177: Boba Fett Fell Down

    Hosts Elecia White and Christopher White answer listener emails, discussing career advice for self-taught engineers and physics graduates entering the embedded industry, and technical comparisons between ARM Cortex-M and Cortex-A processors. They also address hardware design questions regarding the use of RJ45 connectors for non-Ethernet signals and discuss the potential of Adobe's Project Voco for audio editing. The episode concludes with show announcements, including a SparkFun contest, a planned meetup in Santa Cruz, and recommendations for educational hardware like the SparkFun Tinker Kit, Sphero, and Jewelbots.

    Careers & educationMicrocontrollers & dev platforms
    7 chapters

  • Predictable Designs Podcast · 1h 01m

    PCB Assembly and Design for Manufacturing with Duane Benson of Screaming Circuits

    Duane Benson, Director of Marketing at Screaming Circuits, explains the PCB assembly process, contrasting their prototype/small-volume model with parent company Milwaukee Electronics' high-volume contract manufacturing. He details the workflow from programming and solder paste deposition to reflow, inspection, and rework, while highlighting common Design for Manufacturing (DFM) pitfalls like open vias and incorrect QFN footprints. The discussion covers the infeasibility of home PCB prototyping, the cost-benefits of US-based assembly, and critical tips for ensuring component availability and accurate footprints.

    PCB design & layoutManufacturing partners & offshoring
    10 chapters

  • Making It · 1h 08m

    391: He’s the depressed, mean one

    Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss their recent projects, including Jimmy's PSVR2 holder design process, David's renovation of an 80s side table, and Jimmy's experience at WorkbenchCon. They compare audio equipment like the DJI Wireless Mic and Rode Wireless GO II, and debate the reliability of GoPro versus DJI Osmo action cameras. The conversation also covers software tools like Notion and Blocklayer, and highlights community resources such as Templatemaker.nl.

    PCB design & layoutIndustrial & consumer product design
    8 chapters

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