# FPGAs, Robots & Thermocouples - Wampum's Wavering Worth

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2013-04-17
- Length: 1h 19m
- Episode: 141
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-04-17-fpgas-robots-thermocouples-wampums-wavering-worth
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/the-amp-hour-141-wampums-wavering-worth/

## Summary

Hosts Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss the rising cost of gold-plated connectors due to commodity prices, the shift of semiconductor packaging to low-cost regions like China and Malaysia, and the potential for robotics in PCB assembly. They also cover industry consolidation at UBM, the discontinuation of print magazines like EE Times, and provide technical advice on using FPGAs and selecting op-amps for ultrasonic applications.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-04-17-fpgas-robots-thermocouples-wampums-wavering-worth#t=0) Introduction and Sponsor Read
- [1:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-04-17-fpgas-robots-thermocouples-wampums-wavering-worth#t=68) Lab Organization and Bench Management
- [13:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-04-17-fpgas-robots-thermocouples-wampums-wavering-worth#t=781) Gold-Plated Connectors and Material Costs
- [19:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-04-17-fpgas-robots-thermocouples-wampums-wavering-worth#t=1145) Semiconductor Packaging and Robotics
- [30:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-04-17-fpgas-robots-thermocouples-wampums-wavering-worth#t=1801) UBM Industry Consolidation and Print Media
- [55:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-04-17-fpgas-robots-thermocouples-wampums-wavering-worth#t=3314) Engineering Iteration and Prototyping
- [1:00:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-04-17-fpgas-robots-thermocouples-wampums-wavering-worth#t=3636) FPGA Development Strategy
- [1:05:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-04-17-fpgas-robots-thermocouples-wampums-wavering-worth#t=3900) Op-Amp Selection for Ultrasonic Transducers

## Topics

- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Analog & power electronics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/analog-and-power-electronics)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- ViaDesigner (tool)
- Via ASIC (chip)
- Foxconn (company)
- Apple (company)
- UBM (company)
- EE Times (other)
- ESC Boston (other)
- Make Magazine (other)
- Papilio (product)
- Zess (product)
- DigiLent (company)
- Xilinx (company)
- Altera (company)
- LTSpice (tool)
- DigiKey (other)
- Cadence (tool)
- Mentor (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [322: Learn Assembly Code](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-02-28-322-learn-assembly-code) (Embedded.fm)
- [The Circuit Ep:1 - Introductions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2022-12-21-the-circuit-ep-1-introductions) (The Circuit)
- [Exploring the Convergence of SMT and Semiconductor Industries with ASMPT CEO Robin Ng](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2023-11-18-exploring-the-convergence-of-smt-and-semiconductor-industries-with-asmpt-ceo-rob) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [Electronica 24: The Crucial Role of PCBs and Advanced IC Substrates with Matthias Pirs from AT&S](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-12-19-electronica-24-the-crucial-role-of-pcbs-and-advanced-ic-substrates-with-matthias) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [044 - Scots Army Knife](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2021-01-03-044-scots-army-knife) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-04-17-fpgas-robots-thermocouples-wampums-wavering-worth. 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 The Amp Hour.