# An Interview with Laen - Purple PCB Philosophy

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2013-06-12
- Length: 1h 17m
- Episode: 149
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-06-12-an-interview-with-laen-purple-pcb-philosophy
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/the-amp-hour-149-purple-pcb-philosophy/

## Summary

Lane (James Neal), founder of OSHPark, explains how his PCB fabrication service evolved from a volunteer effort for the Dorkbot PDX hobbyist group into a full-time business. He details the technical challenges of panelization software, the critical importance of US-based fabs for quality and speed compared to Chinese alternatives, and the strategic decision to use a distinctive purple solder mask to ensure brand consistency across multiple factories. Lane also discusses the shift in CAD software dominance from Eagle to KiCad, the complexities of international shipping, and his plans for future features like open-source hardware sharing and assembly services.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-06-12-an-interview-with-laen-purple-pcb-philosophy#t=0) Introduction and OSHPark Origins
- [6:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-06-12-an-interview-with-laen-purple-pcb-philosophy#t=391) From Dorkbot PDX to Business
- [10:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-06-12-an-interview-with-laen-purple-pcb-philosophy#t=632) US vs Chinese Fab Quality and Speed
- [13:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-06-12-an-interview-with-laen-purple-pcb-philosophy#t=785) Panelization Software and Routing Challenges
- [23:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-06-12-an-interview-with-laen-purple-pcb-philosophy#t=1383) The Purple Solder Mask Strategy
- [49:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-06-12-an-interview-with-laen-purple-pcb-philosophy#t=2986) CAD Software Trends and KiCad
- [57:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-06-12-an-interview-with-laen-purple-pcb-philosophy#t=3435) Competition, Pricing, and Shipping
- [1:04:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-06-12-an-interview-with-laen-purple-pcb-philosophy#t=3847) Manufacturing Quality and Copper Coverage
- [1:10:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-06-12-an-interview-with-laen-purple-pcb-philosophy#t=4246) Future Features and Hiring

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Logistics & fulfilment](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/logistics-and-fulfillment)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- OSHPark (company)
- Dorkbot PDX (other)
- Advanced Circuits (company)
- KiCad (tool)
- Eagle (tool)
- Altium (tool)
- BatchPCB (product)
- SparkFun (company)
- resistor.io (company)
- Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories (company)
- Circuits.io (company)
- Seeed Studio (company)
- Sunstone Circuits (company)
- Tektronix (company)
- Intel (company)
- Maxim Integrated (company)
- Xerox (company)
- Danaher Group (company)
- Fluke (company)
- IPC (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [92: Everybody Behave, Please](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-03-11-92-everybody-behave-please) (Embedded.fm)
- [Exploring Prototype PCB Manufacturing in Europe with Eurocircuits' Dirk Stans](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2023-11-28-exploring-prototype-pcb-manufacturing-in-europe-with-eurocircuits-dirk-stans) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [407: Boards Are Like Sandwiches](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-03-24-407-boards-are-like-sandwiches) (Embedded.fm)
- [The Future of PCB Manufacturing: Tariffs, Supply Chains & More](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-04-18-the-future-of-pcb-manufacturing-tariffs-supply-chains-more) (OnTrack)
- [123: Banished from Running Linux](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-10-28-123-banished-from-running-linux) (Embedded.fm)

## 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/2013-06-12-an-interview-with-laen-purple-pcb-philosophy. 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.