# An Interview with Ryan O'Hara - Keyed, Kerfed Kapton

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2013-07-10
- Length: 1h 22m
- Episode: 153
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-07-10-an-interview-with-ryan-ohara-keyed-kerfed-kapton
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/the-amp-hour-153-keyed-kerfed-kapton/

## Summary

Ryan O'Hara, founder of O'Hara RP, discusses his background in military micro-air vehicle research and his business providing Kapton stencils for PCB assembly. He details the technical differences between CO2 and UV lasers for stencil fabrication, explaining how material absorption affects cut quality and longevity. O'Hara also shares his experience acquiring a vintage Echo Electronics pick-and-place machine, contrasting its high-speed, closed-loop precision with cheaper, open-loop alternatives like the Taobao.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-07-10-an-interview-with-ryan-ohara-keyed-kerfed-kapton#t=0) Introduction: Ryan O'Hara and O'Hara RP
- [3:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-07-10-an-interview-with-ryan-ohara-keyed-kerfed-kapton#t=188) Military PhD and Robo V Insect Robotics
- [8:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-07-10-an-interview-with-ryan-ohara-keyed-kerfed-kapton#t=522) LPKF Laser Prototyping and Thin Film Electronics
- [17:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-07-10-an-interview-with-ryan-ohara-keyed-kerfed-kapton#t=1070) Business Origins: Stencils and Consulting
- [25:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-07-10-an-interview-with-ryan-ohara-keyed-kerfed-kapton#t=1554) Kapton vs. Stainless Stencils and Laser Types
- [38:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-07-10-an-interview-with-ryan-ohara-keyed-kerfed-kapton#t=2284) Acquiring and Using a Vintage Pick-and-Place Machine
- [50:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-07-10-an-interview-with-ryan-ohara-keyed-kerfed-kapton#t=3012) Vision Systems and Feeder Limitations
- [1:08:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-07-10-an-interview-with-ryan-ohara-keyed-kerfed-kapton#t=4133) Consulting, Lifestyle, and Full-Time Transition

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- O'Hara RP (company)
- Robo V (product)
- LPKF (tool)
- Echo Electronics (company)
- Taobao (product)
- InvenSense (chip)
- MPU 9150 (chip)
- SparkFun (company)
- Adafruit (company)
- Key Glove (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Chemical-Free PCB Production: How uFab is Changing Everything](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-08-12-chemical-free-pcb-production-how-ufab-is-changing-everything) (OnTrack)
- [Startup to Award Winner: Exploring Stentech's Innovations with co-founder Sergio Juarez Madrid](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-12-19-startup-to-award-winner-exploring-stentechs-innovations-with-co-founder-sergio-j) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [140: Physics Is the Same Everywhere](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-02-25-140-physics-is-the-same-everywhere) (Embedded.fm)
- [384: What's a Board File?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-08-19-384-whats-a-board-file) (Embedded.fm)
- [123: Banished from Running Linux](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-10-28-123-banished-from-running-linux) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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